| PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE | | | | acceptability aanormal as possible. People are |
| A lot has been written about disability, and probably a | | | | encouraged to use different terminology eg. A person |
| lot more will be written. Some has been written by | | | | who uses a wheelchair, carries a walking stick, walks |
| thedisabled people or by their relatives. But there has | | | | with a frame may be called ‘physically |
| been not that much information apart from | | | | challenged,’ while those with emotional or mental |
| medico’s, or people within a certain social group | | | | afflictions are ‘intellectually challenged.’ |
| and scientists looking for causes/cures and how | | | | |
| they can be prevented. | | | | Those hearing or using such terminology, may develop |
| | | | | a more accepting attitude and come to find thatmany |
| Until quite recently disabled people were socially | | | | disabled people have capabilities, needs, wants and |
| isolated. Whether their condition was physical,emotional | | | | feelings like anyone else. |
| or mental, all met the same attitudes. Whether one | | | | Nowdays there is more access to information mainly |
| carried a stick, or were in a wheelchair all were looked | | | | through TV, the Intertnet, books and papers enabling |
| upon as being perhaps somewhat limited mentally and | | | | disabled people to show their talents and abilities. The |
| were hardly likely to be invited to a social gathering. | | | | fact that they are now included by the media, puts |
| | | | | them into the real world with their able bodied |
| However, thanks to the scientists, medico’s and | | | | counterparts. This surely engenders more knowledge |
| dedicated educationists, social attitudes have changed | | | | that having a disabilty is by no means a separation |
| somewhat, since hidden abilities of the disabled have | | | | from everyday life. |
| been brought to the fore making their lives more | | | | |
| comfortable. | | | | The most important agenda is now dependant on |
| | | | | scientific research to find preventative causes/cures |
| However, as regards attitudes the present situation | | | | for suchphysical conditions as Cerebral palsy, |
| does not yet reach the hundred per cent mark. | | | | Downe’s Syndrome, blindness, etc. besides the |
| There always have and probably always will be some | | | | emotional/mentaldisorders such as Bipolar, acute |
| who cannot come to terms with the imperfect and | | | | depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. |
| disfunctional human body and will shy away or ignore | | | | |
| them altogether. The reason for this lies with those | | | | Time will tell which and how many disabilities can be |
| people themselves. | | | | prevented or even cured. For the sake of |
| | | | | families,however loving and patient they may be with |
| Thus society and the disabled themselves must pull | | | | their afflicted offspring it is hoped that much suffering |
| together to integrate and make the climate of | | | | and stress canbe eleviated once and for all. |