Mamma Bear

Mamma Bear moment.  It’s sad that you feel like you must protect your child from words from important people who could have the ability to drastically make life exponentially harder for my son who tragically was injured in a car accident 3 years ago and was paralyzed from the neck down.  Life isn’t easy for him or us that take care of his every need.  In the heels of a terrible plane crash, to tell the world it was due to a program through the FAA that helps include people with physical disabilities was highly misleading to a population that won’t know or investigate the truth of the program or the cause of the accident.  Words are powerful and some’s carry more weight than others.  Implying that hiring people with a physical disability will compromises safety will increase the harmful stigma of a population that is already vulnerable and has the highest unemployment rates in America. Ever since Julian was hurt, we have tried to convince him that he is still worthy of a productive future with hard work he can still make something of himself.  He successfully went back to high school to graduate and is now in the process of going to college, almost done with an associate degree in history all while making national honor society with his limitations he is faced with daily.  He must take the same tests, complete the same homework as his peers without lowering the standards of the class because he is paralyzed and needs help with assistive devices.  To ignore the strength, resilience, and capability of individuals with disabilities is not only disrespectful to so many but doing a disservice to so many trying to make it in this world despite the hardships that were thrust upon them.  Watching my son navigate his life post-accident is inspiring that he wakes up every day and hasn’t given up when so many would when faced with his challenges.  While many sits on the sidelines waiting for handouts or use their circumstances to give up, my son has pushed forward trying to chase a dream, although that dream has had to continue to morph over the years in something that will work with what he has left. If anything, his perseverance should inspire awe, not suspicion that he will be a liability in the workplace and undermine all his hard work and accomplishments.  He is a reminder that physical disabilities come with challenges, but they don’t define a person’s potential or worth.  People with disabilities are not the problem, they could be part of a solution.  Julian’s body may not be the same as it was when he was able bodied, but his mind is just as sharp.   His intelligence and determination have not been affected.  He faces challenges head on and has met the same expectations as his able-bodied peers.  His ability to excel in school is a testament to the fact that disability is not a measure of worth or potential.  For families like mine, companies that provide opportunities for those with physical disabilities are a lifeline.  Julian’s intelligence would allow him to compete with any other person.  I never dreamed that I would have to become an advocate to Julian now or others just like him, but when the world continually tries to knock them down, someone is responsible for building them back up.  I have encouraged Julian from the beginning that he needs to find a career to be able to support him for the long haul because our government does not provide much in terms of disability money.  It is up to him to be able to continue to make his life one of purpose and one that will support his needs because no one else is going to do it.  I have many friends that are “disabled” in perfect bodies collecting nice checks but that is not the case for those that did not become disabled in a job or ones that were injured long before they have paid into Social security.  Julian has received #341.30 in disability money in the last 3 years.  Not only can the government put this population down but also have a job where 3 years to determine disability is acceptable.  The world is an unfair place to those that look like Julian and from yesterday’s words it is not going to improve anytime soon.