Define normal

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    "You look normal to me." "People with disabilities are not normal people." "Disabled people do not live normal lives." What is a "normal person?" What does this even mean? This language is outdated because there is no such thing as being not normal. There is no such thing as looking disabled. Every individual in the disability community experiences their disabilities differently and not all disabilities are obvious. This comment is even worse when it is supposed to be perceived as a compliment. In fact, plenty of people in the disability community actually take referring to people outside of the disability community as "normal" in comparison to them insulting. I will speak freely that this language dehumanizes people in the disability community and sends the message disabilities are something to be ashamed of or hide. People in the disability community ARE humans just like everyone else. They are not aliens, dogs, or abnormal. Disabilities do not make people with them any less of a person. Children in the disability community are still children. Adults in the disability community are still adults. Overall, people in the disability community are still people whether their disability or disabilities showed up at birth or later in life. Disabilities are not a loss of anyone. Disabilities are just a different type of normal and that is ok. Disabilities are part of the norm because they are part of reality. Disabilities are real life and a natural part of human life.

    Plenty of people in the disability community do a lot of the same things as everyone else despite their differences. This includes the following but not limited to:

  • get good grades
  • gett accepted into and graduating from college
  • play sports
  • make art/core academic projects
  • work paid jobs
  • win awards
  • socialize with people of all abilities
  • drive vehicles
  • pay taxes
  • get married
  • raise children
  • become homeowners
  • travel

    Referring to people outside of the disability community as "normal" in comparison to people in the disability community sends the message that disabilities are inferior and seeming normal is an ideal standard. Telling people with invisible disabilities that they "seem normal", "don't look disabled", and/or "are too smart/pretty/perfect/confident/successful/young to be disabled" is also ableist. "As an example, when we speak of disability, we first notice what is different about a body or mind. We notice what is not working, or what is too slow to keep up. And when disability is non-apparent, we reach for the 'low-hanging fruit' biases to explain 'difference.' We say, 'He is lazy, unmotivated; not an innovator, or an achiever.' We say, 'He's a bully.' And when disability is acknowledged, it is constantly referenced by its relative distance from normal. The demands placed on diverse bodies and minds are demands that attempt to bring disability closer to an idealized 'normal' --- rather than what may be equitable. Ableism seems to declare, 'Let's change disability so that it conforms to the cultural ideal, and so we can comfortably live in a fanatical, depersonalized fantasy about our bodies and minds'" (Williams & Slabaugh 2025).

    Furthermore, it treats invisible disabilities and the human life of people with visible disabilities as not real, unimportant, unworthy of recognition and representation, and like they do not matter. These are the messages that these statements send even if you do not say the exact words, "They are not human", "It's not real", "It's unimportant, not worthy of recognition or representation", or "It does not matter." These prejudice statements all have the same meaning and dismiss, ignore, and invalidate the realities that people in the disability community have experienced their whole lives and continue to experience. It also dismisses, ignores, and invalidates intersectionality among the disability community because every disability journey is different. These statements also do not take being a true disability advocate seriously.

    Normalize disabilities because this is their "normal." The term, neurodivergent, should replace "abnormal." Neurodiverse minds are beautiful and worthy of acceptance, celebration, and disability pride. It is important to acknowledge a balance between focusing on and beyond the struggles and challenges of people in the disability community. Recognize their strengths as well and celebrate how amazing it is that all of our minds work in different and wonderful ways🧠♾️🌈🖤💚🩵🤍💛❤️🖤



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Citations

1. Williams, L. & Slabaugh, M. (2025). Calling Out Ableism Just Got Easier. https://www.invisibledisabilityproject.org/unseen-zine/2017/6/5/calling-out-ableism-just-got-easier

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