I was scrolling through Facebook as one often does in this world where social media seems to be the place we get our news, connect with those we love, and find the books and products that are sure to change our lives. As I was scrolling I came across the image below that celebrates Disability Pride Month. As someone who is a fairly new member to the disability club, I had no idea there was such a thing as Disability Pride Month. I applaud those who celebrate Disability Pride Month because I am still in the phase of trying to pretend I am not disabled or that I am only disabled for a short period of time and soon enough I’ll get back to the land of the totally able bodied. Clearly denial and I are best buds in the current season of my journey.

The image below stopped me scrolling because while it is a beautiful image the words hit home. ” The disabled population is the world’s largest minority that anyone can become a part of at anytime.” These words stopped my scrolling because they are so very true. If you would have asked me before November 1, 2022 if I was ever worried about or thought about how I could possibly become disabled I would have laughed in your face. I was healthy, vibrant, active, and doing a job I absolutely loved. And yet I am now part of the disabled population. Just typing that sentence is hard as I have yet to accept that fact and honestly fight accepting that fact every chance I get. I am privileged in that my disabilities aren’t severe enough that I can’t drive, leave my house, take care of myself, etc. There are days though where my disabilities do interfere with daily living activities and on those days I am humbled because I know there are many people for whom that is their everyday experience.

I find it ironic that this year the month dedicated to the celebrating, advocating for, and educating others about what it means to be a disabled person in the world is also the month that life saving and life sustaining medical care was ripped away from populations that need it the most, such as the disabled. These are people for who Medicaid is a lifeline to getting the services, therapies, medicines, and care they need to live. These are not people who are cheating the system and/or committing fraud. These are people who have ended up in a club no one wants to be a member of and are trying to survive. These are people who have spent the last couple of days frantically trying to figure out how /if they can continue to receive the care they need after having their health insurance potentially stripped away all in the name of making this country great. I sure feel great about the people in our society who need healthcare the most potentially not having access to it.

In honor of Disability Pride Month I thought I would write out what I have learned since becoming disabled:

1. The amount of Medicare and/or Medicaid fraud is insanely low because one has to jump over more obstacles than an Olympic hurdler and fill out enough paperwork to kill whole forests. There’s a lot easier and less time consuming ways to commit fraud.
2. Being disabled and collecting disability is not a vacation. I am not jet setting across the globe on my disability check and enjoying not working. My check covers my vision therapy each month and that’s it.
3. People who are disabled are not lazy; Lazy and disabled are not synonymous with one another.
4. You can’t always see someone’s disabilities and we don’t wear name tags that say “Hi, I’m Sara. I am disabled due to…”
5. Yes I know you have preconceived opinions, judgements, ideas, etc about people who are disabled because I used to have them to. 99% of my preconceived opinions, judgements, and beliefs were wrong.
6. If someone tells you they have a disability, believe them. I am not sure who would want to make up a story to gain membership to this club.. It’s not a club with a whole lot of fun benefits.
7. Telling someone “I can’t tell you’re disabled” or “Your impairment doesn’t seem that bad” or “Wow, I think I’m worse at (blank) than you are,” are not helpful, kind or validating things to say. Someone’s disability doesn’t always have to be on display or look the way you think it would/should, for it to be real.
8. Not everyone who is disabled gets a handicapped sticker and not everyone who has a handicapped sticker looks disabled. Trust that they went through a process to get that sticker and aren’t committing some kind of fraud just to get a closer parking spot.
9. Treat someone who is disabled the same way you would treat anyone else as we are human just like all of you.
10. Being disabled is a label that comes with a lot of cultural baggage that we all have to sort through, process, and find a way to accept.

The next time you see someone who is disabled or you hear the story of someone who is disabled remind yourself that you to, at a moment’s notice, could join this minority. Know that we are part of a club none of us want to be a part of and yet we are trying to figure out how to live life on our terms in a world that often makes that incredibly difficult to do.