Josh Blue is a motivational speaker and stand-up comedian who has become well-known for his observations on disability rights and social inclusion in addition to his sense of humor. During one of his performances, he complained that he was being referred to as inspirational just because he has cerebral palsy and is a successful comedian.

Consider a person who diligently and carefully plants flowers in their garden each day. They make sure the plants receive adequate sunlight, water them, and prune them. Everyone appreciates the lovely and flourishing garden that is the result of these efforts over time. Rather than praising the effort and expertise required to create such a beautiful space, people may now merely remark, "Wow, you're so inspirational!" Because it ignores the true talent and effort required, this response may come across as condescending.

In a similar vein, Josh Blue highlights how the label of inspirational can obscure the true accomplishments and abilities of people with disabilities. When a person's success is solely determined by their disability, their hard work and dedication are frequently overlooked or underappreciated. This way of thinking implies that one is automatically inspirational just by existing or succeeding in spite of adversity, ignoring other attributes like talent, wit, and tenacity.

Instead of minimizing a person's achievements to their disability status, Josh Blue's words encourage people to recognize the full range of their accomplishments. Recognizing all facets of someone's success in any field is crucial, much like appreciating the special skills and labor that go into a well-kept garden.