It seems ableism is alive and well.
TikToker Kirsten, or @lil_tachy on the platform, has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which has a wide range of associated symptoms, but for her in part means that if she stays on her feet for too long she will faint and lose consciousness. Because of this, she uses a wheelchair but is able to load and unload it herself, as well as drive a vehicle.
On the day of the viral TikTok video, Kirsten had just completed her shopping and loaded her items and wheelchair into her car. But once she was in the driver's seat, she had a sudden urge to start filming, and reported to her camera that a man was quickly walking to her car.
In the video, Kirsten rolls down her driver's side window and engages in an incredibly ableist conversation.
The man says:
"I noticed you got a wheelchair. Why do you need a wheelchair? You can obviously walk. I saw you walking to your car."
Kristen tries to tell him that she has an "autonomic nervous system disorder," but he cuts her off after "auto," clearly not interested in listening to what she has to say:
"You have an automobile, obviously you have an automobile."
Kristen decides to be patient with the man and explains that she has POTS, which he tries to infer means "smoking pot," but she politely explains that having POTS for her includes fainting spells and issues with overexertion, which is why she utilizes the wheelchair but can still walk short distances.
But the man was not having it.
"Yeah, right. You're probably just one of those fakers. You obviously don't need a wheelchair. You're probably just faking, trying to get disability [aid]..."
"You people... you people anger me."
While still calling the situation "total bullsh*t," the man's voice fades as he walks back across the parking lot, still loudly ranting about "fakers."
You can watch the video here:
Some were furious on Kirsten's behalf over how the man treated her.
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
Others who are also diagnosed with POTS shared similar experiences.
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
@lil_tachy/TikTok
Even though it's 2025, it's alarming how many people still assume that other people cannot have a disability because they "do not look like they have one" or because they're able to do an activity, like walking or lifting a wheelchair, for a short period of time.
This is a great example of not assuming you know everything about someone, and if you're really going to ask them a question, you better be polite, and you better listen, or else you might end up ranting about smoking weed and automobiles unnecessarily, while also dehumanizing someone.
