I’m reading a book about the qualities of an introvert vs.
being an extrovert. Me? I’m an introvert. One part of our makeup is stated by
Sophia Dembling, “We like spending one-on-one time with good friends…Introverts
don’t get lonely if they don’t socialize with a lot of people.”1 This
personality trait of mine affects how I interact socially and professionally. Sure,
I love to talk to a group (no matter how many people are in the audience). And
I can go to as many networking events as needed to share about The Arc and
learn who might need what we do. But I mostly enjoy those one-on-one “meet and
greets” where I can have in-depth conversations on issues we both care about.
When you support (or are) a person with a disability, labels
are a way of life and often a means to the end for healthcare and funding. But, do you look at this person to see if their personality and environment
suit each other? For example, is an extrovert who needs the social buzz living
with an introvert who craves the quiet? Not wrong, but will require procedures
that allow the introvert the ability to hibernate and the extrovert an outlet for
their exuberance. Or is an introvert’s need to be alone seen as something to be
corrected by a behavior plan, or is it validated in their plan of support
(balanced by the encouragement for social activities).
My point is we are many layers and we live and react to life
with multiple influences. Don’t let the disability become the only focus. We
are talking about a PERSON with a disability and everything that goes along
with being a person applies to them too.
Want to get together at this quiet coffee shop I know of to
talk?
1 The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a
Noisy World. Sophia Dembling
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