What's Wrong with This?

Why is it that whenever we mention that we have a family member who has a disability, people ask “what’s wrong with her?” “What’s wrong with her? What’s wrong with you?” you want to say. Why does everyone think that having a disability means that there’s something wrong?

People may have challenges or a diagnosis that result in result in a variety of abilities, but it doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with them. That sounds so horrible.

Isn’t it better to realize that we all have varying strengths and abilities; that’s what makes us individual?

I heard a story the other day about a group of colleagues engaged in a discussion about children who were born “less than perfect” and how a young girl immediately gave her child up for adoption when she learned that her daughter had a very noticeable, “deformity”, on her face. “What?” I asked with complete horror. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” I replied. “Is this what people do when things don’t go according to plan?” I thought. “Is this the result of a society that views diversity as something wrong”?

When we meet someone who has a disability, I hope that we hear less “what’s wrong with her?” type of questions and more people saying “tell me a bit more about her” or “I’m interested in knowing more about your situation.” We have to encourage people to embrace the uniqueness of each and every one of us and to realize how much fulfilled our lives can be when we embrace diversity. Otherwise, there is something wrong.