Everyone is unique and so one person’s answer to this question is going to be totally different to another’s, irrespective of the cause and level of your disability.
We here at HWB Mobility prefer to focus on the positive aspects of life, to celebrate the good stuff, but at the same time, we don’t shy away from talking about the very real challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Having a gradual, degenerative condition like arthritis is a world away from becoming disabled overnight.
That’s not to belittle the very real difficulties faced by people with arthritis. On the contrary, I’ve had more experience with people affected by it than any other condition, both personally and professionally, and I’ve witnessed first hand the negative impact it can have on quality of life but the mindset of someone affected by it is a world away from someone that has become disabled more quickly.
Feelings of frustration are inevitable when you’re no longer able to do the things you once took for granted. Having something that slowly progresses over time, allows you that precious commodity to adjust and to adapt and to become accustomed to your new, albeit unwanted, way of life.
Having the rug pulled from under your feet when you’re least expecting it doesn’t.
Quality of life can change at the drop of a hat for us all. Just look at how our freedoms have been stripped from us these last 12 months. Justifiably so of course, but who could have predicted what we’ve all been through this last year? I think coronavirus has given so many people the ability to appreciate other people’s circumstances more than they once did.
A spotlight has been shone on the shortcomings in society. Not least, the very real difficulties people with disabilities face.
Government can no longer easily sweep their blatant failings under the carpet like they once could. People are uniting more now than ever before I’d say, it feels like monumental change is afoot. Does anyone else feel this or is it just my ever so tedious “sunny side up” outlook?
The way someone with a disability is viewed by the wider public can have a huge impact on that person’s self worth. There are two sides to this particular coin. Simple things like eye contact and engagement in conversation can make all the difference in the opinions you form of someone. For us, and this may well be because of the industry we’re in, we’d like to think not and that it would be our instincts anyway, but we treat everyone equally and we don’t even see your disability. We just see you. We also know and understand that people with disabilities are often ignored, talked over, not looked at or taken seriously. This has to change.
This blog post doesn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to answering the question of what is the toughest part of having a disability and nor was it meant to.
If you’re still reading and you’d like to give us your reply to it, we’d really love to hear from you.
Would you like your response to be heard, right here in our blog? Then get in touch.
Email us at chat@hwbmobility.co.uk or message us on our Facebook page. If you’d like to include a picture, you’re more than welcome but it’s not essential.
Take care.
Andrew & Julie.
