December 3rd was International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
Although the definition has a tendency to vary depending on the circumstances it is being used, and as it is
constantly changing, a disability is any one thing that renders an individual unable to carry out their activities
of daily living.1
Common types of disabilities are ones that impact areas like learning, hearing, movement, intelligence,
communication, and vision. Several of my friends and family, including myself, live with at least one condition.
In my mid-twenties, during a time when I was in much physical pain, I approached my doctor to request x-rays.
She asked about my symptoms and where I was hurting the most. About a week later I was diagnosed with
osteoarthritis.
Sometimes a disability is the result of an event, such as a vehicular accident. Or it could be the side effect of a
temporary illness, infection, or already existing condition. Some may have multiple conditions that afflict several
areas of their bodies. For example, I know others with OA, and they have it in one or two parts of their bodies.
Mine, though, affects several of my joints.
Being diagnosed with a disability can change your life from small ways to needing to make large
accommodations. OA flipped my world upside down. When I learned of my OA I was working 8-hour days in
retail, on my feet a lot, and doing much heavy lifting. To help mitigate further damage to my joints I decided to
make a career change, to office administration.
Living with a disability can have a severe impact on mental health. More often than not, people are treated as
though they are less valuable, compared to others without a condition. They are seen only as a person with a
disability, instead of being seen for all of who they are.2
This is ableism; a form of discrimination, and can
profoundly affect a person's self-esteem, self-worth, relationships, and livelihood.
One way ableism manifests itself is through harassment, something I have experienced first-hand. Another
condition I live with is scoliosis. Because of it, and the stiffness in my back from OA, it affects the way I walk.
One day when I walked by a bus stop a woman shouted out, “You walk like a penguin!” Then she and her friends
started imitating me. I felt deeply hurt and offended by her actions.
If you have a disability or have recently been diagnosed with one, there are many ways you can help yourself:
- Reach out for assistance! Doing an online search of organizations in your area is a good starting point.
Also, talk to your interdisciplinary medical team-they may refer you to other services;
- Take good care of your physical and mental health. Establish consistent exercise and sleep routines,
maintain a healthy diet, attend all appointments, and spend time with loved ones;
- Be your own advocate – educate yourself, your family, and your friends about your condition(s). Request any
work/home/school accommodations you require;
- When you are having a rough time, cut yourself some slack – go have some well-deserved fun! Having a
good laugh is always healing for the soul;
- If you are feeling distressed real-time help is available 24/7, through services such as the Crisis Text
Line (686868), and the Distress Line, (780)-482-4357.
1 Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management. Defining Disability. CSPDM.
https://www.cspdm.ca/dm-in-context/impact-of-disability/defining-disability/
2 UDS Foundation (2022, March 7). The Significance of Mental Health and People with Disabilities. UDS Foundation.
https://udservices.org/mental-health-and-people-with-disabilities/
