'I am only here because the disabled community exists. They save me every day; I doubt all of them know that.'
, it’s often easier said than done. Public spaces aren’t always built to welcome our bodies, and even when there are accommodations, social perceptions tend to keep us at a distance. So even when disabled people want to belong, and try to belong, it can be a challenge.That’s why forming relationships within the disability community can be so important. There’s friendship and camaraderie in this space, of course, but there’s also an undercurrent of understanding.
I grew up feeling like I didn’t have a place in society, and it wasn’t until I found others in the disability community that I felt seen. The connections I’ve made helped me to say,"Oh! It was never just me!" and to learn more about how this community has a deep and significant history that has made society a more equitable place .
I talked to three other disabled people about the ways they define community and how it has enriched their understanding of themselves and their peers. I also asked them what they wanted non-disabled people to learn about their place in the world so that the chance to belong more widely could perhaps become a reality. Here’s what they had to say. I think it’s finding others and connecting through common experiences.
. It helped me build the emotional intelligence that I have today. It also helps me to make sure that others around me feel comfortable, because I don't want them feeling the way I did.Community is where you find people of similar experiences, understanding and acceptance. Community is something you're born into and also something you find as you go through life. It’s communal helping so no one goes unaided.
Spina bifida has the nickname of the"snowflake disability," meaning that even if two people have the same type of spina bifida, how it interacts with each person will not be the same. That's important to remember when interacting with our community.I used to feel a lack of community as a child. I never really got to see others who were disabled and I think that's just because of access and money. My parents' focus was raising my sisters and I, and keeping me alive.
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