End of Disability...

Can we eliminate disability from our world?

A time, when there will be no disabled people in our world... can it be possible?

Of course, you readers should be skeptical.  But lets try to find some reasons for this hope.

Who is a disabled person? Someone who is not able.  But is there any person, who is not able to all? Does a physical problem make that person disabled?  Its only those who think they are not able, are the only truly disabled.   And in that same way, we cannot define who is NORMAL person, or what is Normalcy..  We are all human beings and we should celebrate our Uniqueness &/ Diversity.

Everyone actually has some strengths and weaknesses – in comparison to other human beings.  Not all human beings are equal in every way.  There will be differences of gender, heritage, region you are born in and region & conditions you are brought up in.  Level of immunity will differ, parenting styles will not be same for every human, and so is, skin, hair, voice, height etc. 

But, an enlightened person will try to utilize available resources to maximum level.  Using our creativity to deal with challenges is what makes our life spicy and worth living.  Rather than crying and being depressed about what is not available, leaves you in a pit made by yourself..  and its called as self-pit(y). 

 No one can escape discrimination and inequality in some way...  and thus, its easy to feel like a victim, and dependent.  The victim-hood is a favorite topic of media of other countries and they spread that feeling in the community.  Sympathy is shown to those who show that they are victims and helpless.  And aid is given to them, which keeps them dependent, and not help them to become independent.  This is a short cut.

Empowering someone should be the right approach.  Its not easy, and is difficult in the short term, but better in the long run. 

But where will the empowerment start?  Let's start with a famous quote, '”Be the change you want to be... in the world”.  You might have seen it and read it many times, but practicing it is very much required.  Of course its a quote by Gandhi, and today 2nd Oct 2014 is his 146th Birthday. 

For example, if you feel you have been discriminated against, or that you want to work for those who are discriminated and empower them, then... first be a role model of empowerment.  Do not shift the responsibility to some government, ministry, a group or to another person. 

Learn to stand up and communicate properly.  Learn to show qualities in yourself, so that others cannot discriminate you on the basis of your social stereotype, or community label.  If you have problem in one of the sense organs, or in the limbs, or in the mind, or one of the organs... don't let it become the center of yourself.

That is but just one aspect of yourself.  one part of your life.  Focus on your strengths and try to become a role model and be ready to show to the world that you are not helpless, you are not a burden... and that you are a person like any other, with some advantages and disadvantages...

Utilize your uniqueness to develop yourself and a valuable contributor in the society.  All the people who meet you would realize that their stereotype or label about a person with visual problems or so called disability is wrong... and one by one you will lead the social change.

There is widespread belief in the society that, people of certain race, region, gender, country, educational background, occupational group etc. Are inferior to others.  Do not just feel bad about such discrimination, if you are from one of those groups, which get discriminated. 

Empower yourself, put efforts into developing your skills.  Do not utilize that fire of hatred into feeling lousy and indulge in self pity.  That is a trap and that is easy to fall into as well.  

Instead, use that fire to energize yourself..   Focus on your communication skills, and increase your positive influence..   you will be able to see the discriminating mind set of society changing for the better through your influence.  Who doesn't wish for betterment?   But most lack initiative, so, be that initiator...    If you yourself remain withdrawn, crying, feeble and meek, then people will think that negative stereotype or label is true about your group.  and if you just sink back into self pity and inactive suffering, then aren't you actually are proliferating that stereotype by being one???

Just channelize that burning feeling inside you into empowering self and others.  You will see the difference, first on self and then on the viewpoint of others.  Thus show the world that its possible to end disability...  and create a world, where all humans are free to be themselves!