Disability Made Ability Poem by DEDAN ONYANGO

DISABILITY MADE ABILITY

Hello to the world, Care to listen to my plea,
Isolated I feel, humiliation I undergo still,
Am I not one deserving total respect?
As I Journey toward my total prospect
Equality, Unity and Love is all that I need.

I am Autistic and therefore not fit for the society
I hear some voices squeak
But I know I can speak,
Just because I don't talk the same language- passed
Shouldn't warrant me being called an outcast!
All I need is to be shown love and care for my needs.

I am deaf yes
But I am clever!
All I request from you is a channel of understanding
Remove the language barriers and help me get to by career.
I can make a good teacher you know!
So please don't ignore my needs.

I am visually impaired
But does that make me visionless?
I see beyond life you know!
My best friend is my walking stick
With every step that I take I get a tick.
All I ask for is your shoulders to lean on
All I ask for is a clean path free of stones to walk on
I can do it on my own you know!

I am physically impaired
But that has not destroyed my physical being
I am just unique in my being.
Although challenges I face,
I can't run very fast, yes!
But believe me I can outrun my challenges
Change my environment and see me out do Usian Bolt!

I can dunk on a basketball poll
I can kick the ball higher than the sun
All I request from you is a ramp
To help me climb to my destiny.

I am mentally challenged,
But my thinking is beyond my mental capacities
I can reason and make a good engineer
One needs not to sneer
All I need is a good cheer.
Provide for me the right environment
And up the sky you will see tall buildings,
That my beautiful mind will create!

Remember this: the greatest disability
Is living thinking you're disabled
Ours is Disability made Ability
Disability is not Inability!