We Are All Able To Do the Right Thing

People didn't always see a person with a disability who had to use a ramp or elevator as people who have been given unnecessary privileges. But I run into that often now. People are saying, 'Why do we have to go to great expense for these people?'  -- Major Owens, Former Congressman from NY 1983-2007

Unnecessary privileges? Hmmm

Handicapped parking spaces
It doesn't seem fair when, on a crowded day in the parking lot, there are empty spaces right by the door, all designated handicapped parking. It doesn't seem fair to an able-bodied person who has to drive up and down the rows looking, hoping someone leaves the store to open a new space.  The disabled person might not be able to go to the store if there is not a close space. 

Standing in line
Why does the wheeler get to go to the front of the line at places like DisneyLand? Board first for a flight? Why do they get special favors when it comes to transportation? It's an inconvenience to wait for a wheeler to board the bus. It doesn't seem fair to an able-bodied person who has to stand in line and wait.  The disabled person might not be able to visit the park, travel, or get to work without those small concessions.

Construction
What about requirements for special construction, such as public ramps and curb cuts? It's expensive for businesses to upgrade to be ADA compliant.  It doesn't seem fair to an able-bodied person who looks at the expense for those other people.  The disabled person might not be able participate in and contribute to society without them.

We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. -- Aristotle 384 B.C.-322 B.C

It's the right thing to do to ensure all people are included in society regardless of ability.  A good, strong society benefits from all types of people with various talents and skills, and with various levels of abilities.  Society is stronger when everybody participates.  Maybe the privileges are not so unnecessary after all.

As John Bradford watched fellow prisoners being led to their executions, he said, "There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford."   The able-bodied person looks at the disabled person and thinks "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

No one plans to be disabled, but as we age, or have car accidents, or go to war, or develop diseases and conditions, many people become disabled.  Forty-two percent of people over 65 are disabled, and with the aging of the Baby Boomers, the number of disabled people is growing faster than ever before.  As the aging population increasingly becomes the disabled population, the mantra changes -- There, with time and circumstance, go I. If we did the right thing all along, the grace of God stays with us as we go.