Disabled Persons, The
Invisible Minority
Though seldom acknowledged as such, the disabled are the largest
minority group in the country, with over 19% of America’s population
living with physical, mental or psychological disabilities. Because
disability is such a stigmatized subject, many people, businesses and
even law enforcement are still in the dark about the proper way to
interact with them, leading to often negative and occasionally tragic
outcomes.
Disabled people (and their caregivers) must overcome so much in
order to participate in public activities that most people take for
granted. To help the disabled live to the fullest, we need to encourage
more interaction and understanding from the typical members of
our society. Ignoring the disabled will not make them go
away, and it often results in even greater difficulties for both the
person and their caregivers. As a society, we need to raise our
awareness of all types of disabilities and seek to create a kinder and
more inclusive environment for them.