Stop Doubting Us

“He’s not blind—he’s looking at his phone.”

“She’s not deaf—she’s talking.”

“You’re not paralyzed—you just stood up.”

These are the comments we see every day, casual dismissals of our reality. You scroll past our stories and call them lies, as if disability fits in a neat little box. As if you know our bodies better than we do. As if visibility cancels out reality.

You demand proof: receipts, medical records, a performance of pain on demand. You expect us to be silent, still, and suffering—or you accuse us of faking. But disability isn't a costume or a role we auditioned for. It’s a lived experience—fluid, complex, and real. We can use a wheelchair and still walk. We can speak and be Deaf. We can smile and still be in pain.

We owe you nothing. We don’t owe you an explanation, a performance, or a story tailored for your comfort. We share our experiences to build bridges, not to be cross-examined. We post to connect, not to be dissected.

So next time you feel the urge to doubt or dismiss, ask yourself why you need us to suffer to believe we exist. We won't shrink to fit your comfort. We won’t soften our truth to soothe your doubt. We’re not here to convince you; we’re here to exist, loudly.

We are not your inspiration, your test, or your lie. We are disabled, and we are done explaining. If our existence makes you uncomfortable, good. That discomfort is the beginning of change. We will keep showing up, speaking out, and taking space—because we've earned it. And we’re not going anywhere.

The only lie here is your doubt.