How I Changed My Relationship with My Disability

By exploring Sins Invalid's 10 Principles of Disability Justice

March Prompt:

What is a piece of media or creative work that has changed your relationship to your disability or body?

---

In 2021, in a community-led Buddhist sangha called Bhumisparsah, I met a woman disabled by Elers-Danlos syndrome, Kait. Kait wanted to put together a series of practices covering Sins Invalid’s 10 Principles of Disability Justice. I had never heard of them before but, disabled myself, I was intrigued and when Kait put out a request for collaborators I raised my hand and a new journey began.

Over ten weeks, Kait, Dominique, and I hosted interactions on these principles; along with participants, we listened to, practiced with, and shared about our responses to each of these principles. I came to a more loving and self-compassionate understanding of my personal challenges including that, while changes had happened in my body due to disease, I was actually “disabled” by a society that creates access for normative rather than all bodies; that no single challenge or capacity will ever fit me as a label; that stating the parameters under which I can make contribution in any circumstance is a gift to all; and that by embracing both my capacities and my limits I open myself to connection to all being who also have capacities and limits that deserve to be affirmed. Because of this experience, which I am still evolving with, I am more able to navigate the world knowing that I am not deficient, that the challenges I face are not solely created by “disease,” and that connection with all beings is possible when capacity is centered.

- Laura de Spain

published with permission by Olivia Olmsted