LibraryScenariosHow impatience masquerades as helpfulness
Scenario

How impatience masquerades as helpfulness

I stutter and people constantly finish my sentences for me even though I never asked them to, then look proud of themselves like they helped.

Hypatia
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

The discomfort others feel with difference gets reframed as assistance, robbing disabled people of agency while making helpers feel virtuous.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Disability & Accessibility?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.