Today, just as everyday, approximately 216,000 children have been born around the world, which will grow up to have some impact, large or small, on those around them, their society and the future of our planet. 216,000 new dreams, new challenges and with those new lives – 432,000 people who’s lives will never be the same, who have committed to providing love, shelter and support for every new beating heart. Exhausted and excited, these people dream of a future for their children better than their own and will do anything to ensure it is achieved.
Now we know the above statement is not true for many reasons. There will never be 432,000 committed parents for 216,000 births. We know that more than half the births are occurring in third world countries to individuals who may not be able to provide shelter or support. We know that the rate of teenage pregnancy is increasing at an alarming rate, many of which will wipe their hands clean and stand back while someone else raises their child. The one thing we do know for sure – is that 216,000 children are still being born, each and everyday.
So taking out all the variables – let’s just focus for a moment on Mr. and Mrs. Smith – a married couple, excited and eager to have their first child. The nursery has been anxiously awaiting the birth and a college fund is already in the works. But today, when the Smith family welcomes their new bundle of joy into the world, they become part of another statistic. They become 1 in 33.
Everyday 6,545 children are born with some form of disability. Disabilities for the sake of definition can range from Heart defects (1 in every 100 births) to Spina Bifida (1 in every 1000 births) to Down’s syndrome (1 in every 800).
Today, the Smith family welcomed baby Joshua to the world – 8lbs 3oz, bright blue innocent eyes and an evident case of Down’s syndrome. Instantly, the family recognizes that unfortunately, but realistically, Joshua will always be ‘different’. That college fund may need to be spent elsewhere and their dreams of Joshua becoming a businessman like his father or an artist like his mother have now begun to wither away. The Smith’s, overly obsessed now with the well being of their child – takes all the necessary precautions to ensure Joshua can have a ‘safe life’ and while every parent wants their children to be safe – safety has become the Smith's number one and only priority.
As Joshua grows up, he is omitted from taking part in class activities and is given the option to participate in things more suited to his ‘ability’. After school, while other children ride their bicycles and play in the park, Joshua watches from inside where he has never been out of eyesight of his parents. Joshua has been taught that he is different. The kids that go to Joshua’s school have been taught that he is different. The teachers, the parents, the people that pass Joshua on the street have been taught that Joshua is different. Joshua is different.
Einstein, the great scientist of the twentieth century and notably the top physicist of all time, was different. Einstein did not talk till he was three, could not read till he was eight and was diagnosed with a learning disability yet revolutionized the development of Physics with his theory of relativity.
Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, was different. Diagnosed with a learning disability at an early age, learning only to read at 12 and later becoming deaf still is known to be the greatest inventor of all time with over 1000 patents.
Tanni Grey-Thompson, 16 medal (11 gold) winner with over 30 world records in the Para Olympics, is different. Spending her life in a wheel chair did not stop her from winning the London Marathon 6 times!
So, Joshua is different, but what makes him different? Can he draw? Does he like to act? How about paint, sing, run or write? Joshua’s parents think he’s different because the doctors said so. Joshua’s peers and teachers think he’s different because his parents said so. Joshua thinks he’s different, because everyone treats him like he is. But no one really knows why Joshua is different and unfortunately for too many of the 1 in 33, no one will ever will.
Joshua, just like the 209,455 that did not become a statistic that day, was brought into this world to make a difference, large or small, on those around them, their society and the future of our planet. Joshua made the difference the day he was born, but imagine the difference he could make if he wasn’t defined by his differences. Instead of the Smith’s focusing on safety as Joshua’s number 1 priority, what if they focused that energy on finding out what made Joshua really smile? You and I, just like Joshua, were not just put on this planet to pay taxes, go to work and raise a family. We are all here to make a difference.
Joshua is different and will always be different, but not because of the differences we know of but instead all the differences we fail to see.
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