Rethinking Ability: A Dynamic Perspective

[Image Description: A sad woman sits on a couch, and a man beside her gently touches her shoulder to comfort her.]

“You’re not disabled; just look at you; you’re perfectly fine.”

Most reading that phrase would assume it’s one in a million. An exception to the basic human decency we’re taught to practice as kindergarteners. An unwonted quip that we just wouldn’t encounter in the real world.

Newsflash: it’s not.

A TikTok that went viral in 2024 by user “@endometriosisem” recounted an encounter with a man at a bar who discriminated against her for the “fake disability” she claims to have suffered from for the majority of her life. “You’re a pretty girl. Stop joking around,” he said, continuously and pervertedly harassing her. The disability in question is endometriosis, a chronic uterine disorder — which is just one of many dynamic disabilities.

According to the Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), a dynamic disability is one that fluctuates in severity on a day-to-day basis. A life defined by “good days” and “bad days,” dynamic disabilities are common.

Proper education on them is not.

A story that left the TikTok creator in shambles by the end of the seven-minute clip calls to mind a bleak (and avoidable) reality that many who suffer from dynamic disabilities face on a daily basis:

“Am I disabled enough?”

“Am I too disabled?”

Unfortunately, but at times inescapably, individuals with dynamic disabilities are placed in the uniquely difficult position of self-assessing their identities in a world that harps on evidence where there is none: “I know what I feel, but I can’t prove it.”

In a time where discrimination is rife, it’s ever-important for us as objective observers to limit our hurtful (often prejudicial) tendencies. Take the necessary steps to prevent stories like these from happening in your community.

Here are some tools you can implement to make a difference :

One, keep an open mind. The internet today is teeming with misinformation. Being a social advocate, nay simply a decent citizen, comes from acknowledging perspectives outside your own.

Two, identify common dynamic disabilities. Avoiding uncomfortable situations and distasteful encounters is another step in becoming more informed. Some dynamic disabilities include but aren’t limited to:

● Depression

● Anxiety Disorders

● Bipolar Disorder

● Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

● Chronic Pain Conditions

Three, make accommodations. Something as simple as changing plans to stay home, walking a little slower next to your dynamically disabled friend, or just keeping them company ensures they’ll feel seen, heard and accounted for.

Dynamic Disabilities are just one example of a topic much too often brushed off because of a lack of education. Taking the first step toward recognizing the issue at hand is taking a step towards accessibility, a step for change, and a step towards a life of inclusion.

In friendship, 

Matthew Vila 

YLC Member, Florida