I have observed that people with disabilities are often treated unfairly by people who should be loving them.

It is sad that many people perceive a person with disabilities as someone who can't fend for themselves. Truth is, people with disabilities can be as productive and successful as able-bodied people.

It's wrong to think the life of a person with a disability is one of constant pain, sorrow and that able-bodied people are under a continual obligation to help them. Living with  a disability doesn't mean you cannot contribute meaningfully to all aspects of life.

Like any other person, people with disabilities do need assistance here and there but this should not give us the wrong impression that they cannot function independently. Instead of undermining, ridiculing and ill-treating them, let's love and cherish people with disabilities because they are humans as well.

Malphia Honwane
Gottenburg eManyeleti