I've been disabled for years now. Wanted to tell you all a story about that. Picture is me from a few months ago when a former caregiver asked if she could take me fishing. I was ecstatic! No one ever wants to take me places like that. So, she threw me and my wheelchair in her car and she cast out a line for me since I was unable, but I was able to pull it back in... with a fish on the hook within five minutes! I'd not been fishing for twenty years, folks. It's important to take disabled people out to do such things. I had a blast and hope more people will take me out like this. Okay, on with the story... I was being driven back from a doctor's appointment about four years ago by a woman who was helping me at the time for rides and picking up groceries. She worked for a company that did that sort of thing - this was not a friend. Though I had an in-home caregiver at the time (and still do) since 2014, she did some extra stuff for me. So, moving on. We were in the car and talking about my wheelchair, which was in her trunk. The conversation went something like this: Me: "Yeah, it's been an ordeal trying to get my wheelchair into some places. Not every business or restaurant makes space for a disabled person." Her: "Oh! Don't call yourself that!" Me: "What?" Her: "That's such a derogatory term. Don't say you are disabled. That's negative talk." Me: (My head is spinning at this point) "Well, I am disabled. I mean I have a disability placard for people's cars when they take me somewhere, the State of Missouri has considered me disabled since the end of 2014, so I have caregivers. Saying disabled is not a bad term. It's just what it is." Her: (Absolutely beside herself) "I just don't agree. You can say something that is more uplifting." Me: "Okay, how about you tell me what would make you comfortable." (Enter my eyerolling) Her: "You can say something like, "I'm unable to perform some tasks. My body is just not like it used to be, but I'm okay with that."" Me: (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) "Ummm, how is that not negative? All that you said? Plus, I'm not going to go into this litany of what I can and cannot do in order to please other people who are uncomfortable with the word disabled." Her: "Okay, but you'll have to live with the negativity." Folks, this is just a portion of the weirdness a disabled person has to go through. It's totally okay to say the word disabled. It's not stating a negative thing. It's just identifying ability vs. inability to do stuff. So, to all those out there who are in wheelchairs, use walkers, can't get up and around much, maybe homebound, sick, whatever it is that makes it so that you are disabled, know that you are fine just how you are and you don't have to please people with the words you want to use. Everyone is at a different place in their lives. You are not less than nor more than another person. And you should be valued, respected, and loved just how you are. Forgiven much, Tamara Jack Check out my 90 lb. Weight Loss Journey with Weight Watchers HERE! To contact me, email: [email protected] (You can contact me for prayer, too.) Where to find me: Facebook: AssisiRosaries Page HERE YouTube: AssisiRosaries Channel HERE YouTube: Tamara Wigs Out Channel HERE Instagram: AssisiRosaries HERE Instagram: TamaraWigsOut HERE
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