Sometimes when I am talking with another wheelchair user the first thing that comes to mind is “I also have Spina Bifida. Some people think that if we have the same disability we can connect better with each and will have more to talk about. What some people don’t realize is when you are lying about your diagnosis the people who actually have that disability know whether they say anything or not! Sometimes disabled people are polite and won’t call you even if it’s obvious you are lying about your disability but some people will and you may feel embarrassed. Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary to lie about your disability because regardless of whether or not you have that disability you can still connect with people it just may not be about your disability. There are few ways I can tell you are lying about your disability and today I am going to share them with you.
Have no idea what it is- I do not know a single disabled person who could not fully explain what their disability is and how to pronounce it correctly. If you can’t pronounce the disability you claim you have correctly or give me a basic definition of what it is that is a huge indicator you are lying! Disabled people who actually have that disability find it important to learn as much we can about it and if nothing else at bare minimum they can pronounce it correctly. It’s so important to us we may even correct our friends and family if they are pronouncing our disability incorrectly. If you are going to lie about what disability you have at least google it and find out what it is and how to pronounce it. If you make either one of those mistakes no one will believe you because disabled people with that disability don’t make those mistakes.
Someone gave it to you- I had a friend who was a wheelchair user and I asked her what disability she had and she told me that things went wrong during a surgery and her doctor gave her Spina Bifida. That is impossible because Spina Bifida is a birth defect, not a disease and no one can give it to you not even your doctor! Yes, things can go wrong during a surgery causing permanent spinal damage but unless you were diagnosed with it at birth then you don’t have Spina Bifida but have something else. Anyone with Spina Bifida would know that and it doesn’t matter how much you say “I’m serious” no one will believe you because I couldn’t be more serious about that fact it’s simply not possible.
Start talking cures- Another thing I have had people try to tell me is that they had Spina Bifida and were cured of it. If you knew anything about Spina Bifida you would know that’s impossible because Spina Bifida has no cure and you cannot be cured of it. Medical advancements have made it so people with Spina Bifida can live an easier life but we are not cured of it and we still face many challenges but we learn to live with it and adapt our lifestyle to it. There is nothing wrong with wanting a cure but Spina Bifida along with many others has no cure and the moment you start talking cures that are a huge indicator you are lying because there is none!
Some people might be able to lie about their disability and hide it really well but in my experience, people that do that can never do it for too long and will eventually slip up. Disabled people who have that actual disability are very knowledgeable in their disability whereas people who are lying are not because those people don’t know what they are talking about. People may ask you for advice on certain things that you can’t find on google and if you don’t have that disability you will not be able to give very good advice and it will be very obvious your lying. Just be honest and tell people your actual disability because it will be less stressful and people will trust you more. You don’t need to hide your disability because there is nothing to be embarrassed about. If you are uncomfortable talking about your disability then tell people that, don’t feel like you need to make one up. No one is entitled to know your disability and if you don’t want to talk about it then you don’t have to! Has anyone ever lied to you about their disability? Was it obvious or did they do a pretty good job at hiding it?
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