"Is Disability A Bad Thing?: A Sibling's Perspective,"
By Will Bubenik
In my high school psychology class, I was presented with a question that forever altered my thoughts on how disability is perceived by others.
Our class was on a topic which is still debated heavily in the medical community: genetically modifying the womb. Parents have the option to change hair color, eye color, and even aspects like brain power for their unborn child.
Our professor asked us all a question: If you discovered your unborn baby was going to have a disability, and you had the option to genetically modify them so they wouldn’t have the disability, would you?
Every single person in the class responded yes, except for me.
That’s when I realized, those that haven't experienced disability firsthand don’t understand. When the professor asked why they said yes, my classmates cited fear, monetary concerns, negative repercussions, and isolation from others to care for the child.
Referencing this article from The Mighty, I understand how people that haven’t had this experience have these fears. They automatically assume that it’s a bad thing that their child, sibling, or relative has a disability. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
A quote that comes to mind is “the only disability in life is a bad attitude.” I have three siblings, all older than me and all with a different disability, but why does that warrant a negative perception right off the bat?
That gets to the main point I made in this class. When one starts thinking about how to go about living life with someone who has a disability, they are already on the wrong track. They should think about how they will live their life, regardless of the disability. Sure, my autistic brother may have trouble expressing his feelings, but he is an incredible writer, actor, and performer, something that should be praised, not scrutinized. Sure, my sister with Down syndrome needs help with daily tasks such as going to the bathroom and eating right, but the joy you see on her face when her favorite Disney song comes on or when she goes to the prom with her boyfriend gives you the feeling that those with disabilities aren’t so different from us after all.
To this day, I still hold the same sentiment that I did in that psychology class. The first step to changing the narrative is by acknowledging that having a disability isn’t a bad thing. Given the right environment and right people around you, someone with a disability is not only able to survive, but also thrive and pursue their dreams.
This quote from Robert Hensel seems to be a fitting close to this piece: “I choose not to place "DIS", in my ability.”
By Will Bubenik
In my high school psychology class, I was presented with a question that forever altered my thoughts on how disability is perceived by others.
Our class was on a topic which is still debated heavily in the medical community: genetically modifying the womb. Parents have the option to change hair color, eye color, and even aspects like brain power for their unborn child.
Our professor asked us all a question: If you discovered your unborn baby was going to have a disability, and you had the option to genetically modify them so they wouldn’t have the disability, would you?
Every single person in the class responded yes, except for me.
That’s when I realized, those that haven't experienced disability firsthand don’t understand. When the professor asked why they said yes, my classmates cited fear, monetary concerns, negative repercussions, and isolation from others to care for the child.
Referencing this article from The Mighty, I understand how people that haven’t had this experience have these fears. They automatically assume that it’s a bad thing that their child, sibling, or relative has a disability. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
A quote that comes to mind is “the only disability in life is a bad attitude.” I have three siblings, all older than me and all with a different disability, but why does that warrant a negative perception right off the bat?
That gets to the main point I made in this class. When one starts thinking about how to go about living life with someone who has a disability, they are already on the wrong track. They should think about how they will live their life, regardless of the disability. Sure, my autistic brother may have trouble expressing his feelings, but he is an incredible writer, actor, and performer, something that should be praised, not scrutinized. Sure, my sister with Down syndrome needs help with daily tasks such as going to the bathroom and eating right, but the joy you see on her face when her favorite Disney song comes on or when she goes to the prom with her boyfriend gives you the feeling that those with disabilities aren’t so different from us after all.
To this day, I still hold the same sentiment that I did in that psychology class. The first step to changing the narrative is by acknowledging that having a disability isn’t a bad thing. Given the right environment and right people around you, someone with a disability is not only able to survive, but also thrive and pursue their dreams.
This quote from Robert Hensel seems to be a fitting close to this piece: “I choose not to place "DIS", in my ability.”
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
