Disabilities

Disabilities-Ever since the stroke and the infirmity that I have lived with
for so long, I have been at a loss for what to call it. Just recently,
though, I came up with the term "Temporary Disability". Temporary because,
even though it certainly seems like it, I know the disability won't last
forever. However, not being to walk or move or speak is a definite
disability. After living so many years with a disability I, I have gained
some insight into what life is like for truly disabled  people.

One thing I learned pretty quickly is that you are limited where you can go
if you are in a wheelchair. Some places have stairs but no ramp to
accommodate wheelchairs. I have noticed that over the years this seems to
be less of a problem as more places are installing ramps, which is good.
Unfortunately, though, there are still too many places that people in
wheelchairs can't go.

I have also noticed that products designed specifically for disabled people
are usually quite costly. Unless a disabled person is getting special
funding, I would think that this could be a problem. Most disabled people, I
assume, have a limited source of income.

I don't know if this is true for everyone in  a wheelchair but I find that
when I am looking at something, too often somebody stands in front of me so
I can't see. And of course I can't tell them to get out of the way. I know
it is not done intentionally but it is still very frustrating.

However, I want to deal more with emotional aspects of being disabled. For people born that way it is probably not the issue it is with somebody, like me, who has been perfectly healthy but then all of a sudden becomes disabled. For me, it was a very humiliating experience to go from being pretty independent to needing somebody to do everything for me. Basically, I have become like an overgrown baby. I have to be fed and diapered like a baby. And, if I need anything else, even my head scratched, I have to ask somebody. I am used to it by now but it sure does knock down the pride!

Even though I know that this disability is temporary, I have lived long enough as a disabled person to know that there are some things that well-meaning healthy people do that may not be the best thing for somebody who is disabled. One thing is avoiding somebody who is disabled. I know it is human nature to avoid anything that makes us uncomfortable. I can only speak from my own experience. When I first started going to church, I wanted to be friends with everyone but the majority of people avoided me. Eventually, I started to feel rejected and withdrew into myself.

Disabled people are just ordinary people stuck in a body that doesn't work. And it would be nice to be treated like that. Some people do but unfortunately, I have had people stick their faces in mine and speak really loudly. Most of those, though, are people who don't know I have a sound mind and good hearing.

There are plenty of more things that, as a temporarily disabled person, frustrate me but I will mention just more thing. Being stared at. I hate constantly being stared at wherever I go. Little kids stare at me all the time ,but they stare at a lot of things so they don't bother me much. Adults, though, are funny. I know somebody is staring at me, but if I look at that person he or she looks away. To be honest though, I would probably do the same.

Thankfully, this disability is temporary  but it has given me insight into what life is like for a disabled person. Believe me, it is not a lot of fun!