Today is United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Coincidentally, I recently heard this anecdote from a doctor about his experience with a patient.
Two girls visited him along with their dad. The younger one pointed to her elder sister, who needed the consultation. The doctor asked the elder sister, “Beta, aap kis class mein ho?” (Child, what grade do you study in?) The girl smiled & replied, “Doctor, I’ve my own business. I’m 26 years’ old.”
Both the sisters had a condition of dwarfism. The girl suffered from constant headaches. On probing further, the doctor found out that her business was inadequate to sustain her. That it was more of a vocation to fill time. Further questioning threw up ‘stress’ as a reason for her headaches. Her dwarfism was dominating her life & inhibiting her from fully living it.
When I heard the anecdote, my heart went out to the girl. We’ve created a society where anybody who is different by even an iota, isn’t given a level playing field. It begins from childhood. Disabled children either find it difficult to get admission in ‘regular’ schools or, if admitted, are subject to nastiness from their peers.
Not a reflection on ability… for sure!
I remember a girl in my school. She’d a stuttering problem. Now when I think of it, almost all of us used to made fun of her. & then we wonder, “Why does s/ he lack confidence?” (I feel ashamed of what I did then. I am, hopefully, a more aware & a better person now.)
I don’t have anything extremely profound to say or to claim that I’m doing x or y in this space. I just want to share that I find myself to be more respectful towards those who may achieve the impossible but may still be called ‘disabled’, thanks to some skewed logic!
In fact, this reminds me of a tweet I’d shared when India performed remarkably well in the 2020 Paralympics.
I also request anyone reading this to keep ‘respect’ in mind. Don’t laugh. Don’t demean. Don’t taunt. Don’t look down upon. & don’t even put on a pedestal. Treat everyone equally. Create an environment where everyone feels welcome.
Disability Is Not A Reflection of Ability! In fact, disability – what’s that?
