Are All Disabled People Inspiring?

If you are disabled, it is likely that you have been approached by a non-disabled person and told that you were inspiring for absolutely no reason at all. Some disabled people are inspiring, but telling a disabled person that their existence is inspiring is ableist and not the compliment people think it it. In today’s society, all disabled people are considered inspiring solely based on the fact that we are disabled, but my disability alone isn’t what makes me an inspiration, and I wish people would stop calling me inspiring for no reason, because it’s insulting. I no longer see being called inspiring as a compliment because it’s such an overused term that is often said to disabled people when they have nothing else to say. Some disabled people have done nothing inspirational and are not inspiring because being disabled doesn’t automatically make you an inspiration. Are all disabled people inspiring? In this post, I am going to talk about why you shouldn’t call all disabled inspiring.

It’s insulting to be praised for doing basic tasks- When I am called an inspiration for doing basic tasks, such as brushing my teeth, it’s a little insulting because it implies that you didn’t think I was able to do that task. Disabled people shouldn’t be praised for doing basic tasks because disabled people have to go to the grocery store just like non-disabled people do. My disability has limitations, and sometimes I have to complete tasks in a slightly different way, but that doesn’t make me an inspiration and that is called living life. You wouldn’t call a non-disabled person inspiring for going to the grocery store to get milk for their cereal, so why is it inspiring when disabled people do that exact same task? Disabled people have to go to work and do tasks like non-disabled people do, and I shouldn’t be praised for doing tasks that I am expected to do. It is not more inspiring when a disabled person completes basic tasks, but it is a little insulting when you praise disabled people for getting dressed, because I am doing what I have to do to get the job done, just like everyone else.

It takes action to be inspiring– As a disabled person, I have been called inspiring more times than I could count, but a vast majority of the time, people don’t actually think I am inspiring and say it because they think I need a compliment. Some disabled people are doing great things, and I would consider them inspirations, but I would not consider all disabled people inspiring because some people have done nothing to earn the title of inspiration. It takes action to be inspiring because you have to do something great to be an inspiration, and existing as a disabled person does not automatically make you an inspiration, but actions do. I think that it can be so harmful to call all disabled people inspiring because not everyone is. Inspiring means that you encourage or motivate people to do something, and not everyone has done that. We shouldn’t be throwing around the word inspiring and calling disabled people inspiring for doing nothing, because when you actually do think a disabled person is inspiring, we don’t believe you.

It takes away the real meaning of inspiring– When you label every disabled person as inspiring, it takes away from the real meaning of what it means to be an inspiration. As a disabled person, I have been called inspiring more times than I care to admit, and I wish I could take that as a compliment, but unfortunately, I can’t because it is said to me too much and often only because people don’t know what to say and that I exist as a disabled person. Some disabled people are inspiring, but because it’s such an overused term, it’s hard for me to take it as a genuine compliment. The word inspiring has lost its meaning because we are saying it to literally every disabled person. It is sad that I can’t take being called inspiring as a genuine compliment because some people do mean it. We could change that and make it more meaningful by only saying it to disabled people who have done something to earn that title.

Not everyone is an inspiration– Disabled advocates who put their lives online and do things that make themselves a little uncomfortable are inspiring, but I would not consider all disabled people as inspirations. Some disabled people are the complete opposite of inspirations and sit at home and pity themselves, but somehow these people are still considered inspirations because they are disabled. It can be so harmful to call someone who is not inspiring an inspiration because it feeds into their self-pity and will not encourage them to look at their disability in a different way. Some disabled people are inspiring, but some people aren’t and have done nothing to make me consider that person an inspiration. We need to get away from calling everyone inspiring and only say it to people who truly deserve that title.

Disabled people are often considered inspirations, and it is okay if you think I am inspiring, but I hope that the reason behind you thinking I am inspiring isn’t solely based on the fact that I am disabled. People often think that calling a disabled person inspiring is a compliment, but often it’s not and is a little insulting because I am not here to be your inspiration and don’t want to be praised for doing everyday tasks. Disabled people sometimes complete tasks in a slightly different way but we are doing what has to be done, and if you are going to call me inspiring for doing the laundry, you should be calling everyone who does that task an inspiration. As a disabled person, I don’t like to be called an inspiration for no reason because it reinforces the harmful stereotypes that disabled people are heroes and should be praised for leaving our homes. Some disabled people do not mind being called inspiring, and I am not speaking for all disabled people and I am only sharing my opinion as one disabled individual. Do you like to be called inspiring? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.

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