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One in Five

Today on the day of International Day of People with Disabilities I had a wake up call as to why a day like today is important.
At the shop today, I was confronted by a man ranting and raving. My initial reaction was to call the police, but my disability training kicked in. I went over and asked his mum if he had autism. So, yes, we do need days like this.
However, there is a flip side in my brain as well. I want to be seen as just a normal person. That argument that has been going on in my head all day inspired the following poetic thought.

ONE IN FIVE

One in five of the population have a disability, but I am not a fraction, I am a whole.
The International Day of Disabilities is great, but cannot give an insight to my soul.
Can a liberal society live with disability, is a question that the ignorant raise. We don’t need special days.
Instead of focusing on disability, we should have an international day of ability.

I put on a royal robe of red in an attempt to transform my wheelchair into a throne;
A disability should not be a taboo zone.
A disability is not something to subtract. I am a poet, a writer and I also act.
I understand the idea of the day is to get people talking, but ability is more than just walking.
Even people that cannot speak, have the ability to teach us a truth that we all seek.
I know I am part of the One in Five, but the One in Five also help our world thrive.

By Chris Van Ingen.

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