--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am disabled because I live and work in…" description: "\"I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me.\" — Rose Ayling-Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg" --- # I am disabled because I live and work in a world that… ![“I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me.” quote by Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg) > “I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me.” [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal structures and attitudes can create disabling conditions for individuals. **In simple terms:** Society can make people feel disabled. Key Takeaway Identify and challenge disabling norms. Themes disability societal barriers inclusion Mood reflective determined Type activist personal narrative When to use this quote - workplace - public spaces - policy making - education Key Concepts social construct systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions become truly accessible? - What personal actions can reduce systemic disabling? A Different Perspective Change requires collective effort, not just personal adaptation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disabled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled/) [Disabled Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled-live-2029302/) [Disables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disables-2029303/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Disables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-disables-2029301/) ## Related quotes > [I can only dream of the day where seeing other disabled people on screen isn't a rare sight or where I don't get excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-can-only-dream-of-the-day-where-seeing-other-disabled-people-on/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [It's so normal for disabled people that we're used to fighting all the time, so it's nice not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/it-s-so-normal-for-disabled-people-that-we-re-used-to-fighting-all/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [“The easiest work in the world is to find fault.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/the-easiest-work-in-the-world-is-to-find-fault/) [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/) > [“He wanted to learn how the world worked, and I wanted to learn how to work the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-taylor/he-wanted-to-learn-how-the-world-worked-and-i-wanted-to-learn-how-to/) [Jessica Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-taylor/) > [Those who work most for the world's advancement are the ones who demand least](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-work-most-for-the-world-s-advancement-are-the-ones-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I work in the music world in a kind of very multi-faceted way. I work around the world, in different genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anoushka-shankar/i-work-in-the-music-world-in-a-kind-of-very-multi-faceted-way-i-work/) [Anoushka Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anoushka-shankar/) > [I work all over the world. I have a very, very full life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/i-work-all-over-the-world-i-have-a-very-very-full-life/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [“I do not wish to work in a world that regards me as a slave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-do-not-wish-to-work-in-a-world-that-regards-me-as-a-slave/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Don't be in a hurry about finding your work in the world for yourself—you are not old enough to judge for yourself yet; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hughes/don-t-be-in-a-hurry-about-finding-your-work-in-the-world-for-yourself/) [Thomas Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hughes/) > [Part of the way the work world works is not so much creating a separation between your work and your free time, but creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/part-of-the-way-the-work-world-works-is-not-so-much-creating-a/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [There are enormous opportunities to work for a world that is more free, peaceful and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-enormous-opportunities-to-work-for-a-world-that-is-more/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To work in the world lovingly means that we are defining what we will be for, rather than reacting to what we are against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baldwin/to-work-in-the-world-lovingly-means-that-we-are-defining-what-we-will/) [Christina Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baldwin/) > [The work of the world is common as mud. Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust. But the thing worth doing well done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/the-work-of-the-world-is-common-as-mud-botched-it-smears-the-hands/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [“Your work in this world is resurrection work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-langberg/your-work-in-this-world-is-resurrection-work/) [Diane Langberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-langberg/) > [Get leave to work In this world,--'tis the best you get at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/get-leave-to-work-in-this-world-tis-the-best-you-get-at-all/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) ## More by Rose Ayling-Ellis > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I can hear someone singing, but I can't identify exact words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-can-hear-someone-singing-but-i-can-t-identify-exact-words/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I believe that diverse, rich, and fascinating deaf stories are ready to go mainstream and that we can do this, together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-believe-that-diverse-rich-and-fascinating-deaf-stories-are-ready-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [It is not nice to feel frustrated and unheard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/it-is-not-nice-to-feel-frustrated-and-unheard/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I am a big believer of getting yourself out of your comfort zone, because that's where you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-am-a-big-believer-of-getting-yourself-out-of-your-comfort-zone/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [When I was little, I would draw hearing aids onto my Barbie dolls to make them look like me, so I am thrilled that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/when-i-was-little-i-would-draw-hearing-aids-onto-my-barbie-dolls-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [A lot of deaf people experience feeling left out. Feeling lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/a-lot-of-deaf-people-experience-feeling-left-out-feeling-lonely/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [Before I had an agent, I tried to apply for Spotlight membership and was rejected more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/before-i-had-an-agent-i-tried-to-apply-for-spotlight-membership-and/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [It's been incredibly special to be 'EastEnders' first regular deaf actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/it-s-been-incredibly-special-to-be-eastenders-first-regular-deaf-actor/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I feel really glad that I knew who I was from a very early age. I never ever once thought: 'I wish I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-feel-really-glad-that-i-knew-who-i-was-from-a-very-early-age-i/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [DYT, under the direction of Paula Garfield, was my first experience of deaf performing arts and I loved my time there. It provides such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/dyt-under-the-direction-of-paula-garfield-was-my-first-experience-of/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I can dance, and I can count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-can-dance-and-i-can-count/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I had to break through countless barriers to get to where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-had-to-break-through-countless-barriers-to-get-to-where-i-am/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I love crime dramas. They're horrible but I find them fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-love-crime-dramas-they-re-horrible-but-i-find-them-fascinating/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [We hear a lot about being female and how women appear in the dating scene, but as a deaf woman, it's a very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/we-hear-a-lot-about-being-female-and-how-women-appear-in-the-dating/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) [Explore all 69 Rose Ayling-Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) ## More Disabled quotes > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [I have joined the BJP to help disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/i-have-joined-the-bjp-to-help-disabled-people/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I have been a long-time advocate for a just Arab-Israeli peace and for Palestinian refugees. Today, as you are aware, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-noor-of-jordan/i-have-been-a-long-time-advocate-for-a-just-arab-israeli-peace-and/) [Queen Noor of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-noor-of-jordan/) > [It's an objective fact that I am a double amputee, but it's very subjective opinion as to whether that makes me disabled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mullins/it-s-an-objective-fact-that-i-am-a-double-amputee-but-it-s-very/) [Aimee Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mullins/) > [Everybody has a story and being a disabled person means you have a unique story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/everybody-has-a-story-and-being-a-disabled-person-means-you-have-a/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [We think we know what it's all about; we think that disability is a really simple thing, and we don't expect to see disabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/we-think-we-know-what-it-s-all-about-we-think-that-disability-is-a/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [“I have been watching the Democrats run the USA for four years. The police are still corrupt and incompetent, their ‘green’ energy policy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-have-been-watching-the-democrats-run-the-usa-for-four-years-the/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I have veterans in my family. But I didn't know anything about DAV, Disabled American Veterans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-have-veterans-in-my-family-but-i-didn-t-know-anything-about-dav/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Social Security is based on a principle. It's based on the principle that you care about other people. You care whether the widow across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/social-security-is-based-on-a-principle-it-s-based-on-the-principle/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Every disabled person's experience is different. As a wheelchair user I can experience something different from someone who is visually impaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/every-disabled-person-s-experience-is-different-as-a-wheelchair-user/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“A lot of disabled people probably died in hurricane Ian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/a-lot-of-disabled-people-probably-died-in-hurricane-ian/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Browse all 362 Disabled quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rose Ayling-Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in-a-world-that-disables-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disabled" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in-a-world-that-disables-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/rose-ayling-ellis-9860_disabled_i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in_192344.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me.” — Rose Ayling-Ellis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rose Ayling-Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am disabled because I live...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in-a-world-that-disables-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-am-disabled-because-i-live-and-work-in-a-world-that-disables-me/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```