How to Cope With Stigma

So what's normal? The setting on a clothes dryer? The way the other guy acts? What if he's not really normal, either? You don't 'act normal.' You act natural. That's different for everyone and unique for you.

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 Steps

    1
    You have been diagnosed with having a disability, whether that is a visible or invisible disability. An invisible disability is a heart condition, renal disease, MS, anything that doesn't project itself as a factor that draws attention.
    2
    Go to and keep up with your doctor. Learn as much as you can about and the nature and extent of your disability so you can do as much as possible to help yourself. People with mild disabilities are less likely to attract significant negative attention.
    3
    Living with disabilities

    Find out what you can about the disability, and access as many resources as you can so you can learn to cope with it; e.g., housing with wheelchair ramps, bathrooms with lots of handles and non-slip surfaces. Make sure you have your access to as many A.D.A. compliant resources as possible. No one can live in this world alone. Who is it that said No man is a rock? Use your resources.
    4
    Remember you don't have to tell everyone about the disability, especially if they don't need to know. If it is a hidden, mild or invisible disability, or it is not so relevant to how well you do your job, do well in school etc. However, if you don't tell people about your disability—and your limitations at work, school, etc. are not taken into consideration—then you cannot later expect redress if you lose your job, aren't hired, or fail in school because you didn't/couldn't do the work.
    5
    If is is a visible disability, go about your business and do your best to ignore people when they stare etc.
    6
    It will make no difference to them, but remember that a bad attitude is also a disability.
    7
    Cultivate a sense of humor and practice snappy comebacks. Sometimes if someone's obnoxious in public, you can salvage the situation by being funnier than they are. Don't be too cruel about it, but having a few zingers handy can help a lot.
    8
    Find out about activism groups for disabled people, especially those with your condition. When you get mad, it helps to have something useful to do with that anger - like helping to educate people in general.
    9
    Become aware of and work to overcome any bigotry you were used to feeling. Rejecting the stigma of disability is easier when you can reject the entire idea of prejudice. Recognize that the same kind of ill treatment you're getting happens to people for reasons of race, gender, religion, sexual preference, ethnic ancestry or mental illness. You can also find a lot of support by taking this coalition view since it will embarrass activists to find out that they're bigoted in regard to a group they didn't think of as a minority. If you add up all the people who get the butt of prejudice for being different in some way, you'll find out we're an overwhelming majority.

Tips

    Adults stare and ask cruel questions. They should be treated for what they are; ignorant, mean, spiteful, and small.
    Stigma is the outward action of the ignorant.
    There is still something called stigma.
    Children stare and ask innocent questions. They should be respected and appreciated for what they are; a means to learning.
    Remember the problem are due to the insecurities of others.
    Your disability is not your fault.
    Children with Cerebral Palsey at the White House
  

Warnings

    No matter how hard you try to fit in, if you try to fit in, you can't change their attitudes.
    Some people with obvious and/or severe disabilities may find it hard to cope with the stares, comments and the like. Cope the best way you can, change what you can, and don't worry about the rest.
    People may look down on you if you have a disability.