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Blind Man Left In ‘Tears’ After Nobody Gave Up Their Seat For Him And His Guide Dog On The Train
It’s crazy how people can do such marvelous and stupid things at the same time. We are preparing for a trip to Mars yet we can’t show any decency for those who have been mistreated by fate. A 37-year-old blind man felt crushed when London commuters didn’t give up their seats in a cramped train for him and his guide dog.
“People can be so selfish, they pretend they can’t see or hear when I ask if there’s a seat available,” Amit Patel tweeted. “It’s so humiliating when I struggle to find something to hold onto & keep [my guide dog] safe at the same time, this is when you’ll see a tear running down my face. Life is difficult enough.”
Patel was an A&E doctor before he lost his sight 5 years ago after developing keratoconus. Since then, he got himself Kika who is one of only 5% of guide dogs who are trained to take their owners on escalators.
“Losing my sight was very lonely,” the man added. “If I’m traveling by public transport, I’m sometimes like a scared little boy.” This time, Patel claims he was forced to stand with his back against the doors while Kika kept slipping on the wet floor of the train.
Writing from Kika’s Twitter account, he said, “We walked to the end of the platform in the pouring rain so that we can board the designated disabled section on the @Se_Railway train and even with dad giving me the command ‘find a seat’ not one passenger gave up their seat.”
After people rushed to support Amit at least with words, he continued, “Thank you all for your kind messages, unfortunately, being ignored when asking for a seat is a daily occurrence for us.”
“One small act of kindness could have turned the situation around completely.”
More info: Amit Patel | Kika
RELATED:
Recently, a 37-year-old blind and his guide dog felt heartbroken on a train in London and said it could have easily been avoided
Image credits: kika_guidedog
Writing from his guide dog Kika’s Twitter account, he added more information about the whole thing
Image credits: kika_guidedog
Patel was an A&E doctor before he lost his sight 5 years ago after developing keratoconus
Image credits: kika_guidedog
“Losing my sight was very lonely. If I’m traveling by public transport, I’m sometimes like a scared little boy”
Image credits: kika_guidedog
Image credits: kika_guidedog
Kika is one of only 5% of guide dogs who are trained to take their owners on escalators
Image credits: kika_guidedog
But the duo encounter ‘inconsiderate’ people there as well
Sometimes Amit puts a camera on his dog to capture what they go through when getting around London
Image credits: Pete Summers
“They have loads of space to get past, but they seem to think it is fun to barge into a blind person”
Image credits: kika_guidedog
“One lady even said I should apologise to the people behind her for holding them up”
People were quick to offer their words of support
But there were some who didn’t
What do you think ?
ZMDVB 7 years ago
I ride the bus and when I fractured my ankle and had to wear a boot people refused to let me sit. Even after being asked by the driver. Also, to all you guys saying he's capable of standing so shouldn't be given a seat, next time you ride public transportation, you try standing with your eyes completely shut and see how easy it is. Just looking at your phone is different because if something happens you have the ability to look up from it and adjust accordingly. Stop being jerks.
frank0ys 7 years ago
...I think the point here is to give the seat to someone else who really needs it. An act of kindness can go a very long way.
Stille20 7 years ago
Thanks. The post felt more like "the world is a dark cruel place", but you are right. This is a plea, a PSA. Be aware.
Load More Replies...
Kaye Penguin 7 years ago
instead of being dismissive of the "he`s blind, not legless" , it needs to be explained how a blind man may need a seat. Here`s why: a blind man might not know when to give way to incoming passengers, he wont know where to and how to correctly reposition his body to make way in a train or bus while standing, he wont have to grope around for a metal pole and accidentally touch someone by accident, seats for the disabled are nearer to doors so he can take less time to exit, instead of having to grope for the way out again. The mistake in the "not legless" response is assuming that the issue is about who needs the seat more. The issue should be about which decision will be better of for everyone. Sure a blindman may not have tired legs, but all his potential fumbling, blocking other people and taking time to exit may well inconvenience more people rather than if one man had just given him a seat.
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
A seat is a rare and valuable commodity? What? XD I don't understand some people... And okay, maybe being blind doesn't make him someone who should be treated like royalty, but these people are being heartless, you can at least show a little decency... I mean s**t, if they were the blind person, would they still feel the same way?
Laura Sherman 7 years ago
In regard to the Video and the woman trying to push pass on the escalator... Sorry but that is what stairs are for. Stand and Wait and let the guide dog do his job!
jenna 7 years ago
When I really cannot avoid public transport, or be in areas that are full of people... I try to create a "mental circle" around me. I have to walk on crutches. I cannot count the times that people kick them. You need a whole new technique to keep standing. And the worst thing is? They tell you to keep your crutches to yourself. However, I must say, I get offered seats in public transport often enough. But, being disabled, nowadays, is often fighting for your life (and that of your helping buddy). Keep on going, Amit (beautiful name, same as my foster son's) and keep going. Somehow, eventually and hopefully stupid people will wake up and give people like you and me a place in this world.
FABULOUS1 7 years ago
No one is obligated to give up their set on a bus, but doing it shows an act of kindness that unfortunately some done have the capability of doing. My mother who is over 70 years old rides the bus all the time and tells me that people most often dont give up their seat to those with disabilities, elderly or even women with children. And that people will even take up seats with their belongings and are unwilling to move them so someone else can sit there. Someone who looks to be young and able could of possibly just finished a 12 hour shift and their feet are hurting really bad. So some may not be willing to give up their seat simply because they are jerks and some may have good reason. Me I would give up my seat because if it was my blind sister, elderly mother or even myself trying to ride the bus with small children I would want someone to do it for me.
A S Koziol 7 years ago
Society as a whole seems to have stopped teaching people to think compassionately in the last 30 years. It's not a trait you are born with, it's a skill that needs to be learned by practice, but that requires that you also believe that there is value in not thinking only about your situation.
Load More Replies...
A Ghost 7 years ago
Sometimes on the bus people will put their bags on the seats next to them so no one can sit there. They will proceed to glare at and then ignore people who ask for the seat.
Full Name 7 years ago
The best revenge is to sit anyway and be overly bubbly and try to make best friends with them and act like the original snub was a funny joke.
Load More Replies...
ZMDVB 7 years ago
I ride the bus and when I fractured my ankle and had to wear a boot people refused to let me sit. Even after being asked by the driver. Also, to all you guys saying he's capable of standing so shouldn't be given a seat, next time you ride public transportation, you try standing with your eyes completely shut and see how easy it is. Just looking at your phone is different because if something happens you have the ability to look up from it and adjust accordingly. Stop being jerks.
frank0ys 7 years ago
...I think the point here is to give the seat to someone else who really needs it. An act of kindness can go a very long way.
Stille20 7 years ago
Thanks. The post felt more like "the world is a dark cruel place", but you are right. This is a plea, a PSA. Be aware.
Load More Replies... Kaye Penguin 7 years ago
instead of being dismissive of the "he`s blind, not legless" , it needs to be explained how a blind man may need a seat. Here`s why: a blind man might not know when to give way to incoming passengers, he wont know where to and how to correctly reposition his body to make way in a train or bus while standing, he wont have to grope around for a metal pole and accidentally touch someone by accident, seats for the disabled are nearer to doors so he can take less time to exit, instead of having to grope for the way out again. The mistake in the "not legless" response is assuming that the issue is about who needs the seat more. The issue should be about which decision will be better of for everyone. Sure a blindman may not have tired legs, but all his potential fumbling, blocking other people and taking time to exit may well inconvenience more people rather than if one man had just given him a seat.
Matthew Hyder 7 years ago
A seat is a rare and valuable commodity? What? XD I don't understand some people... And okay, maybe being blind doesn't make him someone who should be treated like royalty, but these people are being heartless, you can at least show a little decency... I mean s**t, if they were the blind person, would they still feel the same way?
Laura Sherman 7 years ago
In regard to the Video and the woman trying to push pass on the escalator... Sorry but that is what stairs are for. Stand and Wait and let the guide dog do his job!
jenna 7 years ago
When I really cannot avoid public transport, or be in areas that are full of people... I try to create a "mental circle" around me. I have to walk on crutches. I cannot count the times that people kick them. You need a whole new technique to keep standing. And the worst thing is? They tell you to keep your crutches to yourself. However, I must say, I get offered seats in public transport often enough. But, being disabled, nowadays, is often fighting for your life (and that of your helping buddy). Keep on going, Amit (beautiful name, same as my foster son's) and keep going. Somehow, eventually and hopefully stupid people will wake up and give people like you and me a place in this world.
FABULOUS1 7 years ago
No one is obligated to give up their set on a bus, but doing it shows an act of kindness that unfortunately some done have the capability of doing. My mother who is over 70 years old rides the bus all the time and tells me that people most often dont give up their seat to those with disabilities, elderly or even women with children. And that people will even take up seats with their belongings and are unwilling to move them so someone else can sit there. Someone who looks to be young and able could of possibly just finished a 12 hour shift and their feet are hurting really bad. So some may not be willing to give up their seat simply because they are jerks and some may have good reason. Me I would give up my seat because if it was my blind sister, elderly mother or even myself trying to ride the bus with small children I would want someone to do it for me.
A S Koziol 7 years ago
Society as a whole seems to have stopped teaching people to think compassionately in the last 30 years. It's not a trait you are born with, it's a skill that needs to be learned by practice, but that requires that you also believe that there is value in not thinking only about your situation.
Load More Replies... A Ghost 7 years ago
Sometimes on the bus people will put their bags on the seats next to them so no one can sit there. They will proceed to glare at and then ignore people who ask for the seat.
Full Name 7 years ago
The best revenge is to sit anyway and be overly bubbly and try to make best friends with them and act like the original snub was a funny joke.
Load More Replies...
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