Letter in Response to an Opinion, “Handouts in a different Light”, dated 11/19 by Ryan mahan
This letter is in response to an Opinion, “Handouts in a different light”, and dated 11/19/04 by Ryan Mahan
Mr. Mahan has personally offended anyone who is handicapped and anyone who has worked to help increase the quality of life for a person who is handicapped. He has intimated that handicap people are weak and lazy and that ramps and handicap parking is society’s way perpetuating their weaknesses. His comment, “a chair with wheels, that sounds pretty plush to me”, shows a lack of caring, lack of understanding and just plain ignorance.
August 11th 2003 my son was injured, breaking his back and losing a leg which has left him paralyzed from the chest down. We have watched him fight back from not being able to breath on his own, months in the hospital, a year of rehabilitation, daily weight training, and a tremendous amount of shear desire to live a quality life, to a point where he is again living independently. This is a young man who has skied most mountains in the west and Europe and sea kayaked from Alaska to Seattle before the accident.
I suggest that Mr. Mahan get in a wheel chair and try to navigate the parking lots. Try to jump on and off sidewalks and try to climb stairs. I suggest he tumble out of his chair and feel the humiliation of others watching as he tears his clothing and flesh pulling himself across the ground. I suggest he learn how to balance himself without having the use of most of his body muscles, transferring each day from his bed to his chair, from the chair to the car and back again. I suggest he try to push a wheel chair up a hill or just up a ramp so he will know how hard it is and what great shape a wheel chair bound person must be in to navigate in public. Then I suggest he go back and do this all again in the cold winter months of snow and ice. I suggest he go to an Aggie basketball game and try to park in the handicap parking in front of the stadium being told that those spots are reserved for non-handicap, season ticket holders and that you will have to park in the football parking lot, push through the snow, and get on a bus, so you can attend the game.
Handicap people are not looking for preferential treatment only to be given the same opportunities as everyone else. I would like to commend Utah State for developing building plans which gives everyone the same opportunity, regardless of physical abilities, to be a viable member of society and our community.
Wayne JeffreyPO Box 436Paradise, Utah 84328Home: 435-245-9118Cell: 435-757-6280Student Attending USU: Steve Jeffrey