Disability begins with our perceptions of how ability is supposed to look like. It begins with our inflexible mindset that demands everyone to do the same in the same way to show capacity.
The perception of Disability is supported by outdated social constructions that identify it as a tragic or disappointing event that needs to be avoided or controlled so there is no “suffering.” And if it happens, “suffering” is expected in order to demonstrate the ability to “deal” with it.
- Disability manifests as the result of our inability as a society to think out of the box, learn new things
and recognize our social responsibility to adjust and grow along together. - Disability
disables - Disability disables when we allow others to tell us what to expect from our own children, where to place them, and how to treat them based on their diagnosis.
Disability disables
Disability disables when we try to erase its existence as a natural form of being, and instead, we choose to dress it up as a privilege, a lucky charm, or a different ability. The more focus we are on erasing the challenges, the more necessary supports we are erasing along with our prejudices and insecurities. And with that, we are leaving our children unprotected while we let society disable them out of lack of accessibility and necessary supports. All this, considering that disability is a social construction based on lack of accessibility and a deeper comprehension of diversity. When we attempt to erase disability, we are erasing as well the work of those who relentlessly fought for rights to be enacted and for accessibility to become a part of the mainstream world.
No one can advocate for justice or systemic changes without addressing first the challenges and tough realities we face as persons with disabilities and their families. We cannot erase the fact that disability exists, that challenges exist, and that regardless of much we try to avoid reality, disability is natural and will be a part of our world forever. Many times as an uninvited guest and many others as an unexpected event.
@elianatardio.com What's holding you back from building the world they deserve? ##fear ##parentsvskids ##growth ##inclusion ¿Qué te impide construir el mundo que merecen?
♬ I Love You (432 Hz) – Maejor, Greeicy
So before starting your fight or while you reflect about ways to continue it, take the time to dig deeper to understand what you are fighting for so you can support a world in which the answer is not to “cure or fix” people with disabilities but to cure a disabling system, in which we are somehow accomplices, and we all need to grow and evolve to become a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
