Four Ways You Can Support Disabled People

Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!! Yes, I said happy because we need to be celebrating and supporting the disability community EVERY DAY. The day was officially designated by the United Nations in 1992 as a way to highlight the lives of disabled people. Here are four ways you can do that…

LISTEN TO DISABLED PEOPLE

RESPECT DISABLED PEOPLE

TREAT DISABLED PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY

AMPLIFY DISABLED VOICES

PSA about using the term ‘differently abled’: Please, just don’t. Honestly, as a disabled person, I cringe every time I hear those two words. Saying ‘differently abled’ is condescending. I hate how people dance around the word disabled and think they’re doing us a service by using those euphemisms. It’s insulting and patronizing. Say it with me…

DISABLED ♿️ IS ♿️ NOT ♿️ A ♿️ BAD ♿️ WORD

Plus, you know what I’ve noticed lately, especially when it comes to how the media covers disabilities? People are surprised to find a disabled person who is considered conventionally attractive. Of course, it’s never said outright, but there’s this underlying sense of shock because attractive disabled people? They’re assumed to be the rare unicorn. Like, whoooa…those people exist? The notion that disability = ugly is so ingrained in our culture and it’s one I absolutely HATE. It’s a stereotype I was trying to change with my viral tweet — or at least get people to start thinking about. It’s like when people say “Oh, wow! You’re really attractive for being disabled.” That’s not a compliment — it’s actually incredibly insulting and ableist.

I snapped this photo on the bus recently and I love it because it’s such a good representation of so many things at once — disabilities, accessibility, independence. For people like myself, going shopping or going to work isn’t always as easy as just hopping in the car. I’m so grateful that my town has these accessible buses!! Here’s to independence on my own terms and living a full, fun, fabulous life as a disabled person!! xoxo

P.S. Four more things I want you to know…