Should I say Something?

Should I say something?

This is a question I have found myself asking in a few particular scenarios. As a university student, I have had the opportunity to be a part of some very interesting discussions. Being a psychology and education student more specifically, the topic of disability and accommodating diverse learning needs has often come up. In these scenarios, my professors usually ask us to engage with one another to provide our insights and ideas in order to thoroughly engage with the topic.

Oftentimes, especially with smaller classes, I am the only person in the class with a visible disability, and I’ve noticed how that can get me a particular type of attention. Students and professors in the past have looked at me in particular to provide personal insights as to what living with a disability or navigating through the education system with a disability can be like. Now, no one has ever put any explicit pressure on me to talk about this in the classroom setting, but I have always felt like people have sort of looked in my direction when a topic like this comes up.

Of course, when I have some insights to share, I happily do, but there are many times in which I feel like I may not be the best person to talk about disability and the wide scope it has. This is where the debate in my mind begins—whether I should say something to provide some perspective on lived experience in relation to disability, or allow the instructor to lead the discussion within an educational context.

I don’t think there is one right answer here, but what I have found most helpful is to have a discussion with the instructor beforehand to let them know that I would like to share some personal experiences in relation to this topic. This allows me to ensure that I have control over what I share, and how my disability is disclosed and discussed within educational settings.

by Ishita