Ignorance is the opposite of awareness, a driving force behind hatred. The inexcusable excuse for mistreatment.

People communicate in countless different ways, verbally and non-verbally. Disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome may cause some people to be unable to communicate in the way that most people do: verbally.

One of my sweetest friends is a 6-year-old boy with Down syndrome who is selectively verbal. Being selectively verbal, he communicates without words most of the time. I have seen some people express fear and confusion towards him when they see him acting differently than other kids. He functions a little bit differently, and he communicates a little bit differently. That is nothing to fear, and nothing to be confused about. Disabilities do not make anyone scary, they make someone human.

Disabilities are a product of humanity and a product of genetics. Disabilities are not scary, weird, creepy or strange. They are not something that you need to pity. They are a part of someone’s story.

Written by Hanna Gaither