Ableism, that thing that as disabled people we seem to only ever think we will experienced from the abled world, when sometimes as I have recently come to realise and accept as a disabled person I too am ableist, but to myself not others.
Perhaps I should expand: I have lived experience of sight loss to point of being registered blind, I lived experience of Mental Illness (predominantly manifesting itself as Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) BiPolar Disorder, and physically I battle Fibromialgia, Eythromialgia and ME. For the most part the mental side of things had been stable for just over 13 years until earlier this year
Then throw into the mix I am a solo parent, solo parent of a fierce and independent, headstrong, taking no prisoners soon to be 6 year old,, and the reasoning behind the internalised ableism may begin to get a little clearer? For I have always said to her “you can do anything in this world you set your mind to provided it is within your physical limitations” but yet at the same time mindful their is a lot she does that the majority of small humans her age have no experience let alone comprehension on how to tackle.
A long discussion with a friend whom faces similar physical health battles and him urging me to have my small formally registered as a young carer for all she does now, but will continue to do if not more so as she gets older, and all the additional support she DESERVES from a multitude of places including school and social services.
So I contacted social services, met with a wonderful social worker, admitted just how much Jemima actually does and how whilst on one hand you could say she is a small human and it is their nature to want to help their big, but on the other she does do far more than is expected.
if truth be told I was too frightened to admit to myself just how bad my worse days are and just what a blessing she is with all she does. Probably cos at the back of my mind I am aware there are many disabled people whom are limited far more than I am by their disabilit/ies and I feel guilty taking a service they or those whom care for them could and should benefit from.
Challenging Parenting Perceptions 