Well a lot of controversy has resulted from a recent interview Nicolas Hamilton gave while sharing his honest thoughts of having a disability and using a wheelchair at the young age of just sixteen years old. While a few were offended by his honesty I believe many young people with disabilities at one time or another view their disability in a negative way. Now sure he could have worded things a bit differently but I am sure others within the disability community if being interviewed on live TV might not have said everything they wanted to say perfectly.
I think a lot of people missed the fact that he was sharing his thoughts as a wheelchair user in his teens. Not once did he say what he was thinking was correct. One of his concerns as a teen was being able to find a girlfriend who would be accepting of his disability. Well news flash that's the concerns of many living with disabilities. It's a sad reality but some people aren't so accepting of people with disabilities. It certainly was a struggle for me at times to find a girlfriend due to my disability. Sadly back in my day people weren't so accepting of people with disabilities. In all honesty it was hard to find someone who was accepting of my disability and wanted to be in a relationship with me. There were certain points when I thought I'd spend the rest of my life alone.
Obviously I was proven wrong when I met that special someone, eventually marrying my wife. So as you can see it is possible to find someone who accepts you despite your disability. Now let's not try and ignore the fact that at times people with disabilities do struggle finding companionship. Sure today we see many people with disabilities in relationships which is great. That doesn't mean others don't struggle in finding that special someone. While it might have been easy for you, that's not everyone's story. So let's step back into reality acknowledging the fact that there are people who aren't so accepting of people with disabilities. When it comes down to it in our teens not being able to find that special someone is a common concern.
Having a disability isn't cool, life in a wheelchair is bleak
Now when he did mention he thought life looked bleak as a wheelchair user something he said was influenced by growing up being taught having a disability isn't cool. These outside influences led to the way he felt in his teens. I am sure he doesn't feel that way today. After all, like many of us I am sure he has seen many great examples of wheelchair and mobility aid users doing some amazing things. Things thanks to social media we often see on a daily basis but let's not forget it wasn’t always so easy. We need to remember that growing up I am pretty sure Nicolas just like me wasn't exposed to this as much as kids are today. In our time things were very different as we often never saw any positive role models living with disabilities. A time when people with disabilities were looked down upon and inclusion wasn't even a thing.
It seems those quick to react in a negative way to Nicolas's interview didn't realize he was sharing his thoughts from his perspective as a teen. I am sure most of us can admit that at points throughout our teens there were times when we didn't fully embrace our disabilities or feel all that confident, especially not knowing what the future might hold. So it's totally understandable that at certain points negative or worrisome thoughts might enter the picture. It's a normal human reaction to be concerned about our future.
“I thought I was being lazy using a wheelchair.”
Now the main issue people are having with his interview is him mentioning he thought he was being lazy using a wheelchair. Again what we have to remember is he was sharing how he felt at age sixteen and this view was more than likely shaped by the way some in society sadly view people with disabilities. After all, aren't we all influenced by the times we grow up in? Unfortunately even today some people ignorantly accuse people with disabilities of being lazy. Now we all know they're one hundred percent wrong but that's often the attitude we're up against.
If you look deeper into what Nicolas was saying and while it could have been worded differently is that it was society's view of people with disabilities using wheelchairs as lazy that influenced him in wanting to try walking again. While walking again isn't possible for some in his case he was able to, now that's his story. Again not everyone's story is the same and I am sure he understands that today. In no way did it come across to me that he was trying to say wheelchair users are lazy.
The studio audiences reaction
I think what stood out the most was the crowd's reaction to him saying he hasn't used a wheelchair in sixteen years. That certainly got a few people's attention. The studio audience applauded right away making it feel like they believe this is what all wheelchair users should strive to do. Though I am pretty sure with a live studio audience at certain moments an applause sign lights up resulting in them reacting that way.
Now I think it's great that Nicholas shared his experiences and thoughts of growing up with a disability and being a wheelchair user. It certainly has the disability community talking. Sure some took offense to the way he worded things but I know he was sharing his thoughts as a teen. I truly believe we should never be afraid to share our true feelings as expressing how we felt at certain moments throughout our lives is important when sharing our stories. That is why I always share mine openly and honestly. Something that is very important to do if our aim is to raise awareness and understanding of the lives we live. It's about breaking down barriers to change people's attitudes towards disability.
In the end Nicholas Hamilton wasn't saying people with disabilities are lazy people who can't get a girlfriend and live bleak lives. He was saying that is what society was saying to him at the time and he bought into it himself. I don't think him walking again is a negative thing as this is something he was able to do. I am sure after spending his entire life as part of the disability community he knows we can live fulfilling lives. After all we are a determined community focused on enjoying life. That despite our disability or whatever mobility aid we need to use, we are not lazy and that we are fully capable of finding that special someone, getting married, having children, even traveling the world and enjoying the good things in life. I am sure Nicolas Hamilton's view of his disability has changed a lot over the last 32 years and he shouldn't be vilified for sharing how he felt in his teens.
Well those are my thoughts on this on this current hot topic.
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