How Do Teens With Disabilities See The World?
For many people turning into a teenager was a big deal in their life. It is a time of transforming, learning, finding your place in the world, and of course friends. As teenagers, we no longer are interested in the things that we did as a child. Now, we view the world through the phone as we communicate with our friends through Facebook, Instagram, and any other number of apps on our phone, but how do kids with disabilities view the world?
I Am Not Like Other Teenagers
When I turned 13, I didn't notice any major sift, other than I turned a year older. I didn't really get why turning into a teenager was such a big deal to other people. I didn't feel any different and I still loved having different experiences with my family over spending hours upon hours glued to a cellphone. In fact, about 99% of the time I left my cellphone at home whenever we went out to do an activity. Ya, I would say that I am not even close to a normal teenager.
What Was Missing In My Life
As I got further into my teenage years I started getting this overwhelming urge that something was missing in my life, but couldn't put a finger on it at first. After a while, as I went through high school and looking around at the other kids, I realized that the things that were missing in my life included being independent, acceptance, and a sense of belonging.
Tips For How I Gained My Independence
- Youtube is your best friend
One of the tasks that led me to gain my independence was me wanting to pull my hair up into a ponytail with one hand. At first, when I first decided that I wanted to try to do this task I was standing in front of the mirror unsure of how I would do it and dismissed the idea altogether. It wasn't until a few months later when the idea popped into my head again. This time I went on youtube and searched how to pull your hair up with one hand to get some ideas.
2. Try What You learn
After each video, I watched I would run into the bathroom and try to do it myself. I did that over and over again until I found a strategy that I liked.
3. Create Your Own
After I watched tons of videos, I had enough ideas and decided to create my own strategy
Tips For Gaining Acceptance
- Accept yourself
The key to wanting others to accept you is for you to first accept yourself for who you are.
2. Be yourself
Don't try to be someone that you are not. I tried doing that once and it doesn't do you any good. Other people will enjoy and accept you more if you just be your true self
3. Always be willing to try new things
There are many different things in the world to enjoy. Don't let your disabilities limit you to only certain activities. Don't hold back and just live life.
Tips For Finding A Sense Of Belonging
- Put yourself out into the world
For the longest time, I will be honest I was terrified to put myself out into the world. I worried about what people might say or think of me, so it stopped me from doing it. It was until I had to do it for a homework assignment that I took a leap of faith and put myself out there and let me tell you it wasn't that bad and it was probably one of the best things I have ever done.
2. Find something that you love
One of the best ways to enjoy life is by finding something that you love to do. For me, its always been helping others get things done and helping them figure out problems.
3. Create your own masterpiece to share with the world
Once I put myself into the world what was at the time a little experiment which was this blog to help other disabled people actually turned into my life's purpose; which allows me to have a sense of belonging and allows me to do what I love.
The greatest stories in life weren't of those whose lives were simple but of those whose lives were challenging.
No comments:
Post a Comment