By Elisa Neven-Pugh I am a young woman with cerebral palsy who is a quadriplegic. This is the way I came into this world. I write this in the hopes you may help me and my friends. With that introduction, you may think I am from a foundation asking for a small donation to improve the lives of someone like me. Although I have been a spokesperson for such an organization, this is not the case this time. Now you may think, 'oh no,' viewing me as a radical advocate, demanding respect in a way that makes you feel like such a jerk because you don't know how to help government have more inclusive policy. Again, don't worry, I am not asking for you to stop feeling sadness when you see someone like me or with any disability out on the street. I appreciate your compassion, just like I appreciate the fact that many of my contemporaries feel apprehensions about speaking up because they feel they will just be ignored or, even less appealing, pitied. I'm not asking that battle lines be drawn, far from it. I ask that you come together and start talking. You may think that the worst thing you can give is a look that says "how you must suffer." I was one of the first ones to tell you "I do not!" when I was a child. Now I, and, hopefully by the end of this, you will see that it is not the sadness but that nothing is done with it that is the most disabling thing. This apathy is the biggest problem more than public policy or inaccessible areas. We think as disabled people we will not be heard, so we don't speak. On the other side, the able-bodied community believes that it's wrong to ask questions for the fear of being ruled impolite by whomever we are talking to. This is on either side. For example, me, as a disabled person, I can't ask for help. I don't want to be an imposition or seen as incapable or tragic by the general population. You, as an able-bodied person can't ask if we need help, for fearing of seeming disrespectful or not being sure how to help. I have no government standing, I cannot take away inaccessible areas, I don't have the time or economic influence. What can I do? I don't have the magic pill. I don't want to seem incapable in my abilities to help. Do you see correlation here? The silence is the worst. Luckily, I am not asking for advocates against disability, only advocates for action instead of constant apathy. What do I mean by this? To my friends in the disabled community, ask for help. If you drop something in a store do not wait for your assistant or family members to come back, ask the person beside you. Say, "Excuse me, can you please help me pick that up?" If you are feeling sad, go to a counsellor at school or someone you trust, do not suffer in silence. Believe me, I know this one personally. I know it's hard but you have to be able to say "help me." Even if hundreds upon hundreds upon thousands of people pass by, keep asking, someone will be the good Samaritan eventually. We have to keep that understanding within our hearts. The understanding that in the world of almost eight billion, there are people outside our families and social circles that want to help us out For those who are able-bodied, whether you are aware or not of the situations we go through; I am asking you to make a resolution to be the one who helps when you hear our call. I promise you, it won't take much and will make a world of difference by just asking this simple question: ”How can I help you?" We are not all Mother Teresa ,but I hope this has helped you see that advocating for the disabled community can be summarized this way. "You do not have to do great things. Only small things with great love," - Mother Teresa I thank you for your time and your action.
