In a lecture hall of a university in England sits a professor. He is on the platform giving a talk, but his voice sounds slightly strange. That is because this professor has a disease which prevents him from speaking, so when he speaks he had to use a computer and a voice box. When he answers questions, it takes about two minutes. Not only does he have to type out the answer on a computer, but he also gets the computer to translate it into sounds. Why do people come to his lectures since he is difficult to understand? The answer is that he is one of the top three physics experts in his particular field. His special subject is the beginning of space, matter, and time.

The case of Professor Stephen Hawking is one example of the many disabled people who have achieved success in their chosen field of work. He was born in 1942, took his doctor's degree in physics, and did research at Cambridge University in England. By the age of 21 he had already begun to notice that it was difficult to move around without falling over. Although he had a disease of the brain which was getting worse, he decided to continue with his research and his writing. He had to find ways that would make it possible for him to speak, read and write, even though he could later only move the fingers of one hand. In 1988 his book "On History of Time" became a best-seller.

History is full of other examples of successful people with disabilities. Some famous musicians have had little or no sight. Beethoven, who lived from 1770-1827, lost his hearing, yet continued to write great music. Many people who use wheelchairs do well in sports. Not only do disabled people read, write, draw pictures, paint and cook, but they also study, go to university, take exams and have jobs. In their personal lives, they also get married, have children, go out and meet people, play music and so on.

Some people have the wrong attitude towards people with disabilities, considering them to be stupid. As a matter of fact, many people have a disability. Some need glasses to read, or do not hear very well. Others may have difficulty in moving. Even if none of this is true for us today, it is probable that one day we will end up with a disability. As we get old, we find it more and more difficult to see, to hear, to walk, to bend down, and to climb stairs.

It is often thought that disabilities are total. Once, people would often be referred to as "deaf" or "blind". The fact is that very few "deaf" or "blind" people have no sight or hearing at all. Most of them can see or hear something even if not clearly.

What needs to be done to make life easier for people with disabilities? If we are organizing an event, we must imagine that people with disabilities may want to come to it. So we must make sure that they can enter and use all parts of the building. We should also get proper equipment for people who do not hear well. When we design a building, we should provide an entrance suitable for wheelchairs on the ground floor, as well as lifts, suitable bathrooms and toilets. We must also make sure that signs are clear and easy to read.

In China there are about 50 million people with disabilities. A new government program has been designed to help disabled people. More special schools will be built. Not only will help be given to people to find jobs, but also medical treatment will be provided for people who need it. But the truth is that everyone should take care of disabled people, not just the government. We must also bring people with disabilities back into normal schools. Young people will learn about disability only when they go to the same schools as people with disabilities. They love having lots of friends, so do those with disabilities. Though we are all different, we need never be separate.

Unit 20 Disability
江苏省靖江高级中学