Dear Sir/Madam,

Several years ago I was involved in a traffic accident and I lost the use of both my legs. At the time I thought my world had come to an endand I had nothing left to live for. However, through the patience and love of my family and friends I now look forward to the challenges each day brings — despitethe huge difficulties that society imposes on paraplegicslike myself, which brings me to the main point of my writing this letter.

Why, in this modern society, do paraplegics still have to plan eachtrip to the corner shop as if it was a complicated military operation? Why is it that it is still not possible for people like myself to get onto a bus or a train without the help of at least two strong friends? This is made even more of a problem when taxi drivers who see a person in a wheelchair accelerate past and pretend not to see me. Why do so manyshops not have doors or elevators that somebody in a wheelchair can use? Why do so many cinemas, restaurants, theatres, sports stadiums etc. still not provide areas where a wheelchair can be placed so a paraplegic can enjoy the same comforts and rights as other members of society? Why do we still have kerbs at the edges of roads that make italmost impossible for a wheelchair to cross the road?

Each day I get up wanting to live life to the full — why is it that “to the full” needs to be so much more limited for me than for the rest of society? Isn’t it time more was done to provide a full life for people like myself?

Yours ever hopefully,

Brian Thomas

Dear Sir/Madamn,

I read with interest, and some dismay, the letter by Mr Brian Thomas. Like Mr Thomas, I live my life in a wheelchair — but unlike Mr Thomas, I live in a city that has, in recent years, made great efforts to do exactly what Mr Thomas is asking for. Until a few years ago, my life was very similar to that described by Mr Thomas. In fact, I admire him for his bravery and determination in the face of such difficulties. Irarely left my home, as I was not brave enough to face the challenge of an environment designed only for the fully able members of society.

However, now I can telephone for a specially constructed taxi to come and collect me (although I rarely need to as my own vehicle has been designed so I can drive it comfortably and safely). I can go to a shopping centre where I can easily move from shop to shop in extra- wide elevators — there isn’t a single step in the whole centre. I can thengo to a restaurant that welcomes people in wheelchairs and on to a cinema that provides easy access to a special area near the front of the theatre designed specifically for wheelchairs.

So, Mr Thomas, please do not despair. Times and attitudes are changing — your own environment is sure to change soon. If not, I would be delighted to provide details of my own hometown — perhaps we could share the benefits of more caring and sympathetic town planners as neighbours!

Yours, 

Sally Woods

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been following with great interest the recent letters concerning physically disabled persons. I would like to make my own small contribution to give hope to people like Mr Thomas and Ms Woods. I am also disabled and require a wheelchair to move about. Iam also the chairman of the Disabled Taxi Drivers Association. Thereare, of course, no reasons why disabled persons cannot fulfill the dutiesof most jobs and should be (but are often not) considered for most positions equally with all other applicants. However, our association specifically caters to disabled drivers. We provide assistance in trainingand we help with the provision of suitably converted vehicles. We alsoprovide support and advice in all aspects of working as a disabled person.

By the way, it might come as a surprise to know that according to official statistics, the accident rate for disabled drivers is significantly lower than for other drivers. It is a great source of pride to our association that not one single member has ever had an accident of any kind!

Should any of your disabled readers be interested in our association, I would be more than happy to receive enquiries through this newspaper.

Yours,

Steven Price

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am delighted to read the ongoing discussion among your readers regarding life as a disabled person. As your previous contributors have mentioned, there are ever increasing social and professional opportunities for disabled persons. I would like to contribute to the discussion by suggesting the sporting opportunities that also exist. In many countries around the world, there are sports facilities designedfor disabled persons. For example, here in Britain there is a very activebasketball league for people confined to wheelchairs.

Perhaps the best example of sports for the disabled is the fact that hundreds of people are now proud winners of Olympic Games gold medals! There have been Summer Olympic Games for disabled athletes since 1960 and Winter Olympic Games since 1976. Paralympians are simply Olympians with disabilities. They include a wide range ofworld-record holders and they all have the same aims and goals as able-bodied athletes. They need to train just as hard and they compete just as fiercely. In fact, some of them even compete against able-bodied opponents — and frequently win! A good example is John Dowall, from New Zealand. He regularly competed against able-bodied athletesin the high jump competition — but he only has one leg. He did not see this as a disadvantage because, as he pointed out, everybody has to push off the ground from one leg. He hopped up to the bar on his single leg instead of running up on two legs. At the actual point oftake-off, he believes he was the same as the other athletes — in fact, he says he may even have had an advantage as the leg able-bodied athletes do not use to push off with frequently knocks the bar off. He did not have that problem.

Like John, to be a Paralympian simply means turning a potential disadvantage into an advantage. You have to regard your disability in a new light. Don’t think of it as a disadvantage at all, and never rely onothers for help simply because of your disability. Try to make yourself as independent of physical assistance as possible — independence is the key to professional and personal success — and success can oftenmean earning a living from sport. Top disabled athletes in America sometimes become superstars in their sports in exactly the same way as able-bodied sportsmen and women do. They have a large following of fans and are recognized as top sports personalities.

So, to any disabled readers of this newspaper, please rememberthat you have thousands of fellow disabled persons all over the world who will always give you the support and encouragement you need to achieve whatever it is you set your heart on doing. Never allow your disability to dictate what you can and cannot achieve.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do!

Yours, 

Susan Pearson

亲爱的先生/女士：

几年前我遭遇车祸，下肢残废。当时我想这下完了，我的生命不再有意义。但是，由于家人和朋友的耐心和爱，我现在期盼生活每天给我带来的新挑战——尽管这个社会给我这样的截瘫患者带来的是重重困难。这正是激发我写这封信的主要原因。

在如今的现代社会，为什么截瘫患者每去一次街头商店仍然像策划复杂的军事演习？为什么像我这样的人上公共汽车、火车还得至少要两个身强体壮的朋友帮忙？坐出租车更成问题，司机一见我们坐在轮椅上的便奔驰而过，装着没看见。为什么这么多的商店不安装坐轮椅的人可用的门和电梯？为什么还有这么多的影剧院、餐厅、体育馆等等地方没有给轮椅安排个位置，也让截瘫患者与其他社会成员一样享受舒适、拥有权利？为什么我们的街道还留有凸出的路缘，让坐轮椅的过不了马路？

每天我起来，都想过充实的生活。为什么跟社会上别的人相比，我们的“充实生活”有那么多的限制？难道还不该为像我这样的残疾人多做点什么，让我们和别人一样充实吗？

切盼

布赖恩•托马斯

亲爱的先生/女士：

我怀着好奇的心情，带着几分诧异读完了布赖恩•托马斯的来信。和托马斯先生一样，我也生活在轮椅上——与他不同的是，我生活的这个城市近几年来做了很大努力，做了托马斯先生所要求的一切。就在几年前我的生活还和托马斯先生所描述的一样。其实，我很佩服他面对众多困难的决心和勇气。我极少出门，因为外面的环境只是为正常人设计的，我没勇气去面对挑战。

但是，现在我可以打电话，叫辆特别制造的出租车来接我（虽然我没必要这样做，我自己的轮椅是设计好了的，我能舒适、安全地驾驶）。我可以逛商店，使用特宽式电梯，行动自如——整个商场不用跨一步。我可以去餐馆，他们欢迎坐轮椅的人士光顾，接着就上影院，那里为坐轮椅的人士备有便捷通道，特地在靠前的地方安排有位子。

所以，托马斯先生，别灰心。时代在变，人们的态度在变——你的环境不久也要变。要不然，我会非常乐意提供我家乡的详细情况——或许我们可以共享这儿的好处，与更富有爱心、同情心的市政规划者们为邻！

萨利•伍兹

亲爱的先生/女士：

我一直对近来有关讨论残疾人问题的来信有极大的兴趣。我愿尽自己的微薄之力，给像托马斯先生和伍兹女士这样的人带来一点希望。我也是残疾人，行动要靠轮椅。我还是“残疾人出租司机协会”主席。认为残疾人不能干大多数工作当然是没道理的，应该（但往往不是这样）给予残疾人和别的求职人同等的就业机会。我们协会是针对残疾人司机的。我们提供培训及适合残疾人的交通工具。我们也对残疾人就业的方方面面的问题提供咨询和帮助。

还有，这对你们也许是个惊喜，据官方统计，残疾人司机的交通事故率大大低于其他司机。我们协会尤其引以为自豪的是，我们的司机无一人出过任何车祸！

如果任何残疾人读者对我们协会感兴趣，我们将非常乐意借助贵报回答任何咨询。

史蒂文•普莱斯

亲爱的先生/女士：

我很高兴读到读者们现在讨论残疾人问题的来信。正如前面来信的人已谈到的，对残疾人提供的社会的、职业的机会在增加。我要说的是还存在着体育方面的机会。世界上好多国家有为残疾人设计的体育设施。比如在英国，就有个很活跃的坐轮椅的残疾人篮球联合会。

也许残疾人运动最好的例子是数以百计的人自豪地夺取了奥运会金牌！1960年以来就有残疾人运动员夏季奥运会，1976年以来开始举行冬季奥运会。残疾人运动会就是为伤残人举行的奥运会。这些运动员是许多项目的世界纪录保持者，他们和体格健壮的运动员一样，有同样的运动理想和目标——实际上他们当中的一些人甚至与体格健壮的人较量——竟不时地能赢！典型的例子是新西兰的约翰•道沃。他定期与体格健壮的运动员进行跳高比赛——而他只有一条腿！他不认为这是自己的劣势，正如他所说的，每个人都是单脚起跳。他单脚跳到栏杆，别人使用双腿起跑。他认为就在离地起跑那个点上，他和其他运动员一样——事实上，他甚至说这是他的优势，别的运动员常把栏杆踢落，而他却没有这个问题。

像约翰这样，做个残疾人奥运会运动员就是把潜在的劣势变成优势。你得重新看待自己的残疾。不要以为那就是你的劣势，也不要仅仅因为自己残疾就指望别人帮你。要尽量不要别人一手一脚帮助你——自立才是事业成功、人生成功的关键——靠从事体育谋生也是成功。美国顶级的残疾人运动员和别的男女运动员一样当超级明星。他们的崇拜者如云，被视为体育界的顶尖人物。

任何一位残疾人读者，请你们记住，在世界各地你们有数以千计的残疾人同伴，不论你决心做什么，他们会随时给你支持与鼓励。不要让残疾妨碍你能力的发挥，阻碍你人生目标的追求。

祝你万事如意！

苏珊•皮尔逊