LOOKING AT THE ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED

Mukeshbhai is a physiotherapist earning five figure per month, owns a car and is a consultant for various hospitals. Kanchan Patel is a mother of two kids, takes care of her home and retail shop selling handmade articles all alone efficiently. Zakir is a computer programmer working with a reputed company. Sounds normal. They all are disabled. Mukeshbhai and Kanchan totally blind and Zakir handicapped.

They all lead a normal life. They do their own work, take care of their family needs, enjoy with their friends but what hurts them is the discouraging and inferior attitude from the better provided people.

Recollects Mukeshbhai, "When I lost sight, people around discouraged me by saying that I wont be able to do anything and my life is spoilt, but I studied physiotherapy and today earn double than what I used to earn as sighted. It hurts when people doubt my abilities but I have proved most of them wrong."
Says Maulesh Bhavsar, a computer designer without hands, " I don't consider myself less than anybody. When I went for mountaineering people said I wont be able to cross the river. But I showed them that I could cross the river by doing so. I feel bad when people consider me inferior to them and show pity towards me."

Disability is often associated with inability. People consider a disabled a burden, worthless person and treat him as a second grade citizen. All this develops a complex and frustrates them.

But a disabled is better than an abled in many ways. Says Dr. Bhushan Punani, executive director, Blind People's Association, " A disabled is struggling for survival and those who are struggling accept life in a better way. Their performance is better, they are more sincere because for them mobility is limited and the sense of competing with a better provided person makes them more polished, tough, understanding and prepared."

The abled people do not understand this fact. They think a disabled has to remain dependent on them and show compassion. " Even today a disabled cannot stand and say that I deserve this for it's my right for he is not considered a person in his own right. We cannot say with confidence that they need opportunity not sympathy", adds Dr. Punani.

So, what kind of attitude an able bodied person have for the disabled? Suggests Dr. Paresh Shah, a consultant physiatrist, " If a supportive kind of attitude either in the form of a job, friendly behavior or some therapy without showing any pity or over protective behavior will definitely affect the personality of the disabled person. It will give them a boost. They will feel wanted and cared by the society and shine out with confidence in whatever area they are interested."

Just look at the abilities of the disabled and think that they have acquired them with lot of hard work and patience and are complete humans with all potentials.