A Crash Course in Disabilities and What the Term Means
You have probably heard the term “disability” before. Some individuals don’t like that word, and they might call themselves something like “differently abled.” No matter what term you choose to use, though, there’s no denying that such conditions remain very common.
About 1 in 4 US adults has a disability. If you think about that, it makes sense that companies such as those that make wheelchairs, canes, and walkers do very well for themselves.
In this article, we’ll talk a little more about disabilities. We’ll discuss what most people mean when they use that term. We’ll also cover how you might react to someone with a disability to avoid offending them.
What Does “Disability” Mean?
Sometimes, individuals don’t agree on what the term “disability” means. We can still define it in the broadest possible sense, though. Generally, when someone uses this word, they mean a situation where someone has an impairment. That can relate to either their mind or body.
This impairment or condition usually makes it more challenging or even impossible for a person to do something that many other people can do. In other words, a disability limits or prevents an individual from doing something, or many things. If you find that someone has participation restrictions, that probably means they fit the legal definition of having a disability.
How Can You Tell Whether Someone Has a Disability?
If defining “disability” sometimes becomes a little problematic, identifying someone who has one runs into complications even faster. If you see someone in a wheelchair who you know can’t walk without it, you can probably say they have a disability and not ponder the details much further than that. However, you might also meet someone who feels they have a disability according to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), but you wouldn’t know it from their appearance or actions.
In short, without asking someone, you can’t tell whether they have a disability or not. We already mentioned that some mental or psychological conditions legally constitute a disability.
You may have a situation sometimes where an individual might park in a space designated for individuals with disabilities, but they seem able-bodied when they get out of the car. It’s never okay to chastise them, though. You have no idea whether this person meets the legal definition for having a disability.
For instance, someone who has received a PTSD diagnosis might look fine and act in what you’d consider a normal fashion. They still meet the criteria of having a disability as defined by entities like the Social Security Administration and the US Department of Veteran Affairs.
Because of these situations, it’s best to proceed with caution when making any assumption about someone’s disability status. They might have what look like significant and immediately noticeable restrictions and not consider themselves in the category of individuals with disabilities. They may look completely “normal” but still have a disability according to any recognized version of the term.
Can Someone with a Disability Lead a Normal Life?
Some people also ask whether individuals with a disability can lead a normal life. Again, the very term “normal” has become problematic in some circles. That’s because there’s no real or accepted definition of normalcy.
It’s accurate to say, though, that human beings can demonstrate extraordinary resilience sometimes. You might meet a soldier who stepped on an IED and lost both legs. If they’re resilient, they might still live a meaningful and rewarding life without those appendages for many years afterward.
In that respect, you can say that yes, many individuals with disabilities can enjoy their lives and seldom or never feel sorry for themselves. You can’t assume anything about anyone, whether they appear able-bodied or of sound mind or not.
Instead, it’s best that you approach each individual without thinking anything about them beforehand based on what you see or what someone else may have told you. By judging people on their own merits, you can avoid awkward situations where you thought someone couldn’t do something because of how they look or what you assumed about their capabilities based on a first impression.
How Should You Treat Someone with a Disability?
This leads directly to the question of how you should treat someone who has an obvious disability or says they have one. Just like every other human being, you might have someone with a diagnosed disability who’s perfectly pleasant and lovely to be around. It’s just as likely you’ll meet someone with a disability who’s positively insufferable.
You must give each person you meet the same chance to establish their identity, and that’s true regardless of whether they have a disability or not. However, in some situations, ignoring their condition doesn’t make a lot of sense, either.
If you’re going to an event, for instance, and you know you’re attending with someone who needs a wheelchair to get around, it’s not out of line to ask if you can do anything to assist them with their accommodations. If they respond favorably, you can help. If they seem defensive, you can back off the issue.
Many individuals with disabilities, especially the obvious ones, will appreciate that you’re aware of their condition, but you’re also not dwelling on it. No two people probably feel exactly the same about how they want someone to react when they notice their disability. However, you will seldom go wrong by acknowledging such circumstances but not making them awkward.
Since so many people have disabilities, the sooner you can learn to accept those who do, the better off you’ll probably feel. If you want a diverse and expansive friend circle, you should never exclude anyone. It’s even possible that you can learn some lessons from differently-abled individuals that you can’t from those without disabilities.
Some have ways of looking at the world that are positively inspiring. You needn’t feel pity for them. Many individuals with disabilities take an amazing amount of pleasure from life.
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