Voices: We haven't come that far

June 04, 2008 01:49 am

— I was reading the paper this morning, and I came across the article about Daryl Felkins’ “misunderstanding” at the doughnut shop, and I actually was wondering if Allen Pendergraft could clarify something for me.
As a disabled Joplin resident who has been to that shop frequently, I am curious just how we disabled people can identify our disabilities to make things easier for you. Would badges help? Maybe we could tattoo our disability on our arm or forehead so there are no “misunderstandings” in the future.
All right, enough with the sarcasm.
I thought this was 2008. I thought we had gotten past the social Darwinian idea that we should keep disabled people out of public view because their shortcomings make them undeserving of that right. I guess we haven’t really come that far, huh?
Ross Gipson
Joplin