Being Disabled and Overcoming Obstacles

Living day to day with a disability creates many challenges that most able-bodied people will never have to face. Using a wheelchair everyday can pose many challenges as well, especially when traveling to new places. You never know what type of obstacles you are going to come across.

Recently I was out and about when I came across a short ramp that was fairly steep for my wheelchair to climb up. I gave it a try initially but my wheelchair leg rests, which are at about a ninety degree angle due to my seating preferences and also my rather long legs, kept me from getting up the short steep wheelchair ramp. So I backed up, looked over the obstacle again, thought about it for a second, and decided to go up the wheelchair ramp at an angle to avoid getting my wheelchair leg rests stuck.

This time it worked and I was able to continue to my destination in my wheelchair without further delay. Yet another obstacle bites the dust! Obstacles are something that I face constantly in just about everything I do.

An obstacle is defined as an object, thing, action or situation that causes an obstruction, stands in the way of, or holds up progress. Obstacles come in all forms and vary in the degree of difficulty.

We all have obstacles of some sort that we have to deal with on a daily basis. Some may have a major obstacle to overcome such as a disease like cancer, maybe they're paralyzed, or they may be addicted to drugs and alcohol, some obstacles are minor in nature such as a flat tire, a simple headache, or even something as small as a paper cut can be an obstacle for some.

A disability may be viewed as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental, or some combination of these. It is said that the word "handicap" is often used interchangeably with the word "disabled." People who have handicaps or obstacles, nevertheless, can find ways to overcome these obstacles and achieve their intended goal.

My view of life is essentially about how well we as humans handle the obstacles we face every day, be it someone that is disabled or able-bodied. Don't let those obstacles in your life, no matter what they may be, hold you back from accomplishing your objective. "I Am Able" and I can overcome my obstacles.