A Day That Changed My Outlook On Life: My Story on Disabilities

So for a while I have been wanting to write about a even that happened in my life, that truly has changed the way I view my life and everyone in it. HERE I GO...

For the past TWO YEARS I have been involved in a club on Shippensburg University's campus that is named PIE. The name PIE actually stands for "People Involved Equally"

Long story short, once a week when I am able to I go to work with older individuals between the age of 24-35 in a room on campus. Now these individuals have learning disabilities or possibly other disabilites that I personally do not know of.

When I work with them we hangout, play games, help them learn new skills, anything that they would like to learn. As I started being an active member of this club 2 years ago, I didn't realize how much this place would impact my life.

The guy that I have worked with the most in the past 2 years is a guy by the name of DAN. Since I met him we had come a long way in terms of our friendship. When I first met him he was really shy, and had a hard time opening up.

I remember last year I missed a couple get togethers because of school work, and people would tell me how much DAN would say how he wished I was there.

This is where my story gets real...

Two years ago in the spring before we were to leave for the spring we have a party. I remember that day like it happened YESTERDAY. The one guy got up in front of the room, and said something a lone the lines of this....

"YOU KNOW WHY I LOVE PIE...BECAUSE YOU ALL MAKE ME FEEL LIKE AN EQUAL"

At that moment TEARS started to roll down my face. I have never been so touched by someone else's words.

I do NOT like the word DISABILITY. I learned from that day forward that sometimes someone just needs a FRIEND. Imagine if you walked around everyday to class with a LABEL? 

Imagine if people always gave you a bad name
Imagine if everyone wanted to pity you
Imagine if people put LIMITS on you
Imagine if you couldn't go after your dreams

Just IMAGINE if everyday you woke up just wanting to be like EVERYONE ELSE?

The day this man stood up in front of the room and said " YOU ALL MAKE ME FEEL LIKE AN EQUAL" gave me the chills and still does to this day.

My point in all of this?

Lets change the way we feel about our friends/family/relationships..and lets be thankful for how lucky we have it.

I DON'T LIKE THE WORD DISABILITY..it is just a label. Having someone believe in you is a blessing, and having someone that you can truly call a friend to some people can mean the WORLD.

Tomorrow is Monday and starts a new week. If you see a friend, say hello and ask how their doing. You never know how much one smile or hello can change someones day.


DISABILITIES is just another word, don't let words DEFINE WHO YOU ARE.

Have a great week everyone.