Here at Vocational Solutions of Henderson County, we work with adults with disabilities and their families to help these individuals learn key life skills, find employment, and maximize their independence. In our experience, many able-bodied people have unconsciously bought into some harmful attitudes towards the disabled community, and we want to do our part to help combat that. In this article, we’ll go over three harmful myths about adults with disabilities and correct the misinformation.
- Myth: Adults with disabilities always need help. One of the myths about adults with disabilities that our team is especially eager to combat is the idea that they are always dependent or in need of help. In reality, many adults with disabilities are able to live with a great deal of independence, and even those who require ongoing support in some areas are able to direct their own lives in others. Our goal is to help disabled individuals live with as much independence and dignity as possible.
- Myth: Adults with disabilities can’t lead full lives. Another common myth about disabled adults is that they aren’t able to participate fully in community life. In reality, adults with disabilities hold jobs, pursue careers, engage in hobbies, get married, have kids, and do all the things that able-bodied people do. Not every disabled adult does all of these things, but not every abled adult does either.
- Myth: Adults with disabilities are all the same. A third assumption that able-bodied people often make about those with disabilities is that they are all in some way alike. This is not true on any level. Not only do people’s specific disabilities vary in nature and severity–for example, some people with mobility issues may be able to walk some of the time, while others use wheelchairs at all times–their feelings about their disabilities vary as well. On top of that, people with disabilities vary just as much in their personalities, interests, and personal beliefs as do able-bodied people.