Disability Awareness

In a museum trying to maneuver a wheelchair elevator that did not work. Brian ended up carrying the wheelchair down a set of stairs while the boys held Rebecca. This happens all the time….

The end of July wraps up Disability Awareness month. I have thought a lot about the disabled population this month (well, really I think about them every month). I am the mother to a disabled child, I am president of a non-profit for disabled children, and I am surrounded by disabled children and adults while living in the hospital. I hear stories. I watch other’s reactions. I live the highs and lows of parenting through this foreign, handicapped world.

I have come to the conclusion that Disability Awareness month is not actually for the disabled. People with disabilities do not need a month to be reminded of their affliction – they live with their impairments every moment of every day.

Disability Awareness month is for the “abled”. Those blissfully unaware of the plights disabled people face. The “abled” do not worry if there is a wheelchair ramp leading into a building. The “abled” do not have to count the number of steps to their destination. The “abled” do not fear mockery that ensues walking out of a handicapped parking spot or constant questioning because they “look too good to be sick”. The “abled” do not suffer the time-suck of normal activities requiring 3-5 times more effort and thereby exhaustion. The “abled” do not spend inordinate amounts of their life planning schedules around medication dosing, doctor appointments, treatments, and expected or unexpected hospitalizations.

Disability Awareness month is most definitely for the “abled” – a time to keep an open mind to a different perspective. A time to ask questions and educate. A time to learn and grow.

Our eyes were opened because of Rebecca’s condition. But if we did not have Rebecca, would we have the extreme, empathetic bent toward the disabled community we do today? Sadly, I think the answer to that question would be “no”.

Because of our daughter’s illness, I am forever thankful Rebecca exposed our family to a whole new population of remarkable people. A population of people that do not need pity, if anything, these resilient humans deserve our utmost admiration, our kindness and when necessary, an extra hand (or leg) of support.

Thank you Lord, for our disabled community and the richness they add to our collective lives. Our unexpected miracle.

Love to each of you,