the ability in a disability

Well a few weeks ago my parents went through the craziness of making 2 of the three bathrooms handicap accessible for my dad. In doing this, they not only gave my dad the ability to take a shower on his own, but my mom the ability to not have to help him take a shower!

Now, let me clarify - this is not about my mom OR my dad, directly. This is about the freedom to move. My mother has no trouble or complaints helping my dad. She would do and still does everything in her power to help him without a single complain! And my dad is a trooper - doing everything that he can still do within his abilities - even if it takes him an hour to do a simple 10 minute task! They both are troopers in this situation! They are inspiration to me at how to honor your spouse and be there through 'sickness and health'.

But this is about a freedom that is so difficult to obtain for so many. To completely convert a bathroom into a handicap accessible bathroom isn't easy or cheap. This takes time, energy, and funds that so many people with disabilities might not have. The freedom to move is everything! Independence in your life helps keep you young, keep you functioning, keep you YOU! The one thing I have learned from this all is that a disability isn't always what keeps you in a wheelchair or housebound. But the way others treat you with your disability and the way you see yourself with a disability is what determines who you are through it all.

I have learned that I am not to treat my dad, or ANYONE with a disability as a disabled individual, but as an individual. I have also found that people with disabilities are the strongest people you will have met! They have overcome more obstacles than I can fathom and they can do much more than I can imagine! The next time you see someone with Dystonia, or any disability, do not treat them as disabled, but honor them in your actions towards them! There is a part of them that is strong and able in ways that you obviously cannot see!!!