Persons with Disabilities Project

Kimberley Hatton receiving her prize

Princess Margaret Secondary School

Introduction

When I started this project I was ignorant about persons with disabilities.  I thought these were only people who had been in an accident and came out unfortunate.  I felt I was superior to them yet I had some sympathy for their condition.  Of course, it was not a condition I wanted to experience.

I thought we “normal people” were supposed to avoid them because of their lack of intelligence or ability to communicate.  I thought these persons should be left to themselves because of society’s perception of the whole matter and also to avoid any hurtful situations.

I didn’t think they should be allowed anywhere without supervision.  Clearly, I had my own ideas about their lives and very little about their future.

Body

The person I chose to interview for this project is Michael Browne.  I discovered that Michael’s life is quite different.  He is a thirty-five year old male with a small head, big ears and small eyes with black underneath.  His hair is unusually well cut and his moustache well trimmed.

Michael is tall and one of his hands is arch-shaped.  When he walks that is the hand which he holds up to his chest while the other one would be a bit below his wrist holding on to his arch-shaped hand.

Michael is mentally challenged but it seems that he became so not at an early age because he remembers people and songs- even the page numbers of songs that have been sung in the church he attends.

At Michael’s, church if the pastor says something and is about to emphasize a point, Michael anticipates what the pastor will say, and says it at the same time with the pastor.  For example the pastor would say “For the Lord says let there be light and there was....” and Michael would say, “Light."  Michael seemingly had been taught before his mishap.  He would talk to you and say things in such a convincing way that you would take him literally.  Soon you I would discover that Michael’s mind is playing games and that he has a good memory.

He would recall events about his sister who resides in the USA.  He has a good short term and long term memory.

Michael loves to sing.  His life is supervised by his mother. She never lets him out of her sight.  Michael is very headstrong, he likes to drive home his point and if a person tries to cut across him with their own views he would react and turn his head because he does not want to listen to the other person.  Apart from that, he is quite society.

According to his mother, he used to go to a rehabilitation and resource Centre that did not attend to him properly.  His mother thinks better qualified and better trained persons were needed to work with individuals like Michael.  Now because Michael wasn’t exposed to any one else, he totally depends on his mother.

Michael changed when he came from the Centre.  He usually stays home alone and watches Sesame Street.  Michael, also listens to the radio and he knows how to find all the stations on it.  In addition, he dunces and spins around at home.

A typical day in Michael’s life mainly involves watching ‘Sesame Street’ and staying home alone.  These days his mother leaves him alone for short periods of time.  Once he begins to watch the television he is kept occupied.

Recommendations

To improve Michael’s life the public needs to be more educated and aware of people like Michael and the special circumstances that tremendously influence their lives.

Special activities should be introduced to include them in social gatherings which would bring them in contact with other persons with and without similar circumstances.

We can also have sporting activities which will enable them to acquire rewards and have fun at the same time even if they win or lose.

Michael’s mother or care-giver should have better alternatives concerning his welfare.  The government should be in a position to provide care-givers at an affordable or minimum cost to make life easier for Michael’s mother who has to work for a living and also satisfy her desires as a social being who may wish to enjoy herself from time to time.

In addition, the government needs to establish an long-term program that would offer up-to-date information on various disabilities and cutting edge research findings in this area.  Specially qualified and trained personnel to offer various services: educational, social, psychological, emotional and physical should also be available.