Get Over Yourself... We're Only Disabled Part 9

Get  Over Yourself, We're Only Disabled!

Hey my lovely readers, hope you are well.  

We are entitled to have friendships

As I’ve grown up, I’ve noticed that people are not that understanding towards people with disabilities and they don’t try to socialise with them as much as able-bodied people.  I don’t know if it’s because they are nervous about what to say or how to say it but people don’t always seem to have enough patience.

Over the years, I have found it quite challenging to form friendships and maintain them as a lot of my friends weren't disabled and this made it difficult to connect and keep up with others. 

Everyone has similar needs when it comes to relationships and it would be a lonely life if we lived it alone. Having friends is part of a person’s social development.  It can be hard to make friends,  but when you’ve found the right friendship group this enhances your life.  It is nice to have friends and connect with people around you that have similar interests as you.  Friends allow you to feel understood and supported, Friends should be there for each other and help out whenever the other person needs them. 

I feel when a friendship forms between two or more people, they are able to learn about each other and allow a strong bond to grow.  Friends can rely on each other and support each through times that they need someone. I feel that you can tell a friend things that you might not tell others like your mum or a family member. Linking this back to disability, it is important to have friends that understand your limitations and boundaries unless you feel confident to push your limits. 

It is good to have a wide range of friends.  However, it is special when you find a friend that has very similar needs and interests to you, so you can communicate with each other and have a connection together.  Friends can be in each other’s lives every day or rarely see each other at all but it wouldn't break their friendship.  I feel that when I see my friends, I feel positive and happy, especially when we have a lot in common.  I feel that friends bring a lot out of each other and it can help with emotions and feelings. 

Friends can fall out at times, however, that rarely means that they won’t talk to each other ever again.  Friends can go through different phases of seeing other friends but will always be there for each other, especially when they've known each other for ages; people bond in a special way that keeps the friendship going for years.

Sometimes others looking in on the friendship, may feel that the relationship is mismatched and may try to discourage the relationship.   But people should just let the friendship group bond and give them support whenever they need it. Friends are as important to people that are disabled as for people that aren’t, so others shouldn't dictate what people should be doing when trying to work on building a friendship.  For example, if people want to go to the cinema with their friends, this is what should go ahead.  People shouldn't make other plans for them as this isn't allowing them to make the choice themselves.   Friends are special and important to people!

Good and strong friendships are special whether you are disabled or not. Sometimes time or accessibility issues can get in the way, but there always a way around this, moving venues or journey planning. This can be easily organised when you have a strong bond! 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this blog.

Abbie xx