Autism Soccer: An Inside Look to Understand Disabilities

There are many misconceptions about disabilities nowadays, due to the lack of information, consciousness, and understanding.

There’s an undeniable misconception about disabilities out there, and it involves the way people that live with these disabilities are perceived. It is often claimed that disabilities are something people “overcome” or just “adapt to." But people with disabilities actually need to go through their daily lives trying to fit in with their condition. It is not something they’ll get “cured off,” as if there was some way to mend certain disabilities. It’s entirely the opposite.

Firstly, people with disabilities did not choose to be that way: being born with a disability and growing not being able to do things people normally do (such as social interactions and physical activities) is not easy at all. Those who end up with a disability later on, due to an accident or a disease, also take part in this, as it affects them equally. Problems such as the inability to access certain places or just being labeled as “different” are factors that end up affecting their growth and self-perception in the long term.

Parents need to identify and name things correctly, not because of some idealized vision of disabilities, but to avoid people from perceiving their children as “special” only because of their needs. Aren't we all “special” for that matter? What they need is to be understood, respected and, most importantly, supported in their development as individuals.

Note that the intention of avoiding the word “special” is because the adjective just fails to express what’s going on with the individual. Saying your children has a disability (not that it "suffers," which implies something else) will address things as they are: neither as a label nor a limitation, but the truth.

This understanding demands a high level of awareness of what it means to live under these circumstances and which are the challenges, in a world that’s not yet shaped for them. It’s not easy to change this way of perception, but some people are working on this positive change of view. If you’re willing to change your perspective, you should check this article about ableism as well, as it might shed some light in the comprehension of this whole topic.

There’s much to be done on the subject, but there’s a chance of making a positive change in the way people see those who were born with a disability, and even for those with ASD. With the help of initiatives such as Autism Soccer, the odds for change are even greater!