WE have seen the two sides to how people view those with disabilities in society in today’s Examiner.
One instantly won over millions of fans on primetime TV and the other faced public humiliation.
Teen comedian Jack Carroll from Hipperholme may well have single-handedly changed the opinions of countless people towards sufferers of cerebral palsy – and other disabilities – with his unique appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.
He uses his brilliant sense of humour to challenge people’s attitudes and makes sure that people are laughing with him.
But there is also the story of Ruth Martin who has bravely talked about her experiences suffering from Parkinson’s disease at the age of 41 and that one of the most excruciating moments was when someone declared in a busy pharmacy that she was drunk. Research to highlight Parkinson’s Awareness Week has found that one in five Parkinson’s sufferers have had their symptoms mistaken for drunkenness which makes many of them wary to go out in public.
Both messages are strong and yet essentially the same. Always look beyond the disability to the person inside. People did that with Jack. Others don’t with Ruth and other Parkinson’s disease sufferers.
