Disability Quotes Quotes

“There's nothing more debilitating about a disability than the way people treat you over it.”
― Solange nicole

“Over the years I have developed and employed a variety of such coping mechanisms, mostly focusing around a philosophy I call, “Live Because.”

“Live Because” is in contrast to what I’ve termed “Live Despite,” which is the idea that people can live rich, full lives in spite of their physical or emotional barriers. “Live Because” takes this a step further by suggesting that in many cases, patients can live a more fulfilling life with their illness than they could ever have done without it.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has transformed me from a frequently petty and self-absorbed person into the person I am today (still somewhat self-absorbed, but a lot less petty, and with a clearly defined purpose of alleviating whatever suffering I can). I am better because of my illness, and not just in spite of it.

But this process was, and still is, a journey. Chronic illness is nearly always accompanied by depression, and the need to constantly remain one step ahead of my illness has left me fearful and exhausted. I could never go through this alone...

A part of me will always be angry; such is the process of mourning the pieces of oneself that are lost to chronic disease. I have learned to accept the duality of being bitter and at peace; ignorant and enlightened... while still laying a foundation of hope for the possibility that I can still realize my personal dreams and ambitions, even if not in the exact ways I had expected.”
― Michael Bihovsky

“You can’t be beaten by something you laugh at.”
― Jonathan Harnisch, Freak

“By prioritizing accessibility, educational institutions can do more than facilitating students with disabilities in achieving their academic and career goals; they can also play a role in spreading awareness and culture among all students.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“Facilitating a culture of accessibility in education is not just about helping students with disabilities succeed; it's about shaping an informed student body that recognizes the value of accessibility in every aspect of life.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala, Understanding Accessibility

“Do you ever wish you could hear?"
"I can hear. I just listen differently than you."
hardcover page 270”
― Kerry O'Malley Cerra, Hear Me

“Inclusion is not a favor we do for others—it’s a reflection of the world we want to live in.”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“I told you every flower can blossom,” Fara said through the glass. “But too many people want to stroll through artificial gardens that produce oh-so-important shite or are the same ole pretty to look at. And they hire gardeners like your doctor to hide the rest.” Her soft expression turned into a feral grin. “Well, too bad— I’m gonna ruin their fake perfect gardens, because real nature is fragile and beautiful and wild, and if you ask me, a duck of a lot more interesting.”
― Casper E. Falls, Artifice & Access: A Disability in Fantasy Anthology

“By focusing on accessibility for persons with disabilities, companies do more than just broaden their market—they create products and services that are easier and more accessible for everyone in society.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“Achieving digital and website accessibility is a straightforward task with profound consequences, offering a great opportunity to make information and services universally accessible and to significantly diminish the access challenges faced by persons with disabilities.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“The relative ease of implementing digital and website accessibility is an opportunity to equalizing access to information and services, effectively reducing the disparities and difficulties faced by persons with disabilities.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“Digital and website accessibility, while relatively easy to achieve, can be a game-changer in making communications and services universally accessible, thereby leveling the playing field for persons with disabilities.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“Educational Institutions that build and maintain an accessible environment do more than enable persons with disabilities to thrive academically and professionally; they also instill a sense of responsibility and awareness about accessibility in their entire community.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“The role of educational institutions in promoting accessibility extends beyond education of students with disabilities; it creates a ripple effect of awareness and understanding of accessibility among the general public.”
― Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala

“DisabilityPrideMonth isn't just a celebration; it's a jubilant parade of diversity, resilience, and jaw-dropping achievements from individuals who redefine what's possible every day. It's our time to tip our hats to their strengths, rally for inclusivity, and construct a world where everyone can dazzle. Let's shine a spotlight on their awe-inspiring stories, demolish the barriers holding them back, and sculpt a society where every talent is recognized and celebrated.”
― Life is Positive

“There are only two kinds of people in the world: the disabled, and the yet-to-be-disabled.”
― Ed Roberts

“Social Progress: There is a growing emphasis on acceptance and inclusion across the globe. This shift is fostering more inclusive societies where people of all backgrounds can thrive. As we continue to break down barriers and promote equality, we can look forward to a future where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
― J. Edwards Holt

“He admitted to me that he was beginning to feel invisible, especially in his wheelchair. He said people didn't take him seriously in that thing, said people wouldn't look him in the eyes.”
― Karie Fugett, Alive Day: A Memoir

“I believe autism is not a limitation but a different way of experiencing the world. Kareem’s Mission works to celebrate that diversity.”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“My journey with Kareem has taught me that change starts with understanding. By challenging stigma, educating ourselves, and advocating for inclusion, we can create a world where every child feels seen and supported.”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“Children with autism often face bullying or exclusion because their behaviors can appear “different.” This can lead to isolation, low self-esteem, and mental health struggles.”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“When we fail to act, fail to educate ourselves, or fail to include others, we contribute to the isolation and misunderstanding that hold people back.”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“Families shouldn’t have to reach a breaking point to get help”
― Hagir Elsheikh

“Accepting your disability is a part of accepting yourself.”
― Madi Kudlacz

“Incurable, hopeless, excessive, organic, ill: this is the language of chronic disease, of the static bodies it indexes and the defective temporalities it engenders. The modality of the chronic, then, is less safely habitual than the compromised, the unconjugated, the "would" in the sense of being able or unable to realize one's will.”
― Elizabeth Freeman, Beside You in Time: Sense Methods and Queer Sociabilities in the American Nineteenth Century

“Even the phrase "going blind" is problematic for him now, Will said. "Going blind" has baked into it all the loneliness and isolation that we associate with blindness. A much more accurate way to describe it is "becoming blind." Blindness is much more an arrival than a departure.”
― Andrew Leland, The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight

“Perhaps disability was an integral part of life’s dance. Perhaps fragility was built into our very design. If the source of fragility was also the source of strength, then perhaps fragility was also strength.”
― Heather Lanier, Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir

“The word ‘cure’ was a bomb. For so many people, disability needs to be fixed in order for it to finish its story.”
― Heather Lanier, Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir

“I do know how expensive it is to be helpless. How many things don’t count as necessary. A wheelchair ramp. A wheelchair van. Clothes, air conditioning, prayer cards.”
― Betty Culley, Three Things I Know Are True

“Before the world, we all wear a mask. Each disabled person I’ve met does this; it’s like a mask that makes you accessible to the outside world. We’re happy, our pain is bad—but not too bad. We take up space but not too much space. Our emotions are never allowed to stray into territory that might suggest the world at large has no desire to accommodate us.”
― Gretchen Schreiber, Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal