The meaning of 'disabled'

Sam has stabilised a lot since coming to Xining Children's Rehabilitation centre. His epilepsy is also under control

We once said 'handicapped', and today we may say 'disabled', but to be more sensitive we now give recognition to the person first and so we say, 'a person with a disability'. But neither the dictionary nor the correct etiquette books tell us how we should describe a whole family that is disabled one way or another. The Zhao family is a typical example of this.

Mrs Zhao’s daughter has cognitive disabilities and is unable to speak, and her son, Sam, has autism and epilepsy. Mr. Zhao deserted his family, unable to bear the financial and emotional pressure of having two children with disabilities.

Mrs Zhao had difficulty finding a job because she is uneducated and couldn’t leave her children alone. There was a small social security allowance for each child, but even though her son suffered regular seizures she gave up taking him to hospital for treatment because the cost was too high.  If and when she did find work she earned very little.

Mrs Zhao bore not only the economic burden, but also the daily burden of caring for her two children, yet she did not abandon them. She had long-term physical, mental, and emotional stress. She too surely suffered a great disability.

In 2008 when Mrs Zhao came to Xining Rehabilitation Centre, she shared her burden of pain and helplessness with our social workers.  From then on this poor family began to receive a financial subsidy from Christian Action.  Her son received our special education services and began to stabilize as he lived and learned in our Children’s Home.  Mrs Zhao received the respite care she needed so badly. She continues to receive counseling and a sympathetic ear from our social workers as she unburdens years of problems.

I believe that God clearly showed me how families like Mrs. Zhao’s suffer. In response, Christian Action implemented the Rehabilitation Programme for Community Children. Besides providing financial subsidies for rehabilitation training, social workers empower the parents individually.  Being labeled and marginalized brings negative self-esteem for parents who are already stressed.  Enhancing their abilities through education and training gives parents confidence and self-worth.

Your sponsorship of such a family will definitely help change all their lives – will you think about it please?