Inspiring, heartwarming, hopeful, and concerning, these themes run throughout today’s links of interest. The below four articles challenge all of us to think different and be different in our everyday lives. As you read about these stories, consider how they encourage and challenge you in your particular situations. Here are the links of interest for September 21, 2016.
ALLISON DICKSON
Allison Dickson exemplifies the vision of The Freeman Foundation. When she was 15 months old, doctors told her parents that she had werdnig-Hoffman disease, and that she had less than a year to live. Not only did she live longer than the doctors anticipated, she went on to do some extraordinary things. She graduated magna cum Laude from Southwestern University and first in her class from Baylor Law School. During her time in school, she encouraged her fellow students, and helped them more than they helped her. You can read more about her inspiring story here.
QUADRUPLE AMPUTEE GIRL GIVEN DOLL JUST LIKE HER
Next, we have a heartwarming story out of England. In July of this year, a 2-year-old girl received an American Girl Doll that looked just like her. Harmonie-Rose Ivy Allen’s doll was a quadruple amputee. At one point in the video Harmonie-Rose said, “Look mom she’s just like me!” This story shows us that sometimes it’s the small things in life that make a difference. Maybe by receiving an American Girl Doll that is just like her, this little girl may realize that while her disability may make her a little different, it does not make her less important. Click hereto read more and watch this heartwarming video.
MOTHER AND SON BORN WITHOUT ARMS SPREAD HOPE
Linda Bannon and her son Timmy were both born with a rare genetic disease that left them both without arms. Growing up Linda’s parents expected her to participate with and contribute to their family just like all of her other siblings. Her parents never took it easy on her just because of her disability. This meant that she had to adapt and learn how to use her feet to accomplish many of the tasks that her siblings did with their hands. She now passes on this same attitude to her son. Their story serves as a source of hope for all people dealing with difficulties and trials in their own lives. Find out more about Linda and Timmy by clicking here.
MURDERED BECAUSE THEY ARE DISABLED
Finally, out of Japan we find some concerning news. A former caregiver at a facility for the developmentally disabled murdered nineteen individuals at the facility. The former caregiver illegibly told authorities that he wanted to “eliminate the disabled from the world.” The names of the victims have not been released, and this decision seems to be causing quite the uproar among the advocates for the disabled community in Japan. They argue that withholding the names props up a widespread attitude in Japan that people with disabilities should be kept separate from the rest of society. This attitude exists in America as well, if not explicitly, implicitly. The way you treat and interact with disabled people says a lot about what you think about them. Part of the vision of The Freeman Foundation is to combat this attitude. We want to see people with disabilities embraced and treated just like those who do not have disabilities. You can read more about this concerning story by clicking here.
Those are the links of interest for September 21, 2016.