I had to fit into this world that was not built for me

Abstract

"Through constant negotiation of and encounters with obstacles, and a continuous movement through two worlds, disabled people develop disability expertise that enables them to connect the two worlds and think in possibilities. This ability to connect both worlds is translated into newfound value in a neo-liberal society that incorporates disability not as something to overcome, but something productive that has value and can even be desirable. This proves how disability expertise, building interglobal networks and thinking in possibilities is crucial to the establishment of social mobility for young disabled people in The Netherlands. They have much to offer in terms of improving the ways in which we design our healthcare system, physical world and social relationships, and it becomes time we actively value, listen to and act upon their knowledge."