I’m considered a disabled person by government agencies, in order to receive my disability check. I had a stroke which affected the right hemisphere of my brain, causing left side weakness in my left extremities. I can now walk with assistance from a cane. My speech, after months of speech therapy is no longer slurred and I can be easily understood, once again. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, I had even lost the ability to do simple math for a short period of time. Months of cognitive therapy restored my ability to add, subtract, multiply.and do measurements. Let’s face facts, I was never a math whiz.

I consider myself challenged and not dissed. It is true it takes me much longer to complete tasks or get ready. The lesson everyone should learn from any disabled person is to be considerate, have patience and always consider, “There before the grace of God go I”. The word dissed means to show disrespect. I hope people learn not to disrespect disabled or challenged persons. Don’t mimic their speech or call them names like “gimp”. You would think a “normal” person would know better than that. It just goes to show you, the definition of normal is not the same for everyone.

Our challenge is to relearn and face challenges that most people take for granted. How many people do you know that can completely dress themselves with one hand? The procedure is akin to dressing in the dark and backwards. So far, I have not ventured outside my home with anything on disheveled or backwards. Most times, I’m even complimented on my attire .

There are far too many lessons to be learned from the disabled. I have learned, there is always more than one way to accomplish a task. I’ve learned the disabled premeditate their moves and meticulously plan their agenda’s. I’ve learned the disabled, know when to ask for help. If you watch them very closely, you may learn a few tricks that may make your life a little easier. Now, do you have a moment to learn about the person? The disability is a function. It is not a characteristic. Do you have the time to discover the person is humorous, intelligent and no bother at all to be around? Please take time and don’t miss out on this incredible person, that just so happens to have a disability.

Disabled people would like you to be at ease and not worry so much. I admit , it does take time for people to readjust and accept or work around a disabled persons limitations. So just look over your shoulder, surely I’ll be close behind you.