Community Attitudes
I follow several blogs written by people with a disability. I have shared them with you on occasion. I came across this song and video written and sung by Dana Mase which was posted on one of them.
This is a powerful song about the institutionalization of people with disabilities. I am glad that era is over – at least in Canada. We have come a long way. As powerful as this song is, I cannot catagorically condemn people in the past for making these terrible decisions. Parents had little supports to them. Society and doctors were telling them what to do. If condemnation is needed, then it has to go so much beyond the parents and families, and to all of the community around.
It does take community attitutudes and support to create wholesome places where all are welcome – regardless of their abilities. That is what cbm Canada is all about – changing communities so that all are welcome.
Here are the words of this song….
Dana Mase – She Never Knew She Never Knew [Acoustic Version] lyrics
She never knew about the tooth fairy She never knew about first kisses Do you blame the mother that chose neglect or Oh Arline, Oh Arline She never knew about Sunday mornings She never knew what it’s like to help her Do you blame the mother that chose neglect or She was sent to live in the middle of nowhere Oh Arline Bridge: She was a little girl with dreams and smiles I met Arline at her group home Too late to blame the mother that chose neglect She was sent to live in the middle of nowhere Oh Arline, Oh Arline. |
