Something I really hate about the PFL vs IFL discourse is that when people refuse to accept us using IFL they never seem to consider that for some of us, IFL is actually very empowering.

The basic assumption that we need to be reminded that we're people is already condescending and insulting enough, but it also paints us as two dimensional people who all have the same experience.

So many of us have gone through a wide variety of hardship and trauma. Finding the Disabled Community saved a lot of our lives. Accepting and eventually embracing our Disabled identity was empowering for a lot of us. That was a huge, life changing moment for me.

If someone wants me to use PFL for them I always assume that they have a personal reason for it that is important to them. And I respect that.

I wish the non-disabled people popping in to "correct" us would view our choice & our identities as sacred and personal to us.

It also ignores "Disabled" as a political identity which I honestly still have trouble explaining, but have been learning a lot about from other Disabled ppl.

Which is, once again, one of the beauties of embracing my identity. There's so much to learn & so many ppl to learn from

For me, IFL is so important to me and how my love for myself has grown. How much stronger my voice has gotten when standing up for myself. How I can look back and acknowledge that what I thought were "failures" weren't my fault, I didn't have the support I needed. It's freeing.

Of course I struggle with confidence sometimes. Of course I still have a lot to process. Of course it's hard. But I do love my disabled body most of the time. I love my disabled identity. And I love the Disabled Community an unmesurable amount & Im honored to be a part of it.