Here at Miami University, we have a type of "core plan" where every student must take certain types of classes along with the classes for their major in order to graduate. One of these sections had a class on disability studies as an option. My friend had taken the class in a previous semester and strongly encouraged me to take it, too.

When I signed up for the class, I thought it would just be a class I would take to graduate and that would be it. However, on the first day of class, I soon realized that this would not be the case. In a mere 4 weeks, I have learned so much more about the disability community and those who consider themselves members of it. Being someone who identifies as a member of this community herself, I have found it really interesting to learn more about other members of the community and hear their stories. But this class, obviously, isn't restricted to only those in the disability community. It's a class meant to educate everyone on the topic of disability studies. But why should you take this class, you might ask?

No matter what your future career goals are, the reality is that you will run into members of the disability community with your clients, patients, etc. This is especially true of those entering any health professional field. Did you know that there is person-first language (PFL) and identity-first language (IFL) when it comes to addressing those in the disability community? This is something that is so important to know as many people prefer one over the other when being addressed. You could use the example of someone who is autistic. Person first language would be referring to the person as "person with autism." Identity first language would be referring to the person as "an autistic person." Members of the disability community have different preferences of which to use, but it is still so important to know that the two types of languages exist.

Another thing that I have learned in my disability studies class is that the term "wheelchair bound" is not a term that is acceptable to use in society today. Wheelchair users take pride in themselves and do not feel "bound" by their wheelchairs. However, this is something that you might not know if you've never taken a disability studies class.

Those are only some of the many things that you learn when taking such a class in college. I truly believe that everyone should try to take a disability studies class during their time in college because it covers topics that everyone should be aware of when entering the workforce. Being able-bodied is considered a temporary condition in life. No one ever knows what accidents or life challenges they will be presented with, and the priveledges that come with being able-bodied are also temporary. Therefore, being in a disability studies class not only makes you more aware of those around you, but also prepares you for what is to come for the rest of your life.