A Different Path

Robert M. Hensel was born in 1969 in a small town in New York. Hensel was born with a condition called Spina Bifida.

In the year 2000 he decided that there should be a designated week that would not concentrate on people's disability but concentrate on their abilities. Oswego County passed a motion recognising that October 1st - 7th should be known as beyond limitations week.

In 2004 he realised that society was still concentrating more on his disability and less on his many abilities. He wanted to change that perspective. He therefore decided that the only way to get people to change their minds was to set a world record. He therefore decided to attempt to do the longest nonstop wheelie. He did not only complete the task by setting a new world record of 6.178 miles but he still holds the title to this day!

When being interviewed Hensel said "I have a disability, yes that's true, but all that really means is I may have to take a slightly different path than you”. This got me thinking, It’s interesting that even before we are born we have already been given labels. For me, Male, Son, Nephew, Brother. harmless right? Lets’ add disabled, physically impaired into the mix. Just stating the obvious?

These labels that we are given even before we are born, start the foundations of our personality, the characteristics that make us who we are. For a lot of disabled people, our one disability becomes more important than the many abilities that we have. It becomes a massive barrier that gets in the way of our dreams and goals for our future.

In a recent report, 67% of the public openly shared that they are embarrassed to talk to and socialise with disabled people. When hearing that statistic I was shocked, I knew it would be high but not higher than 50%. I’m fed up with people pointing fingers and putting the blame on other people. It is my responsibility as a disabled person to change this. It is our responsibility as a minority community to make a change. We need to show that we are proud to be called disabled. We need to show that life is challenging at times yet it is not impossible. That we are not ashamed of talking about our disability and that we are open for conversations.

So here's to educating so many ignorant minds. I suggest they are disabled, rejecting our place, as part of mankind. We have so much to impart, unbound amounts to give but lots of them have belief, we have no point to live. We embrace them as they are. So, why not embrace us, for being just how we are they need the blinkers off. Despite the intelligence man prides upon itself, disability issues remain low on the shelf.

Awareness is something a lot of them need. If only we could eradicate their ignorance and greed. A little chip on my shoulder, though you may have guessed, but in the style of many of us, it generally stays suppressed. It's quite ironic really that so many have no care, believing we should be in homes shut away from all out there. If they took just a moment, to really think it through they too may end disabled, how would they cope, what would they do.

In the world just like us with disability issues to bear, I'll bet they'd all start crying finding so much so unfair. So in desire of spreading knowledge of the discrimination we all have to face, I try to write words with wish, that ultimately, we're treated as we should be, and take our rightful place.

Too many people are completely ignorant of disability issues and do not accept us as normal human beings with so much to offer to society. They need to get the blinkers off, smell the coffee, stop stereotyping us and get a grip on how much we have to give.

It might take time, it will not happen overnight and it might not happen in our lifetime but it will for your kids and their kids. In the next 365 pages I hope that whoever reads this you realise we are all human. We all make mistakes but we all participate in life.