Over the last few decades society has been forced to look at and accept that people with mental disabilities do exist.
These people can either have their disability from birth (whether it was noted at birth or later on in childhood when milestones were not being met) or acquire it through illness or accident.
What did our ancestors do with their offspring who presented with a learning difficulty? For some they had them put in a mental institution, perhaps from a very young age, and others kept them under house arrest, away from prying eyes and gossips.
These children, teenagers, and adults were not integrated into society for fear of the response of others. A lack of understanding, embarrassment, and accusations of blame were more than likely levelled to these families, and so to keep their social standing, these children and adults were hidden away.
There are many reports that those mental institutions were harsh and unkind to their residents, with beatings, painful 'human guinea pig' tests, and uncaring staff making the lives of those people even more of a struggle.
Quite how we as human beings thought it just and right to be so cruel and hurtful to people with special needs is beyond me.
But then there is always the fear of the unknown, and fear breeds hostility and resentment, and human beings can turn on each other for the slightest thing.
Thankfully my generation is learning about it all, and that no matter what the disability, we are all human, we all breath the same air, we all have blood pumping through our veins, and we all deserve to live a life without prejudice, pain, or contempt.
But, even though the majority is now aware of disabilities, it does not stop the stares and the judgment from a certain sector of people.
Steps still need to be implemented or improved upon in cracking down on those in society who thrive on bullying those more vulnerable. Police need to wake up and do the job they took the oath on, instead of side stepping their duties, as was seen in a recent case in the press. Judges and the CPS need to wake up to the realisation that harassment, bullying and intimidation upon those in society that need more protection can only be achieved by having a hard and strong line that prosecutes and punishes (not with a measly community service order) and shows others thinking of following in their peers footsteps, that it is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated.
If we don't continue to push forward, expose the reality, punish those who bully and intimidate, improve the services that provide care, respite and advice, and shout loudly and proudly that having a child with a disability is in no way a bad thing then we will not continue this journey out of the dark ages where we one day will see equality and social freedom ( from prejudice and hate) being the norm.
I originally posted this blog entry back in October 2010, but feel it warrants another airing, especially in light of the whole sorry saga of Collin Brewer.
