Today is Blogging Against Disabilism day, where bloggers are encouraged to:
…write about disability and rail against the discrimination that disabled people continue to face…
Thing is, I do that most of the time anyway :o)
What I want to show you today is how my days with ‘disability’ are spent. I would like people to remember that disability (or ability) is what it is, neither wrong nor right but a state of being that requires its own input and offers its own compensations. We have changed so much since disability entered our lives. Some of it good, some of it bad. Such is life.
However, what has not changed and never will is that I am proud beyond measure of Megan, my disabled daughter. I am also proud beyond measure of my non-disabled children and they are all carried in my heart at all times, my fierce flame of pride and love in equal measure. I want nothing from them except that they are happy and confident and learn to care for each other. The fact that one of them is disabled is meaningless to me in that respect. She is not the same as others but then again – neither am I. No better, no worse, just….different.
Left Brain Right Brain 
Really beautiful thoughts.
They are both beautiful. You have every reason to be proud. I share in that pride. That short film clip is my favorite. Those very beautiful thoughts are what makes you such a very special person.
sorry I posted it twice.
And I am proud of being me.
What I got from this country is acceptance and opportunity which I never had in India.
It is my dream to be a part of this country, not only as an immigrant worker, but as a member. Mother and I, both have separate work visas. I did not want to be called her ‘dependant’ after I turned 18. Next Wednesday is our INS interview. Wish us luck.
Mother and I are, and shall be forever grateful to this country.
We can then dedicate towards ‘ what we can do for this country.’
–
Regards,
Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay
Thing is, I do that most of the time anyway :o)
Yes, Kev. And this is why we love you.
Wonderful post!
Tito-
As the child of an immigrant, I wish you and your mother the best of luck.
I don’t view my daughters as disabled. I view them as differently abled!! I think everyone is disabled in one way, shape or form. It’s just more evident for some than it is for others!
You really do celebrate blogging against disablism day every day!!
I find the insistence that considering someone disabled is a bad thing or an insult or makes them lesser… to itself be an outgrowth of disablism.
‘I would like people to remember that disability (or ability) is what it is, neither wrong nor right but a state of being’
Too true and a well made point!
I’ve just found your blog and will certainly be visiting again.
I hope you don’t mind but I’ve added a link to my blog.
Philip 🙂
FACT: The first Shaolin monk to study martial arts was disabled. This was because he cut off his own arm to prove it didn’t matter though. Don’t reccomend that kind of disability activism these days. In honour of this monk, the Shaolin do the salute to Buddha with just the one hand.
Hi, Lucas. He also cut off his eyelids. And his legs fell off from too much meditation. It’s why daruma-san has no legs. So, in honor of Bodhidharma, when pushed down, we should spring back up.
Was there anything the guy wouldn’t do for disability advocacy?
I agree with Laura Cottington who wrote, “You really do celebrate blogging against disablism day every day!!”
It should not just be one day out of the year because people — like me — can miss out due to the fact that life keeps happening in spite of our other plans.
Ballastexistenz makes an excellent point about
how “considering someone disabled is a bad thing or an insult or makes them lesser…” is itself, “an outgrowth of disablism.”
It should not be a value judgement. It is not “too bad” (as I have heard from those who probably just don’t know what else to say) that 2 of my kids are autistic, it just is what it is.
I am currently trying to write an article suggesting ways that autism charities could actually be helpful to autistic people.
But I need some input so that I can be thorough. I am mainly looking for the perspective of autistic adults (such as their requirements for services and/or accomodations) and familes whose circumstances might be different than mine, but I plan to take any and all viewpoints into consideration as there are probably a number of ideas out there which I haven’t even thought of yet.