Latinos with disabilities. Interestingly enough, I have been both all of my life but never really thought twice about the importance that they have when connected.
Last summer while attending the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation conference, I met another latina on wheels with OI. Claudia, is a success in her own right. She works, helps out her family, enjoys a good adventure and always has a smile on her face. This is the type of latino with a disability that our society should be seeing on a regular basis.
In America, being a latino is a minority and being physically disabled is one, too. But if you are both, it is either two strikes against you or two advantages in your favor.
It all depends on you.
If you are a latino with a disability and you live in America, your odds are greater at landing a job than a non latino with a disability.
Aside from the fact that you have mastered two languages, you also have the sensitivity of two cultures, actually three if you agree with the experts who claim that being disabled is a culture, and you realize how to maximize the differences between cultures.
Let’s face it, the latino culture is making an impact on the world in almost every aspect from government to entertainment.
It is up to us as latinos with disabilities to put ourselves on the map. I am sure there are many wonderful latina divas on wheels and guapo latino men on wheels.
Wheels or no wheels, latinos with disabilities add a unique blend of spices that makes the world taste good.
Email us with your comments and questions to nathasha@audacitymagazine.com .