Helping Others See My Abilities

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How have you effectively blocked others from using your disability
as a convenient excuse for rejection?

Helping Others See My Abilities

Name: Maryann Hunsberger
E-mail: maryann@voicenet.com
Date: 24 Jan 1998
Time: 15:40:55
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One of the ways I've found to prevent rejection based on my disability is to focus on things other than my disability. When I concentrate on honing my skills in any given field, I am focusing on my abilities--and forcing others to see my abilities.

While I use a wheelchair and have a fatigue-based disabling illness, I find ways to excel right where I am. I'm in the home a good deal, so I've made it a point to spend time learning whatever I can right from home. The internet is a wonderful learning tool. Computers, themselves, are great learning tools, also. I've spent the past few years learning everything I could about word processing programs, graphics programs, web browsers, e-mail programs, scanner programs, grammar programs--and any other programs that can help me to succeed.

I've started a home-based business doing writing, editing and web design. Some of the people who contract my services are surprised when they find out I have a disability. I can honestly say I've helped these people to become aware of their disability-related stereotypes and to change their thinking. Not by anything I say. But, by what I do. Last year, I earned more than some of my able-bodied friends who go out to work for other people. And I am my own boss. That's more than any of my non-disabled peers can say.

I also focus my energies on raising my children. I have one child by birth, a son who is 15 and who also has a disability. I have one child by adoption, a 5-year-old daughter. When I am at my son's school meeting with his child study team, they see me as a parent who is well-informed about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. They see me as an effective advocate and parent for my child. My wheelchair is just something that is a small part of me, and that's how they see it.

The most important thing that has drawn people's attention away from my disabilities has been my own involvement in disability-rights activities. I write a semi-weekly newsletter geared toward equipping and spurring the local disability community into action. I lead a parent training group that teaches parents of children with disabilities about their rights in special education. I don't believe any situation is hopeless--unless we refuse to do anything to change it.

I can't change my disability, but, I certainly can change accessibility problems, discrimination, and other issues by working to create that change. Some days, I work from bed. Some days, I work while lying on the couch. On days when I can, I sit in my chair and work.

I've managed to succeed in areas where able-bodied people wouldn't succeed, yet, my only education is a high school diploma.

If anyone reading this is having a hard time adjusting to acquiring a disability; of if you're afraid that too many barriers stand in your way to do the things you want--such as marriage, parenthood or a career, just think about me. I'm not rich. I'm not famous. But, I'm succeeding in my marriage, my parenthood, my career and my life as a person with a disability. That's how I've managed to block others from using my disability as a convenient excuse for rejection. You can do it, too!

Stop by "The Resource Room," http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1997

Maryann Hunsberger

Great work

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