5 Simple Tricks for Becoming a Better Ally

1. Set aside your assumptions. In order to learn, we must first accept that everyone views life through the lens of their own experiences. If we do not adequately understand the alternative techniques and skills that someone possesses, we cannot accurately gauge their capabilities.  

2. Ask before attempting to assist someone. Autonomy is as important to us as it is to you. The bottom line, make sure your help is actually helpful. 

 3. Listen & reflect. Let us communicate our needs and desires in the way that we prefer. Do your best to reflect on our chosen language regarding our characteristics. If you feel uncertain, ask.  

4. Support our fight for equality. Whether it's little things like supporting a nonprofit, or large initiatives such as advancing legislation; your support matters. Many of us subscribe to the motto, “Nothing about us without us”, but that doesn’t mean we want to fight these battles alone.  

5. Remember our humanity. We are humans first, and everything else is secondary. Please don’t hyper-focus on our perceived differences to the degree that you overlook how much we have in common. Allow us to shine as the full and complete individuals that we are.  

Contact Peaces of Me 

Website: https://peacesofme.org/

Facebook: @PeacesOfMeFoundation  

Daniel Hodges started Peaces of Me Foundation with his cousin, Kristy Rogers, to redefine what it means to have a disability, physical difference, and/or chronic illness. In this conversation, we explore what that means. I admit my discomfort in the beginning, I wasn't sure what words to use. As human beings, it can be difficult for us to acknowledge how uncomfortable someone who doesn't look or sound like us may make us feel.  This is nothing to be ashamed of, but you need to explore the "why". I'm grateful to Daniel for letting me share my feelings of discomfort.   

We talk through some heavy topics, including abortion. Neither of us makes a pro-life/pro-choice stand, rather we talk through the risks of terminating pregnancies because of a potential diagnosis. I learned about wrongful birth and wrongful life lawsuits. And I shared what I had read about those with Down Syndrome applying to be an endangered species (links to both below).  

https://www.findlaw.com/injury/medical-malpractice/wrongful-birth-and-wrongful-life-lawsuits.html

https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/11/15/children-with-down-syndrome-are-applying-to-be-on-the-endangered-species-list/