American Melissa Blake was born with a rare genetic disease of the musculoskeletal system. Despite this, she graduated from college, became a successful journalist and is trying to change the world around her.
15 196 1163 Octombrie 2020
Melissa Blake
“I want to be seen. Not because I’m a narcissist, but for a very practical reason. Society will never change if we don’t treat people with disabilities normally. And for this, people just need to see disabled people, “- wrote in her blog Melissa Blake on September 30.
The 39-year-old woman regularly posts her selfies – and she doesn’t care if someone doesn’t like them.
Melissa suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome. People with this diagnosis cannot fully control their body, and also have some features of their appearance: deep-set eyes, strongly protruding cheekbones, underdeveloped wings of the nose, and so on.
Blake is grateful to her parents who raised her faith in herself and tried to make her a full-fledged member of society. The woman received a journalism diploma and took up social activities, talking about her life on social networks.
Melissa has hundreds of thousands of followers who support her – both mentally and financially, becoming sponsors of her blog.
The main message that a woman wants to convey to society is the need to stop ignoring people with disabilities. They must appear in films, television and hold public office.
“How would famous TV series change if their protagonists were disabled? What if Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City was in a wheelchair? What if Penny from The Big Bang Theory had cerebral palsy? I would really like to see someone like me on the screen. Someone who is also in a wheelchair and wants to scream, “Hi, I’m a woman too! My disability doesn’t change that, ”wrote Melissa a few years ago.
Unfortunately, the activist has to communicate not only with fans, whom she motivates for noble deeds, but also with numerous haters who offend her unusual appearance.
...
Melissa Blake suffers from a rare genetic disorder
1 de 13
However, Melissa is not surprised by such attacks. On the contrary, they help her to illustrate even more clearly the need to change the attitude of society towards people with disabilities.
“I think it’s not difficult to insult your appearance. Especially mine. Yes, disability makes me look different. Pretty obvious thing that I have lived with all my life. It is not the jokes and jokes addressed to me that upset me, but the reality in which someone finds it funny.
Hiding behind a keyboard, it’s very easy to condemn someone’s shortcomings and say that the person is too ugly to post your photo on the Internet.
Do you know what I will answer to this? Here are three more of my selfies, ”Blake once answered the haters.
Photo: @ melissablake81 / Instagram