I spent most of my life hiding the fact that I’m disabled I’ve been legally
that I’m disabled I’ve been legally
that I’m disabled I’ve been legally blind since birth but most people had no
blind since birth but most people had no
blind since birth but most people had no idea that I could barely make out the
idea that I could barely make out the
idea that I could barely make out the top E on a standard vision chart I
top E on a standard vision chart I
top E on a standard vision chart I eventually came to regard my ruse as in
eventually came to regard my ruse as in
eventually came to regard my ruse as in many ways foolish and unwise but I also
many ways foolish and unwise but I also
many ways foolish and unwise but I also think there are important lessons to be
think there are important lessons to be
think there are important lessons to be learned about disabilities from
learned about disabilities from
learned about disabilities from examining why I and others have
examining why I and others have
examining why I and others have sometimes gone to such great lengths to
sometimes gone to such great lengths to
sometimes gone to such great lengths to hide or downplay them although my
hide or downplay them although my
hide or downplay them although my condition is not as severe as those of
condition is not as severe as those of
condition is not as severe as those of other people I’ve learned that things
other people I’ve learned that things
other people I’ve learned that things like curb cuts sign language
like curb cuts sign language
like curb cuts sign language interpreters in large print books are
interpreters in large print books are
interpreters in large print books are not enough on their own to fully correct
not enough on their own to fully correct
not enough on their own to fully correct for the disadvantages that are often
for the disadvantages that are often
for the disadvantages that are often associated with being disabled we also
associated with being disabled we also
associated with being disabled we also need to examine and reform the ways in
need to examine and reform the ways in
need to examine and reform the ways in which we relate to treat and regard
which we relate to treat and regard
which we relate to treat and regard disabled family members and friends
disabled family members and friends
disabled family members and friends colleagues and briefly encountered
colleagues and briefly encountered
colleagues and briefly encountered strangers in our everyday lives now when
strangers in our everyday lives now when
strangers in our everyday lives now when we think about disabled people we often
we think about disabled people we often
we think about disabled people we often think about those who have physical or
think about those who have physical or
think about those who have physical or mental conditions that are obvious but
mental conditions that are obvious but
mental conditions that are obvious but not all disabilities are like that
not all disabilities are like that
not all disabilities are like that some people have conditions that are not
some people have conditions that are not
some people have conditions that are not immediately perceptible or visible to
immediately perceptible or visible to
immediately perceptible or visible to casual bystanders
casual bystanders
casual bystanders such as certain forms of autism
such as certain forms of autism
such as certain forms of autism traumatic brain injury chronic fatigue
traumatic brain injury chronic fatigue
traumatic brain injury chronic fatigue or sensory impairments like mine when
or sensory impairments like mine when
or sensory impairments like mine when someone has a condition like that she
someone has a condition like that she
someone has a condition like that she may even have the option of attempting
may even have the option of attempting
may even have the option of attempting to pass as non-disabled in much the way
to pass as non-disabled in much the way
to pass as non-disabled in much the way that someone might try to pass as
that someone might try to pass as
that someone might try to pass as heterosexual in a homophobic Society
hiding my disability was actually not as
hiding my disability was actually not as difficult as you might think
difficult as you might think
difficult as you might think whitetip canes and Guide Dogs were out
whitetip canes and Guide Dogs were out
whitetip canes and Guide Dogs were out of course and I often had to make up
of course and I often had to make up
of course and I often had to make up excuses to avoid situations that
excuses to avoid situations that
excuses to avoid situations that required normal vision no I don’t think
required normal vision no I don’t think
required normal vision no I don’t think I’ll be joining the fly-fishing trip
I’ll be joining the fly-fishing trip
I’ll be joining the fly-fishing trip water screw coal for me I think that in
water screw coal for me I think that in
water screw coal for me I think that in most areas of life people tend to rely
most areas of life people tend to rely
most areas of life people tend to rely on stereotypes and folk wisdom in the
on stereotypes and folk wisdom in the
on stereotypes and folk wisdom in the ways that they regard and treat disabled
ways that they regard and treat disabled
ways that they regard and treat disabled people so I had to not only imitate the
people so I had to not only imitate the
people so I had to not only imitate the appearance mannerisms and behavior of
appearance mannerisms and behavior of
appearance mannerisms and behavior of normally sighted people but I had to
normally sighted people but I had to
normally sighted people but I had to seem to do so with normal ease and grace
seem to do so with normal ease and grace
seem to do so with normal ease and grace I learned to fake eye contact to
I learned to fake eye contact to
I learned to fake eye contact to identify people by the way they walk yes
identify people by the way they walk yes
identify people by the way they walk yes you do all have a distinctive swagger
you do all have a distinctive swagger
you do all have a distinctive swagger and to pretend to read printed text now
and to pretend to read printed text now
and to pretend to read printed text now I actually got pretty good at this I
I actually got pretty good at this I
I actually got pretty good at this I would hold a piece of paper at a normal
would hold a piece of paper at a normal
would hold a piece of paper at a normal distance adopt a ponderous facial
distance adopt a ponderous facial
distance adopt a ponderous facial expression like move my eyes back and
expression like move my eyes back and
expression like move my eyes back and forth for what seemed an appropriate
forth for what seemed an appropriate
forth for what seemed an appropriate period of time before finally offering a
period of time before finally offering a
period of time before finally offering a generic response oh that’s very
generic response oh that’s very
generic response oh that’s very interesting what do you think I became
interesting what do you think I became
interesting what do you think I became very good at listening to people
very good at listening to people
very good at listening to people remembering what they say and using that
remembering what they say and using that
remembering what they say and using that information to figure out what I was
information to figure out what I was
information to figure out what I was supposed to be looking at say on a
supposed to be looking at say on a
supposed to be looking at say on a restaurant menu yes I guess I also have
restaurant menu yes I guess I also have
restaurant menu yes I guess I also have the fermented shark that’s just what I’m
the fermented shark that’s just what I’m
the fermented shark that’s just what I’m in the mood for when teachers would put
in the mood for when teachers would put
in the mood for when teachers would put up math problems on the chalkboard that
up math problems on the chalkboard that
up math problems on the chalkboard that I couldn’t see I would sometimes pretend
I couldn’t see I would sometimes pretend
I couldn’t see I would sometimes pretend like I was asleep or say I didn’t know
like I was asleep or say I didn’t know
like I was asleep or say I didn’t know how to do them or simply sarcastically
how to do them or simply sarcastically
how to do them or simply sarcastically answer something like purple or the
answer something like purple or the
answer something like purple or the Civil War in my mind it was better to be
Civil War in my mind it was better to be
Civil War in my mind it was better to be regarded as aloof dim-witted or rude
regarded as aloof dim-witted or rude
regarded as aloof dim-witted or rude then for my secret to be discovered as I
then for my secret to be discovered as I
then for my secret to be discovered as I look back on why I hid my disability for
look back on why I hid my disability for
look back on why I hid my disability for so long I’m I’ve come to regret my
so long I’m I’ve come to regret my
so long I’m I’ve come to regret my evident immaturity and lack of self
evident immaturity and lack of self
evident immaturity and lack of self acceptance
acceptance
acceptance and failure to take full advantage of
and failure to take full advantage of
and failure to take full advantage of the many political and legal advances
the many political and legal advances
the many political and legal advances that have been made for disabled people
that have been made for disabled people
that have been made for disabled people laws and public policies on their own
laws and public policies on their own
laws and public policies on their own however are not enough to fully correct
however are not enough to fully correct
however are not enough to fully correct for the kinds of informal attitudes and
for the kinds of informal attitudes and
for the kinds of informal attitudes and types of treatment that I was so
types of treatment that I was so
types of treatment that I was so desperately trying to avoid there are
desperately trying to avoid there are
desperately trying to avoid there are the obvious instances of bullying
the obvious instances of bullying
the obvious instances of bullying mockery and condescension that disabled
mockery and condescension that disabled
mockery and condescension that disabled people often encounter but I’ve also
people often encounter but I’ve also
people often encounter but I’ve also noticed that when people are aware of my
noticed that when people are aware of my
noticed that when people are aware of my condition they tend to be somewhat more
condition they tend to be somewhat more
condition they tend to be somewhat more awkward around me and preoccupied with
awkward around me and preoccupied with
awkward around me and preoccupied with my disability so Adam what can you see
my disability so Adam what can you see
my disability so Adam what can you see or how do those glasses work I’ve come
or how do those glasses work I’ve come
or how do those glasses work I’ve come to think that the appreciation that I
to think that the appreciation that I
to think that the appreciation that I receive from other people tends to be
receive from other people tends to be
receive from other people tends to be more for the ways and for the
more for the ways and for the
more for the ways and for the accommodations that I’ve gotten on
accommodations that I’ve gotten on
accommodations that I’ve gotten on certain things rather than for my
certain things rather than for my
certain things rather than for my successes themselves while the
successes themselves while the
successes themselves while the admiration that I do receive is often
admiration that I do receive is often
admiration that I do receive is often more for overcoming my disability rather
more for overcoming my disability rather
more for overcoming my disability rather than for my successes themselves I think
than for my successes themselves I think
than for my successes themselves I think people tend to rely on folk wisdom
people tend to rely on folk wisdom
people tend to rely on folk wisdom stereotypes and their own guesses about
stereotypes and their own guesses about
stereotypes and their own guesses about how they would respond if they had a
how they would respond if they had a
how they would respond if they had a disability they tend to assume for
disability they tend to assume for
disability they tend to assume for example that because I have a visual
example that because I have a visual
example that because I have a visual disability I must have a cognitive
disability I must have a cognitive
disability I must have a cognitive disability or that I fail to develop
disability or that I fail to develop
disability or that I fail to develop certain talents and skills as a result
certain talents and skills as a result
certain talents and skills as a result they seem to be somewhat less likely to
they seem to be somewhat less likely to
they seem to be somewhat less likely to assign important responsibilities to me
assign important responsibilities to me
assign important responsibilities to me to trust or rely on me to accomplish
to trust or rely on me to accomplish
to trust or rely on me to accomplish various goals or to include me in group
various goals or to include me in group
various goals or to include me in group projects and activities having strong
projects and activities having strong
projects and activities having strong relationships and being accepted
relationships and being accepted
relationships and being accepted included and appreciated are all good
included and appreciated are all good
included and appreciated are all good things that we have reasons to want in
things that we have reasons to want in
things that we have reasons to want in our lives without them were much worse
our lives without them were much worse
our lives without them were much worse off and we risk falling into despondency
off and we risk falling into despondency
off and we risk falling into despondency and losing a sense of our own worth
now I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit
now I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit this next part but one kind of attitude
this next part but one kind of attitude
this next part but one kind of attitude that I regularly encounter is when other
that I regularly encounter is when other
that I regularly encounter is when other people have and show extra care and
people have and show extra care and
people have and show extra care and concern for me because I’m disabled how
concern for me because I’m disabled how
concern for me because I’m disabled how can I justifiably feel disparaged
can I justifiably feel disparaged
can I justifiably feel disparaged offended or put down by those who are
offended or put down by those who are
offended or put down by those who are especially sensitive to my condition who
especially sensitive to my condition who
especially sensitive to my condition who sympathize with the challenges I face or
sympathize with the challenges I face or
sympathize with the challenges I face or who do nice things for me on account of
who do nice things for me on account of
who do nice things for me on account of my disability is it really possible to
my disability is it really possible to
my disability is it really possible to care about and help someone too much
care about and help someone too much
care about and help someone too much well think of your own reactions you
well think of your own reactions you
well think of your own reactions you might have if for example your
might have if for example your
might have if for example your father-in-law tries to give you career
father-in-law tries to give you career
father-in-law tries to give you career advice if you’re wealthy aunt sins over
advice if you’re wealthy aunt sins over
advice if you’re wealthy aunt sins over hand-me-down clothes or if a dinner
hand-me-down clothes or if a dinner
hand-me-down clothes or if a dinner guest takes over the grill or the
guest takes over the grill or the
guest takes over the grill or the margarita stand because as she sees it
margarita stand because as she sees it
margarita stand because as she sees it you’re just not doing it well enough
you’re just not doing it well enough
you’re just not doing it well enough people with disabilities often find
people with disabilities often find
people with disabilities often find ourselves in situations of this kind
ourselves in situations of this kind
ourselves in situations of this kind when teachers would sometimes find out
when teachers would sometimes find out
when teachers would sometimes find out about my condition they would take it
about my condition they would take it
about my condition they would take it upon themselves to give me large print
upon themselves to give me large print
upon themselves to give me large print exams on huge pieces of paper in full
exams on huge pieces of paper in full
exams on huge pieces of paper in full view of the whole class I’ve had people
view of the whole class I’ve had people
view of the whole class I’ve had people come up to me and sincerely say I’m so
come up to me and sincerely say I’m so
come up to me and sincerely say I’m so sorry this has happened to you or good
sorry this has happened to you or good
sorry this has happened to you or good for you for being out and about friends
for you for being out and about friends
for you for being out and about friends have offered me advice about
have offered me advice about
have offered me advice about experimental treatments and colleagues
experimental treatments and colleagues
experimental treatments and colleagues have sometimes forced an entire table of
have sometimes forced an entire table of
have sometimes forced an entire table of people to switch chairs so that I could
people to switch chairs so that I could
people to switch chairs so that I could see better I know these people were
see better I know these people were
see better I know these people were sincerely concerned about me and my
sincerely concerned about me and my
sincerely concerned about me and my welfare
welfare
welfare they weren’t condescending to me or
they weren’t condescending to me or
they weren’t condescending to me or trying to embarrass me and they often
trying to embarrass me and they often
trying to embarrass me and they often really did help me but I would sometimes
really did help me but I would sometimes
really did help me but I would sometimes bristle at their evident kindness while
bristle at their evident kindness while
bristle at their evident kindness while they were surprised and hurt by the cold
they were surprised and hurt by the cold
they were surprised and hurt by the cold reception they received I admit that my
reception they received I admit that my
reception they received I admit that my reactions were sometimes exaggerated
reactions were sometimes exaggerated
reactions were sometimes exaggerated but I’ve come to think that they are
but I’ve come to think that they are
but I’ve come to think that they are justified to some extent by thinking
justified to some extent by thinking
justified to some extent by thinking about the ideas of care and respect one
about the ideas of care and respect one
about the ideas of care and respect one of the great moral challenges of life is
of the great moral challenges of life is
of the great moral challenges of life is to balance these conflicting moral
to balance these conflicting moral
to balance these conflicting moral values when they compete with each other
values when they compete with each other
values when they compete with each other so consider it some other examples for
so consider it some other examples for
so consider it some other examples for my own life I can sometimes read printed
my own life I can sometimes read printed
my own life I can sometimes read printed text if I hold it close enough to my
text if I hold it close enough to my
text if I hold it close enough to my face but other people will on occasion
face but other people will on occasion
face but other people will on occasion take this as an indication that I want
take this as an indication that I want
take this as an indication that I want or need them to read it out loud for me
or need them to read it out loud for me
or need them to read it out loud for me now sometimes the right of course I
now sometimes the right of course I
now sometimes the right of course I really am struggling to read the fine
really am struggling to read the fine
really am struggling to read the fine print but I also and sometimes somewhat
print but I also and sometimes somewhat
print but I also and sometimes somewhat offended by their presumptuousness and
offended by their presumptuousness and
offended by their presumptuousness and pretending to know what I can see and
pretending to know what I can see and
pretending to know what I can see and what I want when I ask for and receive
what I want when I ask for and receive
what I want when I ask for and receive reasonable accommodations that are
reasonable accommodations that are
reasonable accommodations that are morally and legally required officials
morally and legally required officials
morally and legally required officials will sometimes act as if they’re doing
will sometimes act as if they’re doing
will sometimes act as if they’re doing me a huge favor this can make me feel
me a huge favor this can make me feel
me a huge favor this can make me feel somewhat put down by their evident
somewhat put down by their evident
somewhat put down by their evident misunderstanding of my rights providing
misunderstanding of my rights providing
misunderstanding of my rights providing reasonable accommodations to disabled
reasonable accommodations to disabled
reasonable accommodations to disabled people is not mere charity or generosity
people is not mere charity or generosity
people is not mere charity or generosity it’s their moral and legal duty I used
it’s their moral and legal duty I used
it’s their moral and legal duty I used to rock climb
to rock climb
to rock climb I know scary thought but I guess it was
I know scary thought but I guess it was
I know scary thought but I guess it was good having my face plastered to the
good having my face plastered to the
good having my face plastered to the side of a mountain I noticed though that
side of a mountain I noticed though that
side of a mountain I noticed though that when other climbers found out about my
when other climbers found out about my
when other climbers found out about my condition they would sometimes take an
condition they would sometimes take an
condition they would sometimes take an extra interest in my knots and rig but
extra interest in my knots and rig but
extra interest in my knots and rig but simply smile and nod when I would try to
simply smile and nod when I would try to
simply smile and nod when I would try to give them tips and strategies these
give them tips and strategies these
give them tips and strategies these attitudes feed into a general perception
attitudes feed into a general perception
attitudes feed into a general perception of disabled people as weak in need of
of disabled people as weak in need of
of disabled people as weak in need of protection and less capable than others
protection and less capable than others
protection and less capable than others although I do admit that they sometimes
although I do admit that they sometimes
although I do admit that they sometimes save me from a few mishaps so
save me from a few mishaps so
save me from a few mishaps so there you go and finally when I’m at
there you go and finally when I’m at
there you go and finally when I’m at conferences fellow participants will
conferences fellow participants will
conferences fellow participants will sometimes take it upon themselves to
sometimes take it upon themselves to
sometimes take it upon themselves to direct me to the next room or tell me
direct me to the next room or tell me
direct me to the next room or tell me what’s on the lunch buffet the flipside
what’s on the lunch buffet the flipside
what’s on the lunch buffet the flipside of their generosity however is that
of their generosity however is that
of their generosity however is that there are now things that I have to do I
there are now things that I have to do I
there are now things that I have to do I have to smile I have to say thank you I
have to smile I have to say thank you I
have to smile I have to say thank you I have to even be nicer to them than I
have to even be nicer to them than I
have to even be nicer to them than I otherwise would be now don’t get me
otherwise would be now don’t get me
otherwise would be now don’t get me wrong I’m often quite pleased to show my
wrong I’m often quite pleased to show my
wrong I’m often quite pleased to show my gratitude for their evident kindness but
gratitude for their evident kindness but
gratitude for their evident kindness but sometimes these necessary pleasantries
sometimes these necessary pleasantries
sometimes these necessary pleasantries can become onerous and make me feel
can become onerous and make me feel
can become onerous and make me feel somewhat subservient and put down when I
somewhat subservient and put down when I
somewhat subservient and put down when I would rather have just managed on my own
would rather have just managed on my own
would rather have just managed on my own loss of respect from others even from
loss of respect from others even from
loss of respect from others even from those who are trying to help us can
those who are trying to help us can
those who are trying to help us can undermine our dignity as persons it can
undermine our dignity as persons it can
undermine our dignity as persons it can also diminish our sense of self-worth
also diminish our sense of self-worth
also diminish our sense of self-worth and perhaps even lead to more serious
and perhaps even lead to more serious
and perhaps even lead to more serious forms of exclusion and discrimination so
forms of exclusion and discrimination so
forms of exclusion and discrimination so what can we do in our own lives to show
what can we do in our own lives to show
what can we do in our own lives to show proper care and respect to disabled
proper care and respect to disabled
proper care and respect to disabled people well the first step is simply to
people well the first step is simply to
people well the first step is simply to recognize when these conflicts exist we
recognize when these conflicts exist we
recognize when these conflicts exist we may find ourselves with an admirable
may find ourselves with an admirable
may find ourselves with an admirable desire to help someone with a disability
desire to help someone with a disability
desire to help someone with a disability but we should also consider how to show
but we should also consider how to show
but we should also consider how to show her proper respect
her proper respect
her proper respect if you encounter a disabled person who’s
if you encounter a disabled person who’s
if you encounter a disabled person who’s choking by all means give her the
choking by all means give her the
choking by all means give her the Heimlich maneuver but if you notice a
Heimlich maneuver but if you notice a
Heimlich maneuver but if you notice a wheelchair user appeared to struggle
wheelchair user appeared to struggle
wheelchair user appeared to struggle with ADD or take a beat and think about
with ADD or take a beat and think about
with ADD or take a beat and think about whether you are making unwarranted
whether you are making unwarranted
whether you are making unwarranted assumptions about her whether she has a
assumptions about her whether she has a
assumptions about her whether she has a right to your assistance what messages
right to your assistance what messages
right to your assistance what messages you might be sending with your actions
you might be sending with your actions
you might be sending with your actions and what sort of responses she might
and what sort of responses she might
and what sort of responses she might have to give in return consider these
have to give in return consider these
have to give in return consider these questions may affect whether or not you
questions may affect whether or not you
questions may affect whether or not you help her or at least they may affect the
help her or at least they may affect the
help her or at least they may affect the manner in which you do so we should also
manner in which you do so we should also
manner in which you do so we should also look for in Majan ative ways to show
look for in Majan ative ways to show
look for in Majan ative ways to show care and respect to de se
care and respect to de se
care and respect to de se people sometimes the best option is to
people sometimes the best option is to
people sometimes the best option is to hide or downplay your assistance without
hide or downplay your assistance without
hide or downplay your assistance without dwelling on it they’re making a big deal
dwelling on it they’re making a big deal
dwelling on it they’re making a big deal about it
about it
about it perhaps it’s enough to simply stand
perhaps it’s enough to simply stand
perhaps it’s enough to simply stand ready to help to let the disabled person
ready to help to let the disabled person
ready to help to let the disabled person take the lead and not to expect much
take the lead and not to expect much
take the lead and not to expect much gratitude in return and on some
gratitude in return and on some
gratitude in return and on some occasions it may be perfectly acceptable
occasions it may be perfectly acceptable
occasions it may be perfectly acceptable to just go on about your business a key
to just go on about your business a key
to just go on about your business a key lesson in all of this is not to assume
lesson in all of this is not to assume
lesson in all of this is not to assume that simply because someone is disabled
that simply because someone is disabled
that simply because someone is disabled that she wants or needs your help now in
that she wants or needs your help now in
that she wants or needs your help now in light of these complexities I think
light of these complexities I think
light of these complexities I think there are reasons for greater tolerance
there are reasons for greater tolerance
there are reasons for greater tolerance and understanding on both sides disabled
and understanding on both sides disabled
and understanding on both sides disabled people have reasons to recognize and
people have reasons to recognize and
people have reasons to recognize and appreciate the good intentions of others
appreciate the good intentions of others
appreciate the good intentions of others who are trying to help us while perhaps
who are trying to help us while perhaps
who are trying to help us while perhaps also explaining how they could have done
also explaining how they could have done
also explaining how they could have done better and when we are rebuffed in our
better and when we are rebuffed in our
better and when we are rebuffed in our efforts to help a disabled person we
efforts to help a disabled person we
efforts to help a disabled person we should perhaps be more understanding of
should perhaps be more understanding of
should perhaps be more understanding of her reasons for doing so I’m not
her reasons for doing so I’m not
her reasons for doing so I’m not recommending callousness or indifference
recommending callousness or indifference
recommending callousness or indifference to disabled people nor suggesting that
to disabled people nor suggesting that
to disabled people nor suggesting that we should always or even usually refrain
we should always or even usually refrain
we should always or even usually refrain from helping them the lesson instead is
from helping them the lesson instead is
from helping them the lesson instead is that the care and concern we should have
that the care and concern we should have
that the care and concern we should have for all people including those with
for all people including those with
for all people including those with disabilities should be guided and
disabilities should be guided and
disabilities should be guided and constrained by the respect we have for
constrained by the respect we have for
constrained by the respect we have for them as persons
my parents had very different ideas
my parents had very different ideas about how to raise a disabled child my
about how to raise a disabled child my
about how to raise a disabled child my mother wanted me to have every
mother wanted me to have every
mother wanted me to have every accommodation Under the Sun while my
accommodation Under the Sun while my
accommodation Under the Sun while my father signed me up to play rec
father signed me up to play rec
father signed me up to play rec basketball I’ve come to think that my
basketball I’ve come to think that my
basketball I’ve come to think that my parents were both right in their
parents were both right in their
parents were both right in their approach to raising me for my father’s
approach to raising me for my father’s
approach to raising me for my father’s part disabled people have to live in the
part disabled people have to live in the
part disabled people have to live in the world as imperfect as it is and to
world as imperfect as it is and to
world as imperfect as it is and to develop the skills and talents to
develop the skills and talents to
develop the skills and talents to survive and thrive in it but my mother
survive and thrive in it but my mother
survive and thrive in it but my mother was right as well it’s not enough for
was right as well it’s not enough for
was right as well it’s not enough for disabled people to simply get by in an
disabled people to simply get by in an
disabled people to simply get by in an imperfect world we also have reasons to
imperfect world we also have reasons to
imperfect world we also have reasons to change it by standing up for our rights
change it by standing up for our rights
change it by standing up for our rights demanding respect changing social
demanding respect changing social
demanding respect changing social attitudes and showing others what we can
attitudes and showing others what we can
attitudes and showing others what we can do that’s why I ultimately came out as a
do that’s why I ultimately came out as a
do that’s why I ultimately came out as a disabled person I’m immensely grateful
disabled person I’m immensely grateful
disabled person I’m immensely grateful for the help that I’ve received along
for the help that I’ve received along
for the help that I’ve received along the way but strangely enough I’ve
the way but strangely enough I’ve
the way but strangely enough I’ve sometimes felt most genuinely accepted
sometimes felt most genuinely accepted
sometimes felt most genuinely accepted when those who know about my condition
when those who know about my condition
when those who know about my condition have simply let me bump into things miss
have simply let me bump into things miss
have simply let me bump into things miss my bus stop or as my daughter recently
my bus stop or as my daughter recently
my bus stop or as my daughter recently did send me down a playground slide into
did send me down a playground slide into
did send me down a playground slide into a large puddle of water I couldn’t see
a large puddle of water I couldn’t see
a large puddle of water I couldn’t see now that is moral progress thank you
”
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