When you are disabled, sometimes there are tasks that your disability prevents you from being able to do, and someone has to do them for you. Disability doesn’t prevent you from doing everything, and there are some tasks that you technically can do, but it’s not easy. As a physically disabled person, I struggle with most tasks, and there are some things that my disability makes impossible for me to do, and I need assistance with. My disability doesn’t prevent me from doing all things, and there are some tasks I technically can do, but it’s really hard, and I usually have someone else do it for me because a non-disabled person can do it a lot faster with less struggle. It is not laziness to ask for help on tasks that you struggle with that you technically have the ability to do, because we all need a little help sometimes. Sometimes I ask for help on tasks that I have the ability to do, but it’s really hard for me, and it’s safer for someone else to do it. What tasks do I have the ability to do that I usually ask for help with? In this post, I am sharing a few tasks that I technically have the ability to do, but usually have someone do for me.
Unloading and loading the dishwasher– I still live with my parents because I don’t make enough money to be able to financially support myself living on my own. My mom usually is the one to make sure we always have clean dishes, but about a week ago, both of my parents got really sick and were out of commission for about a week. Fortunately, I never got sick, but I did have to do a little bit more around the house because I was the only one well enough to do it. I don’t usually do the dishes because it takes me a lot longer, and it’s easier for a non-disabled person to do that task, but I could if I had to. When my parents were sick, I had to load and unload the dishwasher because if I wouldn’t have done that, I would have not had any dishes to eat on. It takes me about a half-hour to unload and load the dishwasher that would probably take a non-disabled person ten minutes. I sometimes have to take more breaks when doing the dishes, but I can do them and normally don’t because it requires more effort.
Make the bed- As a physically disabled person, I sometimes will have to change my sheets more often than a non-disabled person because my bowels do not work properly, and sometimes I have accidents. I am able to change my sheets on my bed independently, but if someone is around to help me, I usually will ask for assistance because it’s not an easy task. It sometimes takes me half an hour or more to put on my sheets that would take a non-disabled person five minutes. I am not able to lift the mattress or move my bed like a non-disabled person can, and when I am putting them on my bed sometimes I am not able to get the corners well, and the sheets end up falling off. If I had to, I could change my sheets but will ask for assistance if someone is available to eliminate some struggle.
Clean my shower- If my shower curtain were dirty and I had to remove it, I would need help doing that because I am too short and would not be able to get it down without ripping it. I could physically clean my tub if I had to but it would be very difficult because I don’t have as much stability as a non-disabled person and can’t bend over and clean my tub as easily. A non-disabled person usually cleans my tub for me, not because I am unable to do it myself, but because they can do it a lot faster. I normally do not choose to clean my tub myself because I would have to lean over in an awkward position for a long period of time, which would trigger my chronic pain.
Clean down countertops- Wheelchairs make it possible for me to clean my kitchen countertops, but even though I can do something, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. When my parents were sick, I wiped down my kitchen tops, but it was a little difficult because I am only four foot ten and there were some areas I could not reach and didn’t get clean. I have the ability to clean countertops, but normally someone does that for me because I am not able to clean them as thoroughly as a non-disabled person, since I am unable to stand like someone without a disability. My wheelchair makes that task possible, but it is difficult because when I am sitting down, I can’t reach as far.
Make a pot of coffee– As a physically disabled person, I am able to pour a pot of coffee easily because my disability does not prevent me from doing that task. It can be difficult for me to make a pot of coffee myself because I can’t see the top of the coffee maker. A Keurig machine does require fewer steps to make coffee, but it’s not any easier because I also can’t see the buttons on the machine and pretty much have to memorize where they are. In my home, we mostly use the old-fashioned coffee maker, and most of the time it’s already prepped and all I have to do is pour my coffee, which isn’t difficult. Occasionally, people will forget to prep the coffee, and I will have to do it myself or wait until someone gets up. I am able to make a pot of coffee, but I prefer not to because it’s not easy, and I am grateful I don’t have to do it that often.
When you are disabled, sometimes your disability prevents you from doing some tasks but being disabled does not mean you need help with everything. Disabled people sometimes have to do tasks in a different way, but that does not mean we are incapable. I try to be as independent as possible, but sometimes I have to accept the reality that some things are too difficult for me, so I need to ask someone else to do for me. There is nothing wrong with asking for help on things that your disability doesn’t technically limit because you shouldn’t be causing yourself unnecessary struggle. Sometimes I will have to do tasks that someone normally does for me, and I am grateful that I have that ability, but if I can eliminate struggle most of the time, I am going to. There is no shame in asking for help on things that you have the ability to do because sometimes it’s safer and quicker for someone else. Non-disabled people sometimes think that asking for help is a sign of weakness, but it’s not weakness, and sometimes it is necessary. What tasks do you have the ability to do that you ask for help with? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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