“What do you do?” If you’re over the age of 22 you probably get asked this every time you meet someone new. Most people will accept the short and sweet answer, whether it be “retail” or “accounting” and sometimes you have to explain, because after all, people are curious creatures. Usually for me it’s the latter.

So, what do I do? I’m an addictions therapist. Yeah. Me, the 4’10” twenty-something girl in a wheelchair who requires assistance for majority of physical tasks helps people who used real drugs. And no, I never had an addiction myself. And yes, I like it. Why? Because I get to help people do something they haven’t been able to do themselves.

Being someone that needs a lot of help with physical things I’ve learned to appreciate what others can do for me; I’ve also had to learn to appreciate what I can offer to others. People often assume that individuals with disabilities are helpless in most aspects; they may not be outwardly prejudiced, but most people deduce that if I can’t put my own jacket on I probably can’t help anybody else do anything either. This is completely inaccurate.

My clients are human, just like me, and like me, they need help sometimes. The best part is, I can provide it. Whether it be helping rebuild coping skills or working through past trauma, I’m there to help. It’s a rewarding experience that reminds me that asking for the assistance of others is not a weakness, but a strength. Being able to identify what you cannot do alone makes you that much stronger, and also makes you that much more able to focus on what you can do.

In the end I may not be able to put my own shoes on, but I do have the ability to empathize with others and provide helpful feedback. And that’s pretty much what I do for a living. I get to do something I enjoy and am good at to help other people have a better quality of life. I get to be a part of the give and take, or disabling of limits, that is the human experience.