Having a Friend With a Disability Is Not Newsworthy – Yahoo Lifestyle

I am a disabled adult and I am bothered by the news stories that highlight when a typicalchild does something for someone with a disability. This should not be something spotlighted or celebrated in the media because it is something any good person shoulddo. The fact that this happens so frequently and how happy it makes people makes me sad because it should be done automatically. We should all treat one another with respect.

When I went to junior prom, I was excited to share the experience with an upperclassman, but I wasnt surrounded by cameras. It wasnt a nice gesture because I was disabled. It was just an upperclassman and friend escorting meto my prom and that was enough for me. It was a night I will remember forever, but it wasnt newsworthy.

I founded and run agroup in my community. It is co-led by two of my typical friends from high school and they volunteer with me to help change our community thats it, plain and simple. Its notbecause they are doing something monumental to help their friend with cerebral palsy.

Related: Let's Talk About Barriers to Intimacy When You Have a Disability

We need to stop making these stories such a big deal when in reality they are not. I understand we need feel-good stories right now in our world, but stories like these arent news. They are just kids who were taught right by their parents and know how to treat people with respect.

Ask yourself this: if it were two able-bodied kids helping each other, would it be getting tons of news coverage? I dont believe so. As a society we need to raise our standards of what we deem news and not turn friendships into an act of heroism.

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Having a Friend With a Disability Is Not Newsworthy - Yahoo Lifestyle