In the Funny Patches section at The Cheap Place I found the It's Okay To Stare patch. Having been temporarily disabled a couple of years ago this patch reminded me of others who are permanently disabled. In particular, people whose disabilities make them look or behave abnormally. Those who have never experienced such disabilities are often uncomfortable around the disabled because they don't know what to say or do. Thus, they simply stare.
Funny saying patches like this one are a perfect tool to make other people feel more at ease in the presence of a disabled person. Using myself as an example, my temporary disability left me looking and behaving like I was always drunk. I remember walking through the grocery store with my wife only to realize at one point there were lots of people staring at me. It didn't bother me, but I felt bad for them. Having a couple of these patches sewn to my jacket might have helped them laugh a little bit and relax.
I think this is a great patch for people suffering from noticeable disabilities - as long as they are comfortable with themselves. Not only is it a great way to put people at ease, it's also a great conversation starter. You can mount to the back of your wheelchair or attach it to your favorite sweater or hat. Fortunately, the heat activated glue on the back makes it easy to apply with a hot iron.
