Lots of folks have disabilities. I have dyslexia and am ADD. I have a lack of ability to gain some skills the way typical people gain skills. My daughter has CP she too has the lack of ability to gain skills the way other typical people gain skills. Neither my daughter nor I have a sever form of our disability but we both have to deal with the fact that we have difficulties others do not have. I don’t know if it’s because of disabilities that people develop special abilities and advanced skill sets or if the advanced skills are there anyway but I believe that everyone with a disability has also been given a special ability. I know that I’ve developed the ability to really listen to what people are saying and I use that skill to make a living. I don’t want to speculate what my daughter’s is although she is already a published author. You can check out her presentation at the Atlanta Jewish Book Festival this past weekend here.
If however you need proof that anyone can be a talented artist and you don’t already know who Paul Smith is, let me educate you a little before you watch this video I produced last year. Paul Smith had moderately sever CP. He was born in 1921 and lived with his parents until they passed when he moved to an assisted living facility. You can learn more about Paul Smith at PaulSmith.org.
Paul Smith – Type Writer Artist with Cerebral Palsy from Kevin Metzger on Vimeo.
As you can see Paul was an incredible artist. He found his ability without education, without formal training and without typical abilities and without the support available today. Paul is an inspiration and to me, he is proof that we all have our Special Abilities even with our “disabilities.”