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DISABILITY
The Lord looks at the heart
by Bernice Hardie
God doesn ’ t look at what people see . People judge by what is on the outside , but the LORD looks at the heart . [ 1 Samuel 16:7 ]
Labelling is usually helpful . Labels give you a clear sense of what to expect such as what ’ s on the inside of the container or even the quality and value of an item . However , when it comes to people , labels are not always very helpful . In fact , labels often get in the way of us properly connecting with and appreciating people as individuals .
Learning Disability ( LD ), in my experience , is one such unhelpful label . 1
The fact is that rather than help to give a clear sense of what to expect from a person , it sometimes leads to the wrong expectations or the lack of any expectations at all .
As a society , we have come some way from the days when individuals with disabilities were deliberately treated as outcasts . Despite progressive legislation and policy , we still see the label before we see the potential that lies within each person created in the image of God .
When my daughter was born 31 years ago with Downs Syndrome , much of the sadness that I felt at the time was in anticipation of her future – the possible rejection and loneliness that she would face as an adult with LD in our society . Our experience as she went through mainstream school and college fuelled that concern , as few friendships were made . You may have had occasions where you have felt left out , ignored or overlooked because you were ‘ different ’ in some way – imagine if this was your reality the majority of the time .