"The top 5 worst things I’ve heard whilst disabled" will shock you.

CHATTERBOX Challenge ambassador and Paralympian swimmer Karni Liddell has faced a lot of challenges in her life, but none as difficult as dealing with  insulting things people say to those, like her, living with a disability on a daily basis.

Karni Liddell is an Australian Paralympic swimmer, born in Rockhampton, Queensland, with a degenerative muscle wasting disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Her career as a sporting star came as a shock to doctors and specialists, who told her parents she would not walk, sit up or even live past her teenage years, and exercise would only make her condition worse. Putting all medical direction aside, Karni’s parents, Terri and Jeff Liddell, took it upon themselves to establish a rehabilitation program for their daughter, proving that love, determination and courage can conquer all. Karni tells her story below:

By KARNI LIDELL

When my parents were first told that their baby girl had a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy the doctors told them that I would never walk, sit up or live past my teenage years. Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a degenerative muscle wasting disease. The advice of the specialists was to make me as comfortable as possible as exercise would only make the condition worse.

But did my amazing parents listen? Not for a minute. Terri and Jeff Liddell started me on a crazy, self-invented rehabilitation program, which soon helped them realise that one of the greatest pleasures in life is achieving things people say can’t be done!

It’s old news that not only did I walk, but went on to become a champion swimmer, breaking my first world record at the age of 14 and going into the Sydney Paralympic Games as the fastest woman in the world for all of my events.

I participated in many modelling photo shoots, including a six-page bikini spread for Inside Sport, and featured in a Paralympic body-painting calendar. This was partly to help people understand that accidents and disability don’t discriminate about whom they choose to affect.I live a rewarding life as a motivational speaker, disability consultant, media trainer and emcee and recently became an ambassador for Chatterbox Challenge, a fundraising enterprise for people living with disabilities and their families.

The Chatterbox Challenge is on throughout the month of September and asks people to pledge to go silent and raise much needed funds and awareness to give those with disability a voice.

The funds raised assist the event’s five charities to help thousands of Queenslanders live more empowered and independent lives and this year, the aim is to raise more than $150,000.
Working with Chatterbox Challenge helped me decide it’s time to speak out about the hurtful, disrespectful and downright ridiculous things that are often said to those of us who live with disabilities.

I’ve had some outrageous things said to me over the years, particularly as a young, attractive woman in a chair. Some of the things people say to someone with a disability are just astounding.

These are not necessarily people who are bullying or being deliberately hurtful. But often what they say is thoughtless, and those words still affect us.
Imagine if, as an able-bodied person, you were walking down the street and someone asked you out of the blue if you could have children. It just wouldn’t happen! But that’s one of the many things I’ve experienced.

The top 5 worst things I’ve heard whilst disabled are:

1. “If I had to be in a wheelchair all the time, I’d kill myself”

2. “What a shame you’re in a wheelchair, you’re so pretty!”

3. “Do you believe in reincarnation? You must have been a bad person in a past life and you’re paying for it ”

4. “You can’t die from that, can you?”

5.“Is your boyfriend in a wheelchair too?”

I know that a lot of people feel uncomfortable when they’re around someone in a wheelchair, and don’t know quite how to broach a conversation.

But honestly, if you don’t know what’s appropriate to say then it’s sometimes better to not say anything at all!

After coming on board with the Chatterbox Challenge I broached the subject with many of my friends who too use wheelchairs, and their experiences were very similar. Some of the things they have heard whilst disabled would seriously shock you!

People with a disability or their carers are invited to get involved too and share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #heardwhilstdisabled and #ChatterboxChallenge.

The most important thing to remember is we are no different from you. We have feelings too, we think the same way and we don’t want to be treated differently for going about our day to day activities.

The Chatterbox Challenge asks people to commit to going silent for a minute, an hour, or the whole day and rally silent supporters to help raise funds. Whatever you can do to zip the lip will make a huge difference to those living with disability. If you can’t go silent – you can nominate or sponsor someone else, or host a silent event.

I can only encourage everyone to live wholly and positively, and aspire to be your best self.

THE CHATTERBOX CHALLENGE

Could you not speak for a whole day? Do you know a chatterbox who couldn’t keep quiet for longer than a minute? The Chatterbox Challenge is asking Queensland residents to prove actions speak louder than words by taking part this Silent September. 

An initiative of five charities; Multicap, Endeavour Foundation, Cerebral Palsy League, Life Without Barriers and Centacare, the Chatterbox Challenge raises much needed funds and awareness of the daily challenges faced by people living with a disability and their families.

Participants can pick any day during Silent September to either zip it, host it or donate to it and pledge to go silent, host a silent event or simply donate to the Chatterbox Challenge silent cause.

Currently, one in five Australians live with a disability – more than four million people.
In the past two years, Chatterbox Challenge has raised more than $70,000 for those in the community living with disability.
The funds raised assist the event’s five charities to help thousands of Queenslanders live more empowered and independent lives. This year, the aim is to raise more than $150,000.

Multicap CEO and Chatterbox Challenge spokesperson Joanne Jessop said the Chatterbox Challenge is not just about raising much-needed funds, it is also about awareness.

”We are encouraging all Queenslanders to take part in the Chatterbox Challenge, or to challenge someone else and support people living with a disability,” Ms Jessop said.

“Not only will you help raise funds, but you will experience, in some small way what it’s like to live with a disability by not having a voice.

“You really can make a difference by taking part during the month of September, or donating at the Chatterbox Challenge website. No matter how big or small your time or monetary commitment, it will mean so much to those living with disability.”

HOW IT WORKS

Participants are asked to pick one day during the month of Silent September and commit to remaining absolutely silent for a minute, an hour, or the whole day.

Participants can also choose to challenge their loud mouth friends, family or colleagues to take part whilst encouraging their peers and the public to donate.

Chatterboxes can choose to offer a donation of their own if they slip-up and let a word or two sneak out. Friends and workmates can even sponsor a ‘slip-up’ if they really want participants to talk.

Once registered, participants will receive their own webpage where people can make donations, track their progress and leave messages.

Other ways to get involved include hosting an event such as a silent disco, silent party or silent walk.

To take part in the Chatterbox Challenge, register an event or donate, visit www.chatterboxchallenge.com.au