Disability

Equal in Mind

“Society’s accumulated myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow from actual impairment.” Society makes generalizations and stereotypes about the disabled and the disease stricken. Society as a whole has the belief that they are less of a person because of something they cannot change about themselves. Society places the disabled in a category by themselves, as an outcast from modern civilization. We think that if we include the disables in everyday activities we could all one day become the same.

Those who are disabled but are still mentally competent realize these exclusions. In “The able-bodied still don’t get it” by Andre Dubus, he states that in a newspaper restaurant review they don’t tell whether it is handicap accessible. He says that “this means that they don’t think of us as people. They wouldn’t review a restaurant only accessible to Caucasians or only to men.” This shows how the disabled are placed into their own category of people, when they can fit into already established ones, like in Dubus’ case, Caucasian and male. Just because of a physical limitation a person isn’t less of a person. They are still capable of thought and feeling, so I would imagine they feel some discouragement and sadness from these stereotypes. Wouldn’t you feel the same way if you were treated differently because of something so insignificant to your function as a human being?

The media portrays an image of amazement and awe when a disabled person accomplishes a goal such as the Special Olympics. But they do not give these events the same publicity and coverage as the traditional Olympics. How does society expect the disabled to move on past these hindering situations and become a more successful person? It’s hard with the obstacles put forth by the “able bodies”.

In “Disability”, Nancy Mairs shows the human side of the disabled. Like Dubus she is disabled. She tells her audience, “Take it from me, physical disability looms pretty large in one’s life. But it doesn’t devour one wholly”. She