Theme for 2011: “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development”
Farheena is off to Udupi today to participate in International Day of Persons with Disabilities. She is extremely excited and happy to off on her own with her teachers and classmates. The last time she had been there, she brought back home two prizes about which she is very proud. I would be so glad to accompany her and encourage all the participants, but at times she needs to be on her own and she feels good about it too.
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| A tired but very happy Farheena with her prize |
Man is adventurous by nature. He hates
monotonous life. A challenge is always welcome and if the challenge does not
come to him he goes in search of it in the name of sports, investigation,
discovery etc. But when the challenge is the form disability where a person is
not able to perform everyday tasks easily, then it is not accepted as
adventurous. People always have trouble responding in a right way to people who
are differently able.
Why
should a person be called disabled or abnormal just because one (or more) vital
parts of body aren’t functioning to the maximum? The question will not have an
answer ever. I feel the word different or special is more suited in this
situation. I haven’t come across a person who will fit perfectly into the category
‘Normal Person’. Before finding a perfect normal person I cannot say a certain
person is not normal.
It is same with the term handicapped. Who
is without any handicap? Who can proudly thump his/her chest and declare ‘I
have no handicap at all?’ Most probably every person is handicapped in one or
other way, but there is no way you can point out that particular handicap in a
person clearly. Pedophiles, rapists, misers, murderers, sadists are all living
with a handicap, yet not often do they get the branded. Some may just get away
with it forever. Nevertheless, a certain person is branded handicapped just
because you can point out exactly where the problem is. Nowadays the term
special is used which makes it better.
Helen Keller is an inspiration to many
people who are standing in the group of normal. Though born with multiple
disabilities she earned the Bachelor of Arts degree and became the first deaf
and blind person to do so. Anne Sullivan was her teacher who broke her
isolation and found a way out for her to communicate. She was the miracle
worker and Keller worked miracles herself.
Albert Einstein is the greatest scientist
of the twentieth century and notable physicist of all time. He was a
German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity,
affecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often
regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific
intellects in human history. Not many people know that he had learning
disability in his childhood. He started talking when he was three and reading
when he was eight. It is amazing that he went to win noble prize for his
contribution to the Physics.
If a blind person who has no vision (Am I
right in saying so?) has developed an alternative sense to replace the void
created by lack of sight, I feel he should not be labeled disabled person but a
highly able person. He is viewing something without the help of eyes. His way
of seeing an object would be touch, sound etc. We do have the senses what he
has, but we do not use them just because we have eyes. How many other senses
and abilities are being lost in us just because we have the privileges? As the
chapters of my life unfold and I am bringing up a special needs child I realize
how spoilt we are. How we take for granted sight, speech, hearing etc. Time for
me to wake up and be grateful to God, and show my gratitude in accepting those
who are different from me gracefully.
Farida that was another positive post of yours. Best wishes an love to farheena
ReplyDeleteHuman spirit triumphs...time to be grateful indeed and accept everyone the way the are...
ReplyDeleteMany of my disable friends object to the use of the word "handicapped" as they say that it comes from "begging with the cap in their hands". Thanks for sharing thoughts on this subject.
ReplyDeleteWow Faridaji... Really brilliant post... Loved all the videos... Especially, "we are people first, then we are different" one... And Farheena looks so adorable with her prizes... God bless her...
ReplyDeleteI hate the word 'handicap'. I think human beings are very judgmental. My mom doesn't have one hand since her birth and I have never seen a women who can anything and everything with so much of efficiency as she does. What is inside you makes or mars you, more than physical organs...
ReplyDeleteagree to what you said . . its what is within each of us that matters . .
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problem I see, is when other "normal" people like telling me what I cant do... So I stop listening ;) (hehe see the ironic? ;) )
ReplyDelete