You Have The Right To Be Proud

For the next two weeks in Sydney, Australia the Summer Olympics will be held. Athletes will be competing to win the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for the country they represent. They are rewarded for their skill, determination, and hard work.

While back in the United States the advertising about the coming of, and the actual Olympics is everywhere. The new fall TV premiere is being bumped because of the Olympics. Yet, for the Special Olympics all I have seen is an advertisment which is run by Pacific Bell, where for a $20 donation (to the Special Olympics) you'll receive a free Digital Cell Phone. That seems to be small potatoes next to the build up for the Olympics held in Australia.

I'm not implying that the battle to win for your country shouldn't be publicized all over the world, or that it's not an important event in our history. Of course, you should be proud of your abilities in whatever sports you may excel in. I'm only expressing the opinion that all people (including the disabled) should be afforded the same privilege and the same feeling of pride for their victory.

Why is it when you're disabled - whether you're hearing impaired, in a wheelchair, or whatever your disablity - you're made to feel as though you're a second class citizen?

Just this week in Los Angeles, CA a group of Home Care Workers protesting for a raise in their salary (which was already promised to them, but only an empty promise) and the people they take care of, were arrested by local police.

Since I'm employed as a Home Care Worker myself, I found it to be a slap in the face for dedicated workers who have earned their raises and benefits. They should have been receiving what was due them, for such a long time already.

Although there have been some changes in the way the world perceives the disabled, it just is not yet enough. We really have only just begun to start to understand what the disabled go through on a daily basis. Until you have walked a mile in our shoes you can never completely grasp the situation.

As a hearing impaired person I can say from personal experience that disabled people don't want to be treated special or different. During our lives we hope to be able to achieve our goals and try to live our life as normal as everyone else. A desire to be a winner can be in all of us whether we are hearing impaired or not.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic