Public Discourse Draft #2

Guys, I made some changes, so here's the latest version--enjoy!

Why Are We So Ignorant and Intolerant?

Now I’m usually a very calm and mild-mannered person, but there’s one major issue I have with today’s society that angers me and I have to address: the way people with disabilities, both mental and physical, are treated in America. Granted, there are lots of compassionate people out there who do the right thing and lots of advocacy groups raising awareness, but it is often those that act improperly towards the disabled that stick out in my mind.

In short, my point is this: in today’s increasingly diverse society, the disabled are often overlooked, causing the general public to become ignorant, shallow, and intolerant towards people with disabilities. This needs to stop.

People with disabilities have always held a special place in my heart because I witness the challenges they face and the adaptations they make to overcome them. My brother Andrew suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays and mental retardation. There’s a lot more information about the disease on the Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s website, which covers essentially everything you’d ever want to know about Angelman Syndrome. Andrew has been a huge part of my life since the day he was born, and has really opened my eyes to the world of people with disabilities. Hopefully using the lessons I’ve learned and experiences I’ve shared with Andrew will help me to educate people about our disabled population and dispel some common misconceptions they may have.

Too often I see people giving Andrew puzzled looks and scathing stares, wondering why he looks different than we all do. Their body language gives off a condescending appearance, which really pisses me off because they are basing their (incorrect) judgments only on his unique look and not his personality. They are not seeing him as a real person; rather they only point out his differences instead of embracing him as another human being like themselves.

One particular moment sticks in my mind when I was out with my brother at the mall on a normal Saturday afternoon last year (he loves to go there to see all the people). A woman came up to us and bluntly asked me, referring to Andrew, “What’s wrong with him?” I was stunned at first, but eventually mustered out, “Excuse me? Is that a serious question?” When she persisted that it was, all I could say was, “I’m sorry, but I’m not even answering that. This is ridiculous.” It’s instances just like these that motivated me to write this piece, hoping that no ignorant person subjects any disabled person to that kind of ridicule.

Just because someone looks and/or acts differently than you doesn’t make them any less important or worthwhile. This isn’t even an issue of disability or not; it’s just plain common sense and basic humanity. Wake up people. In an age where we are progressing socially, people are becoming more accepting towards people from different nationalities, races, religions, cultures, genders, and economic classes. People with disabilities are left off of that list, because as we focus on the progression of various minorities in America people with disabilities take a back seat and are often forgotten. It’s time that we start to pay attention to these people and give them the acceptance and respect that they deserve. Melissa Riggio, a little girl with Down Syndrome, explains the situation perfectly in an article she wrote for National Geographic Kids in which she shares her views on having an intellectual disability.

Personally, I’ve never used the word “retard” in any form to refer to any person or situation. I realize it is a technical/medical term, but the way most people are using it is horribly offensive, demeaning, and derogatory towards people with disabilities. I always discourage my friends from using the “r” word and always take a little time to let them know how hurtful it is to the disabled community. All the “r” word is good for is perpetuating the negative stereotypes that people with intellectual disabilities face every day. In writing this blog, I found a national campaign ran by the Special Olympics to raise awareness for the “r” word and other derogatory terms like it and push for their elimination in everyday speech. They’ve created a great website to help promote their campaign.

Unbeknownst to some horribly ignorant and irresponsible people, people with both mental and physical disabilities accomplish some amazing things. The paths they take and methods they use might seem foreign to us, but their accomplishments are certainly worthwhile.
Take, for example Matt Savage, a young autistic boy from San Francisco. He struggles with classroom learning and requires a constant aide, but has an unparalleled affinity for composing music. By age 13, he was composing entire pieces of music and playing with professional adult organizations. He has released six CD’s, all of which have received high ratings. You can read his entire story here.

If you still don’t think people with disabilities have limited capabilities, just look to the Paralympics and Special Olympics and you will soon be proved terribly wrong. The people competing in the Paralympics are top-notch athletes, training just as hard, if not harder, than any other able-bodied athlete. The athletes participating in the Special Olympics are accomplishing extraordinary things and empowering themselves by working towards, not to mention completing, their own personal goals. If you’re in need of some inspiring stories of hard work and perseverance, look no further than to the athletes of the Paralympics and Special Olympics.

Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin hits the proverbial nail on the head when she calls her young son with Down Syndrome “absolutely perfect.” She captures the essence of the disabled world with that one simple phrase. People who happen to have disabilities aren’t lesser forms of humans by any means; they’re just like you and me and deserve to be treated that way.

When it comes to specifically physically disabled people being mistreated and overlooked, it’s not only individual people perpetrating these “crimes” but also bigger institutions like many public buildings and establishments. Often these places ignore the needs of many disabled people and use an inaccessible facility which ultimately turns away many people. I know Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, but businesses are overly reluctant to make their facilities accessible and there are still many places where people with physical disabilities cannot go.

I was at a restaurant downtown (which I’ll leave unnamed) last weekend, and I noticed that a portion of the dining area was at a different level than the rest, making it necessary to climb a few stairs to reach it. I remarked silently to myself that it must be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to get up to that level. Sure enough, a man using a wheelchair came in a few minutes later asking to be seated. The only tables left were on the upper level, so he had to enlist the help of some friends to hoist him up and down to the table area. I know his friends were happy to help, but I’m sure the man felt embarrassed and powerless deep inside. I know this is just one simple example, but injustices like these are happening all the time across the country

At the end of the day, this isn’t a political issue, a legal issue, or an ethical issue. It’s a common sense issue. It’s a humanity issue. It’s a respect issue. It’s a dignity issue. When it comes down to it, we’re all human beings. To look down on someone for a trait they can’t control is simply wrong: under no context is it acceptable. In this case, being apathetic towards people with disabilities is just as bad as being actively demeaning. It’s ultimately up to you to change your attitude about people with disabilities and begin to understand and accept another section of our population. After all, about one-fifth of people suffer from one disability or another. You can read the whole study here. It only takes little things to make a big difference in the eyes of someone with disabilities. When you pass by someone in the streets who could use the help—give it to them. Look them in the eye. Smile at them. Shake their hand. Speak directly to them. Give them the dignity they deserve. They’ll certainly appreciate it, and I will too.