Non-disabled people sometimes think that disabled people hate their lives and are always thinking about the challenges of their disabilities. My disability is a huge part of me, and I can’t escape it, but despite what some people believe, I am not always thinking about the fact that I am disabled because I have had a disability my whole life, and it’s nothing new to me. There are a lot of things that I do as a disabled person that help me escape my disability, but there are even more things that remind me of it. Some activities are possible for me to do with my disability, but even though I can do something, that doesn’t mean it’s the same experience because the reality is I don’t get enjoyment from the same types of things as non-disabled people. I try to do things such as blogging that my disability doesn’t prevent me from doing well which helps me escape my disability but it’s hard sometimes because you can’t ever fully escape your challenges, and they are always there. What things remind me of my disability? In this post, I am going to talk about five things that remind me of my disability.
When you demand I need prayer- I don’t know any non-disabled person who has been cornered in a store and told they need healing because these things typically only happen to people who have visible signs of a disability. As a Christian, I believe in the power of prayer and will let you pray for me if you have a real reason for doing so, but I have a problem with people demanding I need prayer without knowing anything about me and not taking no for an answer. It can be a little insulting when you tell me that I need to be healed because it implies there is something wrong with me that needs to be fixed. There is nothing wrong with disabled people, and the only thing that needs fixing is the lack of accessibility and ableism. I try to be nice to people and educate them when they say I need prayer, but I am reminded of my disability every time you tell me I need to pray for healing because strangers only approach disabled people and tell them they need prayer.
When something is not accessible– I am not reminded of my disability every time I struggle because I am used to challenges, and it’s part of my everyday life, but I am reminded of my disability when I have to sit by myself and can’t access something that everyone else can. Accessibility makes me forget about my disability, and when I have to ask for help on things I should be able to do independently, I get frustrated and am reminded of the fact that I have a disability. I will still struggle when things are accessible, but I do struggle a little less, and I hate it when I have to depend on others to do things I’d be able to do without help if it was accessible. Accessibility makes me feel like I have endless possibilities, and inaccessibility makes me feel restricted and dependent on others, and I am reminded of my disability every time something is not accessible that could be. Inaccessibility makes it harder for me to navigate, and I am reminded of my disability because non-disabled people do not have these problems when something is not accessible.
Exercise reminds me of my disability- Exercise is important for both disabled and non-disabled people, but fitness is not accessible, and it is harder for us to find an accessible routine. In the past, I have used exercise as a way to escape my disability, but since having hip replacement surgery and losing mobility, I am reminded of my disability every time I do my exercise routine. Exercise is physically more challenging when you lose mobility because you can’t exercise in the same way that you could when you had mobility. It doesn’t matter what exercises I am doing, and I am always reminded of my disability when I exercise because exercises, I used to do are no longer possible, and if they are, it’s not the same experience. Exercise reminds me of my disability because I have to do so much to make it accessible and get fatigued a lot faster than I ever have. I exercise because I know it’s good for my physical health, but I do often feel restricted and can’t exercise without being reminded of my disability.
When I have a surgery- When you have Spina Bifida, sometimes you need a lot of surgeries to have good health and make your life easier. I have had dozens of surgeries and am fortunate that I have a great support system because not all disabled people have that, and surgeries would be so much harder to get through without having someone constantly by your side. I have had many painful surgeries, such as hip replacement, that I would not have been able to get through alone, but I would be lying if I told you that needing another surgery didn’t remind me of my disability. Most people can eat healthy and exercise and never have health issues, but that has never been my reality because there are some things about my disability I cannot control. I am reminded of my disability every time I need a surgery because most people have never needed a surgery, and if they have, it’s very minor. Luckily I do have a great medical team that helps make the process less stressful but it’s still reminds of my disability because most people will never have to experience any of the surgeries I have and have never even heard of these kinds of surgeries.
When I have a stoma problem– I have made the choice to get a stoma for both my bladder and bowel because these functions do not work properly and it helps me to be able to manage these issues independently. I am grateful for my stoma because it gives me independence that I would not have and I forget about my disability when everything is working great but when it’s not and I am running to the bathroom every ten minutes because my stoma keeps leaking I am reminded of my disability My stoma has positively changed my life but it does remind me I am disabled because most people don’t have a hole on their lower abdomen to help them go to the bathroom. My struggles to go to the bathroom are constant reminders I have a disability because people without my disability have likely never struggled with constipation to the extent I have and never will.
When you talk to me like child- Non-disabled people sometimes will go up to a disabled person who is a full-grown adult and talk to them like they are a young child. As a disabled person, I want to be treated like everyone else, but I often am not because people think they have to talk to disabled people in a different way. I forget about my disability when non-disabled people have a normal conversation with me, ignoring the fact I am disabled, and I am reminded of my disability when people talk slowly because they think I can’t understand them.
When you are disabled, I think that it is important to find things that help you escape your disability because living with constant daily challenges is stressful and something most people will never understand. I do things every day that remind me of my disability because my disability never takes a vacation, and I can never fully escape it. I am not thinking about my disability 24/7, and sometimes people remind me I am disabled by insisting I need prayer or telling me I am an inspiration for leaving my home. Non-disabled people sometimes think that it’s sad to talk about all the things your disability takes from you, but it’s important that we do because it’s a reality of being disabled that we can’t ignore. I get frustrated with my disability on a daily basis, and this is not a complete list of everything that reminds me of my disability because I could go on all day. Inaccessibility and ableism are some of the main reasons I sometimes feel disabled, and if we were to remove these barriers, I would have an easier life and not feel as disabled. What reminds you of your disability? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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