At school they made fun of her about the wheelchair and as she grew up she broke many barriers. Not only the architectural ones, but above all those on the disability with which he has lived since birth. Benedetta Deluca he is 33 years old, he is from Salerno and is about to become a lawyer. Agenesis of the sacred forced her to undergo 18 surgeries and to live in a wheelchair.
To demonstrate that normality is made up of defects and scars and thus dispel myths and prejudices about disabled people, he decided to tell about himself on Instagram and TikTok in a self-deprecating key. We interviewed her to get to know her better:
Hello, introduce yourself to those who don’t know who you are.
I’m Benedetta, a girl like many others but – as I like to define myself – born with a small manufacturing defect: my disability which, obviously, has greatly influenced the acceptance of my body and my sensitivity. But living it and telling it to others with irony and without filters allowed me to achieve a perfect balance within myself, even if maybe I didn’t find it on my legs.
How did you experience all this as a teenager?
I grew up in a very peaceful family environment and have never felt different or wrong. I thought I was the first time at school, when my class organized a dance competition that I couldn’t participate in. The barriers are not only architectural, but above all mental: I was bullied, I suffered psychological pressure from a teacher, I was made fun of by my classmates. Today I meet the school children to explain to them that it is our uniqueness that makes us special.
What advice would you give to someone who is being bullied?
We must take courage and talk about it, even if it is difficult. If I had had social media at the time I would not have felt so alone, because I would have shared my experience with others. On the internet, however, we must be careful because we live the reverse of the coin and we are bombarded with images that aspire to perfection. For example, I used to hide, I was afraid to show the wheelchair. Now, however, in the timeline there are stretch marks, scars, cellulite. Normality is made up of defects and talking about them is a way to shorten distances.
What are the most common prejudices against people with disabilities?
There are too many, I experience them both as a woman and as a person with disabilities. I read them in the eyes of those who pass me by while I am in the car and I drive, of those who think that to be sensual you must necessarily wear a heel 12. Usually many myths to dispel are those related to sexuality: no one believes that we also love and let’s have sex. When they see my boyfriend they ask him if he is my brother.
What can be done to change this mentality?
Start with language and how we address others. I myself have decided to study law to learn more about my rights. When someone thinks of insulting me by saying “You have 104” then I intervene with videos in which I explain that having the law 104 is a protection, so we must be proud of it. It is not a limit, on the contrary, and it must not even be a mockery of non-disabled people.
You have created an inclusive fashion brand for disabled women.
Yes. The pandemic has now put us on pause, but it is a project that I really care about: we take care of the creation of elegant but comfortable and practical clothes for those with a disability and who have difficulty in being able to wear them for the wheelchair. Once upon a time fashion sought perfection, it was exclusive and far from mere mortals. Fortunately, something is changing.
What advice would you give to those who have insecurities and are afraid to show them?
In private messages, many ask me how to find happiness after an accident or how to live with disability after an illness. I was born there, but still I decided to show myself as I am. We all have defects, it’s up to us to turn them into strengths even if it’s not easy. Disabled people have no limits other than those imposed by society: it is up to each of us to find the way to change.
Greet us with your thoughts.
We are all going through a difficult time. Complaining is often the easiest way, but not the one that takes us furthest. Sitting in a wheelchair or standing on our legs, we have to take our life in hand and do what we want with it.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
