Knowing Disability

You don't have to learn about disability. But if you have a disability and you don't know anything about it, then how can you solve issues in your life that are related to your disability? How can you be supportive of someone else you know that has a disability if you don't understand it?

Knowing about your disability can help you to:

• Figure out the impact it has on your daily life
• Make plans that include thinking about how your disability affects what you want for your future
• Know when you might need extra support
• Advocate (stand up for yourself)

Knowing about other people's disabilities can help you to:

• Be a better friend
• Be appropriate and respectful
• Be supportive
• Be more knowledgeable about people with disabilities

If you have a disability, it's important to know about all of your abilities and challenges, including the ones connected to your disability and the ones that aren't. For most of us here at The Youthhood, it will be a lifelong journey to learn everything we want to know about ourselves.

Every day you will learn something new that could make your life better. Knowing about your disability and how it will affect you in your daily life is very empowering. Knowledge is power!