Disability Journal-Ashmi

It's always been hard to discuss issues regarding disabilities because I personally have never experienced one. Even though I am only a spectator, I can really sympathize for those who do experience discrmination due to a disability. I feel like discrimination towards disabilities isn't acknowledged very well in society as a major issue because it has become so normalized. There have been all kinds of stereotypes associated with disability because some feel as though disabled people are taking advantage of the "perks". One day I was challenged to take only ADA accessible routes. Mind you all, I live at Clark Kerr. If I was in a wheelchair, I would have died rolling down the hill merging onto Piedmont. In fact, I wouldn't have even been able to get to my room on the second floor because my building doesn't have an elevator. My travel time in between classes and Clark Kerr was set back by 15-20 minutes. My experience with ADA accessible routes definitley made me more aware about how much able-bodied people take for granted.
Whether people have a physical or mental disability, they always have to accommodate and compromise. There are people who will never know what it feels like to walk or pedal with their legs and there are people who will always have to work harder in school/work because of a mental disability. For them, what we consider the simpler things in life all become quite complex. I think there needs to be more awareness of issues regarding disabilities so we can remove stereotypes and normalize disability. I hope that one day we, as a society, can realize that even people with disabilities are normal human beings; they have feelings, dreams, and aspirations just like everyone else and they shouldn't be judged because of a physical/mental disablement.