The disabled community often accepts the idea that the government can help create a life beyond their reach. Improving life is valuable—disabled or not—if you don’t raise your own bar, someone else will. Being successful and happy individuals is dependent on us, not the government. Being diagnosed with a disability has taught me many things, but raising my own bar to create the life I desire is just one of them. I’ve noticed the disabled community collectively tends to accept lower standards when it comes to governmental policy (state or federal). When we get involved in who is in “control” then the “government” has less of a role to play in our lives; you as the individual will have more responsibility determining your success and happiness.
The question then becomes, how do I get involved in the “who’s in charge”? Equipping the disabled to see their own potential for opportunities rather than the government is the best way to make sure we have a role with who’s in control. Being involved in politics or helping a candidate get elected may be a vital step in moving forward with that goal.
5 things to know when helping a candidate or being involved in politics:
- Know your values: Make sure your values are in the decision-making process of who you decide to stand with for a candidate. The candidate you decide to support should embrace a majority, if not all of your values. What do you stand for?
- Know there WILL BE opposition: It’s vital to have a strong spine in order to withstand all the lies that will come against the candidate AND YOU. I’m heading into four years of being heavily involved in politics. It’s nasty and brutal. People you thought were for you and who you support may be against you and whoever you stand with. Are you willing to be called names or have your disability or business used as a weapon against you?
- Be willing to be the student: I know within my hearts of hearts that changing minds, hearts, and attitudes is my calling. The platform I’ve been given to do that is through speaking, writing and how politics influences how much we as a society do, or do not do to raise our own bar. I’m being surrounded by “teachers” right now including the candidate himself. I try to have more questions than answers. I watch. I listen. I absorb. I become a sponge. Are you teachable?
- Have fun: While being involved in politics isn’t fun all the time, it feels good to know I’m making a difference and being a voice for a community who has been told that being a “victim” is their only choice. I’m hopefully proving that relying on oneself and gaining confidence within yourself by forming an actual community is important.
- It’s NOT about you: If you do decide to get in the realm of politics, please remember it’s not about you. It’s about leaning into your goals and whatever your objectives are.
Supporting a candidate may be the first step of many to building a world where you expect more of yourself and those around you. Ultimately, the lessons learned along the way, disabled or not, will be worth their weight in gold.
