The purpose of this book is to dispel the many myths and stereotypes that many have about people who have disabilities; be it a visual or hearing impairment or a physical or cognitive disability. I pray that by sharing my experiences as someone with a visual impairment and sharing strategies to combat any attitude or intimidation you may have towards people with disabilities, you will soon see things in a different light.
I was born on June 16th, 1977 and was blind from birth. I guess I was tired of being in my mother's belly and decided to come a little early. In all seriousness, the fact that I'm alive is a miracle as I weighed only 24 ounces at birth and was blind resulting from too much oxygen. This is my first try at writing a book and I pray my story will encourage and inspire others. I'm an interpreter by trade and heavily involved in my local church as a member of the choir and secretary of Shepherd’s Care Ministry. I also enjoy volunteering and have volunteered with organizations including The American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Chapter 1: God’s Plan Despite Disability
Many ask if I’d rather be blind or wish to see. It’s hard to say as I’ve never seen and feel blessed through this. There are many things in the world better left unseen, and I feel I have certain perspective that people who can see don’t have. I don’t get visually distracted by things around me and I don’t consume myself with whether someone is fat, skinny, big or whatever. Being born blind and losing sight later in life each have good and bad aspects. When you’ve never seen, you don’t miss seeing. Yet you have no concept of what things look like. When you lose sight later in life it’s hard learning things in different ways, but you’ve seen so you have a reference point. Sit back and relax as we unravel the mystery and learn the secret to interacting with people who have disabilities.
Have you ever met someone who used a wheelchair or a cane? If so your first thought may have been, “Why does God allow people to be blind or need a wheelchair?” We’ll never know the answer, but God does. I’ve been asked this question many times and some have said that I’m blind due to sin committed by my parents and that my blindness is a punishment. While we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God, this idea is false and erroneous. This belief brings unnecessary and undeserved guilt on parents. There’s a song that says “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow black and white they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” This holds true for children with disabilities. They need to be loved and held as any other child and not considered less due to their impairment.
There are many tests available today which can let future parents know whether their unborn child will have a disability such as Down Syndrome. This information should help prepare you, not scare you! I believe for any believer who may be going through this, your first line of defense should be to ask God for wisdom and strength to help you face whatever you may deal with. I’ve heard of people who choose to terminate pregnancy upon learning their baby has a disability. However, this is not the answer and is wrong in the eyes of God as you are killing a child which he created in his image. Exodus 4:11 reads, “who gave man his mouth and made him mute or deaf or blind? Is it not I the Lord?” God never gives more than we can handle. All children are gifts from God regardless of disability or not. A second line of defense for all parents of children with disabilities is a supportive family and church family. Many may say, “This doesn’t affect me as I have no one in my family directly affected.” This is the wrong mind set as we can all be affected at any time and we’re not exempt as believers. In Jeremiah, the Lord says “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” This means that before I ever existed, He knew I would be blind and though we may not understand, God has a purpose for everything and doesn’t make mistakes. God uses anyone no matter how small the task may seem. As humans we may feel there is no hope, but Jeremiah 29:11 reads “for I know the plans I have for you plans to give you a hope and a future.” We see despair but God gives hope.