Sylvia Wynter's Dream

What is a myth? 

A myth is a widely held but false belief or idea. 

               Or 

a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining a natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.

What is a Stereotype? 

a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

These are random myths and might I add quite ridiculous ones about disabled people. I heard this on my first day of Sixth form at my old high school. Brace yourselves, All persons who use wheelchairs are seriously ill or sick. Not only was I taken aback by what my friend said but that casual look she had after saying it was what hit the nail on the head for me. Stereotypes or myths are commonly associated with disabled/ Special needs people for various reasons. 

A common one about disabled people is that they have it easy and everything is handed to them because of their ‘situation’. After hearing what my classmate said about only disabled or sick persons use wheelchairs, I immediately remember my grandmother being discharged from Spanish Town Hospital and using a wheelchair to move around the halls in the hospital. My grandmother was in a good condition and only stayed overnight to run multiple tests (MRI, XRAY). But what can be told to strangers, classmates, friends and family members other than the truth, It is a truth that should be  universally acknowledged that disabled people are no less than human and should be treated as such.

Another stereotype about special needs people is that they always need help. I have heard and seen this type of over helpful behavior from strangers and former classmates at Jonathan Grant high school. A student at my school was disabled and had to use a wheelchair from time to time, however he could walk and do almost everything on his own. However, I realized after some weeks that his classmates would often offer to help him and in some cases a little too much. From Fixing his desk, opening doors to even taking notes for him. The fact that his classmates cared enough to do these things for him suggested that they cared and respected him deeply. Not to insinuate that they had bad intentions or common stereotypes about special needs persons, but I think that they commonly mistook what their classmate could do on his own.

My final project will be about the voices of disabled people and I felt that addressing common myths and stereotypes about Special needs/disabled people is a way to start breaking the ice and allowing my readers and future listeners of my podcast to know how these people feel. 

Finally another myth about special needs people is that they don’t fit in and have problems communicating with others. This is far from the truth and should be debunked by individuals that think so. There are several persons who live a normal life regardless of their disability and have no trouble fitting in society, whether it be at work, school or overall environments of different social backgrounds. 

Therefore with that being said myths 

Source: Google