When I reflect on the Americans with Disabilities Act, I think of the word Empowerment. Today I walked into the grocery store with my guide dog - sounds simple but there was a time when I was forced to leave. I will not forget the feelings associated with that experience. As we sat outside waiting for the police to arrive, I felt so disempowered. I decided on that day that I would choose the route of Empowerment. I could choose to feel Empowered. It could start with me. How did I feel about myself? my disability? Did I see myself as a person first ... the disability was simply a part of who I was? Since that time there have been many experiences that push me to the limit on my Empowerment. Incidents in stores, airlines, employees ... have left me asking myself -- do you really believe that you are a person first? YES, I do and I love that feeling of Empowerment. I feel love and acceptance for myself and those around me.
I have an amazing woman that is reaching out to be my friend. She has offered to be my guide as I want to start running again. I realized as she asked if we could go do something and asked where she could pick me up that I blurted out ... I don't want to be a burden. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I realized ... that is SO disempowering.
As I was in the grocery store with my guide dog I overheard three young men giggling and talking about us. Cricket, my guide dog, and I weaved around them. I smiled at them and told them to have a great day. I felt empowered and also felt some compassion for them.
1 comment:
Becky, seems like the ADA's 20th anniversary tomorrow has us all reflecting some. Thanks for commenting to my blog post today, eager to see how you'll use the story here on your own blog. Thanks for offering to do that, it's...empowering!
On another note, good luck with the expansion, all sounds great!
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