Sometimes people with disabilities are judged by their looks and actions. Noting that there might be a problem, the assumption is made that they don’t have much to offer. I had an experience early on that will improve that feeling and attitude.
I never knew his name, because as they say, “We were ships that passed in the night.” I taught special education courses in a college over a hundred miles from my home on a weekly basis for a few years. I had to leave early to be there on time. One morning as I drove, I took my foot off the gasoline peddle to apply the brakes. When I stepped on the gas peddle, it went all the way to the floor. Ahead were the lights of a service station. I managed to coast in. An attendant approached me, I was aware that he had some disability. I thought that I might not get the help I needed. After he asked me how he could help me, I explained the problem. He listened carefully and raised the hood. Finishing his evaluation, he walked into the garage and returned with a piece of wire. After a bit of working, he asked me to start the car and see if it worked. I did and it did.
With billfold in hand, I asked how much I owed him. He looked at me and said, “Nothin’! Put your money back in your pocket. I am just glad I had what it took to help you have a good day.”
Because of his poignant statement, I try not to tell people to have a good day unless I plan to do something about it.
Dr. Jim Pierson |