UNIT 2. THE ACHILLES HEEL

DISABILITY


Disability refers to the condition of being physically or mentally disabled or challenged. The physically disabled are those physically handicapped such as the crippled, the blind, the mute as well those having some form of physical deformities. Those mentally disabled suffer from mental retardation such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome among others.

There are hundrends of disabled people in Costa Rica and many face discrimination on a regular basis which takes many forms. Very few employers hire disabled people as the latter is considered more a liability than an asset in the organization. However, these fears are completely unfounded. Many a blind and hearing impaired persons have contributed tremendously to organizations they are attached to. In fact, there are many cases of how disabled personalities have done themselves proud by being their own bosses. Their success stories include those how run their own business such as shops, restaurants, handicraft centers in addition to those who have become teachers and professionals through sheer hard work and determination. Many have even become successful sports persons participating in Paralympics Games and winning medals. It is a folly to think that only physically able people can make one's country and nation proud.

In addition, in Costa Rica, public transport and government buildings are not disabled-friendly. There has to be a concerted effort to ensure the disabled have access to these places and not feel hampered in anyway.
Thus, it is high time that we accept the disabled as an important component of our society. Despite their handicap, they play an important role in our lives and at the same time the need our respect, acceptance and understanding.


VOCABULARY FROM UNIT 2
Collapsed: fell down suddenly
Crushed: presed something so hard it broke
Crutches: special sticks used under the armas to help a person walk
In store for: planned for
Landscape: a view across an area of land
Limitations: things that keep you from going beyond certain boundaries
Overcome: succeed in controlling a problem
Proof: Facts or evidence that prove that something is true
Revelation: insight; sudden realization
Scars: marks left on skin from a cut or wound
Soared: flew very high or fast
Illness: a condition in which the body or mind is harmed because an organ or part is unable to work as it usually does; a disease or sicknes
Injury: physical harm or damage done to a living thing
Shyness: the quality or state of being shy
Learning disability: one of many conditions that can have an effect on someone's ability to learn easily
Scattered: To cause to separate and go in different directions.
Peak: to reach the highest point, value, or level
Discrimination: the treatment of a person or particular group of people differently, in a way that is worse than the way people are usually treated
Landscape: a large area of countryside, usually one without many buildings or other things that are not natural
Inspiration: someone or something that gives you ideas for doing something







GRAMMAR: GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

Which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people or objects.

To understand more this topic, there´s a following video that will show how to use the gerunds and infititives