I was at the hospital with my assistant for a checkup. The doctor only talked with my assistant about me and my illnesses, as if I were a child or not there at all. I became very angry and was about to start crying and wanted to leave. I was turning around with my electric wheelchair when I realised that I could not open the door on my own. Then I remembered our self-defence class, and I turned back to them, made myself big, breathed deeply in and out and said to the doctor: “You talk about me and my illnesses with my assistant and act as if I weren’t there! That’s not ok. Either you talk directly with me or the conversation is over.” They both looked quite startled. The doctor then explained everything to me, and my assistant apologised. It felt really great to have gotten respect and what I wanted!