Step Outside Your World Analysis

I believe making yourself vulnerable by putting yourself in a different environment that you are not accustomed to can be an eye opening experience. In some ways you can see how people react to certain situations. It’s interesting to see how many people meet your expectations and how many people fall into stereotypical behavior.
Describe the activity you chose and why? The activity I chose was to be a wheelchair bound person because partly I work in a hospital so they are easily accessible but more importantly; I wanted to experience what the public reaction would be towards an individual in that situation.
What type of place did you choose to experience and why?
The place that I chose for my experience was the mall because I felt that that the place was public enough and the mall always has an abundance of diversity and different types of personalities.
What did you observe?
My number one observation is that people like to stare, big people, little people, but mostly old people. The first day we were out I commented that everyone was looking at me. My husband who was with me, told me I was being paranoid. Ten minutes later he asked why everyone was staring. Children you can understand, they’re naturally curious, but adults really should be more clued in. I also noticed that everything is up high, including counters in the mall the sinks, and the windows. I also notice that people don’t like to help. I don’t think it’s malicious, I think it’s more they feel it would be awkward; but even when it’s extremely obvious you could do with a hand, 9 out of 10 people pretend not to see you and carry on.
What did you find surprising or unexpected?
I was surprised how hard accessibility is with a wheelchair. You would think that the mall should be easily accessible but it wasn’t. Yes, they have the required wide doors and lifts, but that’s it. Navigating a wheelchair around a busy mall was chaotic. It’s a miracle that I didn’t knock someone or something over.
Did you feel comfortable or uncomfortable? Why?
I felt uncomfortable at times because despite the staring that is so prevalent, if you find yourself in a crowded place you may as well not exist. I also felt uncomfortable when total strangers felt the need to ask me personal questions and give me unasked-for advice. What happened to you? Does it hurt? You won’t be roller-skating again now, will you? When my brother broke his leg, he did this this and this. Etc.
Did this experience change your views about the people whom you observed? If so, how?
My experience greatly changed my views on the people I observed because I got to see these people in a different light. By putting myself out of my comfort zone, I also put them out of their comfort zone. It enlightened me on how people react to something or someone out of the norm. It was a different side that was interesting to see.
What did you learn from this experience?
I learned that when you are in a wheel chair the world becomes a more daunting place. The amount of people don’t help your or pretend not see you is tremendous. I also learned that if I see someone in a wheel chair I will definitely go out of my way to open a door for them.
How could your workplace benefit because you had this type of an experience?
My workplace could definitely benefit from this type of experience. I work in a hospital as I stated earlier so there is always at least one person in a wheel chair or crutches. I believe it can make people more sensitive to their needs and anticipate then better.
Why do you feel that employers would seek and value employees with this diverse experience?
I think employers would seek and value employees with this diverse experience because employees with this experience can empathize and make the customer/patient feel more comfortable. It also shows that employers are open to any employee no matter what their background is.
Identify at least two reasons why organizations benefit from having a diversity-conscious culture.
1. Organizations as a whole are better able to relate to a larger population. This creates better working relationships, and helps avoid miscommunication based on cultural differences and ignorance about other groups.
2. Employees and employers together can develop different ideas using everybody’s strengths to make an organization more effective.

Prior to this experience did you have a stereotype of the people you observed in this activity? Yes, I believed that people would be more helpful than they were to a wheel chair bound person. I was sadly mistaken. I was mostly ignored and constantly felt like I was in someone’s way.