October is Disability Awareness Month!

I think that everyone is aware of disability in a general sense, but what we should be doing this month is encouraging a better understanding of people with disabilites. Learning more about people with disabilites can challenge your own pre-concieved notions of what it means to be disabled.

For medical and insurance purposes, Tom is disabled. He has more diagnoses than he needs to earn that distinction. If you read his medical records you might think he was very disabled. I don't think that Tom would agree. Tom does not yet truly understand his limits and we hope it stays that way for a while.

When strangers meet Tom they often say they are sorry to hear he is blind. I understand their sentiment but saying sorry is unnecessary. How would you feel if the first thing people did upon meeting you was to apologize? That would be terrible, right?

I never want people to feel bad for Tom. There is no reason to feel bad because he sure doesn't! Sad would be the last word you would use to describe Tom if you met him.

Yes, blindness presents challenges but our road to understanding how blindness will effect Tom's life has been long and often very encouraging. There are way fewer limits than we originally thought and technology is improving every day. The truth is that Tom will have access to many exciting opportunities because of his blindness.

Blindness is a challenge to face head on; that is the way my husband and I choose to view our son's blindness. I think we all know people in this life who are not disabled but are hampered by obstacles of their own making.  

So what can you do about disability awareness?

Smile! The next time you see a someone in a wheelchair, or with a walker or trach, don't look away from them and don't stare. Smile!


Share! Share Tom's blog on your Facebook page or email the link to your friends. Help more people understand the lives of the disabled or differently abled : ) (http://thomasmarshalldoesitall.blogspot.com)

Why is it important to educate people about disabilites?

To stop this from happening...

Teen with Down syndrome stopped from boarding a plane.

Museum of New Hampshire refuses to allow eight-year-old blind girl to use her white cane.

Group of teens beat mentally disabled woman.

Organ transplant discrimination



To let people know this is possible...
 

Christine Ha wins MasterChef!

Blind student pursuing PhD in Chemistry at UC Davis

Visually impaired drum major 

Do I even have to mention - Stephen Hawking

Beethoven (He continued to compose, conduct and perform after becoming Deaf.)