If the deeper connotation of ‘disability’ is understood, as an inability to perform an activity due to one’s limitations then every human being is disabled in relation to a specific activity which is beyond his/her coping capacity.
From the optimist point of view a disabled can be abled and vice-versa by identifying and tapping one’s unique limited resource which each one is blessed with for one’s survival or refusing to do so. If Helen Keller with basic senses impaired could invent ‘Braille system’ to empower others with the same limitation. Stephen Hawkings a paraplegic could discover Black hole. Oscar Pistorius a South African could steal limelight by winning an abled bodied world track medal by sprinting with the prosthetics. Will not these limited go down the history lane as great abled achievers to be beacons of hope for generations to come? But an able bodied intelligent dude addicted to drugs or alcoholism (due to social ostracism) living a parasitic existence can he be tagged as abled?
No man is born perfect. Besides he is incapable of playing a similar role to the same measure, as he is born with unique limited qualities. If Helen Keller had in her wildest of her dreams aspire to be Miss Universe she would definitely be sailing in fools paradise for hitching her wagon above her star. How relevant and pragmatic Shakespere was for defining life as a stage where everyone played the different parts.
Disability is not Gods mistake but ignorant man’s take. Gods plan of creation can never fail. He crafted us differently to avoid clash of interests and live in harmony and peace by complementing and supplementing for each others needs. But many with a herd mentality fail to understand this and cut a sorry figure by stepping in other shoes.
It is lamentable that besides our inborn limitations we are subjected to man made limitations of caste, creed, color, race, etc against which great activists like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and others spear headed staunch movements to free the hapless from those shackles. Was it not Mahatma Gandhi who strived for freedom of the outcasts or untouchables calling them Harijans? But are not the Dalits abled bodied and intelligent to fly sky high but still in bondage due to our leaders who are bigots and megalomaniacs. These are the leaders who are responsible for hampering the progress of the society.
Every child is born an asset (though limited) but the family and social atmosphere around is not conducive or supportive for the child to develop according to their limited potential thus reducing them to liabilities. When the growing child’s ego or self-esteem is deflated by using unsavory language as being too short, too fat, moron etc children develop inferiority complex which is a stumbling block for the normal development required, to advance to their ultimate goal. “The violence of the tongue cuts and wounds people hearts ”-Pranab Mukherjee.
According to the psychologist Carl Rogers there is an inborn tendency in everyone that directs them to actualize their inherited potential. And the social influences play a pivotal role in shaping their personalities. If social conditions are positive, self- concept will be positive impelling the subject for extraordinary achievement else the progress will be snapped.
