Education Provides Understanding
As many of you know, and as my blog reflects, especially recently, I am an advocate for the special needs people group. I give presentations, share information and write books for children in this genre. As I was doing research one day, I came across a post that suggested left-handed people as part of this group. I was totally surprised….until I read the information presented.
Can left-handedness be considered a disability? Many would say, no, even in the left-handed realm! But some believe the “left hand people” group is possibly the last unorganized minority in our culture since they have no real sense of common identity. Most, I suggest don’t really care, and consider themselves completely normal, which is wonderful! Certainly, my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter have no preconceived notions that anything is “unnatural” about their left-handed-ness, and could care less about being an “unorganized minority!”
It’s interesting to recognize, however, that we do live in a right-handed world, and at some levels discriminated against given the number of inconveniences of everyday workplaces, tools, appliances and gadgets that are totally designed for the right handed person. Consider microwaves, dishwashers are usually located on the left side of the sink (since we load with our right hands), desks are built with drawers on the right side, and if you are left handed, you probably have other things you’ve adapted to. It’s interesting also to note, the word “left” in English comes from the word “lyft” in Anglo-Saxon, meaning weak or broken.
There was a time in our history where social custom believed being left-handed was evil, associated with witchcraft or a mark of the devil. When my youngest sister was born, she was inclined to use her left hand. My parents believed the mindset of “evil” and were adamant that my sister would not be left handed. She was punished and taught to use her right hand. My husband recounts times in elementary school where the teacher would crack a student on the knuckles if the pencil was held in the left hand. It was totally unacceptable.
As time passed and education brought knowledge, it became understood and an accepted fact that to be left handed is no cause for alarm, and certainly does not mean a person is weak or broken! In fact, quite the contrary if you consider some of the famous, well-known, left-handed intellectuals throughout history. Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Benjamin Franklin hardly demonstrated weakness or brokenness. They offered a wealth of knowledge that gave them worldwide acclaim.
Our world is filled with a plethora of special needs and disabilities, requiring counseling, medications, surgeries, and countless other elements to counter the effects of the condition. Being left-handed does separate, to a degree. But as our world continues to educate, acceptance is being seen across the board regarding left-handed-ness.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that could be said for everyone who is “different”? Having a disability or special need doesn’t mark a person as bad or any less a person. He’s different! Education can bring understanding, compassion, hope, tolerance, acceptance, consideration, and empathy.
Photo Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=left+handed