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Learn to laugh. Life's funny!
You've got to learn to laugh at yourself. Crying will get you nowhere. Is your
future planned up to and including retirement? No nasty surprises to ruin your
plans? Heck no! You've worked hard securing your future! What could possibly
go wrong?
The split-level will be paid off in a year. The new convertible is to be delivered
soon. You have kept your nose to the grindstone paying and saving. Only a few
more years and you will retire to enjoy the benefits of your sweat and tears,
right? Wrong!
Hehehe. Sorry couldn't resist! I tried to tell you life wasn't predictable
You may have to sell that split-level home. Wheelchairs and stairs are not compatible.
You worked yourself into a massive stroke didn't you? Cancel that convertible
and change the order to a wheelchair van. Enjoy the ride! Because you've hit
that fork in the road, sit back and enjoy. The doctor said, "Permanently
Disabled." Spouses are known to take for the hills more often than not
when a disability occurs. After all, you're disabled. Reduced to a childlike
persona. More to be pitied than understood—not quite human. Confusion sets
in. After all, these were friends! They wouldn't do that to you, would they?
Hehehe, you bet your bippy they would. The wheelchair won't fit up the stairs
to friends' homes. Fair weather friends are too busy to visit. Your life style
is different now. Your values have changed. That counselor said you'd learn
to live with it. Be happy! You're alive! Baby boomer was this the life you had
in mind? "NO?"
I'm not a boomer. I'm the mother of boomers. I'm also disabled, so I'm telling
you these things from experience, because that is my life. I'm trying to get
you to wake up and understand that you, too, are vulnerable. Disabilities can
and do happen to anyone, even you. I seem to have a faint memory of an expression
describing the "ME" generation. One that was self-involved. Was that
yours? If it was, have a look at what you maybe heading for—"disabilities,"
because of age. You are living longer. The body is wearing out. Once 30 was
considered old! I for one never thought I'd get as old as I am. "What has
that got to do with equality?" you ask? Add it up. Age equals disabilities.
The body wears out and breaks down. Eyesight becomes corrupted causing many
forms of blindness. Is there diabetes In your family? Diabetes is the leading
cause of blindness.
Spend one day and take a person who is blind shopping. Put yourself in their
place. Discuss things you have in common. Ask how they can tell one packaged
product from another, prices contents etc. Remember you are asking from a potentially
blind person's point of view! This puts a whole different prospective on their
answers, doesn't it? Now think if you lost your vision. Would you have "equality"
with the rest of society? Your answer, I'm sure, would be "NO !"
What can you do now to assure yourself equality if this happens to you? Work
for disabled people's rights by spending time with one or two. Comparing their
right of access to yours. Educate friends and family about the inequality of
rights and lack of access! Get involved! Support disabled persons' rights whenever
the subject comes up. Talk to those in wheelchairs about access; to the blind
about documentation—another form of access.
Boomer remember it can happen to you! No one volunteers to be disabled they're
drafted! Before you're drafted, get involved in the "EQUALITY" solution.
Access for the disabled is attainable with computer technology. Programs that
make computers speak, scanners that read documents, VR phones and note takers
A B Ms help with communication and banking, talking pedestrian crossing signals.
These are just a few examples of the many computerized innovations designed
for the disabled that assist the sighted as well. Problems can be solved with
affordable software solutions. How many of these are available in your area?
Is your city or municipality equipped with accessible solutions for the disabled?
Find out! Do something about it before joining our ranks. It "could"
happen to you! It happened to me.
Most of all learn to laugh! Life is funny even though the jokes on you! Disabilities
are not the end. They are a new beginning of an enjoyable life. It's all up
to you to discover what you are truly capable of.
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