Disabilities. We tend to veer away from that general topic. In our minds, we think it’s too sensitive to talk about. We think we don’t know enough. So, we’d probably offend someone by blurting out something wrong and not even knowing it. But then, why don’t we educate ourselves? I guess, but how? If you really want to know, maybe do some research? Go to your local library and find some books on these disabling illnesses and how they truly affect a person. Then, you may know about their situation. However, it’s not completely necessary to know everything about their impairment, but maybe it’ll help you understand them a little better.
Instead of avoiding the topic, maybe talk to someone with disabilities or treat them as if they’re the same as you or me. There’s no need to treat them as if they’re aliens. They did not choose this lifestyle and they were once just like us, “Temporarily Able Persons” as Mairs would call us. If not many people talk to them, they experience the same exact feelings as we would: isolation and despondency (which are exhibited by Soyster in “Living under Circe’s Spell”). Even your glance of sympathy will do nothing for them because, afterwards, you just move on with your life. Yet as you walk away, they probably will feel this “ache” as yet another person has ignored them and thought less of them because of their disability. On the other hand, you might protest: I DO NOT THINK ANY LESS OF THEM. Okay. Then, why do you only give them a glare of empathy instead of saying “hello”? Why do you just walk away? You just don’t care enough, but maybe you should start now and realize that ignoring does no good. Instead, open your mouth to say something.
Maybe we don't feel the need to get to know disability because we are already so distracted by our own social experiences. There are so many different forms of disability that it's extremely difficult to get to know everything about everyone, but I agree that we treat disabled people a little too much like the "other."
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