What does interabled mean?
In the linguistic terminology interabled couples are 2 people where on of them has a sort if physical or intelectual disability. In my case it is my wife who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and uses a wheelchair to move around. I myself was diagnosed with diplopia in my left eye after a work accident a few years ago. That means I have a "funny eye" that can't look straight do to a nerv demage.
In real life it means being married to the most wonderful person.
Am I qualified as a personal assistant?
No, but technically yes. I was born into a family where several people were born or developed a form of intelectual, mental or physical disability throughout their life. After highschool in 2004 I joined a NGO for mine victims in Bosnia and Herzegowina, where I volunteered and worked as a youth worker for over a decade. Later i volunteered in a school for children with disabilities as an animator and art therapist.
I first got in contact with my now wife over a FB group in 2019 but later we went separate ways. I knew there and then that she was that someone special not only because of her ability, but as someone with whom I felt like we know each other forever. We got back in touch in 2023 and a got married a year later.
How does our day look like?
- We get up before 6 AM for the morning prayer (as Muslims we pray 5x per day)
- Before work at 8 AM I spend some time working on the interwebs
- I get my wife out of bed and help her with her physical needs
- For the lunch break I make us some quick lunch
- Than back again to work until 6 PM
- We cook together dinner and clean up for the day
- Evenings are for movies, books or we individually do our thing
2 days per week are dedicated solely to us. During that time we sometimes visit family & friends.
What people get wrong about us
- Children are not used to seeing people in wheelchairs and they often stare
- Often people think we are relatives and get a small shock when we tell them we are actually married
- That my wife is non-verbal and they often adress me
Originally posted on That Virtual Guy. Hive blog powered by ENGRAVE.