Find The Best Care For The Ones You Love
-
-
What purpose do special needs people have on this earth?
FIRST! Please do not take this question the wrong way. I couldn't really find a good way to word it. I really enjoy working with people who have special needs and believe that they were put on this earth for VERY important reasons. I am writing a paper and need some ideas to start with. In your opinion why were people with special needs put on this earth and what kind of an impact can they leave on the rest of us?
I have worked with Special Needs people since 1992. They show us the humanity of man. To be appreciate the simple things in life. Love Joy and Laughter. They all have something to teach us if we are willing to listen. We in turn learn something about our-self. Some of my most best experiences have been in that setting.
Comments
11 Responses to “What purpose do special needs people have on this earth?”
Got something to say?
This is a problematical question to answer because when we ask what purpose any human being has on earth we are moving into questions of values and ethics that I don't think you are actually addressing.
If I read accurately between the lines, you are asking for the ways in which those with special needs enrich our lives–despite handicapping conditions.
One of the first things we deal with, relative to the disabled, are our perceptions and prejudices, and uncomfortabilities. If we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to get past those, we are able to interact with the disabled with a more inclusive embrace.
Over the last 30 + years I have had the opportunity to work with individuals with more diverse disabilities than I ever could have imagined existed before I began my studies–Angelman Syndrome ("Puppet Children" as they were formerly called), Rett Syndrome, Tourette's Syndrome, Down Syndrome (formerly called Mongolism), Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Aphasia, and so many, many more.
Many of these children are profoundly mentally retarded, and will require lifelong care. Many have attendant medical problems which are costly and neverending.
For children with the most severe handicapping conditions, what can we say their purpose is? Perhaps their purpose lies in what we learn as a result of spending time with them. Perhaps it has to do with teaching us compassion and humility. Perhaps it is to teach us that our capacity for love knows no bounds–is much more expansive than we ever could have thought. I know this is true for the families of these children–perhaps not all, but many. Or perhaps it is to teach us patience, forebearance in the face of frustration and strength in the face of fatigue brought by a role not sought as permanent caretaker.
There is another category of disability–those with crippling disabilities who overcome seemingly impossible odds to become incredibly productive members of society–Steven Hawking, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller, Michael J. Fox, Ludwig van Beethoven, Harriet Tubman–the list is long.
Google something like "Notable people with disabilities" and you will find many links.
I don't know if I have addressed your question in the way you were seeking. It is a good question, and one that is debated in schools and hospitals, courtrooms and boardrooms all over the world.
Best of luck with your paper. If you need any additional specific information, you may email me. My work with these children and young adults was in the role of a Speech and Language Pathologist.
References :
I believe they were put on this earth to be true examples of how pure everyone of us need to be. My oldest son is autistic with cerebal palsey and having him in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me. Happiest boy I know.
References :
Their is no one purpose. You are a object of reality that decides your personal purpose. You set a better example for those after you like those before you. Life goes on.
References :
I think it is more of an abstract topic and special needs people serve purposes that the rest of us don't,they show exceptional courage and joy in spite of being differently abled,I know of a child who has had a heart problem when she was born and is mentally retarded and in spite of it she is quite brilliant compared to kids her age,and it makes things all the more wonderful when you get to work with them in NGOs:)
References :
What, are you writing a paper for sunday school? No one is put on earth for a reason. Not you nor I nor anyone. To think otherwise is dangerous and can lead to eugenics and "master race" theories.
References :
It's happened before.
This is a problem question.
References :
Here is my simple answer.
Special needs people are a result of a mutation somewhere in their genetic make up that happened at some point in their biological construction.
So here we go;
EVOLUTION is two things;
it is a mutation that is more CONVENIENT to the individual for survival.
And it is also turned on or turned off genes that lye dormant in certain species genetic make up.
Some special needs people have some insane abilities.
The real "Rain Man" (don't know his name) is taken to colleges and the students ask him ANY question and he knows EVERY answer.
Some autistic kids can multiply or disect huge prime numbers in there heads in fractions of a second.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
For every attempt at Evolution, there is success. But with success comes failures as well. I'm not saying that every special need person was trying to evolve, because there are some things the parents do wrong and the environment and all those factors.
But with Evolution (success) there is Mutation (failure).
Ponder this though. =)
Someday somebody will be born with the ability to work his mind like a calculater … and he will NOT be autistic. =)
References :
I have worked with special needs people since 1992. They show us the humanity of man. To be appreciate the simple things in life. Love Joy and Laughter. They all have something to teach us if we are willing to listen. We in turn learn something about our-self. Some of my most best experiences have been in that setting.
References :
It's absurd what some of you are saying. The purpose of special needs people is NOT to provide life lessons for those of us who are "normal." They're not tools for the purpose of enriching our lives. To suggest that they're put here for our benefit is disturbingly egomaniacal. Those of you who feel that way obviously have some "special needs" of your own you need to address.
But to answer your question, I don't believe any human life has a specific, predetermined purpose. We are all accidental, haphazard products of nature…each of us with our own unique set of handicaps.
References :
Thank goodness for that! I thought you were a real weirdo for a second there!
I think they were put on this earth to help us understand how others look at the world. I think they help people think and say how lucky they are.
References :
Well my son is special needs, and i know he was put on this earth for a very important reason. I was just like most people i didn't see what kind of life they could possible have and then Cameron came. He may be blind and wheel chair bound but he bring so much love and joy and happiness to my life. He lights up the room where ever he goes. He is very smart. Most special needs kids are though. If you really sit down with them they are really Intelligent in ways you and i can never be. They have a purpose if there was no special needs no problems in the world we wouldn't have compassion. With pain comes compassion We all feel so sorry for the special needs people but they are so happy and so loved that sometimes I think they might just have a better life. Going threw so much bad things in life and still being very happy and on top of that loved. "normal people" freak out and get so mad over something so petty. SO I guess to answer your question their purpose to make us realize not to take what we have for granted.
References :
My son is special needs