The Day I Stopped Hiding My Disability — And Started Living

 

For years, I tried to pass.

I tried to minimize the way I walked, avoid certain topics, and pretend I didn’t need help when I absolutely did. I laughed off the jokes. I stayed quiet when accessibility was a problem. I wanted to blend in — not stand out.

It wasn’t about shame exactly. It was about survival. Fitting in. Not being “the disabled one.”

Until one day, that stopped working.

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🧠 The Breaking Point

I was at a public event — one of those “networking” things that people swear will change your life. The building was barely accessible. I had to drag myself up steps because the elevator was broken. When I finally reached the event space, sweaty and hurting, someone said, “Wow, you’re so determined.”

They meant it as a compliment. It felt like a slap.

I smiled. But inside, I snapped.

Why should I be applauded for enduring a system that wasn’t made for me? Why should my pain be someone else's inspiration?

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🌱 The Shift

That night, I wrote the first draft of the blog you’re reading now.

I realized that I couldn’t keep minimizing myself. Not for other people’s comfort. Not for their approval. Not for any illusion of “normal.”

So I made a promise to myself:

• I would stop apologizing for existing

• I would speak up when something was inaccessible

• I would share my story — the raw, real parts too

• I would say “disabled” without flinching

And most of all: I would stop hiding.

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🚶 What Changed When I Did

The shift wasn’t instant. It wasn’t always graceful. But it was real.

• I started walking with pride — even if I limped

• I began advocating more clearly — not just for myself, but for others

• I stopped shrinking

I met people who got it. I connected with the disability community in a deeper way. I found belonging — not despite my disability, but because I was finally embracing it.

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💬 Final Thoughts

Disability doesn’t need to be masked, minimized, or tucked away.

You’re not broken. You’re not too much. You’re not a burden.

You’re disabled — and that’s not only okay, it’s powerful.

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💙 Have you had a moment like this? Share your story in the comments — I’d love to feature more disabled voices.

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