Why I Gladly Answer Questions About My Disability

The act of asking a question can be powerful. Not only can a question feed your curiosity and ignite your imagination, it can also educate someone on an important topic.

When someone, typically a young child asks me a question about my chair or my braces, I answer the question with joy, no matter how silly it may seem. That question has given me an opportunity to explain my disability to someone who may have never been taught about disabilities before. While it is not my job nor is it a requirement for me to explain my disability to everyone who asks, I choose to! Answering a question can help dissolve the stigma around disabilities within the current and future generations. No question is “stupid,” because every question teaches you something new. Every question has the potential to change how people think.

Parents, teach your children to ask more questions, and ask more questions yourselves. Questions can change the world! People with disabilities may seem scary, but I promise we don’t bite!