If you have ever known anyone that has a disability it probably was not as difficult as it was for Dianne Odell. Her disability although worse than most, was indicative and perhaps an extreme example of the term that some use to describe these folks as having “different abilities”.
A lot of people with disabilities can many things most people can do. They just do things differently like Dianne Odel did living in her Irn Lung Machine. For example, Dianne Odell while living in her Iron Lung was able to get her high school diploma and we have all heard of or seen wheelchair athletes that consistently amaze us.
Disabilities can be bought on by many things from chronic health problems as in the case of Dianne Odell (polio) or it can be things like asthma or epilepsy or an accident or an illness or even issues that arose at or near birth. Dianne Odell has been living in an iron lung since she was 3.
Examples abound of people with different abilities. The lesson to be learned from this is that no matter the device one uses to assist them in living, from reading glasses to an iron lung they are all just an attempt to help us live better.
There are many ways in which a person with a disability has difficulty, you may even know of someone that regularly has hardship because of their disability. In the case of Dianne Odell she was not able to move about and do anything most people could but she did write a book while living in her iron lung. Sometimes people with other disabilities have a tough time too from the problems that they have.
The important thing to remember is that persons with disabilities are able to still do things it is just that they do them in a different way or maybe they do different things altogether. Dianne Odell was able to have eye contact with guest in her room through the use of a mirror and people with other disabilities are able to drive. Her Iron Lung did not stop her from trying to make a difference and we have all heard of Helen Keller and the impact she had on history. So think of people with disabilities as people with “different abilities” and you will have a more accurate picture of the real situation.
