Let Them In

It is amazing what can happen when you look beyond what you think you know about someone.

I am continually flabbergasted at the abilities of people with so called disabilities.

This morning I watched as Amelia Abel, a young woman with Downs Syndrome, held her own on live television.

Marc Mullins at KMTR invited us on his morning show to talk about the Look Me In The Eye Campaign.

She has become a voice for many who are voiceless. Amelia can put words to feelings where others may not have that special ability.

To watch Amelia Abel, come alive on TV or on the radio as she talks about the things that matter, I have to wonder how long all of that stuff has been bottled up inside her.

It also causes me to wonder, how frustrated people like my brother-in-law Chip Diehm must feel because he has no voice and must have people like the rest of us, speak out for him.

Oregon is the only state in the country to close all of its institutions that once housed people with developmental disabilities. Alaska also has no more institutions but sends its developmentally disabled folks to other state’s that still have institutions.

Not us, in Oregon we put these folks, where they need to be, with us in the community. If we truly look them in the eye and slow down to really listen to them, we will discover what is missing from our culture today.

I truly believe people like Amelia can fill in the gaps that we fail to see. They put the human into our being. They allow us to see what really matters and for a moment the world looks whole.

This is perhaps one of the most important things I have ever been involved with and it causes me to smile a lot.

Take time to look someone in the eye today if you are brave enough to do so.

And tune into KMTR News tonight and watch Amelia Abel.

On Thursday she will appear on KEZIs morning show and on KKNX radio at 8:30am.