WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY DISABILITIES

Carrie Tynan

Over the years I have accepted my visual, hearing, and physical impairment to be a part of me. They have been with me since birth and go wherever I go invited or not. Unfortunately, in the past they have been an embarrassment to me and often considered a burden in my life. I even got to the point of lying and keeping others at a distance to cover up my disabilities it seemed easier. But with the help of my family and counselors I have learned many important life lessons. One is being able to see my disabilities as a daily challenge, one that can be compensated for.

Everyone has a problem of some sort some are more visible then others. For instance dealing with people's attitudes that because of my disabilities I may be dumb, helpless and incompetent is upsetting. By working hard to prove I am capable of leading a productive life despite my disabilities has helped me grow into the strong women I am today. I have also discovered that with positive thoughts you can accomplish any given goal. As long as you can visualize the end result anything can be completed in time. I always dreamed of getting my college degree. Even though it took me five years of hard work, setbacks and positive visualization I finally fulfilled my dreams. My mom, my role model taught me that I am the only one that can make myself happy. So instead of dwelling on the unhappiness in your walk of life take a different road.

After college I became a paraprofessional for the public school system in special education. While working with my students I learned that the severity of disabilities is greatly varied as well as the degree of challenges. When I moved on to a job in customer service I soon realized how much I missed helping people with disabilities. I then decided to write about my personal experiences to assist others in similar situations. Over the years I have become more in tune to other people's feelings and their circumstances because of my own life struggles. I was taught since my childhood that each person has their own story and they should be respected and accepted for the person they are. Most importantly I strongly believed that my disabilities are characteristics like having brown curly hair than a definition of myself. In conclusion I faced each day with positive thoughts, a sense of humor, and the knowledge that I am a survivor.