Muller 1

Brigid Muller

Professor Ferrara

Intro to Rhetoric and Composition

17 December 2021

Disabilities Are Not All Bad

“Abled does not mean enabled. Disabled does not mean less abled” (Dipak). A long time

ago, there was a stigma put on people with disabilities that tries to prove that they are dependent

upon others and don’t have positive aspects to offer. This is simply not the case. Every individual

has unique aspects that can add positive aspects to life whether one wants to think of it like that

or not. Having a disability is an obstacle that can be seen as a roadblock and impossible to get

around but it provides important life lessons and many positive impacts such as being a

compassionate person, having experiences that many people can relate to, and developing a

strong will of determination to overcome problems.

When listening to different stories about both mental and physical disorders, there are a

plethora of negative stories that are shared. Since they are more frequent, there is a general

association that develops against these people. It is undoubtedly true that being inflicted with a

disability can cause various struggles throughout life for the person as well as those closest to

them but it is not the end of the world. For example, in a study consisting of parents who have

kids with disabilities, a mom said “No typically developing child finds it easy or pleasant to hear

their peers ask "what's wrong with your brother? he's so weird!" or hear "your sister is a freak!"

But it's a very rare child who hasn't heard such comments.” (Rudy). To give context to this

comment, the mom was talking about different struggles her “normal” child had to deal with

when having a sibling with a disability. They constantly have to worry about how people are
 Muller 2

talking about their siblings. One of the most difficult things as a sibling is to hear others talking

behind their back, especially if they can’t defend themselves. These comments can definitely

take a toll and affect the way siblings go about their life. These comments are not the only

impacts these siblings have when considering their family situation. In the same study previously

mentioned, one participant said “Siblings of an autistic child (even when they are very young)

are more likely to be asked to manage their own feelings and needs, take on more household

tasks, or postpone their own pleasures” (Rudy). Siblings are forced to grow up much sooner than

their peers because they need to pick up the slack that cannot be done by the other sibling or the

parents. Having a child with a disability can be very taxing on the caretakers because they are

constantly focusing on their child who has a setback compared to other children their age. This

often leads to other daily tasks slipping between the cracks. This then falls onto the other

children to accomplish these necessary tasks. Despite these very obvious challenges that are

faced by the family members of a person with a disability, they often still offer more positive

aspects to life.

Having a disability impact one’s life can shape the way one goes about the world. For

many people, when something negative happens, all we can focus on is everything bad in our life

until we see someone going through something worse. These people with disabilities on the other

hand often times are more caring because they have been in the minority for a large portion of

their life. In a study by Jessica L.Sniatecki, it is said that when experiencing Post Traumatic

Growth or PTG for short, participants typically report “positive personal changes in the

following areas: new possibilities, relating to others, personal strength, appreciation of life and

spiritual change”(Sniatecki). These particular participants in this study were diagnosed with a

disorder after living a normal life. Once they were inflicted with this challenge, they began to
 Muller 3

accept the things they could not change and rather look at the things they could impact. These

people who go through a traumatic experience find ways to enjoy a life that can give them a

break from their current state. In the same study, a participant states: “It’s also given me a push to

want to do more and be more and help kids out like me because there’s plenty of them out there”

(Sniatecki). These people understand that their life is not easy but they are still looking for ways

to improve others’ lives. They have been through struggles and now they want to make it a

positive experience for others. It is difficult for a person without a conflict in life, particularly a

disability, to be fully understanding and compassionate for others because they have never

experienced a complicated situation. They understand complications happen, but they can also

give advice on ways to get over the way they are feeling in the current moment. Lastly, in a study

that I conducted asking people how a person with a disability has impacted their life, one

response showed that the person dealing with the disability has been impacted and has learned to

“become more sensitive to those who struggle with day to day tasks”. If this person had never

had an interacted with this person with a disability, it is unknown if they would have ever been

taught this very important life lesson. Within the same survey, when the participants were asked

if they felt someone with a disability

has impacted their life, there was an

overwhelming response for yes.

Whenever people come into contact

with others with different experiences,

that person is going to offer a differing

perspective whether it is obvious at the moment. When interacting with a disabled person, they

have had to overcome more than most think about so they have a whole different outlook on life.
 Muller 4

It is essential to consider what it is like in other people’s shoes because you never know where

they have been and what they have been through to impact who they are in that moment.

Having a disability, although being seen as an outcast, gives one experiences that allow

them to be more relatable. These people often experience things that most people don’t have to

deal with regularly so it is difficult to truly connect with someone. When someone with a

disability was asked about a positive aspect about it, they said: “It’s definitely given me a better

understanding for other people who have disabilities [. . .] because I’ve kinda been there and I

know what it’s like” (Sniatecki). This person has been in situations where they cannot relate to

anyone. This is never a great feeling. Most people when they walk into a room don’t want to

stick out. This person is grateful to be able to provide likewise experience to keep someone from

feeling left out. Having a disability and being able to break through stereotypes can also help

ease the discomfort that others are feeling. In an article written by Micheal Jeffress, he states “To

my utter amazement, I have discovered that my story has the ability to positively impact the lives

of the disabled and nondisabled alike” (Jeffress). Jeffress was in the running for a highly

competitive teaching job in Zimbabwe and after a drawn-out process of interviews, obtained the

job. He was one of the only disabled teachers that the organization has brought on. Although the

organization was hesitant to hire him, they eventually did which allowed for a teacher to relate to

other students who may have a disability. It is quite difficult for teachers to relate to students

because of the age gap but when a disability is added into the mix, it makes understanding them

even more difficult. Having Jeffress accessible to students with disabilities was beneficial for

those who felt like they were in the minority. Having similar experiences to those who feel they

are outcasted can make a large difference within their lives even if it is not shown immediately.
 Muller 5

Going through difficulties in life can often develop a strong sense of determination within

a person to break down the barriers that the surrounding society builds up for them. It is a

well-known fact that people with disabilities are seen as incompetent in situations because they

are troubled with some aspects of life that others don’t have to worry about. Although people

with disabilities need to work a little harder to reach the same spot, they come out in the end with

something a little extra, a stronger work ethic. In the article that was previously mentioned about

Micheal Jeffress, he states “Other panellists were against employing someone with a disability

because they fear you will not be able to deliver” (Jeffress). He is talking about how when he

was applying for the teaching position, he had to persuade the panelists that he was the best

option. They were worried that his disability would get in the way of his interactions with

students. The sad part about this fact is that his disability was a physical one. When he was

younger he was in a car accident that resulted in the loss of both lower limbs. It has nothing to do

with Jeffress’ behavior or mental state but he is still being looked down upon. Unfortunately,

discrimination against people with disabilities is not an infrequent situation. However, this

constant discrimination can be beneficial and can be more beneficial than getting things just

handed to them. These people can form a sense of determination that will follow them

throughout their life. Another example of this was revealed in a study by Jessica Sniatecki in

which a participant said: “It’s also given me a push to want to do more and be more and help kids

out like me because there’s plenty of them out there” (Sniatecki). If this person had never

experienced the difficulties of living with a disorder, they wouldn’t be able to help kids with

similar conflicts to the same extent. This participant wants to prove to the world that they can

accomplish tasks at the same level if not better than those who are not faced with a disability.

After living a life with constant roadblocks, one learns how to overcome these problems and
 Muller 6

have them stop constantly holding them back in life. In a study I conducted, one of the

participants stated that despite their family members being paralyzed from the waist down, they

continue to participate in physical activities such as skiing and surfing. This person in particular

did not let their disability control how they will live the rest of their life but instead let their life

determine the limiting capacities of their disability. It is this kind of determination that is needed

by all people to not let conflicts get the best of situations but rather control their fate.

Being inflicted with a disability, although may lead to tough situations in life, are

ultimately beneficial. These people have the opportunity to learn many valuable life lessons that

take a much longer time for non-inflicted people to learn. Having a disability can lead to positive

aspects for not only themselves but all those around them as well.
 Muller 7

Sources

Dipak Tiwari. “Disability Quotes: Inspiring Words from Persons with Disabilities.” WeCapable,

6 Aug. 2021, wecapable.com/disability-quotes-inspiring-words/. Accessed December 9th,

2021.

Jeffress, Michael S. International Perspectives on Teaching with Disability: Overcoming

Obstacles and Enriching Lives. First edition., Routledge, 2018,

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315099941. Date Accessed November 23, 2021

Rudy, Lisa Jo. “What It's like Being the Sibling of a Child with Autism.” Verywell Health,

Verywell Health, 4 Apr. 2020,

www.verywellhealth.com/challenges-of-having-a-sibling-on-the-autism-spectrum-411455

7. Accessed November 23, 2021.

Sniatecki, Jessica L., et al. “Positive Aspects of Disability Among College Students.” Journal of

Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, vol. 14, no. 2, Emerald Group Publishing

Limited, 2021, pp. 150–61, https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIT-09-2019-0069. Accessed

November 23, 2021.