According to the U.S National Library of Medicine, about 1 in every 5 people in the United States has a disability. Some people are born with one while others have them as a result of an illness or injury. It is also possible to develop them as we age. Almost all of us will have a disability at some point in our lives. That’s a big deal.
Most people don’t realize that people with disabilities just want to feel “normal.” More often than not non-disabled people feel uncomfortable talking to someone with a disability, because they are worried about saying the wrong thing or they feel sorry for them. Individuals with disabilities often hide their disabilities to avoid being ridiculed or disrespected. They do not want to be defined by their disabilities and do not want to be seen as less than a non-disabled person.
Personally, it is very difficult to be open about my experience, and I hide my disability. My close friends in high school and my family helped me through the experience, but people who don’t know me as well aren’t aware and it doesn’t exactly come up in conversation. I just want to feel comfortable around others and feel “normal.” I want to be respected and treated like I’m not any different than if I didn’t have a disability.
Most of my friends don’t notice any changes in my behavior unless I go out of my way to tell them to do something that makes the situation easier for me due to my disability. Otherwise, I go about the rest of my day. However, I have faced many difficulties over the years and I don’t want to keep pretending that certain remarks don’t bother me when they do.
Although my disability is practically unnoticeable, it doesn’t mean I should have to pretend to be “normal.” Desiring normalcy is common for individuals with disabilities and we just want to feel accepted.
We want to be treated as equals. No one should experience shame, ridicule, or rejection for having a disability. For most disabled people, it is something we do not have control over.
It is already a laborious experience for us to adjust to living differently and accept the limitations. These harsh realities are not easy to handle, but people with disabilities want to continue living their lives like anyone else.
Do not make disabled people feel like outcasts. We are so much more than our disabilities.
