Articles

Gifted
How do we truly measure ability?

“Could that not be tested beforehand?” a mother of a child with Down syndrome was asked. It was a simple comment that hurt in multiple ways. It hurt because it treats a beloved child like a product that came with defects. It hurt because it makes parents feel guilty. It hurt because of the implied idea of human beings as only those who are productive and intelligent. What do we know about the value of life, and how do we measure it? By a successful career? Or by the happiness that someone irradiates, the love that every human being evokes and gives back, in many different ways? Being part of a community means welcoming all of its members, regardless of their abilities, and encourages everyone to grow and flourish