The importance of the online disabled community

Social media can often be criticized for its negative content, meaning that the positives can be overlooked.

The content you fill your feed with makes such a huge difference, I always try to fill mine with the things I like – my favourite celebrities, positivity and the world of disability.

 

Social media has played an important part in helping me to love and accept my vision impairment over the years, probably more than I realise.

 

Starting my blog lead me to connecting with other disabled people which opened up a whole new world for me. These people were sharing their experiences of living with a disability, as well as their everyday experiences which included normal, everyday things – going out with friends, going to gigs or the hype around the latest TV show and that was the content I wanted to see. They weren’t afraid to share the reality of having a disability – their down days, the barriers we face and the obstacles we encounter. There is an invaluable reason for doing all of that; to raise awareness and educate others.

That fit my aims and message perfectly. From then on, I became part of the online disabled community and I’ve never looked back. I went from not talking about my disability online at all because I thought that other people might judge me, to sharing what it’s like to live in a world that wasn’t designed for people who can’t see, and extending this by starting my own blog.

 

The online disabled community is a huge part of many of our lives, personally I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

It isn’t just a group of people having a rant or a moan, it’s filled with everyday experiences and unique stories. Behind every story, There’s a reason it was put out into the online world for people to discover, it could be a way of venting frustration, a chance to celebrate an achievement, or for others to know that they’re not alone.

I feel like the online disabled community can sometimes be overlooked, so I want to share some of the reasons it is so important and shine a light on the incredible work that the community is doing every single day.

For every negative post or comment you encounter, there is also someone that is using their platform in a positive way to make a difference.

 

Connecting with others

Connecting with the online disabled community means that we can support each other, be there for each other and relate to one another. There’s nothing quite like talking to other people that just get it.

Talking to fellow disabled people helps you find others that you can relate to, and that can often be a huge comfort. It’s a bit like a virtual hug!

I’ve met some of my closest friends through the online disabled community and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

 

The chance to help others

There’s no denying that living or adjusting to life with a disability can be challenging at times, but it can also be extremely rewarding.

The online disabled community is always there to offer advice or support when you need it most. Whether it’s answering a question about the latest piece of assistive technology, passing on tips and tricks that make certain things easier, or just being a message away when someone needs to let out their frustrations, it is a supportive community that is always willing to help in any way possible.

I’ve always found the online disabled community to be extremely supportive and there is always someone that’s willing to answer a question or two.

 

Helping others on their own journey

This leads on from the last point, but the online disabled community can help you on your own journey, whether you’re learning to love and embrace your disability or finding independence, being part of the online community can often help you on your own journey because many of us have been there too, so we completely understand what you may be going through, or how you might be feeling.

Sometimes it can feel like the internet is filled with medical advice and information which is great and well-intended, but it doesn’t answer the abundance of questions you may have. There are times you just need to talk to others in a similar situation.

 

We use our platforms to educate others

There are so many people within the online disabled community that are educating others, whether that’s through blog posts, videos, or online activism, we are all trying to do our bit in raising awareness and change perceptions.

It might not be for everyone and that’s okay, but everyone is playing their own part in one way or another.

We’re always helping people understand what it’s like to live with a disability. We’re also educating them on accessibility and inclusion, and that is truly powerful.

We also try to encourage others to think about accessibility, whether that’s making documents or websites more accessible, adding captions to videos, taking steps to ensure your business/venue is accessible, or something simple like adding image descriptions or capitalizing the first letter of each word within a hashtag. As well as encouraging people to consider accessibility, we show what a huge difference it can make.

 

The opportunity to break down stigmas and tackle misconceptions

For many of us, a big part of the work we do is tackling the misconceptions and stigmas that disabled people face on a regular basis. We do this because we want to strive for equality and change perceptions, we want to help create a more accessible and inclusive society.

The online world plays a huge part in our lives, so it is a great way for disabled people to tackle preconceived ideas, and for non-disabled people to learn from the work we do.

 

Using our platforms for online activism and campaigning

Whether it’s writing articles or blog posts, starting a hashtag or an online petition, we try to campaign and raise awareness of the issues that matter to us the most to strive for a more accessible world.

We will get involved in each other’s campaigns whenever we can and endeavor to spread the word.

 

We are representing our community

Representation is key. We are showing the reality of what it is like to have a disability in the world we live in, as well as sharing our real and honest stories and experiences.

Growing up, I didn’t have any disabled role models. There weren’t really any disabled people that I could connect or relate to within the mainstream media, I know that other disabled people have felt exactly the same, and still do today. I always feel very humbled when people tell me that they look up to me in some way, or see me as a role model, I hope I’m doing you proud. Our representation matters, we provide those real-life stories and experiences that the younger generation of disabled people need.

 

By representing the disabled community, we are doing all of the things mentioned above – helping others, raising awareness and tackling misconceptions.

 

We are showing that disability means ability

There is a common notion that having a disability means that we can’t succeed or achieve when this is not the case at all, you don’t have to look very far to find disabled people who are taking on the world by storm, and breaking down barriers along the way.

You don’t have to search for long to find people that are putting the ability in disability.

We are showing non-disabled people that we have goals and ambitions, and that we want to succeed.

 

We are spreading the message that having a disability is something to be proud of

Non-disabled people often focus on the negatives of having a disability and don’t get how it can enrich our lives, they don’t see how having a disability is something to be proud of.

So many of us take pride in our disability, and why shouldn’t we? Spreading the message of being proud of who you are is extremely important.

 

There is so much more to the community than sharing a snap on Instagram or tapping out a tweet. Chances are, there’s an important message behind our posts.

Every day, you will find someone from the online disabled community that is raising awareness, educating others and trying to make the world a more accessible place.

The next time you come across a disabled person using their platform for the greater good, think about what a difference they are making.

 

The online disabled community has provided me with invaluable support, advice and information that I don’t think I would have received anywhere else. Being part of the community is a choice and it isn’t for everyone, but it is a choice I’m so glad I made.

 

How important is the online disabled community to you?

Let me know in the comments.

Holly x