Does Money Change the Disability Experience?

Two people can have the same disability and live completely different lives.

We don't talk enough about the role that financial privilege can play in the disability community.

Growing up in a financially secure family can mean having access to things that another disabled person may never have had.

Better equipment.

Accessible housing.

Private therapy or specialized care.

An accessible vehicle.

Paid personal support.

More educational opportunities.

The ability to travel or pursue hobbies.

And perhaps most importantly, a financial safety net when life doesn't go according to plan.

That doesn't mean a disabled person from a wealthy family doesn't struggle.

Their disability is still real. Their limitations are still real. The discrimination and accessibility barriers they face are still real.

But money can sometimes remove or reduce some of the barriers that disability creates.

Now compare that with someone who grows up in a family struggling financially.

They may have the exact same disability but spend years waiting for appropriate equipment, accessible housing, medical services or support. They may have to choose between necessities because there simply isn't enough money.

Maybe one of the worst things about disability is that so many people don't understand how expensive it can be.

And honestly, I don't think governments always understand this either.

They offer benefits to help people with disabilities, yet claw those benefits back when we receive other income or support.

It's frustrating because living with a disability can already cost more, while the system can make it incredibly difficult to get ahead financially.

Money can make a big difference in how someone experiences disability.

Two people can have the same diagnosis and face very different realities.

And recognizing those differences doesn't take anything away from anyone's struggles.

It helps us understand each other better.