What is normal? By Kelly Rouba

A few weeks ago, I was invited to lead a discussing on finding employment at a Center for Independent Living (CIL) in New Jersey. As someone with a mobility impairment, I know quite well how difficult it can be to find a job. I’ve had to overcome a lot of barriers to get where I am today, and I am happy to say that I love my job and my employer.

Unfortunately though, many employers are not capable of looking beyond a person’s “disability” in order to appreciate his or her “abilities”—no matter how talented he or she may be. Over the years, I have discovered a few ways in which individuals can prove their self worth and as I prepared to offer my advice to those at the workshop, the executive director of the CIL asked the group how they would respond if a Human Resources representative asked them about their disability. One girl who had a cognitive impairment quickly piped up and said, “I don’t have a disability. I am normal.”

With that, a silence fell upon the room as everyone was taken aback. I know I was. But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right. We SHOULD all be considered “normal” and not referred to by our “special needs” or “disability.” In fact, a few people I know who have a disability prefer to call themselves “differently abled.”

While this phrase may or may not appeal to you, it’s a step in the right direction. It would be great if society could evolve enough to start celebrating each other’s strengths and stop focusing on the weaknesses. Imagine how productive we could be?

The other day, one of my friends said that everyone has a disability—they just don’t always realize it. It is true that we all have our inabilities—some are just more obvious than others. And it’s unlikely that you would want someone to harp on your limitations. This only makes people feel worthless and does nothing to make them want to rise to the challenge or help them grow as a person.

So let’s not forget that we are all “unique” in our own way, and because of that, we all have something special to offer. Here’s to being normal!