Here Are Some Videos Which May Inspire You

Why Motivation is Important ?



Inspiration…a term often used when an able-bodied individual witnesses a person with a disability competing, or participating in, a challenging activity despite a physical impairment. "What's your excuse?" is a phrase that often accompanies what is designed as motivational images depicting these scenarios. Very popular Facebook and other social media image posts with extraordinarily high share numbers often follow this theme: "If they can do it, so can you!" Many disability advocates have expressed disdain for being viewed as "inspirational" in popular media and reject the premise that this emotion adds any positive value to their status. This often used description associated with able-bodied individuals' emotions in connection with accomplishments or just daily living of those with disabilities is seen by some in the community as separating, objectifying, condescending and regressive in terms of equality and inclusion. A very good description of this point of view was reflected by late Aussie activist/comedian Stella Young: "I can't help but wonder whether the source of this strange assumption that living our lives takes some particular kind of courage in the news media, an incredibly powerful tool in shaping the way we think about disability. Most journalists seem utterly incapable of writing or talking about a person with a disability without using phrases like 'overcoming disability', 'brave', 'suffers from', 'defying the odds', 'wheelchair bound', or my personal favorite, 'inspirational'." It would appear to be an uphill battle to overcome this type of sentiment, which Stella and other notable advocates like Lawrence Carter Long and Scott Rains feel is derived from pity. Based on the sheer numbers of these types of comments, it would appear that the majority of public opinion feel the emotional response that accompanies the term "inspiration" intrinsically.