Are you disabled?
@GardenGerty (157555)
United States
April 12, 2007 1:14pm CST
When I was expecting my second child I read a lot of books about healthy pregnancy and childbirth. One book indicated that if you wear glasses, you have a birth defect and are disabled. I was taken aback by that statement. Most of the people in my family wear glasses. I came across an interesting quote about disability about five minutes ago, and I invite your response. This is a quote from Helyn Hoffa, who was stricken with polio, many years ago. She is a great advocate for the disabled. This is from a "Chicken Soup" story.
"The disability that cripples more people than any other is ignorance. All of us are disabled in one way or another - some physically, some economically - the list is endless. But if you can conquer ignorance, all your other disabilities melt away."
So, do you have a disability, given these thoughts?
2 people like this
6 responses
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
13 Apr 07
I find this discussion very interesting. I have several health issues. I have asthma fairly bad although I do have good days too. I have deteriation of my lower spine and need both knees replacements. I finally after many years of complaining about micrane headaches I finally got a CT scan that revelled I have an abnormal large vessel that has grown through my brain. They know it can not be removed but I'm waiting for an MRI to see if there is something they can do. With that said I feel "YES" I definately would be classed as someone being disabled.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I am guessing that you are very able, as well, as you have survived so far, and are learning and doing new things.
@rebelann (111189)
• El Paso, Texas
15 Apr 23
I agree that conquering ignorance would be nice but each of us is ignorant about one or another thing that most likely is obscure anyway but some disabilities can't be melted away, my friend has macular degeneration and is slowly going blind. She just turned 69 in Dec. It's taken her quite a while to make peace with the inevitable though, going blind can't be conquered by defeating ignorance of that subject.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
15 Apr 23
Having macular degeneration was an indicator for my sister that she was going down a rough road. It was actually and indicator of her overall health. She was not accepting of it at all. There are many factors, but hers came on even faster because she would not quit smoking. Her ignorance was in insisting that since she did not inhale, smoking was not hurting her. There is a tendency to macular degeneration in my family. So far I have no signs of it. I would hope that if and when it does show up I will have the grace to accept it and learn how to work around it.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111189)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Apr 23
Carol never smoked a day in her life but she is a polio survivor so perhaps that has something to do with her situation, she's got a really positive attitude about it but she is afraid which is understandable.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
14 Apr 07
I am dislexic big time. But, I have overcome it with a lot of effort. If I am tired or stressed, it creaps back, but nobody even knows it about me. I can read and talk backwards.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
14 Apr 07
Friend, I would not have guessed, and I usually can tell about learning disabilities and some other disabilities from the posts people make. I think sometimes the most talented people, creatively, do have processing problems, like dyslexia and dysgraphia.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
13 Apr 07
Yes, I am disabled. I was declared disabled several years ago when I was diagnosed with a rare cancer. I can live with this cancer for quite some time, but I have a continued fight on my hands, guess that's why they call it a battle. I have noticed that as the months and years have gone by, I am slowing down considerably, it is the hardest for me to accept and admit to anyone that I cannot do things I love to do. I am a very stubborn and independant woman, I love to do things for myself, but just can't get my body to think that way anymore.I am sure that more and more in the future I will need to ask for assistance with everyday things
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
13 Apr 07
The woman I quoted is now spending most of her days in an iron lung. I see her brain working though, and I see your mind working each day on myLot. I am sorry for your medical situation, though. I have had to help family members through various stages of ability and disability.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
13 Apr 07
I think we are all ignorant in some ways or another. As we grow older, we will gain more insight and knowledge in life. But unitl then, we will still be ignorant on a lot of things.
I have a friend who told me that she can't live without her husband. She can't go out of the house on her own. She can't do things on her own. I thought that was ridiculous considering she is not young anymore. She said that she felt disabled when her husband is not on her side. I can easily applaud her for the love and devotion she is giving to her husband. But I can't say that I envy her. For me, she need to explore more about herself. She has been too ignorant with the outside world. How so can she learn more without standing up on her own.
