People living with disabilities are not the ones who are disabled

What’s happening to the human race?

When did we all become so jaded – lacking the ability to be compassionate, empathetic and unselfish in a world filled more with divides than unison?

When I was first told of the following news stories, I convinced myself there must be some mistake. While I’m not naïve to the biases our great nation harbors towards each other, I couldn’t imagine this one being factual – but it is. The two stories below left me incredibly angry and even sad at the complete lack of consideration we have for those living in our local communities and ultimately in the world. Judge for yourself:

“The Giesegh family of Colorado says their neighbors are asking them to take down the handicap ramp outside their door, belonging to Kirsten, their 16 year-old daughter, who has cerebral palsy KKTV reports. The Giesegh’s neighbors are threatening to resort to legal action, claiming that the ramp jeopardizes the value of their home.”

“Elsewhere across the country, a group of Borough, Penn., residents are also fighting against Habitat for Humanity to prevent the construction of two handicap-accessible homes, Fox 43 reports. Neighbors also told the news outlet that they feel the handicap-accessible home will reduce the value of the surrounding properties.”

Read the complete story here.

 

So let me see if I have this straight – people actually think the value of their homes would decrease simply because a house is made handicap accessible? (shaking my head in disbelief)

I’m sorry, is there something “bad” about anyone struggling with a physical handicap that renders them displeasing to live next door to? Am I to believe that anyone driving by a handicap ramp in the front of someone’s house is NOT filled with sympathy for the victim dwelling inside?

More concerning, is there’s probably a lawyer out there who would consider taking on a case like this – though I can’t imagine they possess any credibility of character. Let’s just hope there’s a judge who’s smart enough to throw it out immediately – not before chastising them severely for bringing such a case before the court.

Each and every day I lose more and more faith in the human race. I struggle to find individuals with a pure heart filled with love and acceptance, rather than biases and resentment. We care less and less about the people around us and more and more about the material possessions we deem so very important in the measurement of a successful life.

I end with a powerful quote by my favorite “neighbor” – Fred Rogers.

“Part of the problem with the word ‘disabilities’ is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can’t feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren’t able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities.”