The Disabled Community Doesn’t Exist
A while back, someone sent me a very interesting message: quote: I also have CP but I’m not really sure I like fit into the disabled community. My CP is milder than most cases and I don’t feel like I fit in anymore. end quote.
After thinking about it for quite some time, I’ve come to a simple realization:
There is no Disabled Community. It’s just a purity test that everyone fails.
If disability is not a monolith, then neither are the people that fall under the label of “disabled”. There is no single community for people to join and feel included in. Instead, each type of disability comes with it’s own language, culture, and shared experience. And even then, there are often sub‐cultures within those wider groups.
Instead of trying to figure out if you’re “disabled enough”, to belong to some mythical monolith, seek out others who share the same experiences as you. The more specific, the better.
That’s where you’ll find your community.