Disabled people are often called inspirations for doing nothing because it is often believed that existing as a disabled person automatically makes you an inspiration. Some disabled people are making a difference, and I would consider them an inspiration, but disability is not what makes someone inspiring and actions do. As a disabled person, I have been praised for doing simple tasks because often non-disabled people think very low of disabled people and think we need encouragement every time we do something a little hard. Life is harder when you are physically disabled because we live in an inaccessible world that is not designed for us, but not every task needs to be praised. As a physically disabled person, I may do things in a different way than non-disabled people, but going to the grocery store is not a major accomplishment, and I am just living life like everyone else. Some of the things people praise me for are meant to be compliments, but when people praise me for doing the smallest thing, sometimes it’s a little insulting and tells me that you have very low expectations of me. What do people praise me for that I wish they wouldn’t? In this post, I am sharing five everyday things that people have praised me for that don’t need praise.
Leaving my home- Non-disabled people sometimes think that disabled people sit in their homes and never leave because it is often believed that disabled people are not able to leave their homes. Some disabled people live with a lot of pain and are bed-bound most of the time, but not all disabled people are unable to leave their homes. Disabled people sometimes have to get their car modified to use hand controls, but disabled people can drive, go to work and have a social life outside of their home like non-disabled people. When I leave my home. non-disabled people often will praise me because they expect me to never leave my house. Some days I struggle to go out because I have higher pain levels, but leaving my home is not that difficult. I often have to allow myself more time to get ready, but as long as I have a driver and am going somewhere that is accessible to me, it’s relatively easy for me to leave my home. Leaving my home is no more of an accomplishment than it would be for non-disabled people. It is a little insulting when you pat me on the back for leaving my house because it tells me that you have very low opinions of me and think I am not capable of leaving my home.
When I do anything independently– When you are physically disabled, you often will require more assistance than non-disabled people. Sometimes non-disabled people think people with physical disabilities need help with everything, and if they see you doing anything independently, they will either insist they do the task for you or praise you for doing something without help. People are constantly praising me when they see me doing something independently, and I don’t have to be doing anything difficult to shock people, and I could be doing something so small like sitting and painting my nails. As a physically disabled person, I had to learn different ways to do every task to accommodate my disability, but I don’t need to be praised every single time I am doing something without help. I can do most things independently because I did a lot of therapy as a child and doing something independently is something that is usually expected of me and is not a huge accomplishment.
Going for walk– If I want to get a good cardio workout, I have to go outside because I don’t benefit from most cardio machines. People sometimes will see me going for a walk and tell me I am inspiring them and that they are so proud of me. Since when is going on a walk a major accomplishment? As a physically disabled person, I often have to modify exercises because fitness is not accessible, but going for a walk is not something you need to praise me for. I am just doing what it takes to improve my physical health, just like everyone else, because fitness is just as important for disabled people as it is for non-disabled people. Non-disabled people often think disabled people can’t exercise, but that is only true for some people because most of us can with modifications. Exercising makes my life with a disability easier and is not a major accomplishment.
Sitting and doing nothing– Non-disabled people often view all disabled people as inspirations, and we don’t have to be doing anything spectacular; all you have to do is exist as a disabled person. There have been times when I have been at my parents’ beach condo, relaxing at the pool, and people have approached me to tell me I am an inspiration and that they are so proud of me. What am I inspiring you to do? If lounging at the pool or going to the beach is a major accomplishment, then I guess we should start praising everyone who is doing nothing. I think it’s a little insulting when people praise me for doing nothing because it tells me that you have very low opinions of me. Disabled people existing is no more inspirational than a non-disabled person existing.
People have praised me for doing everyday tasks– When you are physically disabled, simple tasks that would come easily to a non-disabled person take a disabled person more effort. When non-disabled people see me do every day tasks like go to the grocery, brush my hair and teeth often they will praise for me because they don’t think I can do these things. Most everyday tasks are not difficult because I have been disabled my whole life and have learned ways to make them easier. It is always funny to me when non-disabled people praise me for doing everyday tasks because I have to practice good hygiene like non-disabled people, and the only difference is I have to find different ways to do them. I am expected to do everyday tasks and take care of myself like a non-disabled person, even though some tasks take me a little more time.
When you are disabled, people often praise you for doing the smallest task because they think you need a compliment. Disabled people often struggle to do tasks that non-disabled people wouldn’t struggle with, but disabled people can do hard things, and not every task is a major accomplishment. It sometimes takes me longer to complete a task than non-disabled people, but even though something is hard, that doesn’t mean I need to be praised. Disabled people do not always need compliments, and we have to stop praising disabled people for every little thing because I am just living life like everyone else. Some of the things people have praised me for are ridiculous, and I wish you wouldn’t, because it doesn’t make me feel very good about myself when you praise me for leaving my home. If you are disabled, what do people praise you for? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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