Today marks the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I was diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD aka dyspraxia) by the time I was 8. It was also noted by that time that I had severe anxiety and significant depression, including already demonstrating risk factors for suicide. In my twenties I received additional diagnoses for Non-Verbal Learning Disorder and the current framework diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I am happy to share that these days I am doing fairly well. Anxiety is a minimal issue; the effects of my dyspraxia have been minimized, and I have no indicators for active suicidal ideation. Depression remains one of my more consistent challenges and challenges around autism are an everyday thing, with some days better than others. Overall, however, I am able to work part-time, live independently and even take care of my cat!
With the caveat that I can only speak to my own experience as a person with disabilities, and that the lived experiences of people with disabilities varies widely both between individuals and within the same individual, I want to share a few of the things that have helped me most.
Tai Chi
My taijiquan practice has had one of the greatest impacts on my journey with disabilities. I began studying Taoist Tai Chi, a Yang-style variant for health, when my dyspraxic struggles were at their worst. Taoist Tai Chi provided a community that helped me through the anxiety and depression of late elementary school and high school, and an embodied practice to ensure I didn’t become completely alienated from my body (though I still came close!). My study of Chen style taijiquan which began over ten years ago was even more impactful. I overcame many barriers I thought I never would and am more in tune with my body than ever. Chen style taijiquan is crucial for my whole health, consistently increases my body’s capabilities, my self-confidence and self-knowledge. Tai chi has helped overcome barriers and challenges related to all of my disabilities.
My Faith
Becoming Christian has also had one of the largest impacts on my experience with disabilities. While Western Christianity has too-often been compromised by gnostic, dualistic, and NeoPlatonic influence, I have been fortunate to have faith communities that have recognized the goodness of the body and recognized the importance of the body in Christian theology and faith praxis.
The book of Genesis begins with affirmations that creation, which includes matter and bodies, is good. The book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs both acknowledge the goodness of sexuality, and the scriptures are positively brimming with sex, sexual innuendoes and sexuality-albeit often obscured by idioms and translation/interpretive bias. The life and ministry of Jesus was characterized by care for the bodies of the marginalized and oppressed. Bodies that were often considered inferior, such as eunuchs, women, children and slaves were welcomed into both Jesus life and ministry and the early Christian communities which followed his Way. Jesus’ resurrection, which was understood by several of his followers as the first of the long-predicted resurrection of the dead, demonstrated that the wounds of this life are not magically erased-they are mysteriously both preserved and glorified. As such, much ink has been spilled by disability theologians about the implications of the incarnation and the resurrection for the goodness of both the body and disabilities. The writings in the New Testament point towards common belief that the resurrection of Jesus and the coming resurrection of the rest of creation, must be a physical resurrection with the goodness of matter affirmed and brough into its full potential. Indeed, Paul even states that if Jesus was not physically resurrected, then the entirety of Christian faith is in vain!
In contemporary faith communities, the body plays a much larger role than many are aware of. While it may be more visible in Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, most Protestant traditions also include physicality in their worships services. There are times when people sit and times when people stand, and the very practice of going to church (or logging onto a church service) is embodied and character forming. As my tai chi instructor has said, everything we do with our bodies is a form of training. Often, in our contemporary Western context, this means sitting far too long which has a host of impacts on our backs, hips, legs and shoulders among others. Similarly, participating in a faith community involves embodied praxis even in the case of those who join primarily virtually.
Digital Communications
The final area I’ll address today is digital communication networks. I first discovered the world of forums in late elementary school and ever since then the Internet has been a source of community, education, and comfort. Digital communication networks such as forums, social media, and video calls have allowed me to learn more about my disabilities, engage in discussion and relationships with those who share common interests and passions, and to generally remember that I am not alone. Too often, we focus on the negative effects of digital communications technology but it is important to remember that digital communications also has enormous positive impacts for many people with disabilities where traditional, in-person communities are inaccessible or otherwise unwelcoming.
Further Learning
To learn more about tai chi, feel free to explore Hoggs Chen Tai Chi Praxeum or contact me
To explore disability theology, see some of my recommended resource lists on faith and spirtuality and faith, gender and sexuality,.
The Dreamers' Corner 