Go Through Disability
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Wolran Kim
Jan. 2012


I often saw people with disabilities begging in the streets when I was growing up in Korea and my thoughts stopped at the fortune of my own healthy condition. It was surprising to me when I came to the United States that the community had a lot of facilities for those with disabilities and that disabled people had dignified attitudes unlike those in Korea. So I realized that was the difference between an advanced nation and a backward country.

Korea is a lot different now compared to two to three decades ago, and has developed legal and social facilities for disabled people; however, there is still prejudice toward abnormality.
One of my church associates’ daughter is a physically deformed child. She is my daughter’s age and lives on a special wheelchair. Her malformed body never grew and she has to crawl around while dragging her belly. I used to curse the Heavens every time I would see her, and felt sorry or guilty for my perfect body shape.

There was a man in a wheelchair in my first semester mathematics class. There was also another guy who has a hearing disability who attends my English class with his sign language assistances. Those two classes were good opportunities to learn deep and subtle knowledge rather than having a simple academic life to me. I have never personally suffered physical disabilities except for having surgery on my left wrist 15 years ago, and twisting my ankle a couple of times.

The reason I chose the Study of Disabilities is that I hope to serve my community whenever I have a chance. Through this class, I want to learn about the history and recognition of disabilities of the American society, and I want to learn how to have the correct attitude toward disabilities. I think that disability is an inevitable fate whether it is congenital or by accident. I am sure that this course will show me another world in which I forget the many blessings I have and the gratitude I should feel in my own dry reality.

The owner of a Philadelphia McDonalds has agreed to pay a $90,000 settlement for a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). A lobby worker, Timothy, who has an intellectual disability was constantly abused and bullied with violent language like “dumb, stupid, and retarded” from his manager and co-worker. He was forced to do nasty trash work outside which was not included in his job description, and was even threatened with a box cutter. He suffered from fear and anxiety. His mother even warned them to stop harassing her son.

No one has to suffer from prejudices or have disadvantages at work because of a disability. All employees with disabilities should receive equal treatment despite of their disabilities. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was established in 1990 to set consistent standards for those with disabilities, and to make a comprehensive policy for the elimination of discrimination. According to the ADA, with a staff of 15 or more, private companies have a duty to care for those with disabilities as a comprehensive welfare act. Under this law, the businesses that do these necessary things, will be under an exemption rule in which they become cleared for a serious obstacle to the companies.

The United Stated is not a country which has an allocation employment system as a matter of duty. The employment of disabilities has been done through promotion of social integration for vocational rehabilitation services and ensures equal opportunities to those with disabilities. Companies that use general hiring instead of an allocated employment system, with
15 or more full-time employees, have contract agreements with the federal government that outline a duty for affirmative action for the independence of the company.

Every time I see people working with disabilities just like normal people do at grocery stores, I became warm hearted. No one can choose not to be born with a disability or not to get in an accident that causes disability and escape from destiny. Discrimination and contempt of disability are stigmas which must be eliminated from our society. I wish that our community could get more job opportunities for people with disabilities and in turn, they could take care of their families as normal people.