My nine year old daughter is Autistic. She was diagnosed at the age of two and immediately began treatment. Most of those who have been involved in her therapy have been fantastic teachers and mentors to our family. Daily I thank God for these incredible people who help guide her, give her opportunity and also give me hope and strength.
Then there are those other folks.
I often see them out with their clients. Paying little or no attention to them what so ever. They will be texting, or flirting, or reading, or simply ignoring the person they have been charged with. I see them in the park, or at stores and I want to scream.
Today I was at the gym, and there was a woman in a wheelchair who was mentally disabled, another woman who was also mentally impaired, and their "caregiver". The one woman who could walk wandered from machine to machine and used one or two of them. Quietly, respectfully, she did her thing. Making little eye contact with anyone, and only occasionally talking to the inconvenienced "caregiver". The other woman, sat silently, and appeared as though she was randomly looking around the room at nothing, and muttering. The vacant "caregiver" acted as though she wasn't even there. I watched the woman in the chair and her "caregiver" throughout my workout. The woman who appeared to be looking at nothing was in fact watching a man. She watched him put the weights on his bar and take them off. What looked like muttering was her counting how many he put on each time. She looked away when he actually started lifting, but when he added weight, or took it off she watched, and counted. There were a few moments when she looked as if she was going to tell her "caregiver" what the man was doing, but then she would shake her head and look back at the floor. Somewhere in the midst of this the "caregiver" noticed that I was watching her. After that she appeared nervous each time she looked at me, even though I smiled at her. (Perhaps I only thought I was smiling)
The woman in the chair however, she made eye contact with me. Her eyes reflected my frustration in the "caregiver". She has something to say. But because she can't form the words, and people don't take the time, no one will hear her. I bow my head, and the woman looked away.
These people that we look past, or through are people too. They have something to offer. Something of value. But the offerings will be lost on many, because they are viewed as damaged, or incapable.
That is a shame.
After watching my daughter sword fight I have concluded that Liv was previously
Joan Of Arc, and that she had decided she wanted a new challenge. Because let me tell you what, having to teach me everyday is a challenge.
Then there are those other folks.
I often see them out with their clients. Paying little or no attention to them what so ever. They will be texting, or flirting, or reading, or simply ignoring the person they have been charged with. I see them in the park, or at stores and I want to scream.
Today I was at the gym, and there was a woman in a wheelchair who was mentally disabled, another woman who was also mentally impaired, and their "caregiver". The one woman who could walk wandered from machine to machine and used one or two of them. Quietly, respectfully, she did her thing. Making little eye contact with anyone, and only occasionally talking to the inconvenienced "caregiver". The other woman, sat silently, and appeared as though she was randomly looking around the room at nothing, and muttering. The vacant "caregiver" acted as though she wasn't even there. I watched the woman in the chair and her "caregiver" throughout my workout. The woman who appeared to be looking at nothing was in fact watching a man. She watched him put the weights on his bar and take them off. What looked like muttering was her counting how many he put on each time. She looked away when he actually started lifting, but when he added weight, or took it off she watched, and counted. There were a few moments when she looked as if she was going to tell her "caregiver" what the man was doing, but then she would shake her head and look back at the floor. Somewhere in the midst of this the "caregiver" noticed that I was watching her. After that she appeared nervous each time she looked at me, even though I smiled at her. (Perhaps I only thought I was smiling)
The woman in the chair however, she made eye contact with me. Her eyes reflected my frustration in the "caregiver". She has something to say. But because she can't form the words, and people don't take the time, no one will hear her. I bow my head, and the woman looked away.
These people that we look past, or through are people too. They have something to offer. Something of value. But the offerings will be lost on many, because they are viewed as damaged, or incapable.
That is a shame.
After watching my daughter sword fight I have concluded that Liv was previously
Joan Of Arc, and that she had decided she wanted a new challenge. Because let me tell you what, having to teach me everyday is a challenge.
