A world where aversion is not normal

I woke up this morning to a number of responses from readers who said the video below bothered them and that what it showed was not "normal".

I think this is a really good opportunity for me to explain that the purpose of these videos is at least two fold. First, it provides an opportunity for people to learn about disability. I am peppered with questions almost every day about my disability. Videos are a good way to show people how things can be done and I try to emphasize those that accentuate what can be done.

But it also provides a chance for those with disabilities to see how others live independently and do things, with a certain level of function. I know for myself that traveling with people with disabilities during the time I played wheelchair tennis was valuable for learning skills and methods. I found out there were things others were doing that I'd been told I couldn't. Many of us living with disabilities have spent long periods of time learning how to do things beyond what conventional PT and OT teaches because those skills fall short of what we needed to live independently.

What is shown in this video is of enormous importance. Jon, myself and others who move around their beds this way are able to live independently without being dependent on others for transfers. Getting in and out of a wheelchair, dressing oneself - these aren't "givens" for quads, and , depending on the level of injury, it takes long hours of practice to do these skills. Some quads can do them, some can't.

But we need to put all of this into perspective, especially when we start to emphasize things like "it's not normal". I suppose all I can say is that it is what it is. When I get up in the morning to work, I'm not concerned about how the way I do things looks. Quite frankly. I'm enormously grateful that I can do what I can independently, as well I should be.

I realize that some people have an aversion to seeing things done differently by people with disabilities. I've run into it when I eat out and use special utensils or someone has to cut up my food. I've run into it when dealing with money highlights my hand and wrist paralysis. I use what function I have to do things independently and I know there will be some staring. I'm used to encountering both curiosity and aversion.

So I'm not surprised by this feedback. When I hear that it's not normal, I smile. A world where people practice inclusion also develops a "new normal", where people with disabilities and the way they do things is accepted, where aversion is not normal either.