By Rachel Whittington, Soloist
Missing: adjective; absent, lost, or wanting. To become lost, or to disappear.
This Disability Pride month, I want to spotlight invisible disabilities. Growing up, I struggled and didn’t know why I couldn’t be “like the other kids,” why things were harder for me from the very start. As an adult, I’ve been able to get some answers, including the diagnosis of several different ‘invisible’ disabilities. On this journey of medical discovery, I have felt immense loss but also profound satisfaction in knowing that it isn’t just me, that I’m not on this journey by myself.
Missing Person was written to explore feelings of loss (perceived or real): the loss of yourself, of friendships, of the life you had or that you wanted. How do you miss a version of yourself that doesn’t exist? My hope is that anyone reading this play will feel that they are not alone. There may not be a quick fix or magic cure, but people can and will love you as you are. Joy can still be found in small moments, and acceptance can be found in community. This message feels especially meaningful to share during Disability Pride Month, and I hope it resonates with anyone navigating disability, whether visible or invisible.
Read Missing Person here.