More than a Disability

Over 1 billion people in the world are considered to be disabled—that is 15 % of our global population. And in the United States alone, one in four adults have a disability. Just let these statistics sink in.

These statistics alone are part of the reason why there is this unspoken gap between abled bodies and disabled bodies. We, as a society, fail to acknowledge this separation because it does not seem to be a pressing issue to us. We just carry on with our lives, not realizing that this community of differently abled bodies is oftentimes isolated. Why is there a need to place a label on what our bodies can and cannot do if all it does is separate us? There is no one, single answer to this question because it is engrained in our culture and it is what we have always been used to. But shouldn’t it be those with disabilities helping us to understand these issues and their needs rather than our society as a whole making assumptions and thinking that we understand them better than they understand themselves? It is a tricky question—there are many layers to it, but a good start is rethinking how we walk through the world. A shift from independence to interdependence, because in the end, independence (in this context) is what further divides us.

For the past two years, I have worked for a program that aids adults with intellectual disabilities, so I have had quite a bit of experience interacting with individuals with all different types of disabilities. With this, I have noticed some particular trends with regards to how our society treats this specific community of people. The most common being inferiority. This is shown specifically through the “baby-talk” used when trying to communicate. Before I started working there, I even caught myself doing that. I find it so troubling that people speak to them this way—it makes them feel as if they have no voice; it makes them feel of lesser value. The reality is this: they are human beings just like everyone else, and they deserve to be treated as one. Communication is key—and we have to begin to reframe how we interact with others who are differently abled than us. Another trend I have noticed is not giving them the chance to use their voices. This also relates to speaking to them as if they are inferior. Because they may not have the same communication skills that an “abled” person may have, we automatically assume they have no voice. This leads to the mindset of thinking it is acceptable to make decisions for them. Instead of assuming, we need to really just communicate with one another. It is really just as simple as that.  

With all of this being said, I am not saying that those with disabilities should not be recognized for what limits them, because then they would not be able to be recognized for the health care and support they need. I think it is amazing that there are programs and resources readily available for people who need them to live comfortably. From personal experience, I have seen how the day-program I work for makes people who consider themselves to be in this community feel. However, I do not think that these disabilities should be the only things we see them for. They are more than just their disability. They are individuals who deserve respect for who they are as a person.

Interdependence is the key to all of this. We are all dependent on one another, and being able to understand each other while accepting the differences that may at first appear to separate us is important when thinking about those who are differently abled. We are all human, and that something that cannot be taken away from anyone.