Hey guys!!!!
As you guys have probably noticed over the past couple of weeks, some of the blog entries have mainly focused on myself, my disability, and spreading more disability awareness as a whole. My goal in doing this is to let people know and see for themselves, that people just like me with disabilities in all are capable of leading productive, fulfilling, and successful lives achieving great things. After all, I myself have never seen anyone else with a disability like me in a wheelchair in the limelight telling me and showing me it could be done. The only world renown/famous person to even start to do this for me was /is the great brilliant astrophysicist, Professor Stephen Hawking. For even though we do not have the same disability of Cerebral Palsy, I feel as though our conditions are very similar and that I could relate to him. He's also accomplished so many incredible things in his lifetime that have helped change our perception of the world around us, and the space of which our world occupies. But there can only be one Stephen Hawking, and we need many more examples to show the world just what we're capable of.
So in keeping with my disability awareness theme, I first told you what it is like to
live with a disability, then I focused on telling you how it
actually feels like to have a disability now, I am going to tell you how to go about
asking someone who you don't know that well, or at all in a socially appropriate and dignified way. That being said, let it be noted that I am no actual expert on this subject, I just know from my own personal experience but I feel that I know enough to be able to give you a few helpful tips in this particular situation, but it will vary based on the individuals you come across.
1.
Get To Know Them First
Don't just go up to them and why they are in a wheelchair, start a conversation with them. Say hello, ask them their name, how they are doing. If you do this, it shows them that you are interested in more than their chair and disability. It shows you are
interested in them and you value them as a person. Follow this up with something like, "If you don't mind me asking..."
2.
Because They Can and have the Right To Say They Do
It's important to recognize that sometimes people just don't want to or feel uncomfortable discussing it and that's okay. You don't know how they see themselves. Maybe in their eyes, they do not identify themselves as even having a disability or are struggling to accept/make peace with it.
3.
If They Say They Do Not
It is also important to recognize that they are choosing to be vulnerable with you and sharing something so personal, it's almost sacred so take it in as an honor and a privilege and
never take it for granted. So the best thing you can do in return is
be there for them. Give them plenty of time to tell their story because maybe they won't want to just tell you the name and how it impacts their life. They want you to
listen and hear them, the good, the bad, and the struggle
of all they face in life and how they got to where they are at. They want you to know who they are. It's always best to
never make assumptions about what you think you know or do not know about their life, let them be the ones to decide how much or how little of their story they want to share with you.
I hope this post was at least a little bit more enlightening for you all.
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See you on the next blog!
Mao
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