Lisa

Apr 14, 2022

You don't look handicapped

I shop for my 82 year old Mother. I am disabled. I often cry myself to sleep as I am in such pain and refuse to take opiates or any other pharmaceuticals. I don't need the rest of my body breaking down or an addiction. I have shopped at Ralph's for over 40 years now. I have always been pleased with the company until 10 weeks ago. I have repeatedly told management the disabled carts are broken. I have been stranded several times in back of store with a cart full of groceries and no one in sight to help. If I do not bring food to my Mother she will not eat. She is set in her ways and insists on Ralphs. Today the cart stranded me again in the store. I made my way to the front of the store with the two items I could carry. I told the cashier about the cart situation and he responded by saying its probably not charged. I then said its more than that, the carts stop moving in the middle of the aisle fully charged. He responded again, by saying he knew that. After checking out I walked toward the exit near the row of handicap parking spots. As I approached the door the guard had his keys out getting ready to lock the door and I said can I please get out this door. He said no go around to other door. I responded that I couldn’t, I’m disabled. He again said no go to other door. I said I cant, but I can if you get me a disability cart. Of course he couldn’t get me a cart because the only operational cart had a dead battery. I stood there with groceries in hand, frustrated and said open the bleeping door. Not my best moment. Some employee said they are calling the police. I responded please do knowing the officers would help me to my car. Of course no one called. I said I would stand there in that spot and wait for the police. The manager then said that if I calmed down she would open the door. I then said please do. It was 6:00pm. I walked to my car obviously limping severely while Being followed by that same guard. He then said something that I can’t shake. He said you don’t look handicapped. I responded can you repeat that. He said you heard me you don’t look handicapped. Then he said your banned from the store. Assuming is not a good tactic in such a situation, yet I cant help but wonder If the guard hadn’t already come to a conclusion about my abilities and that’s why he chose not to open the door for me and then followed me out to say you don’t look handicapped. A sad state of affairs to say the least. More will be revealed! I choose not to name the guard or manager. They know who they are. I write this in hopes that such a travesty does not occur again, especially to another who can not speak or stand up for themselves.