I live and deal with a mental disability in an able world and that is incredibly difficult. Being on the autism spectrum, my world looks and feels different. Where my autism is mild and I don't see it as a mental disability, the nature of what autism is, very much dictates the issues I face in everyday situations. It is difficult.
Mental Health and Inclusivity
But around mental health, it is important society challenges outdated and socio-culturally biased assumptions. It is because society and institutions are diverse that we need to make sure everyone is inclusive, including those with different abilities.
Making a difference
We all have a responsibility. It is important to make differences in our everyday lives. It is critical we appreciate everybody, including difference, disability and diversity, rather than impose structures that signify ‘one-size fits all.’ We need to make sure all people have a purpose, so that what they are able to offer is engaging and meaningful.
As someone who has and deals with a disability, and having struggled throughout my life, it is important to see change. It is important the world builds diverse frameworks that are suitable for everyone.
Source: https://www.newcastle.edu.au
Disabled people face injustices daily, in an able bodied world and a society in which we take so much for granted.
While progress has been made, there is still a huge gulf in equality for disabled persons. I read the phrase that this is "a badge of shame on our society."
There should be no able-disable bodied, just everyone treated equally with equal barriers.
Thanks. I one hundred percent agree with you. Progress has been made, but society doesn't go far enough to embrace disability in the whole.
Also in Covid-19 mental health in general is in decline. We tend not to deal with mental health until mental health deals with us. It's not something we usually think about.
But it is disability across the board. We all should do more to help those who need our help. It's worse when what you deal with is invisible. Unless someone can tell you are disabled or have a mental illness, they assume there's nothing wrong with you.
That said, if we approached everyone with compassion, empathy, tolerance and patience, it wouldn't really matter if someone was disabled or not. It is important we take out judgments and opinions.
As you rightly say, there should be no able-disable bodied, 'just everyone treated equally with equal barriers '- well said.