Today, January 20th, marks the fifth anniversary of the International Day of Acceptance. This day was created in honor and in memory of Annie Hopkins, and has now spread beyond the greater Chicago area. Annie created the wheelchair heart symbol that represents so much more than what first meets the eye. This symbol does not only encourage others to love the disabled or the disabled to love themselves, but this is a symbol of hope and empowerment. Society needs to be taught that those of us with disabilities are people first; we want to be loved and thought of as just as beautiful as the next person. When someone is loved and respected as a person, they will be empowered just like any other person. Annie's symbol has grown into more than just a design inked onto her shoulder; her wheelchair heart inspiration has grown into an entire corporation: 3E Love.
To celebrate this years Day of Acceptance, 3E Love is facilitating an essay contest. Since the wheelchair heart symbol has a significant meaning that the world needs to know about, and I have such a passion to educate the world about life with a disability, I thought I should enter this contest. Here is what I wrote. In today's society, image is everything. We turn on the television and there is an add for the best weight loss remedy; we flip open a magazine and find the next top model staring right back at us; we enter our school or work place, and we are encouraged by others to purchase the recent hottest items. As much as it would be nice for this not to be the case, the world is focused on image.
A positive social image for those with disabilities is no different than one for an able-bodied person. However, when a negative or ignorant perception has been placed upon a group of people, a positive social image is hard to come by. The wheelchair heart symbol is so important as it represents hope, love and empowerment for and within the disabled community. When we who have a disability have a positive image of ourselves, and can love/embrace who we are, then this perception just may rub off onto the rest of the world.
As a person in a wheelchair, the world only sees me as disabled; many cannot see past my disability and therefore, do not treat me as a person first. I wrote this poem to educate the population that even though I may do things differently, I can still lead a successful life.
I may have a disability,
but I am only disabled when others look past my abilities.
I may not be able to walk,
but I am only disabled when I am without my wheels.
I may not be able to climb a flight of stairs,
but I am only disabled when there is not an equivalent elevator.
I may not be able to step down when the sidewalk ends,
but I am only disabled when a curb cut out has not been poured.
I may not be able to handle a door,
but I am only disabled when an access button has not been installed.
I may not be able to write quickly or neatly,
but I am only disabled when I am not granted extra time on tests.
I may not be able to use every stall in a public restroom,
but I am only disabled when there is not an available accessible stall.
I may have a disability,
but I am only disabled when others look past my abilities.
Those of us with disabilities are people too, and the world needs to be educated that we are all unique and different, disabled or not. The wheelchair heart is a symbol that represents anyone with a disability who has the ability to embrace who they truly are. 3E love teaches us to embrace and love who we are; we do not need to change ourselves, the world's perception of "disability" is what needs to be changed. The change lies within the hearts of this world; the change lies in a 3E Love Revolution.
Today, the International Day of Acceptance coincides with a day that we in the United States celebrate. Today, we honor the life and impact made by a man who stood up and spoke out for what he knew was right; this man is Martin Luther King Jr. King based his teachings on the Judaeo-Christian notion that all men are created equal by God. One man should not be deemed more superior or inferior solely based on their physical appearance. King expressed, over and over, how important it is to love one another.
The ultimate expression of love and acceptance is to not judge another based on their physical appearance or ability, but instead on the content of their character.
Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed, ”I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism. Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love.”
The ultimate expression of love and acceptance is to not judge another based on their physical appearance or ability, but instead on the content of their character.
