The Greatest Disability

Robert M. Hensel, Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair, once said, “There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disability is the umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. These disabilities include physical impairments, mental disorder, blindness and deafness.

In our society today, it’s very common that we always give priorities for disabled or differently abled persons. Different countries also have different policies and legislations to address disabilities and to help the differently abled; but how effective are these policies? Do we really aim to help them?

One way of helping the differently abled is through giving them education. This form of education is termed as Special Education (SPED). In a journal for Special Education, SPED was defined as a way to educate children and youth with disabilities. These students are the people with mental, visual and hearing impairment and intellectual disability. In our modernized society, SPED focuses in instituting unique techniques and philosophies that can meet the distinctive needs of children and youth with disabilities as well as distinguishing SPED from general education.

SPED aims to provide support services that educate and assist the differently abled persons to be independent and society ready. However, despite the successes of people with disabilities through this education, many people still think and limit people with disabilities within SPED learning. After SPED, it’s the end of the academic career and life of the differently abled.

Just because someone lacks a sense or a part doesn’t mean that they are not human enough to feel and get involved with the activities average persons can have. People with special needs might have a harder time adjusting to their environment and to some activities but these people are still human with feelings, values, intelligence and talents.

If someone is hardworking enough, driven and diligent to go to college and achieve his or her dream, he or she can do it regardless of any reason including disability. The differently abled are not products that need labels and reviews for their incapacity, they are people who need acceptance and love just like any other people do.

Disabilities can only be a limitation if you let it set a limit. And the greatest disability of all is setting the limit. Why do we have to judge someone because of the things that he or she can’t do? We are all people who lack something, maybe not as distinct as other people have but still, no one of us is perfect.

Choose the meaning of the italicized word in the following sentences.

1. There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.
Impairment / Ability
2. These disabilities include physical impairments, mental disorder, blindness and deafness.Unable to hear / Unable to speak
3. In a journal for Special Education, SPED was defined as a way to educate children and youth with disabilities.Discipline / Teach
4. SPED aims to provide support services that educate and assist the differently abled persons to be independent and society ready. Likes / Teach
5. Disabilities can only be a limitation if you let it set a limit.
Something that controls / Something that provides