Guest Post: Disabled, Not Defeated — Living With Dignity in a World That Won’t See Us

 I didn’t choose to be disabled.

But I’ve had to choose, over and over again, how to survive in a world that acts like I don’t exist.

Some people hear the word “disabled” and think weakness. They picture someone dependent, pitiful, or tragic. Others think we’re “inspiring” for simply being alive. But very few actually ask what it’s like — to be disabled in a society built without you in mind.

So let me tell you.

---

We Don’t Want Pity. We Want Equity.

The hardest part about being disabled often isn’t the disability itself — it’s the way the world responds to it. The stairs with no ramp. The job applications that ghost you. The benefits system that treats survival like a privilege you have to prove you deserve.

We’re constantly navigating barriers that were designed to exclude us — then blamed for not "trying hard enough" to overcome them.

We don’t want pity.
We don’t want to be your inspiration.
We want equity.
We want access.
We want a life that isn’t a constant fight.

---

Benefits Don’t Make You Rich. They Barely Keep You Alive.

There’s a dangerous narrative gaining traction — that disabled people are “trapped” on benefits, or worse, “choosing not to work.” But here's the truth: many of us want to work, could work (with the right support), or cannot work because of real, legitimate health issues.

In Canada, where I live, disability assistance like ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) pays hundreds below the poverty line. It doesn’t keep us afloat — it keeps us desperate. And then we’re told we’re “burdens” for needing it.

The cruelty of this system is that it punishes us for surviving it.

---

Ableism Isn’t Always Loud — But It’s Everywhere

Sometimes ableism looks like a politician pushing cuts to “encourage independence.”
Sometimes it’s someone using a slur on the street.
But most often, it’s quieter:

• A hiring manager who throws out your resume.

• A doctor who won’t take your pain seriously.

• A store with no automatic door and no intention to add one.

These everyday denials build up. They wear you down. And they send a clear message:
“You’re not meant to be here.”

---

Why I Keep Speaking Up

Despite all of it — I’m still here.
Still writing.
Still fighting.
Still demanding better.

Because disabled people deserve more than basic survival.
We deserve futures. Joy. Romance. Laughter. Careers. Friendships. Peace.
We deserve to be included — not just in policy or infrastructure, but in culture, storytelling, and everyday life.

And that won’t happen unless we tell our stories.

---

What You Can Do

If you’re not disabled, you can still be part of this movement.
Here’s how:

• Listen to disabled voices — not just the loudest ones or the “inspiring” ones.

• Challenge ableist language and assumptions when you hear them.

• Support accessibility — in your workplace, your events, your social spaces.

• Vote for policies that protect and uplift, not punish and erase.

If you’re disabled, know this:
Your life matters.
Your anger is valid.
You don’t have to be “productive” to be worthy of love and care.

---

Let’s Build a Future That Includes Us All

The fight for disability justice is far from over. But it’s growing — louder, stronger, and more united.

I don’t need to be “fixed.” I need the system to be.
And I’ll keep showing up — for myself, for others, and for the world we could have if we finally put inclusion into action.

—

About the Author:
Mason is a disability advocate, writer, and founder of disABLEDguy.ca, where he shares stories, resources, and hard truths about living disabled in an ableist world.