Redefining disabled

The world is obsessed with labels, and few words carry as much unintended weight as “disabled.” It’s a term that’s thrown around casually in medical forms, policy discussions, and everyday conversations, but what does it really mean? At its root, “disabled” suggests a fundamental lack, incapability, brokenness, or deficiency. It paints a picture of someone who is inherently less than whole, forcing them into a perpetual battle to prove their worth against the so-called “able-bodied” norm. But here’s the truth: no one is truly “disabled” in the way this word implies. We’re all navigating life’s challenges, and physical or cognitive differences don’t equate to incapacity. Instead, they often forge extraordinary resilience, creativity, and strength.

Think about it: every day, we all have to prove ourselves. The entrepreneur pitching their startup, the artist unveiling their work, the parent juggling chaos, none of us get a free pass. Why, then, do we burden some with a label that screams limitation from the start? It’s time to retire “disabled” and embrace a narrative of human potential. Let’s look at some real-life heroes who shatter this myth, proving that what society calls a “disability” is often just a different path to greatness.

Stephen Hawking | The Mind That Defied Gravity

Take Stephen Hawking, the brilliant physicist whose name is synonymous with black holes, the Big Bang, and the very fabric of the universe. Diagnosed with ALS as a young adult, Hawking gradually lost the use of his limbs and voice, relying on a wheelchair and a speech synthesizer. Yet, did this make him “disabled”? Far from it. He authored A Brief History of Time, a bestseller that made complex cosmology accessible to millions. He held the Lucasian Professorship at Cambridge, the same chair once occupied by Isaac Newton. Hawking’s intellect soared beyond physical constraints, challenging our understanding of time and space. He once quipped, “My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.” If that’s “disabled,” then sign me up for the club. Hawking wasn’t limited; he was liberated by a mind that refused to be confined.

Lord Nelson | Victory on the High Seas, One Arm at a Time

History is rife with examples, and few are as swashbuckling as Admiral Horatio Nelson. The British naval hero lost sight in one eye during the Siege of Calvi and had his right arm amputated after the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Battle-scarred and physically altered, Nelson could have retired to a quiet life. Instead, he led the Royal Navy to decisive victories, most famously at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he crushed Napoleon’s fleet and secured Britain’s dominance at sea. Nelson’s famous signal, “England expects that every man will do his duty,” wasn’t uttered from a place of pity or concession, it was a rallying cry from a leader who embodied unyielding determination. His “disabilities” didn’t hinder him; they became part of his legend, proving that true capability lies in strategy, courage, and will.

Douglas Bader | Reaching for the Sky, Legs or No Legs

One story that hits particularly close to home for me is that of Douglas Bader, the RAF fighter pilot whose biography, Reach for the Sky, I’ve devoured multiple times. Bader lost both legs in a flying accident. Doctors said he’d never walk again, let alone fly. But Bader, with his trademark grit, fitted himself with prosthetic legs and badgered his way back into the cockpit. By World War II, he was commanding squadrons in the Battle of Britain, piloting Spitfires with acrobatic flair and racking up multiple aerial victories. Captured by the Germans after being shot down, he even attempted multiple escapes from POW camps, once famously trying to climb out using his artificial legs as leverage. Bader’s life screams defiance: “No matter what, you can achieve.” As a Spitfire ace, he wasn’t just participating; he was excelling in one of the most demanding arenas imaginable. Fuck yeah, indeed—that’s the spirit that turns obstacles into fuel.

These aren’t isolated cases. The list of such trailblazers is endless: Frida Kahlo, who channeled chronic pain into revolutionary art; Beethoven, composing symphonies while deaf; or modern icons like Paralympic athletes who redefine speed and strength. What unites them isn’t a shared “disability”, it’s an unwavering refusal to let circumstances define their narrative.

The Personal Lens | One Eye, Infinite Perspectives

On a more personal note, living with one eye changes things. Depth perception shifts, your brain rewires to adapt, and everyday tasks like driving or catching a ball require a bit more finesse. But at its core, it’s not a deficit, it’s a distinction. It makes you rare, forcing a unique way of seeing the world (pun intended). You notice details others miss, anticipate movements differently, and build resilience that “two-eyed” folks might never need. It’s a reminder that differences aren’t disabilities; they’re superpowers in disguise. Society’s labels try to box us in, but embracing our uniqueness unlocks potential we didn’t know we had.

Redefine

Disabled is a word that creates barriers where none need exist, fostering pity instead of empowerment. Instead, celebrate the human spirit’s adaptability. Whether you’re Hawking unraveling the cosmos, Nelson commanding fleets, or Bader soaring through dogfights, the message is clear: capability isn’t about perfect bodies—it’s about unbreakable minds and hearts.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

From the Mid-American Conference.

Today's game of choice finds the (3-5) Ball St. Cardinals football team traveling to Hadley, Massachusets to play the (4-4) UMass Minutemen. This game has a comfortable start time scheduled for 6:00 PM CT and I hope to be able to listen to the radio call of all 4 Quarters before heading to bed.

And the adventure continues.

11.4.2026

朝携清露行 暮落斜阳归 问霞君远渡 漠寞若浮舟

Today was a day I have been waiting a long time for.

I came to the realization that my life does have a stark contrast from my peers. I was carefully and delicately reminded that I carry quite a bit more baggage than the average person. For many reasons, many that are inadequate to bring up here, I represent both a large and small percentage of “real” people. I bring a much different background and diversity to my community. Every day, I have to be ready to go out there and defend, educate, and represent people like me. It is exhausting. Absolutely, horrifyingly exhausting.

While today represents many things, I am reminded of what hope, optimism, and empathy can bring to the table. It is hard to be in such a vulnerable position, but I will never back away from the challenges and benefits that I represent. Nothing is ever black and white, I don’t know when people will come to this realization. How could it be so difficult to understand that you can have limitations while protecting human rights? You can have protections while limiting public benefits. There are lots of things that can have equal and fair balances, why does everything have to be an extreme?

Today, I am refilled with a deep layer of hope and optimism that I fear I had lost. I am grateful for all the people who constantly defend democracy. I recognize that it was not my situation alone that resulted in this deep movement, but all the issues that humans care about – democracy, equal rights, environmental protections, healthy economy, and much more – that have resulted in this phenomenon.

I remember reading history books in high school and constantly wondering why I would ever care about any of it, or how it affected me. Now, more than ever, I understand the impact of policy, the magnitude of historic events, civil rights movements, and political balances.

The right words are out of reach as I truly process what is happening around me. It is one of those days that you know 5, 10, maybe 20 years from now will be written and played out into history books. I wish I had a more insightful reflection of this moment, however it is late… and I have to be up early tomorrow. At least, it is a new tomorrow, a more hopeful tomorrow, a tomorrow that promises new opportunities and a more equitable future.

Thank you for your message. I am currently out of office — but will return at the end of the month.

En anglais « writer’s block ».

J’ai entendu une remarque intéressante que je partage ici et maintenant pour ne plus l’oublier.

Cette difficulté d’écrire provient de la difficulté à accorder deux choses : ce que l’on veut réellement écrire et ce que l’on imagine que le lecteur veut lire.

En clair, ce « blocage » vient d’un manque d’honnêteté.

Rester à fidèle à soi-même. Peu importe le regard que les autres porteront sur ce que l’on a écrit.

Facile à dire. Pas facile à mettre en pratique.

J’arrive à écrire ici tous les jours en partie parce que je sais que personne ne me lit.

Le jours où ce sera le cas, les choses changeront probablement : quelle valeur j’apporte ? Quelle image je projette ?

Ce carnet n’a que pour seul intérêt le partage de l’expérience empirique que je fais de la vie. Mes sensations, mes émotions, ma manière de percevoir le monde.

Et peut-être qu’un jour cette expérience personnelle raisonnera chez quelqu’un.

Ce n’est pas un souhait aujourd’hui. La seule chose qui compte pour le moment, c’est mon envie égoïste d’écrire. Pour moi et moi seul. Et si un jour ces écrits sont lus.

Tant mieux... ou tant pis.