I have been pondering the concept of “independence vs interdependence” for some time. Somewhere along the line we have become fixated on independence like it’s the ultimate aspiration. But I have to wonder — who is ever truly independent? 

Whether we talk about it or not – every single one of us needs support in life to enable and empower us to do what we do. No one harvests the wheat for their own bread, drills the oil their car uses, or any number of other things. No one can truly do life alone, we were never designed to either. As humans we were built for community, to do, and to share life with each other. Disability is no different.

Somewhere along the line, an arbitrary line has been drawn in the sand. A line that tells us all what is considered ‘normal’ and what is ‘not normal’. As a disabled woman who relies on a lot of external medical aids and interventions, for all intents and purposes most people consider my life “not normal”. But what is normal anyway? And who determined that to be a thing? 

The thing is – none of us can do life alone – and my life is no different, it’s just the outworkings of those that may look like a different reciprocal exchange. I need support in my life – but I give support to others in my life also. It’s not all a one-way street. Like any other relationship - it’s give and take. I need physical support to help support me, but I give support too… a job, opportunity, experiences, learning and teaching new things, as well as insights, perspective, mentoring, friendship, and more! 

Independence is great, but I wonder if the goal we should fight for is instead “interdependence”. That every member of society has a place of value and is seen for their own unique set of skills, insights, and contributions. Disability is another lens to see through, and not the tragedy that some people see it as now. We all need each other, and if you do what you do well, and I do what I do well, and each other person does the same — surely we will all be better off than if we all try  to do all parts of it on our own — and our own lives and that of societies will be so much richer for it (and more accessible too!)

About the Author: 

Kylee Black is a social entrepreneur committed to cultivating community and enabling the best in others. Kylee thrives on being connected to community, and this drives everything she does. Kylee advocates in the disability sector and has been an active part of the Enabling Good Lives demonstration that set out to give people with disabilities more choices and control in life. Kylee runs the online store Kylee & Co which is a co-op working directly with disabled persons and the wider community to make things more accessible as well as more functional, fashionable, and fun. “Accessible works for everyone and it just makes sense”. 

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