onehandedoverdressed

[onehandedoverdressed]

Happy Disability Pride 🦾 I have to be honest, I’ve been disabled for over 10 years and I only heard about Disability Pride month a couple years ago. Before Instagram the images I saw of people that looked like me were dark, clinical and depressing. I remember seeing the image of a man with his face obscured in a medical textbook and the caption stated that their quality of life would be diminished because of their “deformity”. Those words haunted me for years. They sunk my hopes that I’d ever feel beautiful, valued or like I belonged in society. Ableism seems to be the -ism that’s always last, least thought of or simply forgotten. At least for me, it’s the part of my self— in comparison to being Black and Bi—that has the least representation, acknowledgement or respect. Someone I met recently said that disability is different than being a POC or LGBTQ because it at some point will be a reality for everyone. Whether it comes with old age, illness or an accident. Disability makes people uncomfortable because it makes people face their own mortality and they lean into that fear instead of empathy. I think Disability Pride should be a time to uplift, celebrate and honor people with disabilities. A time to advocate for change and to intentionally dismantle ableism. And a time to challenge our own preconceived notion’s about disability so we approach it with empathy instead of fear. (at Financial District) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfr34r9O_JX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[onehandedoverdressed]

Hi I’m Maya and I’m an amputee and model. I’m starting this blog because I want to see more people that look like me thriving.