Quite often, whenever someone with a disability shares something about their impairment, what they have been through and a little bit of the daily challenges they encounter, they can expect to receive a comment something along the lines of “you are such an inspiration, I could never go through what you do and still be so positive.”
Disabled people are put on a pedestal.
I completely understand how being called inspirational can be seen as a big compliment. However, I know that from my own perspective, and that of others who have received this comment, that it isn’t always an appropriate expression to use.
Still to this day, disabled people are often even disregarded due to their differences and inabilities, or are highly praised for “overcoming their adversity”. However, neither of these actually equates to equality between disabled and non-disabled.
Going about day-to-day life does not make someone inspirational.
There is nothing wrong with considering someone as being Inspirational when in the right context. We all have people who we admire for certain qualities and things that they have accomplished. Many of the people who I admire do in fact have conditions and experiences which I am able to relate to. That being said, it is not simply their condition which makes them inspirational to me.
Just living your life, finding ways to accommodate yourself in an inaccessible world, does not automatically make you an inspirational human being. A blind content creator who I love, Molly Burke, has spoken about comments she has received about being called inspirational for simply getting up and going about her day without being able to see the world around her.
The truth is though, what other option is there but to get up and get on with life?
While not everyone within the disability community feel this way, many feel that being labelled as “inspirational” for just completing the same tasks as their non-disabled peers, is somewhat patronising.
In another context, I have had people call me inspirational for going through the amount of operations that I have gone through, on my jaw, right ear and right eye. While yes, going through operations and having surgery complications is tough, I don’t consider that to be a part of my life that would make me inspirational to others.
What I am trying to get across to you, is that living with a medical condition / disability is a fact and a part of that person, but that shouldn’t be a quality alone which makes them inspirational.
Context where being an “inspiration” can apply.
I have shared my thoughts on where using the term inspirational in relation to someone’s disability or medical condition is not appropriate, however I didn’t want you to feel you can never use this.
I am inspired by Molly Burke for her success in growing her YouTube channel to just under 2 million subscribers, where she uses her platform to spread awareness for vision impairments and educates on misconceptions surrounding it. Therefore, it isn’t her eye condition which inspires me, it is how she has decided to use her experiences to build a strong platform to help others.
If someone has done something admirable, then go ahead and tell them that you admire them for that, but if you see someone in a wheelchair or with a cane doing their weekly shopping, it perhaps isn’t something you need to be overly amazed by.
These are some of my views but I would be interested to hear if you have any different take on this subject.
Becky. X
