Best Friends

Dear World,

Sometimes we can’t do it all ourselves. As human beings, we’re wired to make connections for the sake of our well-being. I’ve learned that it’s important to set aside time from our busy lives to relax and spend time with good people. I’ve met many wonderful individuals throughout my life, but the ones who have had the greatest positive impact on me are my best friends. These people are the ones who stayed with me through my highs and lows, support me in turning my dreams into reality, and remind me that life shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Everyone in my best friends group lives with disabilities and must go through unique barriers and challenges in our daily lives; we all know how difficult it can be to live with one or more disability. Nevertheless, our disabilities never stop us from doing what we love most: spending time with each other and having the utmost fun with our lives! We always support and help each other out to the best of our abilities. Whether I need a listening ear, some supportive words, or physical help, I can count on my best friends to make life more fun and meaningful!

The world is filled with physical barriers and social stigma around disabilities (even internalized within ourselves). When people see my friend group hang out together, they often either praise us, stare at us, or make unsolicited comments about our mobility devices. These kinds of behaviour are very stigmatizing because people with disabilities are people too, and we deserve to be able to go out and socialize with whoever we want without being judged for our disabilities. But I believe that when we all come out together and play, we can challenge the negative stereotypes and stigmas regarding disabilities. Proving to the world that

Just because we are disabled, it doesn't mean that we can't be happy and enjoy our lives! 😄

Check out my video on de-stigmatizing disability!

About Us

Back in 2017, I was the new girl in high school. Fresh out of middle school, I didn’t know anyone at all. I’m sure you know what it feels like to be new in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by unfamiliar people—it’s really intimidating and scary! As soon as I started high school, I was placed in the Special Education program, and it was there that I met the friends who showed me the ropes of the beast that is high school. They graciously “adopted” me and welcomed me into their group, willingly putting up with my shenanigans and constant questioning. Since meeting these wonderful people, I’ve never felt happier or luckier to have found such meaningful connections that brought me so much joy.

Feb 2018: My 15th Birthday, the first time I invited my friends to my home.

Aug 2025: Our Summer Luau & BBQ

Fast forward to the present day, life has moved on, but we still keep in touch. Some of us have gone into post-secondary education (including me) to pursue our careers, while others have followed different paths. Still, we keep the flame alive by calling each other regularly, planning outings, and spending time together. For us, maintaining our friendship is essential because being together brings us genuine happiness. With these friends, life doesn’t feel as rigid or intimidating. And because we all live with disabilities, we support one another so none of us feels alone. We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we each contribute what we can to make our group work.

I’d say that while it’s important to work hard toward your goals and dreams, it’s just as important to make time for the people you love or feel a genuine connection with. When you neglect your social needs, you may end up regretting not making time for those relationships when you had the chance.