Normalising Success: Why Disabled Achievement Shouldn’t Be Extraordinary

Success. It’s a word that sparks a different picture for everyone. For some, it’s a six-figure salary and a corner office. For others, it’s building a small business that pays the bills and still leaves room for a life. And for many Disabled people, it’s something more nuanced — a mixture of resilience, creativity, and sheer determination to thrive in a world that wasn’t designed with us in mind.

But here’s the thing: Disabled people’s success shouldn’t be viewed as unusual, inspirational, or a footnote in a feel-good news story. It should be normal. Celebrated, yes. Respected, definitely. But normalised.

Different Meanings of Success

Success doesn’t look the same for everyone, Disabled or not. For some of us, it might mean breaking into a fiercely competitive industry. For others, it might mean holding down a job in a workplace that’s finally accessible. It might mean running our own companies, creating art, excelling in sport, or simply having the security to live independently.

The trouble is, society often narrows its gaze. It looks at Disabled people and frames even the most everyday achievements as “inspirational.” When I cross a marathon finish line, start a new project, or deliver a piece of consultancy work, I don’t want applause for just showing up. I want recognition for doing the job well, bringing skills to the table, and making an impact.

Unique Skills Deserve Real Recognition

Here’s the reality: Disabled people have to develop unique skills just to navigate daily life and professional spaces. Creativity, problem-solving, persistence, and adaptability aren’t buzzwords on a CV — they’re lived experiences.

Every time a wheelchair user figures out a workaround in a workplace that hasn’t bothered to think about access, that’s innovation. Every time a Disabled entrepreneur has to rethink how to market their business because mainstream routes exclude them, that’s strategic thinking. And yet too often, this expertise goes unnoticed, or worse, it gets boxed into tokenistic recognition.

Recognition isn’t a pat on the back or a headline that says, “Despite their disability, they achieved X.” Real recognition is getting paid fairly. Real recognition is being offered the promotion, the contract, the platform. Real recognition is Disabled people’s skills being valued in the same economy as everyone else’s.

Disability Doesn’t Remove You From the Rat Race

Being Disabled doesn’t mean stepping out of the race entirely — it just means we’re running it on a different track. The obstacles are higher, the signage is worse, and sometimes the organisers don’t even realise we’re competing. But we’re there. We’re hustling, working, building, and contributing.

The idea that Disabled people should be grateful for any opportunity, regardless of whether it values their skills, is not just outdated — it’s insulting. Everyone should have a purpose, and purpose should be recognised with more than polite applause.

Normalising Success

The end goal here isn’t inspiration porn. It’s normalisation. It’s opening up spaces where Disabled people’s achievements are seen in the same light as anyone else’s. It’s recognising the additional layers of skill we bring, not as a novelty, but as a strength. It’s about ensuring that the success of Disabled employees, creatives, and entrepreneurs doesn’t stop at headlines — it pays the bills, feeds families, and drives change.

Because success isn’t defined by what you can’t do, but by how you use what you can do. And Disabled people deserve for that success to be recognised, rewarded, and respected. Every single time.

Success isn’t about medals 🥇 — it’s about the journey that gets you there. Every training session, every setback, every barrier navigated differently. The real win is the positive impact I’ve been able to have on others’ lives along the way. This medal is just the cherry on top. ✨