When you are disabled, you cannot do tasks in the same way that non-disabled people can because there are some things that are impossible with your disability. Non-disabled people often think that disabled people can do whatever they put their mind to, but that is not true because we live in an inaccessible world, and our disabilities do limit some tasks. It can be harmful to tell a disabled person that they can do whatever they put their minds to because it implies that your limitations are your fault, and if you tried a little harder, anything is possible. There are some things that I can do in the same way that non-disabled people can, because my disability does not limit every task, but there are even more things that I have never experienced because of my disability. You can make a lot of things accessible, so I can participate, but you can’t change my disability, and sometimes you have to accept that there are some things you will never experience as a disabled person. What things have I never experienced as a disabled person? In this post, I am sharing five things I have never experienced because of my disability.
I have never gone to a regular summer camp- Most kids have had the experience of going to a summer camp. I have gone to camps, but have never had the experience of going to a regular camp that a non-disabled person would typically go to because they are not accommodating of disability, and my needs would not be met. Every camp that I have gone to is specifically for disabled people because camps for non-disabled people that most people would attend would not be fun for me. They are not accessible, and I would have to sit out of a lot of the activities because they wouldn’t be accommodating of my disability. I have had the experience of going to a regular camp because my disability makes it difficult to participate in every activity that non-disabled people can. Camps for disabled people are my only option because they have inclusive activities that my disability doesn’t prevent me from doing. I haven’t gone to a lot of summer camps in my childhood because I can’t go to a regular summer camp and have never experienced going to a regular camp that isn’t for disabled people.
I have never driven a car- I am not able to drive a car in the same way that non-disabled people can because I don’t have the muscles to push a pedal with my foot. People with physical disabilities can sometimes drive because you can get a car modified, but it is very expensive and the modifications alone can cost up to ninety thousand dollars or more, and you haven’t bought the car yet. Driving a car is possible with my disability, but I don’t drive because my eyes don’t work together, and I do not see 3-D, so getting behind the wheel would not be safe. If I had perfect vision, I don’t know if I would be able to drive because it is so expensive to get a car modified, and I could never afford to pay for it out of pocket on my current income. Sometimes you can get help from the government to pay for the modification, but it is a very long process, and I don’t know if it’s worth the stress. I am fortunate that I have people in my life who will take me places, but I have never experienced driving a car myself and never will.
I have never felt pain in my feet- It can be very difficult to explain what foot pain is like to me because, since the day I was born, I have never had feeling in my feet. I constantly have to check my feet for sores because I never feel pain in my feet, and can get a really bad sore and not even know it. If I am exercising and starting to get tired, I don’t experience foot cramps, and usually will start to experience lower back pain. I have to be really careful when walking on hot pavement because I can easily burn myself without feeling any pain.
I have never played a game of volleyball– When my sisters were in school, they were on a volleyball and I came to watch, but never have I played the game myself. It can be very hard for me to play a game of volleyball because I can’t move as quickly to hit the ball, and the net is often too high, so I can’t hit the ball over it. Regular sports can be very difficult for me to play with physical disability because I am short, and if I wanted to play a sport, I’d have to pick an inclusive one that accommodates my disability. I have never been able to play any kind of game that required a lot of standing and running because it’s impossible to do well with my disability.
I have never been surfing- I have gone canoeing because I am able to sit in a boat and paddle, but have never gone surfing. I am unable to stand without my crutches, and standing on a surf board is an impossible task. Most water sports are impossible with my disability because they are either incredibly difficult and wouldn’t be fun, or impossible to begin with. I am able to go for a swim, but I don’t kick my legs because I don’t have those muscles to be able to do that, and it’s all in my upper body. I have watched people surf, but I will never experience it myself because I am not able to stand on a board.
When you are disabled, sometimes you are not able to do an activity because your disability prevents you from being able to do it well, and that is okay. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to do activities that my disability limits, but I try not to think about it too much because thinking about cures all the time and wishing you could do things that you can’t only makes you unhappy. Disability limits your ability to do a lot of things, but you find new things that your disability doesn’t prevent you from doing. I try not to think about all the things I can’t do with my disability and focus on what I can do. I see the word in a different way, and that is going because being different is not a bad thing. Disabled people can do fun things and participate in some of the same activities as their non-disabled friends, but it has to be accessible for it to be possible. Most times, I can’t do tasks not because it’s impossible with my disability, but because it’s not accessible. What things have you never experienced as a disabled person? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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