Is there a statement more patronizing? Turn on your local news on any given day and chances are you'll hear a story about someone with a disability who's inspiring in some fashion, all the while attempting to live their best life, as would anyone else. Usually these stories are thrown in towards the end of a broadcast as a "feel good story". Is that all anyone sees when it comes to people with disabilities? Forgive me, but I don't want to be your feel good story and I certainly don't want you to use me as a means to be thankful that your life doesn't have the same challenges. Nor does the parent of a disabled child want to hear how strong they must be for raising a child with a disability. I didn't know loving your child was dependent on their physical needs. How "weak'' must someone else be to love someone else in only "ideal" circumstances? How empty our lives would be if we only acted when circumstances were "right" or others were as we wanted them to be. It's sad to think that even in today's advanced society, people still view others with disabilities as "less than" or someone not worthy of love and fair treatment. It's not until we're faced with challenges that we understand what strength we are capable of.
KB