By Chantal Huinink

In the realm of disabilities there are a variety of impairments including physical, social, emotional, and intellectual disabilities, which create a wide range of capabilities. Some people with disabilities relate best to those facing similar challenges and interact primarily within the disabled community. This is particularly likely if their impairment spans many levels and establishing common ground with the able bodied population proves difficult. For the purpose of this column, I will refer to such people as “the relatively able, functioning in a disabled world”. Despite an impairment on one or more levels, others with disabilities identify most with the able bodied population and can interact with them to a much greater extent. These individuals could be characterized as “the relatively disabled, functioning in an able bodied world.” Neither classification is good or bad and many fall between these two categories. Each frame of mind proposed have both positive and negative implications in terms of striving towards ones full potential.

My physical limitations play a significant role in my daily life, and yet I can still relate to the able bodied population on social, emotional, and intellectual levels, as such, I fit somewhere between the two extremes. I can appreciate many experiences of the disabled community, however I also relate with the able bodied population to a large extent. As I experience both worlds, it seems more and more that I am only as disabled as I say I am and only as able bodied as I want to be. What I mean is that my skill level is highly subjective, though some limitations caused by spasticity of  my arms and legs are blatantly obvious, other challenges such as dealing with a substantial visual impairment and understanding physical labour are invisible. Therefore in order for others to understand my limitations fully, it is up to me to be the one to communicate how exactly my challenges effect my daily experiences. The only problem is that since I have always had my disability I have no real way of comparing how much different I am from the general population. Further more as no one is able to understand the extent of my limitations for themselves, I’m never really held accountable for new skill development. Rather most people feel more obligated to change their expectations of me based on struggles I described as I encounter new situations. At times these struggles are just as likely due to a lack of practice, as they are due to the limitations that my disability presents. Nevertheless it is relatively easy for me to blame lack of success in many areas on some aspects of my disability, and thereby I have a seemingly valid excuse to refrain from further skill development. I think that it is especially easy to slip into this pattern when functioning as a relatively able person in a disabled world because of the fact that a great many experiences are adapted to suit ones own needs.

Alternatively when I am truly motivated to accomplish a task the challenges I have as a result of my disability will not cross my mind.  I will persist despite several obstacles standing in my way and sometimes I am so motivated to accomplish a particular action that I will neglect to make intelligent adaptations which may cause me to act more efficiently.  This could be the case if one identifies with the able bodied community so much that they fail to admit any challenges to themselves or to others. 

The best strategy I have found for success at any task is to assume that I am one hundred percent capable and keep trying no matter what.  In time if I do not develop the skills necessary to accomplish it I learn how to adapt or an observer provides insight into how I should proceed.  By waiting on the insight of a third party my skill level remains unbiased, furthermore I avoid personal excuses which may or may not be misconceptions and allow opportunities presented to maximize my skills.  In the end it should be your skill level which defies the challenges you face rather then your frame of mind defining your ability level.   

On that note, keep on rolling in the city.