Recently, I witnessed something that broke my heart. A person in a wheelchair was struggling to navigate through a crowded street, but not one person stopped to help. People simply stepped aside, avoided eye contact, and went on with their day, as if that person didn’t exist. It made me wonder: when did we stop seeing people with disabilities as human beings? They have dreams, emotions and aspirations just like the rest of us. Yet, time and time again, we ignore their humanity, treating them as though they are invisible or lesser.
We all deserve dignity, respect and equal treatment, regardless of the challenges we face. People with disabilities are not asking for special treatment. They are simply asking to be seen and heard, to be given the same opportunities and respect that everyone else receives. It’s time for us to stop ignoring them, stop looking away when they need help, and start treating them as the valuable human beings they are. They deserve nothing less.
Dua Gaffar
Karachi
