I am ugly why some give me that sick look. I am invisible why some ignore me. I stink why some move miles away. Some call me deaf. Some call me useless. Some call me dumb. Some call me a retard. Some treat me as if I have a disease. Before they saw me I’ve had the best, the richest, and the famous smile in my face. They’ve seen them smile on screen. Before they saw me I've talked to the best, the richest, and the famous in person. They’ve talked to them on the internet. Before they saw me I've had the best, the richest, and the famous ask me to sit by them. They’ve sat with a picture of them by their side. I've owned a million dollar house. They rent a house. I've owned a million dollar boat. They own a surf board. I've owned a helicopter. They own a kite. I've owned a Lamborghini. They own a Lada. I've travelled the world. They've travelled their country. I've met the best in the world. They've met the best in their country. I’m in a wheelchair now. The closest they will get is a ride in a wheelbarrow. I walk in a walking frame now. The closest they will get is crutches. I walk with a leg brace & a limp now. They walk without a leg brace & a limp. I played lots of sports, but now I’m just one of them on the side line. I have barriers now. They have none. I struggle to do the most basic things in life, things I could once do with ease, things they can do with ease. I take pills for the rest of my life now. They take pills for a headache. My dreams are miles away now. Theirs are right next to them. If only they read what my life was like before, it will surprise them, and it will tell them there was more to me than what they saw. Before I ended up like this I use to discriminate the disabled, look down at the weak, ugly, and odd. I made fun of the disabled, weak, ugly, and odd....Anything for a good laugh. One night a friend & I stopped to help a few strangers, but thanks to that night it changed what I thought of the disabled, weak, ugly, and odd. When I was in that rehab centre I met disabled people who lived a life I wish I had. I met plumbers, shearers, cops, lawyers, etc. All who have a mental and/or physical disability now. I met rich people whose family main concern was their wealth and not them. I’ve met those who could speak many languages, but now they struggle to say one word. I had family members and strangers who knew nothing about disabilities talk to me as if they had a Masters Degree in disabilities. I had family members and strangers talk loudly to me as if I was deaf, but yet did they know they were making me deaf. I had family members and strangers who thought they knew what was best for me, but really they only knew what was best for them. So much I wanted to do & try by myself, but so much I couldn't do without their consent. I needed to know for myself what my strength and weaknesses were, and I wasn't gonna know if they didn't know. Since living life as a disabled, life is harder to live now than it was before I was disabled. Disrespect waits for me every day. Psychological abuse waits for me every day. Hardship waits for me every day. The only time I get none of that is when I’m around people with the same physical and/or mental disability as I. They hear it. They see it. They read it. They live with them. They work with them. They help them. It doesn't mean they know everything about it. The disabled world is a world they will never truly know until they wear the shoes. I try to hide it, I try to deny it, but the more I try the more it stands out. This world I live now has made me respect the disabled, weak, ugly, and odd. This is a world I’m sorry I discriminated. One day....Any time....Any place....For no apparent reason, they could end-up on the HMS Disabled. They dare not say it will never happen to them, because that’s what I said until I woke up from a 2 week induced coma. Karma can be a bastard when it wants to be aye!