This Disability Advocacy Blog and everything related is designed so others can overcome obstacles to their success. My tools are simple life lessons and the wisdom I have from living with a lifetime disability.
My Journey to Being an Advocate
As you think on that and wonder how to accomplish it, I can only share from my own experience, strength, and hope developed over the years. In fact, my journey is such a big part of my disability advocacy, that’s why I authored, Every Scar Tells a Story. I felt it was important for others to understand my disability challenges first-hand. Growing up I quickly understood that no one knew what it was like to ‘walk in my shoes’. Being politically correct, I should rephrase and say, ‘limp with my crutch’. If they had, I wouldn’t have faced a lifetime of discrimination and bullying because of a disability!
Insights to Alter the Future Through my Disability Advocacy Blog
After publishing my book, I found my journey transcended any attribute that the world defines us by. Because every labeled group through history has been discriminated against–be it disability, gender, race, sex, age, or skin color. However to overcome, a shift needs to occur in all parties.
To begin, consider that everyone has the power to choose how they react to life events. This means the ability to be a victor rather than a victim in life. If everyone could realize this, how different would our world be?
Secondly, I believe it’s a universal responsibility to empower others to achieve their own form of advocacy whether disabled or not. For in the achievement of that goal, both parties rise to success despite obstacles and life circumstances. I believe if mindsets shifted to helping others then hate crimes and other dehumanizing events would decline quickly.
Victory on the Horizon
My challenge to you is to start each day with the intent to build a better world for yourself, your family and friends. For in implementing your own form of advocacy, we can collectively improve the world we live in.
Live life large and be blessed! ~Victoria Mavis
