How can I change people's view of disabled people?

Question

I'm 22, a janitor and have generalized sezuires (i'm on medicine). I'm horrified at how people view disabled people. I try to hide my disablity by not discussing it. I'm trying to build an enviable life. I try to look amazing (diet, exercise, clothes that are a bit more glamorous than casual) build my net worth and have great manners. One of my goals is to change the way at least 5 people view disabled people. And suggestions?

Answer 1

You are doing all the right things. But I think you should talk about it. Let folk know that even as a disabled person, you live as normal as you can, dress like others, work like others, etc.

If folk cannot accept you because of some sickness or disease, then they are the ones that are disabled!

Answer 2

The biggest thing that you can do to help people change peoples' views of the disabled people is to go back to school and prove that the disabled can actually do more than clean up after the "normal" people of society. Having a great body, being polite, and wearing glamorous clothes is great but being a janitor does absolutely nothing to change the negative views society has for the disabled. Sorry. Society will always have the idea that the disabled can do nothing more in life but push a broom and mop around until we, the disabled, can prove society wrong. The only way that will ever happen is to obtain an education through a respectable school. Good luck!

Answer 3

I wasn't born in the 50s, but in the late 60s. Sorry, I missed Woodstock. I've seen a big difference in the way people are treated since I was a child, but it also depends on where I am. I hold doors open for anyone and let other people go first in line if they have smaller amounts than I do in my buggie. I think political correctness had a lot to do with the change, but people back then were just as nice to someone in a wheel chair. Now, people find it hard to ask "Gee, what happened to your husbands' arm" as I live with a one armed man. Children still stop and stare, as they are curious. That won't change. Adults are still polite, but cautious.

Answer 4

You are doing one, by showing them that someone with a medical condition is living a good life.

Its very hard to change other peoples perceptions of the disabled. But you have a great workplace to help change the perceptions of the kids in your school. Educating young people is a great way to exponentially change the perceptions and expectations of the disabled.

Go to your principal and the teachers who work with the disabled kids, as well as a group of regular students. Do some brainstorming about what ways you can get kids involved, thinking together, working together on a project. Many people with one type of disability are very talented in some other way. Doing a buddy project where a couple of kids work on posters, skits, or some other thing that can be shown to the rest of the school.

Recently I bid on a job where part of the application process was to make up an anti-stigma campaign. I have a great poster that you could use in the schools to start out with that. Just email me if you are interested.

Good luck. (From someone with a host of neurological/muscle problems, but a very good life and job. ) Blessings to you.

Answer 5

Mr. Janitor I am profound DEAF with 2 cochlear implants and still can not understand speech. I figured either I go up or down. Plus my husband just divorced me and I am not that bad lookin' either. My suggestion is to open !!!!!!!!!!! tell the world about your disability, I do. People can be nice depending upon you so get out of the shell and start socializing and please observe this as a gift of God we were chosen to carry part of the painful cross.

Let's set an example and be strong fighters. I always try to get away, but impossible. I lost full hearing from one day to next no explanation! But never viewed myself as a victim ever.

I am more comfortable and free spirit and say "sorry, may repeat that, I am deaf" I will tell u my own family put me aside and I thought one day I will return better than ever and I am back re-enventing myself, don't hide your disability and( I am sure u are handsome) blessing help others! God Bless U .....Bella

Answer 6

The only way to change people's view about anything is to allow them to experience their fears in a different way. If they know you as a person who works hard, takes care of business, etc. - that's a step in the right direction. Where I think your train may go off the track a bit is that it sounds like your way is to impress them by building an "enviable" life. I think you would do better to build the life that feels right to you and not be afraid to let others in. Share your success, but share your whole self - your disability, your discipline about how you live, and so on. If you are a kind person, share that as well. Share it because you have it to share. Concern yourself with what values you want to cultivate in your own life and spend less time caring about changing others.

It is true that people generally view people with disabilities in a variety of uneducated and sometimes very hurtful ways. Like all other issues of equality and justice, disability requires education, patience, and most of all - self confidence in approaching those who do not understand. That comes from building the best life you can for you - not for others - but for you. That way your sense of accomplishment and comfort with what you have been able to do with your life will speak for itself. When you get the opportunity to educate someone or speak as an advocate for better understanding of people living with disabilities, you may want to do that. But most importantly, do whatever you do because it is the right decision for your life. That is the best and strongest statement you can make.

Answer 7

Both my daughter and my one son have seizures. My daughter said she had one while working in a fast food restaurant. They fired her because of it. I think there are some things a person who has seizures shouldn't do like work in a dangerous environment such as around deep fryers. She has a disability but still feels she has to work to help support the family.As far as I know the government doesn't yet recognize this as a permanent disability. There are limitations that should be recognized such as driving a vehicle. I used to have seizures when I was younger and my father denied it ever happened. Now two of my children have seizures. Some people seem to prefer to live and die in denial, even if it happens to their own children and grandchildren. This to me is more shameful than any stranger.
My father recently died of brain cancer and had to take medications for his seizures. Still, I wouldn't wish this on anyone who isn't sympathetic either. Some news stations will do news stories such as this from time to time. If you live in the USA you might ask one of the more popular ones such as ABC or CNN etc. Many people who collect disability still work if they can and not always because they have to. Maybe you can take a closer look at all of these other people who are disabled who want to earn a living and help tell their stories as well. You are not alone, that's for sure.

Answer 8

Yes--but its going to be tough emotionally.

Stop trying to hide your disability. Don't apologize for it, and don't make a big deal of it. But don't hide, either.

I know that's tough. I am blind--but with a bit of residual vision. I can conceal my impairment in most situations. But I don't. I don't advertise it eithr--it's just there, like the bald spot onmy head! :)

The results take time--but what you will see happening over time is that people who know you, even superficially, will start respecting you more, not less--and that will translate into a more open attitude toward people with disabilities in general.

Not everyone. Some people are bigots--and no amount of "consciousness raising" or evidence will help. But--As you go about your job and your life sucessfully, they will be intimadated into silence--or expose and discredit themselves with the majority of decent people.

Sometimes it can be very satisfying. A few years ago the head of our department (I'm a grad student) asked me to escort a visitor (some professor from Europe) to another building on campus. It wasn't until later this person learned his guide had beeen a blind guy! His comment: " I just learned a lesson--you've taught me never to assume someone "can't" do something."

Answer 9

Engage them. Talk to them. Ask them about their lives and get them talking. Be a person to admire. Be honest and real. Help people who need your help. Offer advice where advice is needed. Do little things to make the world a better place. Be yourself. Let people see that you are no different than they are. We all have our cross to bear. For some, the cross to bear may be a beautiful, healthy body but an alcoholic husband and a drug addicted child. For others, the cross they have to bear is more obvious if you only look at the outside. Each and every one of us is fighting a tough battle in one way or another, every single day. Besides the crosses we all bear, we each also have a glowing light within. Make sure your light shines brightly and you will change the world.

Answer 10

I wish more people would just talk to any disabled, disfigured or just plain disadvantaged person. I was 19 or 20 working in Walgreen's, I was behind the counter looking down when I heard a person clear their throat to get my attention... When I looked up I almost screamed & I am sure my facial expression was bad. The man was a burn victim & when I saw the look in his eyes, I was so ashamed. I grew older but never forgot that lesson, the lesson taught in an old story & in a simple Disney movie... called Hunchback of Notre Dame.. I never looked at a person with a disfigurement or anything else like that again. I have seen people who have cleft palates & burns & disfigured arms & I treat them as nicely as any other human on the planet. Disabled people, even the deaf or blind people are actually more capable & adept at their jobs & daily functions then "us normal people". I have learned a lot through experience but maybe you could try to affect other people by showing them footage of what the American soldiers wounded in wars have gone through & ARE GOING THROUGH right now. Maybe that would get at least one person's attention. The key to sucessful human interaction is looking each other in the eye & communicating honestly with each other. I was always one of those teenagers who made fun of... well everybody else... I regret it & actively try to make up for it now that I know better.

Answer 11

It is difficult to change the views of anyone, and I hope that you do not find disappointment in your endeavor. However, I am proud of you. I have scleraderma, and am on disability but am going to college to be retrained. I can't even share any of this with my in-laws because they don't believe anyone should be on disability. It hurts.
Then I am at college, and everyone treats me different. Not in a bad way, I guess, but they make a big deal about me being at school when other students are absent, for what the professor's think is a silly reason. So it puts pressure on me that way. I study biology, and it seems that they want to talk about my condition because it relates to the subject matter. I look and act normal, I am just in terrible pain all of the time and have to have a lot of visits to the doctor. But I have a "friend" who is in a wheelchair, she is terrible. She rolls over people's backpacks and purses that are on the floor on purpose, saying they should get them out of her way. When she rolls down the sidewalks, she doesn't slow down when people come up, she will run right over them if they don't get out of her way. She is doing more damage to the image of disabled people than anyone I know.
Good luck, but remember that "normal" is not always better. It is how you feel about yourself that really counts.