"Niced to Death"

Outline of the body of the story

1. People are patronizing (one woman's experience)
   
   • People "helping" her across the street
   • People always saying she's "so brave." Several quotes from her on the subject
     
2. People jump to conclusions (One man's experiences)
   
   • People see that he can't move, assume he can't hear
   • Anecdote: Nurse assumed he was incompetent--didn't ask him to attend a meeting about his own care.
     
3. People have stereotypes (Another woman's experience)
   
   • Bus rider asking: Can blind people have children?
   • People assume her 6-year-old is more competent than she is
     
4. Why do people think the way they do?
   
   • First woman's quote: Society is too obsessed with health and longevity
   • Second woman's comment: People believe in soap opera stereotypes
     
5. Why those people are wrong
   

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