subject: Dealing With Disabilities And Handicaps [print this page] Our daughter's job was to take him places and help him see the world and do fun thing so he didn't have to just sit in his house watching television all day. His name is Eugene and he is from a small town. I can't remember the name of the disease he has; throughout his life, whenever he was bumped or bruised that bruising would solidify the muscle and turn to bone. He is now in his mid- thirties and almost his entire body including most of his mouth muscles have become solid. He has a tiny amount of awkward movement in one hand and arm the other is frozen.
We like to go places as a family, outdoor event, park, festivals and on occasion Eugene would join us. I was amazed at the lack of wheelchair ramps, handicap ramps and access and the total disregard other people had for him. I remember particularly going to a Christmas festival filled with Christmas trees. It was obvious he was in a prone position and couldn't sit up, and his head only turns one direction. As he would try to view the trees from this awkward position inevitably someone would walk right in front of him and block his view. This didn't just happen once or twice but the whole festival. I became so frustrated for him, but after a life of this he just took it in stride.
Disabled ramps and wheelchair ramps are what allow handicapped people access to malls, business, retails, doctor offices, movies etc. I became aware of how with larger establishments these facilities are often in place but smaller business they are not. Eugene's attitude and cheery disposition were a lesson to me. He didn't get down if people were rude, stared or stood in front of him, he just took it in stride. We really do choose if we want to be ornery, annoyed or depressed or we can choose happiness and upbeat, and to be selfless regardless of what our circumstances. It is not what life passes out that determines our attitude it is what we make of it.
