From 'Passing' to 'Coming Out"

Another selection from the Ragged Edge Magazine. Here, Candace M. Lee describes her decision to proudly "out" herself as a person with a disability at the time of her first pregnancy. Way to go Candace!!!

I confess: I've been passing.

I'm a 32-year-old woman, disabled since birth, and until recently I have been firmly in the closet.

I have been living in the non-disabled world all my life. I was part of early attempts at "mainstreaming" children with disabilities into regular classrooms (I received special services at recess). Once I passed adolescence, my health stabilized to the point that ongoing medical care is not required, other than regular check-up visits with various specialists. I completed college, then graduate school. I am a full time professional. I have been married eight years to a non-disabled person.

In most of the situations I encounter, I am the only person present with a disability. All the key disability rights issues -- work, housing, medical care -- have left me unscathed, because of my fortunate ability to work full time, to put a roof over my own head, to purchase health insurance.

And yet, here are these braces. This limp. This ostomy appliance. These stares in the supermarket. All remind me that, while I live among the non-disabled, I remain on the margins. I remain Other...