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An Essay: What It Means To Be Physically Disabled (By Nicole, aged 12 1/2) by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Rated "G" by the Author.
A young girl with a gifted mind shares her innermost feelings about living with serious physical disabilities each and every day of her life. She is the best friend to Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux.
When people first see me in person, they can't seem to get past my physical disabilities. All they see are my crutches--or my wheelchair if I happen to be using it--or my leg braces, and they can't seem to understand that even though I can't get around as well as most people do, I am still like them in a lot of ways. Yet all they see are my disabilities, and as a result, they tend to treat me differently.
Although my body doesn't work right a lot of the time, my mind does. But most people don't realize it, and it really aggravates me to no end. They can't believe that I am in the Gifted/Talented program at my school, that I am an honor roll student, and that I happen to enjoy school.
Being disabled isn't the same as being "unable", and people need to understand that whenever they first see me. It seems that people with disabilities--physical, mental, or even BOTH, as well as "invisible disabilities" like autism, epilepsy, or learning differences--are always having to prove themselves in order to be treated just like anyone else. That really makes my having JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) especially difficult to live with. If I had one wish, it would be that people understand that there's a real person inside this body that doesn't work well, and they need to give people like myself a chance to succeed in life.
Another wish I have is this: I would love for these people who give me (or my fellow friends who have disabilities) such a hard time live in our shoes for a day..let THEM see what it is like for me or my fellow friends who have disabilities. Let THEM wear braces on their legs. Let THEM use crutches in order to walk. Let THEM live with the often-terrible joint pains that I have to live with day after day after day. Let THEM sit in a wheelchair all day. Then they would see just what I have to endure each and every day of my life, and they would change their tune in a hurry. They would also learn to accept me and treat me like the normal person that I really am, even if my outward appearance really doesn't emphasize that fact.
~Written by Nicole M. Aldape, aged 12 1/2 for Creative Writing/Accelerated English, Grade Six, Ms. Panfili, Instructor.
Many people look at a disabled person as an unabled person; or moreso, some look at them as less-intelligent. This story is heartfelt and an eye-opener for many. Thank you Karen for sharing!
The disabled are physically challenged one of the things that a person said in her condition was this. "Don't look at me for the things that I am unable to do but what I am able to do." I have a low tolerance for people who snatch handicapped parking spaces.
Very well said sis. People need to look beyond the body to see the person. There is way too much prejudice in this world. It seems that people thrive on picking on others, because they have nothing better to do. When I married in 1981, this sweet woman already had 4 children. We brought them up, to believe that people were people, no matter how different they were. People with disabilities, can be successful, athletic, talented, and can do a myriad of things, that some non-disabled people can't. It is a shame that the world fosters discontent, because if I had my way, there would be one law. Everyone must respect and get along with everyone else. That's not to mean that they have to be the same or do the same things, but respect and getting along can go a long ways. May the Lord be with you always, and at your side constantly. With much love in my heart, joy to the world, peace on earth, & (((HUGS))), Barbie
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A poignant story about letting go of a narcissist in your life. Have you ever been attacked FULL force by a narcissist? It's the closest thing to being stabbed over and over in the back.
When people first see me in person, they can't seem to get past my physical disabilities. All they see are my crutches--or my wheelchair if I happen to be using it--or my leg braces, and they can't seem to understand that even though I can't get around as well as most people do, I am still like them in a lot of ways. Yet all they see are my disabilities, and as a result, they tend to treat me differently.
