A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Images of Disability

Jan 07, 2011
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One of the ways I get my daily news is through the MSNBC Photoblog.  I am always informed by the photos…and often moved to tears by them.  There’s just something so compelling about an image – something that strikes you in a way much different than words.

Every once in a while they have images that represent something related to disability…a new innovation, a controversial event, a display of ability that opens the mind to new possibilities, a heartwarming or infuriating story…

Here are a few of the disability-related photos I have seen on that blog over the past several months (with their accompanying captions) that have elicited a variety of thoughts and emotions.

January 5, 2011 – “About two months ago, Tzvika was run over by a lawn mower and suffered severe damage to her shell and a spinal injury that affected her ability to use her rear limbs. The wheels, attached by veterinarians at the safari, elevate the turtle to keep the shell from being worn down and enable her to walk.”

December 16, 2010 – “A man who suffers paralysis in his legs demonstrates the ‘Rewalk Exoskeleton’, which enables wheelchair users to stand, walk, and climb stairs, during it’s European launching by the Step by Step Foundation in Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona, northeastern Spain, on December 16, 2010.”

December 17, 2010 – “Nguyen Thi Ly, 9, who suffers from Agent Orange disabilities, in her home in Ngu Hanh Son district of Da Nang, Vietnam.”

November 17, 2010 – “Joelene Van Vugt of Canada, Erik Roner of the USA and eight friends perform some extreme skydiving manuevers with a wheelchair to launch their extreme sport ‘2011 Nitro Circus Live New Zealand Tour’ on November 16, 2010 in Matamata , New Zealand. “

September 6, 2010 – “Edward Nino Hernandez, left, walks with his eleven-year-old brother outside their home in Bogota September 6, 2010. Edward, 24, is 2 ft 3.46 inches tall.”

September 15, 2008 – “Lucas Prado (L) of Brazil celebrates with his guide after winning the final of the men’s 200 metre T11 classification event at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in Beijing on September 13, 2008.”

But in the end you have to look at the person, and not the disability…..



Author: Carolyn

Carolyn has lived most of her life in the Chicago area, other than the time she spent in school studying Kinesiology. She is now back in Chicago and back in school, working on her PhD in Disability Studies. Her love of physical activity started at a young age and has only grown since then.


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  3. Federal Government Plans to Boost Disability Employment
  4. Access for Athletes
  5. Dance Like You Mean It!
  • Leichlin

    Hi, I have a children’s book for you to check out. It is called “The Bravest Boy I Ever Knew”. This book is about a boy named Michael who tells about his best friend who is disabled. In this story Michael tells about the things his best friend CAN do not what he can’t. This book is great because it shows that just because someone is disabled doesn’t mean they can’t have the same likes, dislikes, talents, and interests as regular people. You can find this book on Amazon, as well as through Tate Publishing. Happy reading!

  • C.Lullo

    Thank you for sharing this information! I will be sure to check it out the book!