Disability

Blog 12

Children with disabilities face prejudice all the time. If they are at a mainstream school, their peers may never have encountered anyone like them before. The behaviour of children in groups can mean that, following their natural leader, the other children in a class may react by teasing those with disabilities, when all they need is to be accepted. Teasing can so easily descend into torment.

Education is the key to understanding disability and how it affects young lives. When a sensitive teacher is in charge, it can become the gateway to genuine empathy.

In my career as a paediatrician, I met many young people who were born with a wide variety of differences from normal. What struck me mostly was their remarkable resilience and the ways in which they made the most of their abilities. It is not unreasonable to say that many of them achieved beyond what might have been expected of them, had they been normally able.

With that mind, I wrote this poem about Kay and her gorilla friend Gertrude:

Gertrude

Kay Smith lived in the suburbs and she wasn’t very tall.

Her arms and legs were crooked and her head was rather small.

Her back was also wonky, though she didn’t really mind.

But the other girls ignored her, always leaving her behind.

Some made her life a misery, made fun of her as well.

They laughed at her deformities and tears began to swell.

Kay wanted to be stronger and she wondered what to do.

Then inspiration struck her on a visit to the zoo.

“I need to find a monkey who would like to be my friend.

Orang-utans are cuddly, but their colour wouldn’t blend.

A gorilla would be splendid, though they’re very big indeed,

But having size beside me is exactly what I need.”

She took out an advertisement and had but one reply.

“My given name is Gertrude, I could join you in July.”

When Gertrude came to stay with Kay, she just got through the door

At tea she ate her sandwiches and asked Kay Smith for more.

She said, “Just call me Gertie,” making friends with Kay at once

Agreed to go to school with her but claimed to be a dunce.

They set off Monday morning, walking boldly down the street

They said a firm “Good morning” to the folk they chanced to meet.

Arriving at the school, the other girls were stricken dumb,

But Gertrude wasn’t phased by this and, sticking up her thumb,

She said “My name is Gertie, and you know my good friend Kay.

We’ve come to school together. Hope we’ll have a friendly day.”

They sat together in their class, but Gertie couldn’t read.

So Kay began to help her, with their teacher, Mrs Steed.

The other girls were curious and wanted to take part.

Soon everyone was helping, giving Gertie a good start.

A school trip to a National Park was fun for those who went

The fact that Kay and Gertrude did made more of the event.

For Gertrude taught them forest skills and lots of useful tricks

And showed them how to make a nest with leaves and little sticks.

As weeks went by, Kay happily found everything had changed

It couldn’t have worked better than her strategy arranged.

The girls took Kay and Gertie just exactly as they were

Kay’s oddities ignored, along with Gertie’s lustrous fur.

Too soon it came, the final day when Gertrude had to go.

“My family is waiting and I can’t abide the snow.”

They said a sad farewell and promised each to keep in touch.

Kay wept when Gertie walked away, their parting was too much.

But, back at school, the girls had changed and cried when Gertie left.

To comfort Kay they gathered round, all equally bereft.

And, after that, included Kay in everything they did.

Their prejudice was banished, something we should all forbid.