Being a Disabled Elder
What is a disabled elder? Is it someone who’s just lived enough years? Is a disabled person named an elder by their disability communities? Can someone name themself an elder? Are there responsibilities for taking on the title of elder? How do we envision disabled eldership when existing models depend on a multigenerational framework – where people are born into community and grow up with elders? Can we have elders in disability communities with adult onset of disability? After I turned 50 these questions began to swirl around in my head. I could foresee myself slowing down. At that point my primary focus was active. I organized conferences, gave speeches, gathered folks together. What role would I have in disability communities if I couldn’t be active in the same way? I am now 70. I moved into my elderhood the way I moved to this age – one day at a time. Each day offering opportunities ...