Hello everyone, happy Friday. It’s been awhile since I have done a post on my blog. I still can’t believe that it’s already December. Where did this year go. Today is a special day for me and many others who have a disability because it’s International Day of Persons with disabilities. I have been trying think of what I wanted to say for this blog post for most of the day. So I figured that I would just speak from my heart about how much things have changed for over the years being a person with a disability. It really amazes me how far things have come over the years. When I was growing up it was always hard for me to understand my disability because I didn’t know a lot of information about it and let alone I didn’t know anyone else who had the same disability as me. I only knew a few other people who had other disabilities and I always felt like we were outsiders or something. As I was growing up I started meeting more people who have other disabilities through School, Special Olympics and through my riding stable Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association. People who have disabilities come in all different forms whether it’s physical or intellectual. I know that sometimes people who have an intellectual disability don’t always look like they have a disability on the outside and it can be confusing to some people, where it’s easier to understand someone who has a physical.

We have certainly have come a long way with all these amazing resources, programs and organizations over the years to help make sure that myself and many others who have disabilities feel safe, included, respected and belong into the community. I am so happy to see that there are so many people who want to learn more by helping out at all these incredible programs and organizations. It certainly makes a huge difference for all of us that have disabilities knowing that we have people who want to make sure that we don’t feel like we are isolated away from our own communities. I know that I have said this before in my blog and to my family, friends and other people that I have met over the years. As a person who has a disability we all want the same things as other people, we want to be loved, happy, healthy, feel included, respected, seen and heard. I am so grateful that I have been given so many great opportunities to be able share my story with others and to be able to help others. It sure has given me more confidence in myself to truly be myself and not feel like I have to hide who I am.

Anyways I know that I probably went on to long about this blog post today, but I do really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my blog post. There’s nothing more that I like better being able to share my thoughts and feelings with others. Writing is not only very important to me but it’s also a huge passion of mine. I hope that you did enjoy reading this blog post today. I hope that you are having a great day.

~Crystal~