Written by Marian K. and Illustrated by Michelle B.

“Some people with disabilities are famous, such as Stevie Wonder. Others do equally important work such as advocacy, especially for people who cannot speak for themselves.”

People with disabilities are as varied as anyone else. Even if two people have the same disability, they could be very different. Someone may play wheelchair basketball, some people prefer bowling. Even among those who do bowl, some people in wheelchairs use a variety of methods to bowl. Some lean forward and swing the ball out on the lane. Others roll the ball down a ramp to the lane. Whichever way someone bowls, what matters is that the ball hits the pins.

Some people with disabilities are famous, such as Stevie Wonder. Others do equally important work such as advocacy, especially for people who cannot speak for themselves.

If a person doesn’t know whether to talk to someone who has a disability, that can be awkward. I was at a restaurant with some friends to whom the waitress asked questions directly. The waitress looked at me, but asked my friends, “What does she want?” My friends didn’t tell her. I did myself. When the waitress had a question about my order, she just asked me after that. Talk to people directly and assume they can answer your questions themselves. Remember that not all people are alike. Differences are not bad.

About the Author

Marian has been attending Hattie Larlham’s Constant Companions in Twinsburg since 2014. She also lives in a Hattie Larlham group home. She enjoys all the animals at Constant Companions, especially the cats. She also likes trips in the community with CC, as well as socializing with her CC friends.

Previously, she was a freelance writer for the West Side Leader and wrote for several local organizations. She is a 1975 graduate of Barberton High School and has attended classes at the University of Akron and Sage Computer Services.