It can be difficult and frustrating not to be able to do certain things at first, but it is not any different for someone who is not in a wheelchair. People often doubt their abilities and therefore have low expectations of them. What people fail to see is how mentally capable and hardworking these individuals truly are. Axel recalls, “Growing up in a wheelchair made the people around me assume that I wouldn’t be able to do anything for myself and that only motivated me more to be independent and prove not only to myself, but to others that being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean I can’t do what a normal person does, like driving, playing sports, or the basics of going to the restroom on my own.” People like Axel know that being physically disabled does not mean that they can not do what any other normal person does.
People also believe that a wheelchair limits a person, but it is actually quite the opposite. A wheelchair gives an individual the ability to move freely. In the online article, “Wheelchairs Make a Difference” it is stated that wheelchairs are “... wonderfully liberating for a person who is paralysed. Without one, he or she is unable to get out of their homes and interact with
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It is known that everyone faces daily obstacles. These individuals, especially, struggle to overcome the everyday obstacles, but do so with a smile on their face. People also assume that because these individuals face daily struggles, that they must feel depressed or unhappy. On the contrary, these individuals have such uplifting personalities and a great sense of humor. Attending several of my cousin’s basketball games has given me the opportunity to interact with other individuals, of different ages, who are also in wheelchairs. All of the members of this team have such different personalities that encourage one another throughout the game. “Somehow I always do it,” says Axel, as he smiles from ear to
It is hard to live with disability, because everyday things become a challenge. U.S. Census Bureau report from 2008 states that 3.3 million non-institutionalized Americans over age 15 years use wheelchairs. The reason why there are so many people with disabilities is that U.S. spent decades at war. This is why mobility industry is rethinking the products it provides to support a growing demographic. Vantage Mobility International (VMI) and Braun Ability are two leading industry players that spent decades converting wheelchair vans from companies such as Chrysler , Toyota , and Honda into wheelchair-accessible modes of transportation.
In her article “Unspeakable Conversations” author Harriet McBryde Johnson took time to inform and familiarize her readers with the details and limitations placed upon her by her disability. In her article she walked her readers through her morning routine. She told them about the assistance she needs in the morning from transferring from bed to wheelchair, to morning stretches, to bathing, to dressing, to braiding her hair. She does this not to evoke pity but to give her readers a glimpse into her world. She wants her readers to know that the quality of a disabled person’s life relies solely on another’s willingness to assist. Because those with disabilities need assistance they are often viewed as burdens. Therefore, they see themselves as
Most people feel relatively uncomfortable when they meet someone with an obvious physical disability. Usually, the disability seems to stand out in ones mind so much that they often forget the person is still a person. In turn, their discomfort is likely to betray their actions, making the other person uncomfortable too. People with disabilities have goals, dreams, wants and desires similar to people without disabilities. Andre Dubus points out very clearly in his article, "Why the Able-bodied Still Don't Get It," how people's attitudes toward "cripples" effect them. It's is evident that although our society has come a long way with excepting those with physical disabilities, people do not understand that those with physical disabilities are as much human as the next person
What comes into one’s mind when they are asked to consider physical disabilities? Pity and embarrassment, or hope and encouragement? Perhaps a mix between the two contrasting emotions? The average, able-bodied person must have a different perspective than a handicapped person, on the quality of life of a physically disabled person. Nancy Mairs, Andre Dubus, and Harriet McBryde Johnson are three authors who shared their experiences as physically handicapped adults. Although the three authors wrote different pieces, all three essays demonstrate the frustrations, struggles, contemplations, and triumphs from a disabled person’s point of view and are aimed at a reader with no physical disability.
I was always the person to shy away from a disabled person because I didn’t know how to handle it. I always thought if I avoided them I wouldn’t have to face the truth, which is I was very uncomfortable with disabled people. However, since our discussions in class, reading the book, and going to the event my views on the disabled have changed drastically since then. I learned that people with disabilities can do the same things, if not more, that a person without disabilities can do. I realized that I need to treat people with disabilities just like any other person, like an equal. People shouldn’t be ostracized for something that they cannot control. Everyone should treat disabled individuals with respect, dignity, and concern. This is why from now on I will not shy away from a disabled person I will welcome them with open arms because they are no different than
Historically, we have been taught that people with disabilities are different and do not belong among us, because they are incompetent, cannot contribute to society or that they are dangerous. We’re still living with the legacy of people with disabilities being segregated, made invisible, and devalued. The messages about people with disabilities need to be changed. There needs to be more integration of people with disabilities into our culture to balance out the message. Because of our history of abandonment and initialization, fear and stigma impact our choices more than they would if acceptance, community integration, and resources were a bigger part of our history.
As a young child, I remember how my grandfather's disability affected my life. I don't think that I even knew what the purpose of his wheelchair was. To me, it was just a toy, just another toy that my cousins and I could play with.
Homelessness is a condition of people without a regular residence. People who are homeless are usually unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure, and adequate housing. Homeless people constitute a demographically diverse population, and the situation is a critical problem in United States. The homeless are known as “the wondering poor”, “sturdy beggars”, and “vagrants”. This condition often occurs due to poverty, but this is only one of many reasons a person can be homeless. In addition to poverty, homelessness occurs as a result of drugs, mental illness, disasters such as hurricanes, or even domestic abuse. It is not a criminal activity.
Do you enjoy paying medical bills? Healthcare accounts for about 1/6 of the entire economy, more than any other industry. Researchers find that the spending on health care totals about $2.5 trillion which is about 17.5% of America’s gross domestic product: a measure of the value of all goods and services produced in the United States (New Health Insurance). It covers money paid to health care providers such as hospitals, outpatient centers, veterans’ affairs and other clinics, doctor and dentist practices, physical therapists, nursing homes, home health services and on-site care at places such as schools and work sites. Also included are retail sales of prescription and nonprescription drugs, premiums paid to health insurers, and revenues of makers of medical devices, surgical equipment and durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses, hearing aids and wheelchairs. It also counts out-of-pocket payments by consumers for health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-payments, along with costs not covered by insurance. Healthcare is one of the biggest economic problems Americans are facing. Medical care and health insurance expenses are impacting the lives of many Americans today. The focus problem, which once was uninsured Americans inability to pay for their medical care expenses are no longer a problem that is affecting only those who are uninsured, but is also steadily becoming a problem for those with health insurance. The problems of health care are affecting many American people: the uninsured/underinsured and insured, the unemployed and working, children and retirees, single individuals and families, men, women and small businesses. The list goes on. These problems can be solved in a dramatic reform to socialized healthcare. ...
The people with disabilities are portrayed as hardworking. They have people surrounding them that are accepting and encourage them to do their best. The support helps them build up courage to overcome their disability. It can take years, but the effort will not be
Most child dream of being superheroes. But Christine Enockson wanted to be a real world superhero, a teacher. Living in a small Wisconsin town, it was rare for there to be a child with special needs. Once Christine, or Chris as many people call her, discovered how school was different for these children, she passionately pursued a career to help those children. This passion led her to decide to be a foster parent. Throughout her life, Chris has made a difference in the lives of many children, including her own. Even though Chris has faced many hardships in her life, she continues to stay positive because of her faith. Chris’s help with special needs children and foster care have helped her faith cultivate and she is currently inspiring others
Home healthcare has always been available. It was just done only in cases of emergency. Going as far
I thought this was a great experience and opened my eyes to all the challenges individuals in wheelchairs have to face. Throughout the day, I noticed I had to go out of my way to find a path that was accessible for a wheelchair. Not only was it inconvenient, but at times it was physically challenging and required a lot of energy. The next day my arms were very sore. It was also difficult to navigate around the classroom, and I sometimes had to ask for assistance to move obstacles out of the way. A lot of the doors on campus were very heavy and made getting through the doorways a lot harder. Most of the time, I needed someone to hold open the door so I could get through to the other room. These experiences made me realize how important is it
The first thought that crosses the mind of an able-bodied individual upon seeing a disabled person will undoubtedly pertain to their disability. This is for the most part because that is the first thing that a person would notice, as it could be perceived from a distance. However, due to the way that disability is portrayed in the media, and in our minds, your analysis of a disabled person rarely proceeds beyond that initial observation. This is the underlying problem behind why disabled people feel so under appreciated and discriminated against. Society compartmentalizes, and in doing so places the disabled in an entirely different category than fully able human beings. This is the underlying theme in the essays “Disability” by Nancy Mairs, “Why the Able-Bodied Just Don’t Get it” by Andre Dubus, and “Should I Have Been Killed at Birth?” by Harriet Johnson.
People with disabilities often face societal barriers and disability evokes negative perceptions and discrimination in society. As a result of the stigma associated with disability, persons with disabilities are generally excluded from education, employment, and community life, which deprives them of opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being (Stefan). It is such barriers and discrimination that actually set people apart from society, in many cases making them a burden to the community. The ideas and concepts of equality and full participation for persons with disabilities have been developed very far on paper, but not in reality (Wallace). The government can make numerous laws against discrimination, but this does not change the way that people with disabilities are judged in society.