Respecting One Another

Dignity isn’t always something you give someone, it's something you recognize. Too often, people who are different,  who may communicate and present themselves in nontraditional ways, have to fight to be seen as fully human. Being wired differently does not mean I do not think, feel, and care. I do, and deeply. I have learned that dignity can be protected in the quietest moments: when someone waits patiently for me to type my response, or when they don’t speak about me as if I’m not standing right in front of them. 

Laughing at hand flapping, speaking slowly, assuming there is a lack of understanding all chip away at dignity. When you’re treated as if you are less, it shrinks you. No one deserves that. We all deserve to be treated with respect and patience, to be shown we matter.

Protecting each other’s dignity means listening, not assuming. it means asking with curiosity, not judgement. it means standing up for someone when they’re being mocked, interrupted, or dismissed. I’ve had family and friends step in when others have spoken about me as if I were a pet rock, and when assumptions of me and my abilities were made without thorough understanding of me. Those moments made me feel safe and empowered, like I am allowed to be myself without fear or guilt or shame. Honoring someone’s autonomy and experience in the face of misunderstanding and discomfort makes the world more accessible for everyone.