It is not uncommon in our society to deal with disabilities with ignorance rather than understanding. Today I witnessed one such incident and it is important to share it to correct this attitude.

I went to a foreign embassy to get my passport renewed and while waiting for my turn, a woman and her son, who had Down’s syndrome, entered and sat down too. The boy was kicking his shoes around, resulting in looks of disapproval and disgust from other people. Another family was there too, and when the little girl from that family came close to the boy, he pushed her and she fell to the floor.

His mother was extremely apologetic, and even picked her up from the floor. The girl’s grandfather, however, was noticeably agitated when the boy’s shoes flew across the room, and the moment his granddaughter fell, his displeasure turned to rage.

No matter how many degrees or qualifications you have, you are not truly literate until you learn to empathise with others

“He has a mental disorder and needs to be controlled,” the man said to the boy’s mother, while he held his crying granddaughter in his arms.

“You should get some help for him; it is not safe for you to be around him,” he continued condescendingly. “His behaviour is so aggressive, it is dangerous for you and others.”

These were just some of the comments he passed after the incident. One would think that considering this man’s age, he would know better than to pass such remarks. The mother just nodded helplessly, unsure what to say or do.

Completely unaware of how to retaliate, I sat there and felt the anger towards the old man build inside of me. Did the fact that his granddaughter was pushed to the floor completely undermine that this woman was trying her best to control her child, who unintentionally hurt the girl? Was it worth criticising the woman and her child over something which was out of their control? Would the man react the same way if it was some other child, or even his own granddaughter? What was the real problem: the child’s disability or the man’s narrow-mindedness and rude behaviour?

As I sat there without saying anything to the man, I failed this woman. She was so strong that she stayed calm and composed, and took the insults being hurled at her, and her son indirectly, whereas someone else in her place would have surely broken down into tears.

The reason this needs to be shared is because such instances occur on a daily basis. This man represents the mindset of the majority in our society. So many people mistreat those with disabilities, regardless of whether they are directly affected by them or not. This is not reflective of anything other than their illiteracy and narrow-mindedness. No matter how many degrees or qualifications you have, you are not truly literate until you learn to empathise with others.

In order to solve this problem, we must raise awareness and educate people to be more understanding and more caring towards others. It seems to me the only way I can do this woman justice now is by spreading her story. I didn’t speak up then, but I will speak up now.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 3rd, 2017