Disabled Transgender Theories

    A couple of posts back, I said I was going to look into any possible tie-ins to the fact that 39% of transgender people are disabled, or handicapped.  What I found is  there isn't a single theory that explains why a higher percentage of disabled individuals identify as transgender.  However, there are a few factors that might contribute to this correlation.

1.     Shared Experiences of Marginalization:  Both disabled and transgender people face societal marginalization and discrimination.  This shared experience might create a sense of solidarity and understanding between the two communities.  That's the theory, anyway.  I'm not sure why it equates to disabled people being transgender, though.  It would seem to me that if such solidarity made disabled people become transgender, there would be an even higher number of disabled people among the transgender population.
2.     Increased Awareness and Acceptance:  Disabled people might have more exposure to diverse identities and experiences, leading to greater awareness and acceptance of their own gender identity.  The logic behind this one is fuzzy to me, at best.  I mean, according to this theory, if EVERYBODY had more exposure to diverse identities and experiences people who currently view transgenderism with disdain might become transgender, themselves.  That seems a bit 'iffy' to me.
3.     Mental Health and Support Systems:  Disabled individuals might have more interactions with mental health professionals and support systems, which could help them explore and understand their gender identity.  I'm intrigued by this theory.  I'm handicapped, and have been since I was three, but I have never been to therapy as a result of my handicap.  That's not to say I haven't gone to a therapist in the past, but it had nothing to do with my handicap.  I've known other handicapped and disabled people in the course of my life, and I've never known any of  them to be involved with mental health professionals due to their handicap or disability.  Also, our support systems usually are our friends and family.

    Remember that these are just theories and more research is needed to understand the relationship between disability and transgender identity.  As for my own gender identity and the gender dysphoria behind it:  I theorize (and I believe my theory is much more sound, as far as my own experience is concerned, than those others) that after I was hit by a car as a child, I received extensive brain trauma.  (The fact that I function so well can only be attributed to divine intervention.)  My brain became like a clean slate.  For thirteen weeks, I was comatose.  In this condition, it's quite likely that the brain is in a very suggestive state.  Needing information in order to reset, it took in everything that was being fed into it.  However, most of the information coming in was from feminine sources.  My environment at the time being mostly void of masculine influence, the feminine gender was imprinted on my subconscious mind.  The fact that I was once scolded for walking like a faggot made me force myself to behave in direct opposition to my gender identity for decades.  In turn, I committed self-destructive and self-harming behaviors that, frankly, should have gotten me killed many times over through the years.  (Again, I believe divine intervention was at play.)

    Now, I'm transgender and I find that, more and more, my entire way of thinking is changing.  Rather than seeing myself and my interactions with my environment and other people in a self-harming and/or self-destructive manner, I'm filled with self-love and self-acceptance.  And I view my interactions with a more altruistic lens.

    As you can see, there is no definitive reason for the relationship between disability and transgender and I can only speak with any conviction concerning my own gender identity and experience.  It makes sense to me, and gives me peace of mind.  I can only hope that other transgender people can find a similar peace of mind for themselves.