The Disabled In Dubus, Johnson, And Soyster

Disabled is defined as having physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. Unfortunately, a person tagged as disabled is viewed by society as much more. They are typically looked upon with scorn, disgust, and pity. In today's society the life of a disabled person is commonly misunderstood and they have a negative perspective in society; this is the recurring theme throughout the pieces by Mairs, Dubus, Johnson, and Soyster Firstly, all four authors are disabled which easily establishes their credibility on the topic of disability. Also, this ethos appeal allows them to voice to the readers their life as disabled in society and the society’s perspective they have directly been faced with.
In Dubus’s article he talks about how people with disabilities do not want pity, and that it is not the correct type of attention. Johnson describes comments like, “God Bless you! I'll pray for you” as negative reactions (Johnson). Clearly, Johnson does not want to be looked upon with pity because even though she is disabled she does not live in complete misery. Also, in Soyster’s article, he reveals, “They offer too much assistance ...unnecessary apologies, or they leave me with no space” (Soyster). These reactions he faces in public are excessive and unnecessary and this is because people approach the disabled with pity and sympathy. In all articles, each disabled author has the same reactions, but it is not the reaction they
Mairs focuses on how disabled people are rarely seen on television and reveals the advertisers do not use disabled people because they, “...don't want to give people the idea that our product is just for the handicapped” (Mairs). Clearly, this portrays that disabled people are looked down upon by society and are considered different than abled-bodied humans. Also, it highlights the lack of presence of disabled people in everyday life. Additionally, Dubus gives a more specific example of how a former football player who is now disabled and relies on an artificial leg. When the man sees his former coach he lies to him that, “I twisted my ankle” (Dubus). Afraid of the reaction the former football player’s coach would give, he lies and this reveals to readers of how society has a negative perspective towards disabled people. Furthermore, Johnson uses intense statements that people say to her, including, “If I had to live like you, I think I'd kill myself” (Johnson). Unfortunately, disabled people have no respect and are considered inferior than to people that are able-bodied. Along the same lines, Soyster makes the claims that despite being on the ground he does not want help because he does not want to face the reactions of the