5 Myths About People with Disabilities Debunked

There’s always been a misconception about people with disabilities which stemmed from ignorance and lack of willingness to learn more about their conditions and situations. As such, we often misjudge and jump to conclusions about people with disabilities debunked. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss and debunk the 5 common myths that people get wrong about individuals with disabilities. 

Myth 1: People with disabilities are dependent on their caregivers and mobility products

Some people with disabilities still have their mobility, particularly ambulatory wheelchair users. They are not 100% dependent on their power wheelchair or other mobility aids since they still have the use of their limbs. These ambulant wheelchair users only use their wheelchairs during the times that their specific medical conditions make them unable to walk, if their stamina dropped, or if they are recuperating from an injury or surgery. This is why it’s wrong to assume that every wheelchair user is dependent on their mobility aid and completely immobile.

Some people with disabilities are also self-sufficient and even live independently without a caregiver attending to their needs.

Myth 2: People with disabilities are limited with what they can achieve

In spite of numerous initiatives and awareness campaigns, there are still misunderstandings and misconceptions about people with disabilities, particularly with regards to what others perceive as their limitations. But in reality, there are people with disabilities who are thriving in their chosen field and industries such as a professional athlete, writer, actress, model and motivational speaker among others.

Myth 3: People with disabilities are defined by their disabilities

Another myth about people with disabilities is that they are defined by their disabilities. This could not be farther from the truth. Like any able-bodied individuals, they have interests, hobbies, and personalities. It’s true however that their disability certainly affects their experiences but it does not dominate their individuality. Seeing disabled people beyond their disabilities is one way to dispel this myth. 

Myth 4: People with disabilities are unhappy and feeling self-pity

Stereotypes often show people with disabilities to be unhappy and always battling bouts of self-pity. This myth is not only unfounded but can also lead to an unhealthy stigma toward the disability community. Fortunately, most people with disabilities lead happy and contented lives. Debunking this myth is crucial to dispel any notions that people with disabilities spend their time wallowing in self-pity instead of being important and contributing members to society.

Myth 5: Disabilities are always visible

Disabilities aren’t always visible, just because someone is not using a standing wheelchair, or no visual impairment doesn’t mean they’re not disabled. In truth, there is a significant number of disabilities that are not visible on the get-go. There are different types of invisible disabilities such as mental health sector disorders, chronic pain and various intellectual impairments that are not visible. A lack of awareness about the different types of disabilities may lead to invalidating the impairment experienced by the person with a disability.

Key takeaways

Debunking myths about people with disabilities will help promote awareness about their conditions and dispel any misconceptions. 

• Communicate: Talking to people with disabilities and admitting that you need to be educated on how to make people with disabilities feel included is the best way to correct any misgivings you have.
• Learn: Most misconceptions are because of the lack of knowledge. If we admit that we still have a lot of things to learn about the different types of disabilities, it will be easier for us to adjust our behaviour towards people with disabilities. 

By correcting these wrong beliefs and being open to learn more, we make sure that people with disabilities feel seen and their conditions correctly acknowledged.