We’ve just covered some of the issues faced by people with disabilities in our society and what we, the general public can do to make their lives easier:

• Trying to get a wheelchair
• Hotel without wheelchair access
• Under pressure to start a family
• I can’t read the internet!
• Disability and family relationships
• Laura and the brittle bone disease
• Jacqui writes about prejudice
• Susan writes about a wonderful parade
• Disabled in a disaster
• Just for laughs: Faceblindness
• David on the reflections of self-love, self-worth and family

Last but not least, I’d like to thank my new sponsors:

• Mei Mei @ Pelfy’s Journey of Love
• Yee Hon @ my rojak’d.life
• Simon @ Simon Talks
• Felicia Tan — my high-school classmate for many years

Have you pledged to sponsor me? WHY NOT?

You can do your part to help these people with disabilities too. It’s very easy to pledge, instructions on how to sponsor me can be found here — How to sponsor Eden Handicap Service Centre? Check out Eden Handicap’s Donation Page on how to send your contributions.

Twenty-one-year-old David who has cerebral palsy submitted the following post — Reflections on self-love, self-worth and family — to the 15th Carnival of Disability, and because it is such a nice read, I’m reproducing it here, for your enjoyment.

From listening to the childhood reflections of others and from my own childhood experiences, I see that the young child with a disability is like a sponge, absorbing and internalizing the feelings and actions of family and caregivers. I’ve put together a composite of some of these reflections.

If I’m a little child, I feel love and consequently, value when:

My mother’s eyes, voice, and face light up upon seeing me, rather than becoming dark, dreary, and sad.Even if I’m not able to verbally respond, my aunt talks to me using my name, rather than about me with impersonal pronouns as though I’m not there.

My grandfather spends time with me, telling stories rather than letting me sit alone in front of the television.

My uncle casually helps me get my jacket on so we can go the park, rather than making a big fuss like I’m slowing everyone else down.

My brother listens to me when I say, “you’re treating me like a baby,” and responds, “you’re right, I’m sorry,” rather than laughing at me or ridiculing me.

My grandmother enthusiastically greets me when I come to her house, rather than complaining about the work she had to do to accommodate my needs.

My father cleans up my drool or my dirty diaper with matter-of-fact simplicity, rather than shaming me about bodily functions over which I have little control.

My caregiver seeks to understand me when I ask a question, rather than becoming annoyed with me.

My stepmother holds me with a strong yet gentle touch making me feel safe and secure, rather than with a tentative hold leaving me to feel both dirty and frightened.

My young cousins follow the example of my inclusive adult relatives, finding ways to have fun with me, rather than giving up without even trying.

My godmother learns some sign language so she can communicate with me directly, rather than relying on my parents to be intermediaries.

My parents’ longtime friend rejoices in the fact that I exist, rather than talking about what a burden I must be.

My parents correct a neighbor who laments the hardship a disabled child must bring to their lives, and articulate my value, rather than list my needs and their fears.

The child’s view of himself or herself is shaped by everyday life experiences and interactions. If a child with a disability feels loved, self-love and self-worth will follow.

Note: This is a short note to inform you guys that this will be the “final” disability-related post for the whole Blogathon. The following posts will be summaries of what we’ve covered so far, as well as a “Thank You” note written by Madelene Tye of Eden Handicap Service Centre.

Andrea is an “insect psychologist” who examines human behaviour, education, and disability rights, from personal and social theory perspectives and points in between. Andrea prepared a list of top 10 things about having faceblindness (not in order of importance).

1. You save a fortune not buying celebrity magazines because you’ve no idea who’s in all those pictures.
2. You can go shopping without getting waylaid by chit-chatting with random neighbors/ coworkers/ fellow students/ workers from businesses you patronize. Especially if you’re also autistic and avoid chit-chat anyway.
3. Never having to worry about losing ten pounds for lack of attending school reunions.
4. You’re a safer driver because you aren’t repeatedly checking and touching up your makeup.
5. Less clutter around the house without a gazillion photographs of relatives and relations.
6. You develop an appreciation for science fiction because it’s easier to tell apart the different alien races than it is all the look-alike “beautiful people” in the soap operas.
7. No obligation to bother studying the Most Wanted criminal notices tacked up at the post office.
8. You are more likely to befriend the handicapped or otherwise morphologically unusual people.
9. Security guards appreciate the fact that you’re a big believer in everyone wearing identity badges.
10. You could identify familiar people at a masked ball just from their gait, mannerisms or voice.

Disclaimer: This list above is strictly for entertainment purposes only. For information about faceblindness, read this page.

Note to self: OK, we’re almost there..