People often think of disabilities as an impediment, but what if they are actually the thing that changes a person’s life for the better? Had someone asked me this question six years ago before my diagnosis I would have likely scoffed or dismissed it as completely out of the question. But today, years after my disability diagnosis, I can proudly say that this was the case for me.
For a long time, I did not acknowledge my disability and worked hard to make it unnoticeable to others, to look healthy. Before my diagnosis, I loved being outside, taking in the crisp smell of Washington’s evergreen trees and spending quality time with friends and family at the lake or on the beaches in California. To everyone around me, I seemed healthy, but I was quickly realizing that something was very wrong. From endless nights studying for exams to overworking myself in a toxic internship, the old adage rang true: the body keeps the score.
Just like that, my seemingly “healthy” life quickly snowballed into days on end of sickness. Visiting doctors’ offices became second nature – routine and necessary for survival. After my diagnosis in 2019, I resented the fact that my life would never be the same. Up until I was rushed to the emergency room from neglecting my health, I believed that my disability was holding me back. Now, I understand accepting my disability is what I desperately needed to help live more fully, authentically and more healthfully. Today, I’m proud to have my disability because it showed me how to truly listen to my body.
Since 2015, the United States has marked July as Disability Pride Month to honor the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. Today, we are seeing the federal and state governments across the country attempt to roll back essential policies and programs for disabled people. We have survived these types of attacks before and will do so again, but we must start by sharing our stories to give others hope, build community and fight back.
I firmly believe that we must use storytelling to help others see disabilities as a gift, something that makes a person stronger. This is why I am grateful to be at Fenton Communications – which has done transformative work in the disability space by partnering with leaders like YAI: Seeing Beyond Disability whose vision is to serve and eliminate stigmas of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). We are also fighting tooth and nail against these calamitous efforts to defund and dismantle programs and policies in support of disabled people.
I also want to remind anyone who is reading this, disability or not, to remember there are always ways to prioritize your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing regardless of the outside noise and stress that surrounds us in today’s world. Some tips that help me the most are also the simplest: going for a walk before work, setting aside time – even if it’s five minutes – to check in with myself and journal, getting a full night of sleep, and yes, turning off my social media notifications.
This is not to say that some days aren’t still difficult. They most certainly are. But I also can say I am a much kinder, happier and stronger version of the person I used to be because I embrace my disability. This awareness allows me to get up every day and fight for what I know is right and just, advocate for my peers, friends, family and any person with a disability, and maintain my joy and health. My hope with sharing my disability story is I empower others to reframe how they see their disabilities as features to be embraced, not ignored, and live more authentically, more fully, and with more self compassion.
