Using humour to accept my disability

Having a disability might not seem like a laughing matter, but I believe that humour has its place within various aspects of disability. They have varying degrees of success, but it can help when accepting your disability. Humour has always been a big part of my life. I also think that humour and the ability to laugh at my own disability is something that has contributed to my current outlook.

I was watching a recent BBC Two documentary, Alex Brooker: Disability and Me, and something he said really resonated with me. It’s not about being good, it’s about being included. When you are disabled being isolated in some way is almost expected, yet how can this impact our use of humour?

Shaping my outlook

To be honest, using humour is just part of who I am. It’s probably the result of my upbringing and life experiences. Over the years I have had to come to terms with changing health and life experiences that might not have been conventional. I believe it’s the comical aspects of a sometimes clinical setting that can help to normalise your experiences. Being upset or angry at your health certainly has its place, but it’s okay to find those moments of light.

Having a disability can mean you experience a lot of serious aspects. This could be endless appointments, having new aids or support, managing symptoms or receiving a diagnosis. This ultimately can take its toll after a while. Of course disabled people are allowed to have more in life than their condition, yet at times it can be all consuming. The ability to laugh can make the scary moments more lighthearted and manageable.

Managing expectations

However, part of me thinks that humour can be a coping mechanism. To joke and be lighthearted about a situation that is indescribable is what can get you through it. Not only that, I’ve noticed myself making jokes when around others. I almost feel like I need to put people at ease, or even make a joke before they do. I can take a joke and will probably give as good as I get, but it’s not very inventive to have disability as the punchline every time.

One scenario that particularly stands out is when I use a plastic straw in public with someone I might not see very often. The ban of plastic straws was something that was important and I believe in the principles behind it, but it did put some disabled people in the firing line. I personally use plastic straws on a daily basis because they reduce the risk of choking. This doesn’t mean I want to kill the turtles. As a result I often find myself mentioning my love of turtles while putting a plastic straw in my drink. I know that sounds obscene, but intention is probably to preempt the comments about my disregard for the planet. If I make the joke first then they won’t have to.

When I’m able to use a metal straw I will do, but this isn’t always possible or safe. If you want to know more, Shona wrote a great post about the plastic straw ban and how it harms disabled people.

Who know’s what will happen next

Having a disability does have its funny moments! It might not be seen as a positive, but it certainly makes life eventful. Some of the things I’ve done are pretty laughable; the random falls over thin air and mistaking mannequins for people to name a few. Yet it’s more than that. I believe having the ability to laugh at yourself is important. There’s a big difference between laughing at you and laughing with you.

Once the humour has served its purpose as a coping mechanism it can symbolise acceptance. Disability is part of who I am, but I would be naive to say there wasn’t a process of acceptance. When I find amusement in aspects of my disability it becomes normalised. I believe this illustrates that it’s a fundamental, but not overbearing, part of my identity.

~ Chloe x