If we are all the same then it won’t matter what we are – that’s what I learned today 
It’s 5: 27 PM on day 568 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to prepare and publish my Disability of the Day feature, work, feed myself vegetable burger for breakfast, drink tea by myself, continue reading Mockingjay - the third book in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - watch TV, feed myself rice and curry for lunch and watch some more TV.
I believe that if we make people understand that we are all the same discrimination would be a thing of the past which is why I went with the ‘I Am Disabled’ campaign idea that popped into my head this morning – the idea behind the campaign is to make people realize that we are all “disabled” (we all have things we wish we could do but can’t) thus making none of us “disabled” – if you wish to participate in ‘I Am Disabled’ write a blog post about ’I Am Disabled’ telling the world what your “disability” is and link to your post below or tweet/Facebook me your answer to the following question: What do you wish you could do but can’t? (Note: If you’re sending your answer to me via Twitter be sure to attach #IAmDisabled at the end of your tweet). Have you somehow managed to show the world that we are more alike than we are different?
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Cool post. A number of friends here at New Horizons would agree with you. I will pass along your tweet. Best Wishes in your campaign.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for your support
Yours truly,
Nisha
Nisha
I want you to be more creative with this campaign… rather than have a # tag for what is why not 1 for what can be… like #Everythingispossible or something shorter but more powerful… in Australia, a tag for helping people who suffer depression is #RUOK which prompts people to ask friends and strangers “Are you OK??”
So, put your think cap on and come up with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE # tag that I can help you spread across the world.
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the suggestion the point of this campaign is to make everybody disabled thus making nobody disabled hence #IAmDisabled
Yours truly,
Nisha
Nisha,
I am both physically and mentally disabled but I do NOT want to be lumped into the “I am disabled” category that you are trying to create. Trying to make everyone see themselves as “disabled” in some way or another is a pathetic attempt at you trying to make the world conform to you, rather than making the effort to blend seamlessly with it.
Instead of trying to drag everyone else down to your level, you need to step up your game and strive to live a full life as possible. Part of the beauty of today’s world is that everyone can be different and still be accepted, but do not use your disability to guilt people into lowering their own standards to make you feel better.
I read quite few of your entries and the predominant posts are “I fed myself. I watched tv.” Step up your game girl! Instead of watching tv, attempt to learn to knit or crochet. It is wonderful therapy for hand dexterity. Take up flower gardening. Take up walking the neighbors dog for a bit of spending cash. Do SOMETHING besides watching tv and trying to make everyone see themselves as disabled so that you feel better.
What Wayne is telling you above is that your posts are depressing. Nobody in their right mind wants to promote depressing, monotonous drivel like “I fed myself and watched tv because I’m disabled and you are too”
Hi,
I think you misunderstand the intention of this blog post I am trying to get rid of some of the stigma around being “disabled”. I am sorry that you feel what I write is monotonous drivel I write about all the little things I do because a couple of years ago I couldn’t do them every day I try to learn how to do something new by myself. I want people to read my blog and know that it’s not too late for them to change and become the people they want to be
Yours truly,
Nisha
PS. I beg you to read about who I am before you judge me although I suppose it’s too late for that now.
[...] butter sandwich for breakfast, edit my book The Accidental Philanthropist, edit my video for my I Am Disabled Campaign – I will publish it asap - feed myself rice and curry for lunch and go to the [...]
[...] brush my teeth drink tea by myself, feed myself garlic bread and chicken for brunch, edit my I Am Disabled Campaign video, feed myself chicken biryani for lunch and finish editing my campaign [...]
[...] Day feature, drink Green Tea by myself, set up Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets for my I Am Disabled Campaign – now you can write a blog about my I Am Disabled Campaign and leave the link to your post on [...]
[...] http://nisha360.com/2012/04/day-568-i-am-disabled [...]
Per your wonderful request, my friend:
http://stanfaryna.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/what-super-powers-did-you-want-iamdisabled/
Hi,
Thank you for writing this wonderful post I REALLY appreciate it!
Yours truly,
Nisha
[...] her blog and see. To address the stigma associated with disabilities she started a campaign called #IamDisabled. This campaign aims to show the world that everyone has things they want to do but can’t [...]
Hi,
Thanks again for the post
Yours truly,
Nisha
Added mine to the linky – my first one is a little shallow. I’ll post another #iamdisabled post soon.
Hi,
Don’t worry about the sucking at driving thing practice, practice, practice and soon you will have your licence
Yours truly,
Nisha
[...] she “sucks at driving” (her words, not mine) and I was intrigued. The post was a link-up with Nisha 360, a young woman with Cerebral Palsy who blogs about her journey to independence and the challenges [...]
This is awesome! Keep going with the campaign. It is definitely something we need to think about more because we all have challenges and things we can’t do! Take care!
Hi Trisha
Thank you for the compliment
Yes it is something we need to think about.
Yours truly,
Nisha
;
[...] Dysgraphia and such on At least we made it this far - Thank you Trisha for supporting my I Am Disabled Campaign prepare my Disability of the Day feature for tomorrow- exercise my right hand – still need [...]
No, I didn’t misunderstand your intentions. I disagree with how you are approaching it.
I have a gentleman in my town who is a quadriplegic after an accident. He still wanted to work and support himself rather than sit around dependant on others. He wasn’t college educated so he started a dogwalking business. The dogs adore him and love running along with his wheelchair. He can offer something to the dogs and their owners that nobody else can because he can give them a workout. He is independant and nobody sees him as disabled. He makes more than most college grads and he is enjoying himself. IMO, this is how to show the world that someone who faces medical challenges is capable of doing whatever they wish. Yes, there are challenges, but I am going to work my rear off to overcome them.
I know women who have conditions that affect their hands and dexterity so they started a crafts club. They get together several times a week and have learned how to knit, crochet, paint, and sculpt then sell their creations at local markets. It’s great therapy for their hands and gives them independance financially and emotionally.
I could go on and on with examples of people who overcame their challenges because they had the attitude of I’m Capable rather than i’m disabled. We work so hard to be accepted as just another one of the gang. We work so hard for people to see US instead of our challenges. I get that you want everyone to see that there are things they can’t do even as ablebodied people but “i can’t drive well” is not even close to “I’m a quadriplegic who is running a successful business that I started on my own after the accident left me in a chair.”
Hi,
I also have a job I manage people’s social media accounts. I don’t think anyone is comparing not being able to drive well to being quadriplegic as you said I just want to make people realize that “able-bodied” and “disabled” people alike have things that they can’t do. Let’s agree to disagree about my approach.
Yours truly,
Nisha
[...] of “not being able” I’d like to interject a mention of @Nisha360′s #IamDisabled campaign, since I haven’t gotten to it the way I’d have liked to, yet). Even a [...]
Thank you for the mention of #IAmDisabled. Your support means a LOT to me