Ability

My name is Nader Bahu. I have a profound muscular hypotonia disability. The hardest part of being who I am is having confidence in my abilities as an individual. I never had a problem believing in my abilities until people constantly started to point out my disability, which made me think about my disadvantages. I cannot walk and I have a voice impairment, but I still know deep down that I can accomplish my goals. Even though I do not believe in people who only see my limitations, it is sometimes discouraging to have to prove to myself repeatedly that I am capable.

Being disabled, whether physical or invisible, you will face certain challenges from people who do not understand your perspective. This should not discourage you as a disabled person but motivate you to believe more in yourself and pursue your dreams. Wanting validation from others will cause more harm than benefit since people will only see the disability, not the individual’s capabilities.

Disability shouldn’t be something that should be pointed out to someone like me. This is because we already know we are disabled. We live with it every single day. Emphasizing identities in society is more limiting than empowering. It fosters the notion that people cannot accomplish certain tasks due to their inalienable characteristics. Disabled people should be seen as individuals. When someone wishes to accomplish something despite their disability, it is improper to exclude them or deny them an opportunity because of their disability.

As a person, I often wonder if the people who claim they care about me only care because of my disability. This contrasts with my individuality. The way society focuses on identity can take a toll on the individual, and it is much more apparent when you are disabled. People often look at you as someone who needs help or someone who cannot do much due to their physical abilities, but those people’s intentions are not malice. More specifically, I am referring to people who would use a person’s disability to enhance their career or to make themselves look more attractive.

There is a term called inspiration porn and it is a term I do not use often, but I understand why others do. When a disabled person is with an able-bodied person, it can indirectly make the able-bodied person look better. Most times this is not intentional by the person, but some people will take advantage of someone’s disability to make themselves feel better or for social gain. This is harmful for people with disabilities because it affects our trust in others and we do not know if they are truly friends. The more it happens the more harmful it can be for the individual.  The world will use our image and struggles to boost their social status. In my eyes, this is much more damaging than people who would insult you because at least the individual did not emotionally invest in a relationship. Nothing hurts more than finding out a person you trust has been using your likeness to push an agenda, boost their image, or further their career. This has a negative impact and can change a person’s perspective on people in general.

A person’s disability is not something to be used for able-bodied people’s gain. We struggle, live, and have a unique perspective on the world due to our disabilities. It is a shameful act to use someone’s identity in general for your gain. We need to create a world where we see a person’s individuality rather than their identity. I want to be your friend because of your personality and not for something else. Remember there’s a person behind the disability!

The most critical thing a disabled person can do is believe in themselves because the reality is that the world will not. You must put yourself out there and showcase your talents to the world, even though it seems impossible. It takes courage and strength to do so but it is the core of being successful.

I will, however, provide some insight into my accolades that weren’t addressed from the beginning. I’m a filmmaker who is driven by authentic stories that focus on the human emotions of the characters. I created films that touched upon harsh topics like disability discrimination, loneliness, and loss. Additionally, I write lighthearted stories about love, friendship, and comedic-like stories. I’ve won many awards for my short films and currently am creating more stories that I’ll turn into films.

As a disabled individual, it is my mission to empower my community and educate others who do not understand our abilities. I hope to inspire others to see their hidden talents in whatever their career path may be. Disabled people can also make a much more significant contribution to society. You can accomplish your dreams and aspirations because it’s not about how you can’t do it but more so how you can do it. You are ABLE! To help other communities gain a deeper understanding of the disability community, I must serve as an example of a media professional from the disability community who is a “Jack of All Trades.” I have won many film awards which you can see on my film Instagram. My work can be seen on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Linktree.