For those who live with a disability, it is incredibly frustrating to be judged when others fail to understand what they deal with. It’s even more frustrating when the disability is mild and those people look normal, and they're on the other side of those who fail to appreciate, they are mentally and emotionally different.
Making 'disability inclusive'
Society doesn’t go far enough to make disability inclusive. There are case studies to suggest people with disabilities are still being mistreated. People with disabilities can be verbally mistreated and abused by others, simply because they deal with a mental, emotional or physical disability.
When disability is ignored
There are those who deal with a disability and who are expected to ‘just get on with things.’ Not all disabilities are visible. We may have issues and insecurities to deal with, but those with disabilities are like everyone else, they just present differently and have needs that non-disabled people don’t have. It is wrong for society to treat people with disabilities badly.
Disabilities and getting a 'bad press'
For those who disability isn't visible, they may get a bad press. Society needs to think differently about people with a mental, emotional or physical disability. People who deal with a disability need to be accepted and be inclusive like everyone else.
Disabilities: being valued and respected
People with disabilities need to be valued and respected, so they fit into society, without being treated differently and/or being overlooked. Perceptions need to change, but patience and tolerance is what is needed. (Source: https://acasestudy.com)
People with disabilities are just the same as those who are able bodied and deserve to be treated with as much kindness and respect as any one else, but society still views disabled individuals as though they are inferior.
Even the word 'disabled' implies, they have some lack or absence of ability, and are somehow inferior to those who don't. To most people this is completely misguided and ignorant, but this seems to still be commonplace in today's society.
As you say, while strides have been made, hopefully society will view disabled individuals in the same way as non-disabled people. On a spiritual level, they are the same, they just present differently.
Thank you. Yes, your second paragraph explains the issues disabled people have and you're absolutely spot on. The word 'disability' does imply we are somehow lesser individuals and as such we are treated differently.
Just trying to function in our 'normal' with a disability can spiral people into treating us differently. From experience, it usually means they're not coping with themselves, which means they cope with us even less.
Anyone who deals with a disability just wants to be treated 'normally' and with tolerance and patience. If empathy brings understanding then that's okay too, as long as empathy doesn't turn into us being treat like children.