Here is my infographic
My brother was born with several heart complications that resulted in 4 open heart surgeries so far. His first was at 3 months old, and now at 29 he is anticipating having his 5th within the year. Travis, my brother is an incredible person with an un-functioning heart of gold. Due to his repeated surgeries and lack of oxygen, Travis is considered handicapped. However, you would never know. He lives a life like any other adult, has a full-time job, is newly married and successful. Due to Travis’s handicaps, as children all of us were apart of club called SABAH that taught physically disabled and those intellectual disabilities how to ice skate. We were assigned a specific individual and we would work with them weekly for months until our big fundraiser show. It was through this experience that I began seeing potential in those who’s challenges were so much different than my own. Even as a child, Travis was bit slower with most things, but never seemed handicapped to the extent we have been exposed to through media. The individuals I worked with over the course of 6 years were much more severely handicapped than I had ever been exposed to, and yet there they were, on the ice and so happy. I was incredibly inspired by them. They didn’t let anything stop them, and I wanted to see their progress.
This draw to work with people with some sort of disability stuck with me, and in high school I started to go to our resource room during study halls. The resource room was for any student with some type of disability, no matter how minor. This was in the 90’s and early 2000’s and classes were not integrated yet. I found so much joy spending time with these students. They were so thankful and appreciative for conversation, and I was ecstatic to feel like I was helping and giving back in some way. I went on to spend 12 years working with adults with disabilities. I have seen how much those with a disability are full of abilities. It may take them longer or need it in a different way than I would need it, but they have so much potential and ability.
I am so proud of the inclusion that has taken place in schools and society in general. To think how up to the 70’s most individuals with a disability were sent away to an institution, never to be seen in the public, to now seeing them apart of society fills me with joy, and hope that it is only going to get even better. I wouldn’t say that I had a part in the acceptance that has taken place, but I have been an advocate of ability outweigh a dis to anyone that would listen. I have brought individuals I worked with home to celebrate holidays with me and my family. I have gotten them involved in community activities and helped to build their confidence within the community they reside in.
This world is fully of all different kinds of people, colors, shapes, quality, and ability. What they give to the world should shine beyond anything that makes them different.
If you would like to see just a glimpse into some ability, check out this website for artists unlimited. Grab a tissue and be prepared to be amazed. https://youtu.be/kRu50tAek9I
Thanks for clarifying that! I agree with Alexis about your brother's story being inspiring. At my workplace one of our monthly webinar guests was a man named Jake Olsen who lost his sight at age 12. Look Jake Olson up if you want to be inspired. Jake became Football's first blind snapper.
Wright, B. (2016, Autumn). Jake Olson finds strength on the football field. USC News. https://news.usc.edu/trojan-family/jake-olson-finds-strength-on-the-football-field/
Hi Alexis,
SABAH stands for Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped. It teaches all individuals how to ice skate, and has special equipment so that no matter what the physical disability everyone can participate. They have a big show yearly that raises funds to keep the program going. It was based out of Buffalo Ny.
Hello! I really enjoyed reading your personal experience! I am a person who has a special passion for students with disabilities. Your brothers story is very inspiring as well as what he has gone through in his life. I do have a question, what does SABAH stand for and what doe it do? Is it a program that helps families with children who have disabilities?
What a great post, infographic, and video! Thank you for sharing your story. Our experiences as children growing up influence our lives in all kinds of ways. It sounds like your brother has been optimizing and actualizing his potential-- as should we all! I agree with you that the very classification of "dis" abled assumes an ableist perspective. "Ableism is a set of practices and beliefs that assign inferior value (worth) to people who have developmental, emotional, physical or psychiatric disabilities" (Stop Ablism, 2021, link here). According to the ADL (2017), "Nearly one in five (19%) people in the United States are living with a disability." Having a close family member on the Autism Spectrum, I cannot express in words my frustration at any framework that focuses exclusively on a person's challenges, pathologizes differences, or assumes that there is a "normal"that everyone should attain toward. In what ways are you different from the norm? Every person has potential to contribute to society, their community, family, and to lead a meaningful life in their own way. The goal of education should be to optimize and actualize the potential of every person so that we all can pursue our own interests embedded within a broader context that accepts and includes everyone, in all our uniqueness! I love how you wrote, "This world is fully of all different kinds of people, colors, shapes, quality, and ability. What they give to the world should shine beyond anything that makes them different." Yes! Yes! Yes! How can we all be more inclusive of different ways of living in not only our family life, but also communities, workplaces and learning environments?
References
Anti-Defamation League. (2017). Understanding and challenging ableism. https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/documents/understanding-and-challenging-ableism.pdf
Stop Ableism. (2021). Ableism History. http://www.stopableism.org/p/ableism-history.html
Hi There,
I really liked your infographic. It had a positive vibe and I respect your focus on ABILITY! Indeed, we all have gifts and not all our gifts are the same. A couple years ago I had the opportunity to bring a group of Master's students who were pursuing their teaching students with disabilities certification to the Museum of disABILITY History. I highly recommend checking out their website. Unfortunately, the museum is no longer open, but their website provides some interesting perspectives on differing abilities within a historical context. I hope you find this site useful!
Angela