Living with Disabilities - Essay Example

True that the lives of those living with disabilities are full of fear and are more uncomfortable than the ‘normal’ people. Although people try their best to gain knowledge and understanding regarding disabilities, there is always confusion because not all information about them is understandable or available to everyone. I, however, fail to come to terms with what the article implies by stating that “disability is a limited phenomenon.” Several people are living with disabilities in society and can in no way be neglected as a problem affecting few people.

The reading is right when it explains that disabilities prevent people from exploring their talents and personalities.

I also agree with the reading’s claim that it is very hard for the ordinary man to recognize cognitive disabilities. For the realization of cognitive disabilities, one has to interact with those affected because there are no physical signs of such disabilities. 

The reading was also by some of my thoughts regarding some things I encounter daily. People seem to assume that those living with disabilities have to be helped with everything and in everything they do. Helping them in their tasks can make them feel less human or useless. As a result, I only offer help when it is necessary or when asked to do so. The reading reinforced my experience with deaf persons. For the few deaf people I have met in life, I hardly make any meaningful communication apart from greetings. Communicating with the deaf is problematic because I lack the knowledge and understanding of sign language.

The information presented about mobility impairment relates well with some things I have encountered in life. When I was young, my neighbor had a son who had impaired legs. The boy could not walk and his time at home. He never got a chance to move out of their home even when he got ill. His parents restricted him to his wheelchair and always spent his time in the house. When my mother would send me to take cards or other valuables to their home, I ensured that I met the boy and checked how he was doing. His parents, however, did not like people near him. Immediately after greetings, they would tell me that was enough and that Mike did not want disturbance. I would, however, see Mike’s need for friends in his eyes. His parents thought it was their mistake to have Mike. They thought having a child with a disability was taboo and would be laughed at by the community.