The Painful Irony of "Inclusion" in Society

Living in society as a disabled individual often brings a stark and painful irony to light. It's often assumed that society is accommodating us, but the reality is that we are the ones constantly bending, adapting, and contorting ourselves to fit into a world not built for us. The world expects us to adjust, to learn its language, its customs, and its unspoken rules, while it rarely pauses to understand or step into ours.

As someone with autism, a communication disorder, I find myself communicating with more clarity and depth than many around me. Sometimes, it feels like I'm the one who is "normal" and the rest of the world is stumbling through their interactions, missing the nuance, the honesty, the straightforwardness that comes naturally to me. It's as if the world is autistic, not me.

This paradox baffles me. Why am I, the one with a disability, made into the "object of inclusion"? Why am I plucked from my world and thrust into yours, made to feel like an outsider trying to fit in? Why is there such a resistance to stepping into my world, to seeing things from my perspective? Why must I be objectified, defined by my differences rather than my humanity?

The onus is always on me, the one who has faced prevalent isolation, to reach out, to extend the hand of friendship. I find myself inviting others to hang out, trying to bridge the gap, while rarely does anyone reach out to me. It's exhausting and disheartening to always be the one making the effort, to constantly feel like I'm on the outside looking in.

Source: creative commons - Pexels

Why can't I include you in my world? Why must the burden of inclusion rest solely on my shoulders? Imagine a world where the roles were reversed, where the effort was mutual, where inclusion was a shared responsibility. Imagine the richness, the diversity, the understanding we could achieve if we all stepped out of our comfort zones and into each other's worlds.

Inclusion isn't about making room for someone at the table; it's about building a new table together, one where everyone feels they belong. Let's strive for that kind of world. Let's move beyond objectification and truly embrace each other's humanity.

Inclusion should be a two-way street. Instead of merely accommodating, we should be integrating our experiences, learning from each other, and creating a society where everyone's unique perspective is valued and respected. The beauty of true inclusion lies in its reciprocity, in the mutual effort to understand, accept, and grow together. Let's challenge ourselves to not just include, but to immerse, to share, and to genuinely connect.