verb<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n to make it easier or possible for\n(someone) to do something by offering one\u2019s services or resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Helping someone is considered a noble deed across the globe.\nBut, who decides the fact that who requires help and who does not? One of the\nbasic rules of helping someone is that it is not forced upon the one receiving\nhelp. The receiver in this case could be anyone – a child, woman, man, elderly\nor a person with disability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a society in its entirety, we have been socialised by our\nancestors and movies that helping someone (without their consent) is fine. For\nexample, helping a person with visual impairment cross a road. While the\nindividual helping might have done it out of courtesy or a genuine feeling of\nempathy, but did the person with disability outrightly ask for that help\nthough? We don\u2019t know the answer since consent was not sought before offering\ntheir help. Allow me to put this into perspective. Imagine, you are at a\ncrosswalk waiting to cross it. A stranger walks by, holds your hand and starts\ncrossing the road. How does this thought feel? Infuriating? Probably\nuncomfortable? A person with disability goes through a similar fleet of\nemotions when an unsolicited help is thrust upon them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that this is in reference to people with physical disabilities and not invisible or intellectual disabilities. Having worked with quite a few adults with physical disabilities, it has come to my realisation that more times than one would care to admit, they have refused help but always appreciated the offer for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is nothing but mindfulness at its most basic form.\nBeing mindful of someone\u2019s individuality, disability and capabilities is the\nleast one can do to truly help someone. The first step towards reaching out\noften arises from the fleeting feeling of mindfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How about starting today, we practice mindfulness and a little awareness before we set out to help someone? Go on and help a person in need but right before you take action, pause for a moment there and just ask the person you are about to help (regardless of their disability, age, or gender) if they require the assistance you are offering. In case they answer in affirmation, go ahead and help them with all your heart. It would be the most fulfilling experience in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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