Last night was my first night back trainning since the start of the summer holidays. You know how it goes, I committed myself to getting some exercise in at least twice a week the first day of the holidays and on the last day it dawned on me that I had not even started!
Needless to say I woke up this morning a little sorer than I did yesterday morning. So, slowly moving sore legs and achy arms I managed to get the three kids and hubby into the car for a 9.30 appt at the hospital, 20 mins drive away, not bad! 5 mins before we arrive we come to a road ahead closed sign (I live rurally, there had not been a turn off this little lane for a while) so I turned round and went ten mins back in the other direction to follow a road that then added another 10 mins onto the journey and we were late, Arghhhh!
So, inbetween juggling, hospital appts, weekly shopping, gate fitters arriving, taking my son to get some work experience with an electrician and cooking tea I have been pondering what it means to be 'disabled'.
I have to say it is stirring up some emotions that I can't quite express. Anger mixed with resentment, hope, frustration... I spent the whole day today with my family, no-one else so I took the opportunity to watch them and see what a day is really like for them. I saw the enormous potential of my daughter with her big ambitions and her competitive attitude being bombarded with I can'ts. All day, whether it was at the supermarket, hospital and even at home aspects of her environment that are not even a consideration for most became huge hurdles to overcome or find away round and often they remained and became I can'ts.
My husband who, at home, is able to be who he wants to be and just get on with life, suddenly on leaving becomes dependent on this peice of equipement or that or this adaption or that. In the main, because of the environment he is in and how it is designed, not for people (inclusive) but for 'non-disabled' and 'disabled' people.
It has, fuelled a desire in me to try and create at least one place where they are just people, not seperate from, or different from, or needing more or less that is external to our home. Creating a virtual learning environemnt for people with tools for people, that works for all people is a challenge that may be insurmountable but I think it is a challenge worth taking on.
What day is it?
Last night was my first night back trainning since the start of the summer holidays. You know how it goes, I committed myself to getting some exercise in at least twice a week the first day of the holidays and on the last day it dawned on me that I had not even started!
Needless to say I woke up this morning a little sorer than I did yesterday morning. So, slowly moving sore legs and achy arms I managed to get the three kids and hubby into the car for a 9.30 appt at the hospital, 20 mins drive away, not bad! 5 mins before we arrive we come to a road ahead closed sign (I live rurally, there had not been a turn off this little lane for a while) so I turned round and went ten mins back in the other direction to follow a road that then added another 10 mins onto the journey and we were late, Arghhhh!
So, inbetween juggling, hospital appts, weekly shopping, gate fitters arriving, taking my son to get some work experience with an electrician and cooking tea I have been pondering what it means to be 'disabled'.
I have to say it is stirring up some emotions that I can't quite express. Anger mixed with resentment, hope, frustration... I spent the whole day today with my family, no-one else so I took the opportunity to watch them and see what a day is really like for them. I saw the enormous potential of my daughter with her big ambitions and her competitive attitude being bombarded with I can'ts. All day, whether it was at the supermarket, hospital and even at home aspects of her environment that are not even a consideration for most became huge hurdles to overcome or find away round and often they remained and became I can'ts.
My husband who, at home, is able to be who he wants to be and just get on with life, suddenly on leaving becomes dependent on this peice of equipement or that or this adaption or that. In the main, because of the environment he is in and how it is designed, not for people (inclusive) but for 'non-disabled' and 'disabled' people.
It has, fuelled a desire in me to try and create at least one place where they are just people, not seperate from, or different from, or needing more or less that is external to our home. Creating a virtual learning environemnt for people with tools for people, that works for all people is a challenge that may be insurmountable but I think it is a challenge worth taking on.