The Cry - Ashley Brewster

First Place Winning Essay (High School Level) - 2008 Oakseed Ministries Essay Contest

“Compassion and the Child with Disability”

Adanna sits in the dark back room of her family’s hovel. As her parents and siblings work outside in the hot African sun in order to survive, Adanna stays behind, abandoned, unwanted, and unloved. What has she done to deserve this fate? Absolutely nothing. But behind her where her legs are supposed to be, there are only stumps. Adanna was born with no legs. Her disability has rendered her helpless, and in the eyes of her family, worthless. She receives little food and no attention. Her disability and her family’s poverty will leave her in this state for the rest of her life, if she lives that long.

When we think of children with disabilities, we might picture them in a wheelchair, surrounded by a loving family. It is not often that we picture children like Adanna, who are starving for both food and love. Poverty makes life difficult for anyone it strikes. But for those who are disabled, it leaves them desolate. The number of disabled children in the world is much greater than we might realize: “10% of the world’s population, i.e., … 600,000,000 are born with or acquire a disability within their lifetimes. Of this 600 million … one quarter or 150 million are children” (Belamy, 2003). When it comes to developing countries rife with poverty, the number of disabled children increases: “The proportion of disabled children in developing countries is generally higher than in developed countries” (Elwan, 1999). For example, in India, which is one of the world’s poorest nations, there is an especially large percentage of disabled children. “It is estimated that 6 to 10% of children in India are born disabled and that, because of low life expectancy, possibly a third of the disabled population are children” (Elwan, 1999).

These statistics are staggering. Not only are a surprising number of children disabled, but in developing countries, the numbers are disproportionately greater. Poverty impacts disabled children in a devastating way. In many cases, they have no access to simple necessities such as food and clean water. They are unable to receive badly needed medical attention. Poverty not only impacts disabled children physically, it also affects them emotionally: “Most of the world’s 150 million children with disabilities are not enjoying affectionate and equitable access to basic services and meaningful participation in society” (Lumpkin, 2007). In some countries, disabled children are shunned because of their disability, locked up by family members in sheds and back rooms. They are not allowed to join in with society. Poverty also deprives them of education. This is one of the most serious problems associated with poverty. This lack of education creates a vicious cycle that prevents the poor and disabled from leaving their preset state. “Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. For example, the lack of all levels of education and family support in any community is closely linked to both poverty and disability” (Lumpkin, 2007). Because of the lack education and a loving, supportive family, many disabled and poor children will never be able to leave their state of poverty. It is a maelstrom that keeps them locked in a continuous battle for survival, unable to escape.

Something must be done to end this cycle. Something must be done to ensure that disabled children trapped in poverty can have a chance at life. We must work harder to ensure that the lives of disabled children are made better. We can no longer take a position of apathy. Our pity alone will not save the lives of disabled children struggling to survive. When we watch our plasma screen televisions and see stories of helpless children like Adanna, we shake our heads and murmur, “Oh, how sad,” and reach for another potato chip. This kind of apathy is condemning them to a life derived of hope! When we sit back and do nothing, we let one more disabled child die of hunger. When we fail to take action, we condemn one more disabled child to a life of drudgery, bereft of love. We must face the cold, hard truth: apathy kills.

As a community, we must work towards the betterment of the lives of disabled children. We must make the public aware of the state of poor disabled children. We must urge them to take action with us. We must make our legislatures and government more aware of the plight of these innocent ones and urge them to take action on their behalf. We can donate our time and money to help these precious children with disabilities. Thirty dollars a month can feed a child; several more can ensure their education. It doesn’t take much, and yet it will change a child’s life. The difference one person can make is extraordinary. Imagine giving a child a chance at life! If we as a community come together to work to make the lives of the poor disabled children better, we will make a difference that is more widespread than we could have imagined. An individual can change a life; think of the impact we would have if we as a nation would come together to change the lives of those disabled children living in the chains of poverty.

The number of disabled children living in poverty is overwhelming. But what is more overwhelming is the impact that individuals can have in the lives of those children. We can make a difference! Apathy is no longer acceptable. We must work for them, fight for them. And we must act now, because for children like Adanna, time is running out.

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