Ability
in
Disability
Francis M. Mwangi
Nkatha Muthomi
Lucy-Joy Wachira
Ability in Disability
Published in 2017 by
Queenex Publishers Ltd
P O Box 56049-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
Phone: 0727 794 498, 0715 808 200
Email: info@queenexpublishers.co.ke
queenexbooks@gmail.com
Web: www.queenexpublishers.co.ke
©Queenex Publishers Ltd, 2017
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce, store in a
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prior written permission of Queenex Publishers Limited.
ISBN: 978-9966-075-66-6
1
Joy was a hardworking and obedient girl. She was
born with only one arm, but her parents always
reminded her that disability is not inability. She
schooled at Kilimanjaro Primary School which
had a very big playground. Joy liked watching her
friends play in the field, but was hesitant to join
them. She feared that she could not play as well
as her schoolmates and that they would laugh at
her.
One day, during the school holidays, her mother
sent her to the butchery to buy meat. The butcher
wrapped the meat using a piece of newspaper. Joy
liked reading very much. Once she arrived home,
she unwrapped the meat and sat under the tree
outside to read a story that was in the newspaper.
2
3
The story in the newspaper was about Carl Joseph
who was born without a left leg. He was raised in
poverty in a single parent household. It was a family
of ten children, raised by their mother within North
Florida. Carl grew up faced with many obstacles
but he did not allow himself to be discouraged.
Sports provided a platform for him to excel.
In high school, Carl played basketball, football and
athletics. In basketball, he stopped opponents`
shots and could throw the ball into the rim of
the basket. In football, he was appointed as the
captain. He played very well by hopping to kick
the ball with his one leg. He could move with the
ball and attack too. In athletics, he was the district
champion in high jump.
People used to ask Carl why he excelled in all the
games he played. He told his friends that he was
inspired by his mother.
He said, “My mother never felt sorry for me, and
I never felt sorry for myself. Believe you can do it
and God does the rest.”
4
Carl became very famous and was admired by
many people. He was declared a hero of all time
by his school and the State of Florida.
On the newspaper cutting, was a picture of Carl
Joseph playing basketball with a friend. Below the
picture, it was written “A one-legged athlete in the
Hall of Fame gives hope to people with disabilities.
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and
never quit” .
Joy was very inspired after reading the story. She
read the story to her mother who also liked it very
much.
‘‘You see my daughter,’’ her mum told her. ‘‘A person
without one leg can play sports.’’
‘‘Yes mum, like Carl Joseph did and became a hero.’’
Joy responded.
‘‘He did that despite of his disability.’’ her mum
continued.
‘‘Now I understand why you always tell me that
disability is not inability.’’ Joy said smiling.
5
A one-legged athlete in the Hall of Fame gives hope to
people with disabilities. Anything is possible if you put your
mind to it and never quit.
6
Her mother responded with a smile. ‘‘My clever Joy,
I know you can also succeed in anything if you put
your mind to it and never give up.’’
When the holiday ended and the school opened,
Joy shared the story of Carl Joseph with her games
teacher. She asked her teacher whether she could
play and participate in athletics. The games
teacher was impressed with the story. He told her
and other children to go to the field and practise
during the physical education lesson.
The teacher led the pupils in some enjoyable
activities, instructing and participating with them.
‘‘Be in two rows, receive the ball and jump from
hoop to hoop while holding the ball between your
knees like this.’’ He had arranged ten hoops in a
line in front of each group.
The teacher instructed and demonstrated how to
move with the ball.
7
8
‘‘When you finish, throw the ball to the next child
in line, and run to the back of the line.’’
The children followed the instructions and seemed
to be enjoying the activity.
‘‘Now let us jump along the hoops with the ball
held between the knees again. But this time, we
will do it in twos while holding hands.’’ The teacher
said when all the children had finished jumping the
first round.
The children continued to perform the activity,
excited at the new slightly difficult task. When it
was Joy’s turn, the games teacher said. ‘‘I will pair
up with you Joy.’’
He held her by the functional hand, each of them
with a ball held between their knees. ‘‘Let us go!’’
They jumped together all the way to the last hoop.
They turned to the direction of the other children
and threw the balls to the next pair of pupils. Joy
was throwing the ball with one hand. The ball
reached close to the child at the front of the line.
9
‘‘Well done,’’ the teacher said to Joy. The other
children admired Joy. In the next round, Joy was
paired with one pupil. She was more relaxed this
time and other children interacted with her more
readily.
‘‘Okay, now let us do the same activity while
moving in reverse, still in pairs.’’ The teacher said
and demonstrated the action, holding hands with
another pupil.
The children followed with excitement. This task
was more challenging and the pupils kept falling
backwards, laughing merrily. Joy had mastered
more confidence by this time. When her turn came,
she held her partner with her functional hand.
They jumped from one hoop to the next. When her
partner nearly lost balance, Joy supported him
and saved him from falling. The other pupils who
were watching cheered them on.
They continued all the way to the end without falling
and the children cheered more with excitement.
10
11
‘‘Wow! very good, keep it up.’’ The teacher said
to Joy and her playmate. As the game continued
many pupils were calling Joy’s name. They all
wanted to pair up with her. She felt a sense of
accomplishment. She did not fear playing with
other pupils anymore.
The teacher continued guiding the children. The
children played together and had a lot of fun.
‘‘Now let us do the same activity while moving
sideways, still in pairs. When we reach the last
hoop, throw the ball to the next pupil in line. Then
gallop, moving sideways to the end of the line
behind like this.’’
The school headmistress was watching keenly from
a distance. She was happy when she saw Joy and
the other children playing. She later talked to the
games teacher and they both agreed that Joy was
a strong and very determined girl.
12
‘‘It seems she was inspired by the story of Carl
Joseph.’’ The games teacher said to the headmistress,
who immediately wanted to know more about the
story.
‘‘Who is Carl Joseph?’’ The headmistress asked.
The games teacher explained the inspiring story of
the athlete with a disability who was very good
in many sports. They vowed to encourage Joy to
continue practising in various games.
Joy looked forward to every physical education
lesson with enthusiasm. She participated and
excelled in a variety of sports activities. She became
a jovial girl and was liked by other pupils. She had
many friends and the teachers grew fond of her
too.
One day, the headmistress invited a guest from
the National Paralympics Committee to talk to
the pupils and the teachers. Mr. Peter arrived very
early in the morning and found the pupils eagerly
waiting for him at the school assembly ground.
13
“Good morning pupils?’’ The headmistress greeted
them.
‘‘Good morning teacher!’’ The pupils answered in
unison.
‘‘Today we have a special guest from the National
Paralympics Committee. We welcome him to speak
to us.’’
‘‘Thank you, Mrs. Hellen,’’ started Mr. Peter. ‘‘Today
I have come to visit you to encourage all of you
to participate in sports. Sporting is healthy and
rewarding. I am happy to announce to you that your
schoolmate Joy has been chosen to participate in
the next Paralympics sports event.’’ he continued.
Many pupils had never heard of such a thing as
the Paralympics sports event. Mr. Peter explained
to them that it meant Olympic games for people
with disabilities. He told them that they needed to
use their big field to practise for sports every day.
14
15
Mr. Peter said that the children could choose to
participate and compete in different sports events.
While some could do long jump which involved
running and making a broad jump, others could be
in triple jump which involved running and making
a hop, a step and a jump.
He added that others could do high jump which
involved jumping over a high bar. He said that the
walking race would be interesting to other children
and it involves making progressive steps without
breaking contact with the ground.
He continued to mention all the other activities
that the children could do. He also mentioned that
sports activities were meant for everyone to enjoy.
Joy was overjoyed. As Mr. Peter was speaking, the
story of Carl kept coming to her mind.
The headmistress thanked the guest for encouraging
the pupils to participate in sports. She then
congratulated Joy for having been chosen to be in
the Paralympics team.
16
The children clapped for the visitor and Joy heartily.
Joy would be taken to a training camp together
with pupils with disabilities from other schools.
There, they would train together for a week and
then proceed to competition. She looked forward
to playing with new friends. She would share
with them the story of Carl Joseph and tell them
what her mother always told her; “Disability is not
inability.”
Joy took part in the International Paralympics
competition and won a gold medal.
17
18
Questions
1. Joy was a hardworking and ________________
girl.
2. Why was Joy afraid of playing with her friends
in the field?
3. What did Joy read about in the newspaper?
4. Why was Carl Joseph declared a hero of all time
by his school and the State of Florida?
5. Sports activities are meant for everyone to
__________.
6. Participation in sports is _____________ for
everyone.
7. Participation in sports makes us _____________.
8. Disability is not ________________.
9. Games for people with disabilities is called
_________________.
10. What did Joy win in the International
Paralympics competition?