Townsperson B
Hello.
I am autistic,
a folk singer,
a composer,
a disabilities advocate,
and my name is… unimportant.
If you have to call me something you can call me Townsperson B.
“Townsperson B” is a theatre term for a person in a play who has no name, no identity, and has not been given any lines to speak.
Our society defines those with disabilities by our weaknesses instead of uplifting our strengths. Therefore, as an adult with a cluster of neurodivergent disabilities, I’ve been led to believe that my personhood is of little importance.
That I am, indeed, a “Townsperson B.”
However, this nameless “Townsperson B” has something to say - something the world truly needs to hear:
Disabilities are a superpower.
I mean that quite literally.
Disabilities are a superpower.
People with disabilities see the world from a perspective that no one else can. When you can do something that normal human beings cannot - is that not a superpower?
Then why, pray tell, are they called DISabilities?
As I said earlier, it is because our society has failed to recognize people with disabilities for our strengths,
and only attends to our weaknesses.
Well, every “Man of Steel” has his “Kryptonite”.
If Superman didn’t have anyone to save, he would just be some guy who falls down anytime he gets too close to a green rock.
In other words, a person with a disability.
Yet I can’t recall anyone ever calling Clark Kent “disabled”. Why?
Because that fictional society saw past his “green rock intolerance”; they saw him for his strengths
and discovered he was Superman.
I believe it is our society’s duty to support every person with disabilities so they can discover and make use of their unique powers.
If you remove the Kryptonite, Superman can save the world.
Empower us and we will save the world.