The Voiceless Minority

s .  If you have a disability, life is generally a struggle. It can be a struggle that can make you healthier or a battle that overwhelms you. In America, since the 1990s, the disabled community has had some form of rights to protect various aspects of life. Those rights have been talked about by me and others extensively. What has not been discussed much is the financial burdens that people with disabilities and their families have to undertake.             To care for a child with a disability is a monumental task. It will consume the lives of people around him/or her. It will strain all parties emotionally and physically, but perhaps most of all, financially. The financial burden can range anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to millions. The financial struggle covers every aspect of life- from transportation to aid care to medical care. When the child grows up, the battle does not end.             In America, we have a system known as social security. In terms of financial h

Disabled and can’t work? Call xxx-xxx-and-we-will-get-the money-you-deserve-at-no-fee-unless-we-win-your-case. I saw this ad for a law firm that will remain nameless late last night as I was browsing my Cable, and it raised an interesting question in my mind. Are these ads another way to perpetuate stereotypes of disability? I was not convinced one way or another until this morning I saw one of those ads that claimed the following: “Does your child has a birth injury?” And then listed several, including my disability. The ad went on to say that the disabilities entitled the persons concerned to large sums of money. Then they guaranteed that they would help advocate for that money. After seeing both of these ads, it raised a profoundly disturbing question. Why do we perceive disability as so weak? This goes back to my terminology debates. In my opinion, but quite simply, I believe we perceive disability as a weakness rather than an obstacle. This is by the way we address it.