I'm super excited to bring you my first blog series as it is something VERY VERY close to my heart, and something I take very seriously and personally.
Last night I was watching a Youtube video by Molly Burke. Molly is blind, and she uses her platform on Youtube Instagram, Tik Tok, etc. to raise awareness and educate people on the disabled community. In her video I watched last night she was talking about what was appropriate and what wasn’t in terms of what people outside of the “disabled community” think they know, what they say and how they act.
Molly’s video inspired me, being disabled myself I agreed with a lot of her thoughts and feelings. This is how I got to this blog post topic.
I have a physical disability called Cereberal Palsy. My case is mild, so it basically just affects the way that I walk, (visually) but we can dive deeper into my disability another time.
Today, much like Molly did in her video I want to express to you what is okay, and is not okay for non disabled people to do, say etc.
Disclaimer: these are just my feelings and my opinions. I am not speaking for the whole “disabled community” as we all have different opinions on what bothers us most and what we just shake off.
The term: the term “disability” although factually correct I have never liked because it’s always given me a negative vibe. The way I look at it is, my CP is not a negative thing. However, I don’t think anyone could come up with a term better fit to describe a “disability” In reality there are some things I cannot do, but there are things that everyone cannot do even without a disability.
Differently abeled: this is a term I hadn’t heard until watching Molly’s video last night. It was actually part of the title of her video, and as soon as I read it a chill ran down my spine. Molly explained it perfectly, people who say words like “differently abled” think they know what they are talking about, but they don’t. People think they are doing us a favor by not using the word “disabled” but it’s the exact opposite. When I think of the words “differently abled” it sounds again, very negative and cringy.
Handicapped: when I think of this word I think of an old man with his back hunched over using a cane. It’s very insensitive and makes us sound like we are unable to do anything. Molly made a great point in her video when she mentioned using the word “accessible” instead of “handicapped” It makes me for one feel less than.. Where as using the world accessible in parking lots or bathroom stalls is a more respectful term.
Crippled: there was this girl in 5th grade who I was friends with (ish) and she would always use this word. She would never use it as a derogatory term, but just casually. Again, this is insensitive. I know the way that I walk is not normal, but this is another term that I feel like less of a person. The people you see using walkers or canes know the way they look when they walk. We’re not “crippled” we are just walking the way that we walk.
There are probably many more terms I could think of, but at the moment four is all I have for you.
Now let’s move on to the things you shouldn’t do or assume.
Sympathetic eyes: I cannot tell you how many times I walk into a store or anywhere really wether it is with my walker, a wheelchair or nothing at all I receive “puppy dog eyes” Do not feel sorry for me because you know absolutely nothing about me or my life. Assumptions NEED to stop.
Staring: I get it, I walk differently, and that isn’t “normal” but I believe it should be. It’s one thing if kids are staring because they are kids. They don’t know any better, but this is one place the lack of education grown people have on the disabled community really shines through.
Assuming: I’ve touched on “assuming” a bit but I really want to dive deep into this one because for me, this one burns the most. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been at a restaurant, and the waitress or waiter looks to my mom when asking what I want. Assuming someone’s intelligence just based off of their physical appearance or their disability is not okay. Assuming that someone needs help just based on your perception is not okay. If I need your help I will happily let you know.
I wanted to make this blog post because I am very passionate when it comes to educating other people on disabilities because it blows my mind how uneducated people are. I want people to be aware and know. I want people to understand and avoid disrespecting people when they don’t even know they are doing it.
That’s why I don’t want to make this just ONE blog post. I want to make it a series in hopes that with every new post people outside of the disabled community learn more and more about us, and I hope and pray by me speaking out we can be one step closer to ending the stigma that is centered around the disabled community.
I want to dedicate this post to Molly Burke and thank her for all she has and continues to raise awareness for the disabled community
WATCH HER VIDEO THAT INSPIRED THIS POST BLOG SERIES HERE: https://youtu.be/0n8d9U5xRro
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