As the younger sister of a young woman with severe disabilities, I have to say that almost nothing in the world annoys me more than people who make fun of and belittle those with disabilities and developmental delays. Guess what? These people did not chose to be this way any more than you and I got to choose to be 'normal'. Popping out words like 'retard', 'reject', 'moron,' ect. to describe them is just sickening, and really needs to stop. If the bullies would shut the hell up for a moment, they would realize that they could learn something from these people. For the most part, they are unaware that there is anything wrong with them and holding them back, and many of them are the nicest, kindest people I have ever had the honor of meeting.
Case in point, my boss has a seventeen year old daughter named Erika, and she was born with Cerebral Palsy. From the moment she gets out of bed, to the moment she gets back in at the end of the day, life is a struggle for her. Things that we do without thinking about it, are the same things that require a lot of thought and effort for her. I have yet to see this girl without a smile or something kind to say to someone else. Erika is honestly one of the most amazing people I know, and whenever I get to hang out with her a bit, her smile makes my day and makes me forget my own problems and worries.
I will never understand why people think it's okay to treat special needs people as if they have a contagious disease or as if they are an entirely different species. Sure, some people with special needs have them quite severely and are unable to carry a conversation, or talk at all, but many of them can communicate just as well as anyone else. Sure, the things they want to talk about may not be the same things that other people their age are interested in, but that doesn't mean that you can't take a moment and talk to them, make their day and show them that you are. In talking to them, I can almost guarantee that you will get more out of the interaction than they do, for they have a perspective and happiness about them that many people who have stresses about work and paying bills totally forget about.
In a perfect world, there would be tolerance and understanding about this, and many other issues that people are insensitive and rude about. I am aware that this is not a perfect world, but people really need to try to make an effort to be understanding and accepting.
Case in point, my boss has a seventeen year old daughter named Erika, and she was born with Cerebral Palsy. From the moment she gets out of bed, to the moment she gets back in at the end of the day, life is a struggle for her. Things that we do without thinking about it, are the same things that require a lot of thought and effort for her. I have yet to see this girl without a smile or something kind to say to someone else. Erika is honestly one of the most amazing people I know, and whenever I get to hang out with her a bit, her smile makes my day and makes me forget my own problems and worries.
I will never understand why people think it's okay to treat special needs people as if they have a contagious disease or as if they are an entirely different species. Sure, some people with special needs have them quite severely and are unable to carry a conversation, or talk at all, but many of them can communicate just as well as anyone else. Sure, the things they want to talk about may not be the same things that other people their age are interested in, but that doesn't mean that you can't take a moment and talk to them, make their day and show them that you are. In talking to them, I can almost guarantee that you will get more out of the interaction than they do, for they have a perspective and happiness about them that many people who have stresses about work and paying bills totally forget about.
In a perfect world, there would be tolerance and understanding about this, and many other issues that people are insensitive and rude about. I am aware that this is not a perfect world, but people really need to try to make an effort to be understanding and accepting.
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