I am writing in response to a very disturbing letter I read called “Lend a Hand.” This letter actually made my blood boil. It made disabled students appear as helpless, mindless jellyfish who can’t do anything but ask for help. The writer mentioned that the blind man, who was TRYING to reach his class, was wearing only shorts and a t-shirt. If this blind man was dumb enough to wear this type of clothing on a rainy day, then that is his problem. I am blind myself, and thunder usually means that rain is imminent. We do know what raincoats are and if we choose not to wear them, then, yes, we will get wet.

The writer then said the blind man couldn’t carry an umbrella because he had a “walking stick.” They aren’t walking sticks. We can walk. They are canes which are used to detect objects in our path or the presence of stairs. These canes are light enough to be carried in one hand, leaving the other hand free to hold an umbrella. If we’re stupid enough to not carry an umbrella, then we will get wet. And if we are carrying a recorder in the other hand, we could go out and buy a backpack.

The writer also states that the poor blind man was walking into the mud. I would say that the blind man was not paying attention and not using his cane properly. It’s not helplessness, but carelessness on the part of the blind man. Plus, mud can be washed off.

Then the writer has the nerve to say that the blind man looked so cold and the look on his face showed that he was helpless. Well thank God for people like Garza who come to our rescue. What on earth would we do? We do appreciate help, if we ask for it. I never refuse a free ride across a busy street. But this blind man was not helpless: Disabled people are not helpless. I would say this blind man was far from helpless. If anything, he was dumb and careless. That “helpless” look on his face was probably not that at all, but one we all have when it is raining and we aren’t wearing a raincoat or carrying an umbrella. “Why the hell didn’t I bring an umbrella or buy a raincoat? I’m getting wet.”

The writer says how grateful the blind man was for his assistance. It made the blind man feel better. The writer continues by saying the blind man would have gotten sick before reaching his class if he, the writer, hadn’t helped out. I’m sure the blind man was appreciative for the assistance. I appreciate assistance. However, I don’t throw myself at the feet of my benefactor and make him a saint. No one, neither disabled or undisabled, acts this way. Actually, I think the writer did the blind man a disservice. It would have served the blind man right to get sick, walking in the rain with only shorts and a T-shirt on. Next time, he might have worn a raincoat.

Then, I nearly became sick myself when the writer said helping this blind man, and knowing he made him feel better, “brought tears to my eyes.” It probably wasn’t tears in his eyes, but raindrops. Wasn’t the writer using an umbrella either? If after this wonderful letter, this sighted writer wasn’t using an umbrella either, well, I’d cry too.

Letters, such as this, do the disabled community a great injustice. At times, we do require assistance and we are totally capable of asking for it. But please, save your pity for a stray kitten or the growing extinction of the whale. But we are people, capable people with just a slightly greater challenge. So please, let us live AS people, dignified people because pity is something we don’t need or want.

Allen Maynard

Student who is blind