One thing that a person with a disability has to deal with is the staring from people when you are in public places. No matter where I go I get someone that is staring at me from young children to older individuals. When I was younger I would get so irritated and sometimes cry. I think it is because I was raised and I viewed myself as someone who is normal. I always wondered why?? Don't parents raise their kids not to stare at other people. It just did not make sense to me. Also, I would always think are people crazy. Do they honestly not think that I don't see them staring. It is so obvious!
However, as I have gotten older and learned many things this is my philosophy on why people stare. It has been brought to my attention in the last few years how little you see people who have disabilities. I mean think about it when you go to the grocery store or to a restaurant how often do you see an individual with a disability? People stare because they are curious. They stare because it is out of their so called normal. The little ones stare because they are told not to.
A few months ago I was in Target. There was a little boy with his mother. This little boy kept staring at me. I would just look at him and smile but he just would not stop. Finally the mother told him to stop staring. As I went home I thought about how the mother said stop staring. Now what did that teach the child. I hope the mother went on to say you don't stare at people because everybody is made different. Staring does not accomplish anything. I hope she went on to say the ways that people are different and how that little boy would feel if people stared at him all the time.
I don't think that people realize that individuals with disabilities would rather have you come up to them and ask them a question rather than stare. Staring makes you feel like you are an animal at the zoo and people are just staring at you and you can't do anything. But like i said before now a days i have to remind myself that people stare because they are curious. God has taught me to just smile at others. I cannot do anything to make them stop staring so I might as well be positive and spread a little joy. hopefully i am seen as someone who is comfortable in their own skin
Next time you see an individual with a disability i hope you are reminded of this. God made us all for a reason. he allowed me to be able to go to public places like everyone else and my hope is when people stare they are reminded at how different and unique people are. No person is the same and we must learn from each other. That person you are staring at is just like you but may do things a little bit different.
However, as I have gotten older and learned many things this is my philosophy on why people stare. It has been brought to my attention in the last few years how little you see people who have disabilities. I mean think about it when you go to the grocery store or to a restaurant how often do you see an individual with a disability? People stare because they are curious. They stare because it is out of their so called normal. The little ones stare because they are told not to.
A few months ago I was in Target. There was a little boy with his mother. This little boy kept staring at me. I would just look at him and smile but he just would not stop. Finally the mother told him to stop staring. As I went home I thought about how the mother said stop staring. Now what did that teach the child. I hope the mother went on to say you don't stare at people because everybody is made different. Staring does not accomplish anything. I hope she went on to say the ways that people are different and how that little boy would feel if people stared at him all the time.
I don't think that people realize that individuals with disabilities would rather have you come up to them and ask them a question rather than stare. Staring makes you feel like you are an animal at the zoo and people are just staring at you and you can't do anything. But like i said before now a days i have to remind myself that people stare because they are curious. God has taught me to just smile at others. I cannot do anything to make them stop staring so I might as well be positive and spread a little joy. hopefully i am seen as someone who is comfortable in their own skin
Next time you see an individual with a disability i hope you are reminded of this. God made us all for a reason. he allowed me to be able to go to public places like everyone else and my hope is when people stare they are reminded at how different and unique people are. No person is the same and we must learn from each other. That person you are staring at is just like you but may do things a little bit different.
I had the pleasure of taking Nicole to Umfolozi Game Reserve and what a pleasure she is to be around - always, and I mean always smiling and there was nothing that she couldn't/wouldn't do that the other students did. After being with her for a short while you see how 'normal' she is :) Well done for this post Nicole it is FANTASTIC.
ReplyDeleteNigel Anderson African Insight
Thank you so much Nigel! :)
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