more condemning than another?
Honestly, it's all about educa-
tion, exposure and, of course, the
ability to accept and embrace all
forms of God's creation.
team leaders whom I had never
met turned to me and said, "So,
what's wrong with you?"
nothing wrong with me, but
what's wrong with you, other
than your limited capacity to pre-
serve the dignity of those you en-
counter?" I held my tongue, but
the temptation to put him in his
ment sounds like a confession, as
if it is somehow necessary for the
disabled to justify their condi-
tions or limitations. While the
world is coming around to the re-
alization that all are not created
physically and mentally equal,
there is still a lingering sense
that disabled persons are of
lesser import or value to the
world than their able�bodied
counterparts. Of course, this per-
ception, for the most part, is not
intentional, but many of us con-
tinue to endure the impact of
stigma. I suppose it's a matter of
education, of learning to wel-
come and accept those around us
who might be different or
unique. Am I different? Yes, in
many ways I am. Am I unique?
I'd like to think so. Am I so dif-
ferent from you? Not as much as
society might have you believe.
when the nurses whisked me
away within seconds of my birth
to the neo�natal intensive care
unit. Later, the on call pediatri-
cian would share with them the
was born with Spina Bifida, a
malformation of the lower spinal
column that resulted in my
spinal cord being exposed and
unprotected during my mother's
pregnancy. There would be im-
mediate surgeries to close the
opening in my lower back as well
as the insertion of a shunt to
drain excess spinal fluid from
my brain. The longterm effects of
my condition are numerous, not
the least of which is partial
paralysis from my waist down.
Walking while supporting the
weight of an adult is simply not
practical and, therefore, I spend
a good portion of my life in a
wheelchair.
is to you. It's all I've ever known.
There is a general misconception
that disabled persons secretly
wish to be like everyone else �
the able bodied of the world. I
ask the question, "Is one better
than the other?"
limited in one way or another.
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