Disabilities.

Some disabilities are invisible to the naked or prejudice eye. You’d think everyone knew this by now, but it’s still something disabled people have to say. You can’t tell by looking at someone if they have, say, a bad heart. Or lungs. Or blood disorder. Not until something on the outside changes. Perhaps a leg brace, tumors, or maybe a wheelchair. A cane. A companion pet. Something that gives a ‘normal’ person a visual clue. Do not assume the person who is ‘illegally’ parking in the disabled bay, isn’t disabled.

Don’t assume one disabled person is the same as the next disabled person. Disabled people are individual, same as ‘normal’ people. You don’t expect a normal person to run the same, or as fast, as another normal person, so why do you expect disabled to be the same? So help me, I once had a disabled woman tell me ‘If I can do it, you can.’ No, I can’t. My disability is different from yours. Even if we’d had the same problem, it doesn’t mean we can do the same things. Just as one person running, can’t be as fast as the next guy.

Due to austerity, disabled people have become easy targets. It’s always been ‘fun’ to harass disabled folks but it’s gotten more extreme, with physical attacks. Disabled have become targets because they’re using their right to disability payments. God forbid (or at least, your nasty neighbour) you should have a leg up. Don’t be one of those people who turn away when someone is getting stomped. But for a single trip down the stairs, that person could be you. Pay it forward, protect those who can’t protect themselves.

All my disabilities are on the inside. COPD (asthma & emphysema). Bad heart. IBS. Diabetes. Dyslexia. DVT. …oops, one isn’t. I have occasions of drop foot. That’s one you can see. But if I wasn’t walking, what walking I can do, you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with me. There are thousands of us, living silently among you. But disability isn’t contagious, so you’re safe. Yeah, my bad heart won’t make your heart bad.

There are some ‘disabilities’ that aren’t actually disabilities. People born deaf or blind do not consider themselves disabled. They can be hurt, or insulted, if you consider them disabled. They are differently-abled. Or alternatively-abled.

I was deaf for about three months, once, due to ear infection. Those three months were eye opening. People treat you like your stupid. People tried to cheat me out of money or to palm off unwanted items. Like I didn’t know enough to call them on it, just because I couldn’t hear their voice. Don’t be a dick like that.

Being disabled doesn’t mean you are a victim, although we are frequently treated that way. Or targetted due to disability. We are frequently robbed, just because we can’t chase you down. (Although the one time I was mugged, I almost caught the bastard. Never discount what a pissed off granny can do, even if she is disabled!)

(This is an old post that I never published. Figured I might as well publish it, as it’s still valid.)