Let’s Talk Disability

What is a disability?

The Canadian Government defines a disability qualifying as any severe and prolonged condition that inhibits a person from performing normal and routine daily activities. This definition is broad allowing for qualification of nearly endless number of conditions. (http://canadiandisabilitybenefits.ca/types-of-disabilities/)

To me I did not feel I had a disability until MS started to really interfere with my life. I wasn’t even 30 and I had a severe relapse that put me off work for over a year. I was needing a cane to walk and my right leg and hand were not doing what my brain was telling it to do. Oh and did I mention I’m right handed. Then I got one of these…

I still use this today even though my main symptom is fatigue, it’s very helpful. I can get out to the store and can park close enough I still have enough energy to actually go in and shop for at least a little while. I’m always ready for someone to say something to me ie I don’t look like I’m disabled.

A lot of people are of the belief that you have to be able to see it for the disability to exist. Invisible symptoms are difficult for outsiders to understand.

Our perspective is often limited by our own experience. I say often because there are people whom choose to assume the emotional perspective of another person. This ability I believe is often informed by circumstances in the persons life that has helped diversify their perspective. We can’t only know that which we have experienced. In saying all of this, we must strive outside of our understanding and our own identity to bridge the gap between what we know and that which someone else knows and in doing so understand someone’s else’s reality. If we do so we will begin to cultivate a more cohesive reality.

With the often invisible symptoms of MS it is difficult to make people understand when they cannot see that something is wrong. This often leads to lots of explanations and apologizing for something you can do nothing about, at least it does for me. I find it’s best to try not to be too hard on myself for what I cannot do and live life the best way I can.

Still smiling,

C

(Edited by Aaron Andreino)