power and equity

Who gets to decide who is normal and who is handicapped?  Officially, it is those in the medical profession. A doctor slaps the label on us with a diagnosis. In my case it is AMC. Handicapped, disabled physically impaired and I may be missing a few others but they all have negative connotations in out culture. Something is missing, we are some how not a “whole” person, and we cannot do for ourselves. We are often felt sorry for and for too many remain hidden away from mainstream life in institutions. When given such a label, it becomes internalized. We take on the role of someone who wants sympathy, cannot participate in society or even take care of ourselves. It is self fulfilling prophecy at it’s finest. I don’t think such a person could be expected to break out of this situation on their own. How could they if this is all they have ever known? Becoming independent and a fully functioning member of society is dependant on learning. This starts at home. If the family follows the script that goes along with the disabled label assigned by the medical profession and reinforced by the rest of the society, there is no reason the outcome will be good for the individual. I’ve not had that much experience with other so called disabled people. But I’ve noticed those who see themselves as being disabled are ultra self-centered only able to talk about their own problems seeming to forget that all people suffer in one way or another. The only way to break this cycle of learned dependence (can it also be read prisoner?) as I see it is education. We need to be educated on alternative possibilities. Instead of a focus on what we cannot do (I cannot ever be an NFL star, for example), we need to learn things we can do (I can write).  Dependence equals no or at least less freedom.

           

Powerlessness is learned. Along with having no power, less freedom is also learned. One cannot imagine venturing beyond the confines of an intuition or the home.  Where is the freedom in having all the big decisions made by caregivers for the individual? In the extreme even something as simple as when to go to the bathroom is decided by others for the disabled person. Sadly, society seems to think this is okay and how things are supposed to be. How many FDRs and Stephen Hawkings hove been over looked or never encouraged to use their God given talents? Even just one is too many. If they are never taught there is another way, then dependence and ignorance may be all they ever know and it all starts with the family.

The family of a handicapped child has to encourage her to be as independent as possible. Even if she can do nothing for herself physically, she can still think interdependently. she need to be able to make decisions about not only her care but also how she wishes to spend her life. I think it is important, even for those who are mentally handicapped to have as much say as possible about what they want to do and be cared for. Every person, handicapped or not needs to know how to advocate for themselves. Knowledge starting right at home is the key.