Acceptance.

I have another story to post after this, but I thought I would share a few photo's!
I love collecting these stories because I feel it is so important for me to be an advocate for people who have disabilities. There is a whole generation who is scared and confused by those with developmental disabilities because until recently most people who had a disability were institutionalization and weren't a part of our society. It was but a few years ago Rideau Regional closed down. We read about injustices in past History and are disgusted. Our stomachs turn when we think about the way our ancestors treated the aboriginals, or what the Nazi's and Hitler did to Jewish people; yet, we don't realize our generation is a part of a huge injustice that is still occurring. We may have finally got rid of institutions which mistreated the people living within so terribly, but we still have so far to go as far as changing the attitude's of those around.

I see this when I take out the little girl I support to the mall, or even last night as me and Geoff went to a concert. People just don't understand that there is SO much value to that person they look at with confusion or disgust. People with disabilities have desires and dreams; they want acceptance and love as much as anyone else, but we want them to fit into the mold we have created as a society...the "norm". We won't accept someone who yells out or rocks back and forth because that isn't "normal."  Does the problem lie in them or with us?

If I could have anything it would be to see the world accept; accept those that are different without them having to change or fit in the model we have designed in the first place. Because most people were created one way that doesn't make it the right way. I believe in a God who is flawless; who doesn't make ugly but perfect creations and among those beautiful perfect creations is the little girl with Tay Sachs or the man with Down Syndrome. I just want to see the day that everyone can see the beauty, wisdom, graciousness, and worth within those with developmental disabilities. 

 Geoff and I at the concert last night! He was loving every minute of it...We had a blast!

 Sorry Ben! He grabbed my hand...there was nothing I could do about it! :)

My Darling Boy and my Sweet Angel watching the Hockey game together! 

 She just loved him!

My friend Derek

This is Derek.

How much he would brighten my day in highschool was a huge factor in choosing the DSW program.

Most days we spent sitting and reading together or going through his math book.

After he watched the "Charlie bit me" video he would always say to me in an accent: "ouch Carli, you bit me!"

I found it funny everytime.

If he ever felt sick at school he would come to me just looking for some care. He was such a teddy bear.

I remember the day I officially decided this work was in my future. I had a terrible day and was standing outside my school holding back tears. Derek came up to me at that moment, just wanting to talk, just being his joyful, beautiful self...I was then fine. This is how I knew.

There is Bright to Be Seen: Story Three.

Today is a short story.

Just one moment last week.

One morning last week I walked into work, again trying to push past my tiredness and get the job done. I walked into the house and started getting the little girl I work with ready. After I put in her cochlear implant and hearing aid I went to say goodmorning to her…I bent over to her saying “hello” and sang her name to her over and over. I then watched her throw her head back with a big smile on her face that broke into laughter at the sound of my voice.  

             

   In a moment I was shaken back. 

    I love how her smile can do that.

There is Bright to Be Seen: Story Two.

  Last week one of my professors told me a story of when she was working with a little girl who had scoliosis so bad that her hip was permanently up at her ribs. The little girl could not say anything more than “yes and no”, so whenever the staff needed to know more than an answer to a yes or no question then she talked with a board. One night my Professor put the little girl to bed, but she kept hearing her stirring. She went in to see if she had forgotten something, and went through a list of things with her to see what she wanted…

“Do you need water?”
“No”

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?”
“No”
“But you want something?”

“Yes…”

“Another pillow?”
“No.”

And it continued on…finally she landed on what the little girl wanted; “her prayers.”

 So my professor went and got the little girls board and asked her what she wanted to pray for. 

"I want to thank God”  

“What do you want to thank God for?” my professor asked.


The little girl the then began to give her a list of everything imaginable from the home she lived in to rocks...

”Thank God for my mom, my dad, the sky, the home, the birds, the sun, the butterflies, the flowers…”

My prof said she learnt that day not to assume the quality of someone’s life.

The little girl was happy. She was thankful. She may have been in enormous physical pain; yet, she focused on all the little blessings in her life and couldn’t sleep until she thanked God for every single one of those little blessings. Again….Perspective. 

Thank you God for flowers in their intricate detailed beauty

Thank you God for placing a single tree in the middle of a field
& Thank you God for constantly reminding me these things are important to thank You for.