The First and Final Paradigm

A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE CAN CHANGE A LIFE...Many millions of people in the U.S. alone have one or more disabilities, sometimes resulting in their being viewed as different and sometimes as less worthy of consideration, or being treated differently than those viewed as "normal." But the reality that those with disabilities are fundamentally the same as everyone else is one of the lessons learned by Keith, an average man much like most others. It was during an unexpected meeting one summer afternoon with two disabled people and their caregiver, when Keith came to the realization that rather than labeling the disabled, it is better to "disable the label." And it was during that conversation that Keith learned much more about some of the other fundamentals of life that had kept him for years as a prisoner of his own making. Though seldom consciously acknowledged as he lived his life each day, Keith learned that his words and actions, and especially his thoughts, created the outlook that defined his life. And he learned about the inherent power of conscience, and how it is engaged in a lifelong, internal war being fought on a landscape that is cognitive. He learned that what is at stake, for each of us, is a destiny which results in a life of fulfillment or one of despair. Ben Nelms is a journalist in metro Atlanta. He has received a number of awards in areas such as investigative reporting, community service and environmental reporting. Prior to his time in journalism, Ben spent nearly two decades in Human Services, working in direct service, management and administrative positions with people diagnosed with developmental and other disabilities. Beyond his work in journalism, Ben also authors the website www.questionsunanswered.com.