How can a paralysis person be a normal person?!
Question: Great question!
There are many factors that play into "normalcy" as defined by society; however, there are minor deviations among the normal culture even within places (locations in the US), age groups, demographic, religious perspective, etc. As you can see, it's hard to accurately pinpoint something as this.
Let me give you a little history - I was paralyzed at 19 years of age, in between my sophomore and junior years at college in So. California; this was a very difficult period in my life, as all I wanted was "normalcy" from friends and acquaintances. The problem was that I didn't know what that normalcy looked likem because this was the first time I had been challenged by any serious "abnormality." I had a good support system before my accident (rock climbing), but since then, all the people I tended to hang out with didn't really associate with me. That was hard, mostly because I didn't know how to handle a new definition of myself, and thereby making it hard for others to be around me.
I would that the normalcy I was seeking was rather fickle, and it depended upon my mood. If I was in a good mood, I didn't mind people asking questions. If I was in a bad mood, everything was offensive. It's important for people to be sensitive around that person, but at the same time to not "play favorites" or to be too sensitive. A lot of that has to do with the person who is paralyzed. In a lot of ways I made my own battles because of my behavior, but if the paralyzed person can be rational, accepting of their situation, and be able to recognize their autonomy isn't gone (it's just different), then treating them with normalcy should come easily, once you know the form.
Answers: Great question!
There are many factors that play into "normalcy" as defined by society; however, there are minor deviations among the normal culture even within places (locations in the US), age groups, demographic, religious perspective, etc. As you can see, it's hard to accurately pinpoint something as this.
Let me give you a little history - I was paralyzed at 19 years of age, in between my sophomore and junior years at college in So. California; this was a very difficult period in my life, as all I wanted was "normalcy" from friends and acquaintances. The problem was that I didn't know what that normalcy looked likem because this was the first time I had been challenged by any serious "abnormality." I had a good support system before my accident (rock climbing), but since then, all the people I tended to hang out with didn't really associate with me. That was hard, mostly because I didn't know how to handle a new definition of myself, and thereby making it hard for others to be around me.
I would that the normalcy I was seeking was rather fickle, and it depended upon my mood. If I was in a good mood, I didn't mind people asking questions. If I was in a bad mood, everything was offensive. It's important for people to be sensitive around that person, but at the same time to not "play favorites" or to be too sensitive. A lot of that has to do with the person who is paralyzed. In a lot of ways I made my own battles because of my behavior, but if the paralyzed person can be rational, accepting of their situation, and be able to recognize their autonomy isn't gone (it's just different), then treating them with normalcy should come easily, once you know the form.
There is no such thing as normal as we all experience the world differently and they are only 'abnormal' if you label them such.
Define normal. What are you really asking?
If you mean 'like everyone else', then obviously someone who is paralysed is specifically different from the majority who are not paralysed.
If you mean can someone who is paralysed be an intelligent, interesting person who participates in the family or group they are part of, then obviously that is perfectly possible if the right support is in place.
The recently released film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is derived from a book of that name which was 'dictated' by the blinking of one eye - the only part of the man which was still under his conscious control. Now it may not be 'common' to communicate by millions of blinks, and his mind was obviously not 'normal' since very few of us are as gifted as this (it's a wonderful book) - but I don't think we could possibly say that he was in any way a lesser human being (if THAT is what you mean by 'normal').
Paralysed people can have a good life if they get support and if they are able to feel positive about themselves and their life. This probably depends on how things were for them before they became paralysed.
Of course, if by 'normal' you mean the same as an 'average' human being, obviously that isn't possible, but it's certainly not an ambition of mine to be 'normal' in that way. And I'm not, and never could be!!
Why would a paralyzed person be any different than we are??? Just because they can't move their bodies? They still have the same feeling, wants, desires, hopes and dreams as any one else does. Did Christopher Reeves Not teach us that??? Was he not just like everyone else? The way that he lived his life the last few years proved that he wanted what everyone else does and he got it to a large extent.