Disability is an Inability: A Hard Truth Society Avoids

The other day, I was traveling with a friend—a fellow paraplegic. As we were boarding a cab, there was a bit of a struggle. The car was higher than I was used to, and maneuvering into it took effort, strategy, and patience. Eventually, we managed and settled in. The cab driver, from what I assume was a good place, smiled and said, “You guys are proving to the world that disability is not an inability.”

That statement sparked a very heated, albeit humorous, discussion between my friend and me. Because the truth is—disability is an inability, and you cannot convince me otherwise.

Let’s start with the basics. What is inability? It is the lack of ability to do something. And guess what? There is so much we cannot do. I cannot leave the house like any regular person unless my wheelchair is in perfect condition. I need to carry my bag of catheters, diapers, urine bags—you know, the lovely essentials—just in case there’s an accident. And accidents happen more often than you would think.

I cannot simply bend down to pick something off the floor without carefully calculating how to shift my weight to avoid falling. I cannot step into places that have stairs without assistance. I cannot run. I cannot stand and stretch after sitting for too long. I cannot feel my legs. I cannot go to many public spaces because, despite laws about accessibility, they remain inaccessible.

So tell me again how disability is not an inability?

The Myth That Tries to Inspire Us

The phrase “Disability is not an inability” was coined to inspire. I get it. It was meant to remind people that despite limitations, we can still contribute to society, thrive, and break barriers. But here’s the thing—it’s a lie wrapped in a pretty bow to make able-bodied people feel good about our existence.

The world is uncomfortable with the reality that disabled people are, in fact, disabled. Society doesn’t want to admit that life is harder for us. That there are things we simply cannot do, no matter how much we try or how much faith we have. So instead of addressing our struggles, they mask it with toxic positivity. “You’re so inspiring!” “You prove that anything is possible!” No, I don’t. I prove that I have no choice but to make things work in a world that wasn’t built for me.

And don’t even get me started on the “superhero” narrative. When I learn new tricks to do basic tasks, people assume I have superhuman strength. But I am not a superhero. I am just trying to survive. No—not just survive, but thrive—because life keeps giving me lemons, and I have no choice but to keep making lemonade. But tell me, just how much lemonade can one drink in a lifetime before it becomes exhausting?

The Reality in Numbers

To put things into perspective, let’s talk statistics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.3 billion people globally experience significant disability. That’s 16% of the world’s population.

• Inaccessibility is rampant: According to the United Nations, only 28% of public spaces worldwide meet accessibility standards, making it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate daily life.
• Employment discrimination is real: The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that people with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those without disabilities.
• Healthcare is a nightmare: The WHO states that 50% of people with disabilities cannot afford necessary healthcare, and medical professionals often dismiss their pain, assuming it’s “part of their condition.”

If disability were truly “not an inability,” why do these numbers exist? Why is the world still so unfriendly to disabled people? Why do we have to fight for ramps, for fair employment, for accessible healthcare? Because disability is an inability. And society would rather ignore that fact than do the work to make life easier for us.

Facing the Hard Truth

The world, or whoever came up with the phrase “disability is not an inability,” did it to make us feel able-bodied when we are not. And I, for one, refuse to sugarcoat reality.

I don’t want to be told that my disability doesn’t define me—it does. It shapes my experiences. It dictates where I can go, how I move, and what I need to survive. It forces me to adapt, to struggle, to constantly problem-solve in ways that able-bodied people never have to.

And before someone says, “But look at Stephen Hawking! Look at Nick Vujicic!”—yes, they accomplished incredible things, but they did so while still being disabled. Their success didn’t erase their disabilities; they did  life in spite of them.

What Needs to Change

I don’t write this to make people pity us. Pity does nothing. But what can society do instead?

2. Acknowledge that disability is an inability. Stop sugarcoating our struggles. Make the world more accessible. Ramps, elevators, adaptive technology—these are not luxuries. They are necessities.
3. Dismantle ableism: Stop treating disabled people like inspiration porn. We’re not here to make you feel grateful for your working limbs.
4. Listen to us: Don’t assume you know what we need—ask us. Involve us in policymaking, urban planning, healthcare decisions.

So, What’s the Bottom Line?

I am not here to make anyone feel comfortable. I am here to state facts. Disability is an inability. And it’s time to face that truth.

What I—and millions like me—want is not empty words of inspiration. We want a world that sees us, that accepts us as we are, and works to make life more equitable for us.

So the next time you hear someone say “Disability is not an inability,” challenge them. Ask them to define inability. Ask them to sit in our chairs, live in our bodies, and then tell us if the phrase still holds true.

Because I promise you—it won’t.