Dr Kelly Fleming

There is a big difference between these two sentences. I am disabled and I am not my disability.

Being disabled is a part of my identity. I would not be the person I am today if I wasn’t disabled. There would be so many experiences I’ve had, people I’ve met, my service dogs who have been a part of my life over the last 20 years and so much more… would not be a part of my life if I wasn’t disabled.

I would not be the same person if I was not disabled.

However, I am not my disabilities. They do not define my life. They are a part of who I am but they are not me. I’m a person who is disabled because I have disabilities.

Does this make sense to you? It may sound contradicting but it really isn’t. One is an identity and one is the cause of the identity.

I don’t live everyday wondering what my life would be like if I wasn’t disabled. That thought has never crossed my mind. I can’t separate my identity.

Yes, sometimes, I do wonder what it would be like if I didn’t have SJIA or if I had never had my sports accident when I was 9 years old. But I don’t remember much about the physical activity I could do before my accident. I don’t feel like I lost anything.

I know I have gained so much because I’m disabled, which is something I will discuss later this week and throughout my future blogs.