Don’t “Dis” Abilities
Prosthetic limb, hearing aid, wheelchair;
signs of weakness.

Slow mobility;
Braiding hair with an arm that is not flesh,
Almost impossible.
Walking five feet behind friends,
Trying to keep up.

Limited communication;
Invisible in group conversation.
Language not clearly understood by others,
Sometimes ignored.

Restricted physical activities;
Sitting on the side while friends play soccer,
Wishing to be on the field.

Unable to use the stairs,
looking as if they are an icy mountain to be climbed.

Don’t misjudge;
There is a way.

Determination and perseverance;
Paralympics,
Firm, conditioned muscles helping metal feet win the gold,
Any sport is a possibility.

Strong intelligence and mental backbone;
Sign language and lipreading.
The motion of hands speaking a language of its own,
Interested eyes gaze upon moist lips to keep up with the storyline.

Muscular mind with persistence;
Accommodations.
Elevators tall as the sky traveling to the top,
Crowded parking lots always saving the best spot,
Wide doorways give the power to move ahead in life.
The world is accessible.

We are not disabled, but able.