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Student: Miriam Fernanda Ancieta Course: Discourse Analysis - 4th B Professor: Noelia Tintilay Date: 06/May/2013

Disabled or Handicapped?

According to the World Health Organization, a disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from any impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being.1 There is another way to look at the term "disability": by considering the degree of inability that a person experiences. In other words, if a person is completely unable to do something, then that would be considered a disability. If, on the contrary, the person is just limited in doing something, then that is considered a handicap. The disabled as well as the handicapped people can be classified as totally dependent, partly dependent, and totally independent. To illustrate this classification, three people with different disabilities will be introduced.

Firstly, an example of a totally dependent person with disability is Rick Hoyt, an American man from Massachusetts who has cerebral palsy. He acquired this disability due
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Difference Between Disability & Handicap | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6141081_difference-between-disabilityhandicap.html#ixzz2Rsd1zZGT

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to the lack of oxygen at the moment of his birth when his umbilical cord became twisted around his neck. This caused the blockage of oxygen flow and, as a result, his brain cannot send messages to his muscles. Despite the fact that doctors said that Rick would not be more than a vegetable and that he should be institutionalized, Ricks parents coped with all the obstacles to raise him as normal as they could. Due to the fact that Rick cannot speak nor walk, he depends on a special computer to communicate with people and on a wheelchair to move around. These equipments meant a great change in Ricks life because they not only proved that he was intelligent but also enabled him to attend public school. What is more, at the age of 15, Rick showed a strong desire to take part in sports events together with his father, who became an athlete in order to make his sons wish become true. From then on, they have participated in many tournaments as a team, now known as the Hoyt Team. To do these activities, Rick totally depends on his father, Dick. However, Rick assures that he does not feel as a disabled person when he competes. Astonishingly, he was capable of getting a university degree. At present, he is part of a research team that is working on a project called Eagle Eyes, which involves developing a system capable of managing technological objects through eye movements.

Secondly, an example of a partly dependent person with disability is the case of Mariela Cancellieri, a woman from Crdoba, Argentina. She became blind at the moment of birth when an excess of oxygen was given to her and it burst her corneas. With the help

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of her family, she was capable of succeeding in all the endeavors she set for herself. For example, apart from being an excellent singer who gained popularity along the province of Cordoba, she was also capable of finishing her studies at secondary and university levels. With her parents help and support, she studied hard by reading from her Braille notes taken in class and also by listening to the recordings of voice made by her parents- of all the books and booklets required for each subject. It was not before her family could afford a special computer program that enabled her to read on her own than she gained more independence from her parents. At present, she is a successful translator and singer.

Finally, an example of disabled person who I consider to be independent is the case of Gonzalo Urquidi, a young man from Salta-Argentina who is deaf from birth due to a genetic incompatibility between his parents. Despite his hearing impairment, he was able to complete his basic studies. What is more, he successfully completed two study careers at superior level: he became a P.E. teacher and a cook. Now, he runs a family business that is very popular in Salta called Urquidi Eventos which offers a complete service of catering and party organization in which all his family father, mother and two siblings- participate taking different roles. He is, of course, in charge of the kitchen.

To conclude, as we have seen, there may be different degrees of disability. The cases that were provided here are examples of disabled people who are totally dependent,

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as is the case of Rick Hoyt (cerebral palsy); partially dependent, as is the case of Mariela Cancellieri (blind); and independent as is the case of Gonzalo Urquidi (deaf). It is worth to highlight that despite the fact that they have different degrees of disabilities, they are very successful people who could reach personal and professional fulfillment far beyond many non-disabled people. They are the proof that with the proper care and support, the disabled people can contribute tremendously to the society.

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Works Cited Page:

1) Difference

Between

Disability

&

Handicap

eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6141081_difference-between-disabilityhandicap.html#ixzz2Rsd1zZGT

2) Padre

hijo.

Ejemplo

de

vida

muy

emocionante

http://www.taringa.net/posts/videos/830592/Padre-e-hijo-Ejemplo-de-vida-muyemocionante.html 3) Team Hoyt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt

Peer review form n 2 Writer: Fernanda Ancieta Peer reviewer: Fernanda Cardozo 1. Did the writer successfully follow your suggestions in your original peer review? Yes, the writer follows my suggestions, it is well-organized and the examples are great! 2. What did the writer do especially well in the revision? The organization of the whole essay, the introduction gives a general idea then the writer narrows the topic to the thesis statement which depicts the categories. Really good job! 3. How and where did the organization improve?

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The organization improved in the sense that the writer separates clearly each paragraph whit a thesis stamen and then with the supportive ideas, the conclusion sum up what is being said in the introduction and in the whole essay. 4. How and where did the language (grammar and vocabulary) improve? I think that she used very formal language in the two drafts. However, there are some changes in some long sentences that are really good. 5. What did you learn from this writer about writing? What changes will you make to how you revise in the future? 6. Personally, I like very much the use of vocabulary she uses. It is very formal. The expressions are typical of an academic essay. I really enjoyed it! I can learn a lot of you!