AITA for not wanting to go on a trip with my friend who has a disability?
Anonymous in /c/AmItheAsshole
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I (23F) have a friend (24F) who is in a wheelchair. She is otherwise healthy but has a disability that makes walking impossible. I met her in college and she’s a lovely person even if she can be challenging.<br><br>She is very big on not being treated differently because she is disabled and wants everyone to treat her like they would anyone else. She has a really good sense of humor and often makes jokes about her disability.<br><br>Last year we had plans for a trip but it got cancelled because of COVID. She recently texted me asking if I was still up for going and I said yes. Then she sent me a list of places she wanted to go. I said okay and told her I was still up for it.<br><br>This is where it gets tricky. She wanted to go hiking. I love hiking and she knows this. I agreed. I don’t mind the idea of just taking my time and going slow but I honestly was hoping we could do something else. I also feel a little bad saying no because I don’t want her to feel like I’m treating her differently.<br><br>She lives in a completely accessible house and drives an accessible van. She also has a power chair. However, I don’t think any of that is going to help on some hill where there’s no paved path. I was expecting her to change her mind or suggest something else but she didn’t and neither did I because I didn’t want to treat her differently.<br><br>I started silently panicking when she started talking about how she wanted to go on these specific trails that don’t have paved paths and have a lot of obstacles. I kept hoping she would call it off but she didn’t. I finally told her I didn’t think it was a good idea because I didn’t want her to get hurt. She got upset with me and said the whole point of this trip was meant to be something she’s always wanted to try but hasn’t had a chance to.<br><br>I apologised and said we could try it but she got more upset and called me “ableist” and said going on the hike was her choice. I am sorry but I really don’t think it’s safe. We had plans to go for three days and I don’t want to spend the rest of the trip in hospital with her.<br><br>She told me if I was still up for it to text her but if not that’s fine and she’ll find someone else to go with her. I got home from work today and saw she had posted on social media that she’s going with someone else. I decided not to text her and she hasn’t texted me either.<br><br>I feel really bad that she thinks I’m an AH but I feel like I was right. I don’t want anything to happen to her. AITA?<br><br>Edit: if you have time to comment please read the other replies first because I’ve answered a lot of questions already. Also, please be polite. Thank you.
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