I feel the importance of sharing this title with you, as I observe it all too often within society.
I have Dysarthria due to a motorbike accident in Thailand, in 2002. If anyone referred to me as “Dysarthria Dann” or as having a “dysarthric daughter”, I’d be mortified, and feel very low in confidence and self esteem as an individual.
Because I am so much more than my medical label. I have so much more to offer than my medical label. But if that is what is important, my medical label, in order for you, to understand who I am, then all you’re doing is seeing the label, and not me.
How do we challenge and confront prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination, if we need categories and labels to understand a person.
This idea is encouraged within the education system, our peers and the workplace. Every institution needs labels, to categorise and control crowds. As humans, categorising helps our memory recall and learning.
So when we recognise the roots, and selective useful usage, of labelling, in certain circumstances. We can then choose to limit it, within our life.
I can’t change the world, but I can change the people I choose to surround myself by.