Can inspiration be a bad thing? Sure, but maybe not! Let's see if I can shed some light on it, particularly in the area of people with disabilities.
You see people with disabilities are viewed as being an inspiration to non-disabled people, simply by doing every day things. One would think with all that goes on in the life of a person living with a disability within society, that being seen as an inspiration to others would be a welcomed experience. Well, for many people with disabilities, including myself it just may not be welcomed.
One of the things I have enjoyed tremendously in my life is training both my daughter and son to play sports. My daughter, softball and my son, baseball and basketball. My daughter is much older now and has moved on with other life challenges. Now, it is just my son who loves basketball. He has developed his game quite well and still plays college basketball.
One night we were on our way home after a hard practice and like always he is hungry so we pull into Wendy's. I quickly place our orders at the first window and we then go to the second window to pick up our food, but I forgot about my french fries, so I asked the lady in the window as I hand her my credit card, "can I have fries with that". I then asked my son to come up to window to get the food. As I continue to look at her I see her head tilting to the side and with puppy dog eyes with almost a tear, she let out an "aaaaah" and then tell me how inspired she is by me. I then smiled at her, gathered our food and drove off.
I have been a person with a disability for many years and had thought I conquered the bad feelings I get when this happens. Still I drove away feeling lousy wanting to tell my son that I am more then what the lady saw — I am much more then my disability!
The young lady at the Wendy’s window, did what a lot of people without disabilities believe — All persons with disabilities should be looked upon as an inspiration to others in society.
The reality is all people with disabilities should not be a source of inspiration to others in society just because they have disabilities. This is one of those misbeliefs that non-disabled people believe to be true about people with diverse disabilities.
In this real life situation with my son this young lady saw me as an inspiration for doing something fathers do everyday — I was just spending time with my son and buying a meal. These everyday experiences, should not inspire any one. The only different becomes, I was a person with a disability doing it so then it becomes something extraordinary, an inspiration to all, something to be marveled.
This kind of inspiration is steeped in pity and people with disabilities want nothing to do with it. People with disabilities see it all the time. In the media, on posters, people with disabilities doing ordinary things and then being used to inspire others.
People with disabilities should not be your source of inspiration, especially if you don’t know them. Now, if you know me, know my story, know something about me that I have accomplished in my life that you admire, then maybe I won’t mine be a source of inspiration — you see my grilling ability is something to marvel. I am so much more than my disability, and other people with diverse disabilities are so much more too!
If I am to be a true inspiration to you at least know by story. Know something more about me than just seeing that I have a physical disability. Don't be inspired by me just because I am buying my son a hamburger with fries.
