If I am approaching you from behind in my wheelchair, and I gently say “excuse me?”, or tap you on the shoulder if you can’t hear me, what I need you to do is:

1) Take one or two steps forward so that I can get behind you,
and
2) Watch your toes

That’s literally it. What I do not mean for you to do is:

1) Wheel around dramatically, see me in my wheelchair, apologize loudly and profusely, and make a big show of getting out of my way
or
2) Injure yourself in an effort to remove yourself from my path
or
3) Manhandle your friends/family and shove them out of my way

I promise you – wheelchairs are not contagious. I just need a couple extra inches of floor space, and your situational awareness so that you don’t accidentally back into me, that’s all.

Please go about your business.

*This post brought to you by the girl at Salt & Straw who literally fell into her friend’s laps trying to get out of my way last Sunday.