The Catbird Seat is written by David J. He was born in 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. This story is about disabled people; their accommodations, privileges and advantages of being disabled, if we may call it that way. The author is disabled himself. He lost the use of his legs in an auto accident and now uses a wheelchair to move about (p214). The subject matter of the author's essay is about who can be considered legitimate disabled and what constitutes reasonable accommodation. (p214).
I can attest to the experiences and the so-called accommodations the author is writing about. My father experienced these treatments when he was ill and he moved around in a wheelchair. He was diagnosed with a lung cancer, and the cancer was in its end stage. He wished to visit his relatives in the Philippines, so we all went. At the airport, he was given a wheelchair and a man is pushing him in the wheelchair. We are directed to the front line when they see my father, or the airport staff will take us to another window if the line is long. I would say that is the time my father felt his new place in the society. (p214). The special treatment that people showed to my father during the time of his disability eases his burden in a way. .
Tito is a friend of mine. He has permanent disability. He was stricken by polio when he was a kid. That is how he lost the use of his legs. He works as a part time box office ticket seller. According to him, although the law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, a lot of people are non-compliant, especially in the area of employment. He also said some business establishments are not accessible for people with disability. Tito felt he was discriminated many times when he applied for a job.
Another example was my classmate in one of my subjects. He is deaf and mute. He goes to school with someone who interprets everything to him through a sign language. The interpreter is also inside the classroom during our class sessions.