Always being perceived as different from others in life is not easy. In a world where inclusion and acceptance are promoted, it can be hard to accept when we are treated as less than by others that do not see that we are more than what we look to be.

Being the age that I am and experiencing the challenges I face can cause me to present myself differently than what is expected in society. While I can function in society quite well, there are still times when I am perceived as less than and I am not seen as the capable human being that I am. When I am treated less than I feel like I deserve to be, it can be hard to accept, and it can be quite a blow to my self-esteem.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I am infantized or talked to in a soft silly voice as if I can not be talked to as if am the age that I am. It can also be hurtful when others call me terms as if I am “special” or “different.” This makes me feel like I am some little child even though I am such a great adult and conquered so much that it hurts me because it me back so greatly. It gives me the notion that the other person does not presume that I am competent at being the adult that I am and that I am coddled and babied to get through life.

 I have accepted the fact that am bestowed the challenges that I have and that I indeed have a disability But just as much as I have accepted my challenges and that I struggle, having someone treating me less than I feel I deserve, it can also make me angry to the pointy that I do not wish to interact with that person because of their mannerisms towards me.

I try my best to be able to camouflage into society and will admit that taking all my medications helps immensely to be able to be successful in doing so. But because people are quick to judge me because of the way I look or present myself, they automatically react in the way they do without getting to know me. They cannot see the true authenticity of who I am and that I understand more than they perceive. It has taken me a long time to get to the point where I have been able to do the things that I need to do to function in society.

Nonetheless, it can be hard to judge what you see unless you take the time to get to know what within what you are seeing. You may be surprised at how articulate they can be and how much more capable they can be and may even be valuable with the experience of being your greatest asset. There have been many people in my journey that took the chance on me when I had not deserved it, yet they got to know me and see that there was more potential than what was perceived on the outside. They may even have seen more potential than what I may have seen my own self, allowing me to expand more on things I could ever dream of. So, just treat me the same as you would anyone else and always presume competence, you may be surprised at what you may learn or get from me.