--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People didn't always see a person with a…" description: "\"People didn't always see a person with a disability who had to use a ramp or elevator as people who have been given unnecessary privileges. But I run i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/major-owens-17051_disability_people-didn-t-always-see-a-person-with-a_1717447.jpg" --- # People didn't always see a person with a disability who… ![“People didn't always see a person with a disability who had to use a ramp or elevator as people who have been given unnecessary privileges. But I run into that often now. People are saying, 'Why do we have to go to great expense for these people?'” quote by Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/major-owens-17051_disability_people-didn-t-always-see-a-person-with-a_1717447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/major-owens-17051_disability_people-didn-t-always-see-a-person-with-a_1717447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/major-owens-17051_disability_people-didn-t-always-see-a-person-with-a_1717447.jpg) > “People didn't always see a person with a disability who had to use a ramp or elevator as people who have been given unnecessary privileges. But I run into that often now. People are saying, 'Why do we have to go to great expense for these people?'” [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often questions accommodations for disabled people, viewing them as undue benefits rather than necessities. **In simple terms:** People see disability aids as extra perks. Key Takeaway Advocate for recognizing accommodations as essential rights. Themes disability rights inclusion social perception equity Mood empathetic determined Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - public policy debates - workplace accommodations - urban planning - education settings - healthcare facilities Key Concepts civil rights accessibility social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we shift perception from privilege to right? - What policies ensure fair access without stigma? A Different Perspective Some argue costs outweigh benefits, overlooking long-term societal gains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability/) [Disability Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability-use-1305742/) [Elevator People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevator-people-1305743/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Person Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-disability-599760/) [Ramp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ramp/) [Ramp Elevator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ramp-elevator-1305744/) [Unnecessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [As a person with cerebral palsy who walks with crutches, people have the assumption that I've had to overcome a lot of obstacles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-walloch/as-a-person-with-cerebral-palsy-who-walks-with-crutches-people-have/) [Greg Walloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-walloch/) > [Life is not as easy as it could be for a person with a disability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/life-is-not-as-easy-as-it-could-be-for-a-person-with-a-disability/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [What's been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/what-s-been-important-in-my-understanding-of-myself-and-others-is-the/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [I couldn't fart in an elevator without people wanting to sue me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-morrison/i-couldn-t-fart-in-an-elevator-without-people-wanting-to-sue-me/) [Tommy Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-morrison/) > [“People can only understand their own pain. Even a genuine desire to help a person with a disability can become a burden or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoki-higashida/people-can-only-understand-their-own-pain-even-a-genuine-desire-to/) [Naoki Higashida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naoki-higashida/) > [I feel like every person has a disability in some way. Whether you're dyslexic or Republican or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-blue/i-feel-like-every-person-has-a-disability-in-some-way-whether-you-re/) [Josh Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-blue/) > [I like people who lead unusual lives, and very often a person with a disability fits into that category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bradford/i-like-people-who-lead-unusual-lives-and-very-often-a-person-with-a/) [Arthur Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bradford/) > [Every person with a disability has a slightly different kind of disability. Not everybody has the same problems. Usually the wheelchairs are the wheelchairs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/every-person-with-a-disability-has-a-slightly-different-kind-of/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [These days the technology can solve our problems and then some. Solutions may not only erase physical or mental deficits but leave patients better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/these-days-the-technology-can-solve-our-problems-and-then-some/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [The whole community of people with disabilities was alive, politically alive. I give Justin Dart credit for that. He traveled to every state in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/the-whole-community-of-people-with-disabilities-was-alive-politically/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [It was the best route to get folks to understand segregation fast. Civil rights and women's rights had a clear history. Making the transition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/it-was-the-best-route-to-get-folks-to-understand-segregation-fast/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [I will veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts to domestic and defense spending. There will be no easy off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-will-veto-any-effort-to-get-rid-of-those-automatic-spending-cuts-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Best hope for what, Catman? Death? Bankruptcy? You know, my life was going along…well, rather crappily, to be honest, but at least no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/best-hope-for-what-catman-death-bankruptcy-you-know-my-life-was-going/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Major Owens > [I have a great deal of respect and admiration for people who put themselves on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/i-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-and-admiration-for-people-who-put/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [We need to get ready for a world where terrorism will not ever fully go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/we-need-to-get-ready-for-a-world-where-terrorism-will-not-ever-fully/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Education technology is very important because we have a massive challenge in public schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/education-technology-is-very-important-because-we-have-a-massive/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Excitement in education and student productivity, the ability to get a result that you want from students, go together and cannot be separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/excitement-in-education-and-student-productivity-the-ability-to-get-a/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [High gas prices are eating away at consumer's disposal income and could lead to a further economic downturn, especially for those whose livelihood depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/high-gas-prices-are-eating-away-at-consumer-s-disposal-income-and/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Washington has been ignoring this issue for too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/washington-has-been-ignoring-this-issue-for-too-long/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Technology tools such as laptops are the kind of help that we need. A program that provides laptops for all youngsters would close a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/technology-tools-such-as-laptops-are-the-kind-of-help-that-we-need-a/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [The ownership of computers in the home is far less than the statistics show, because usually when the computer breaks down once, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/the-ownership-of-computers-in-the-home-is-far-less-than-the/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [It was the best route to get folks to understand segregation fast. Civil rights and women's rights had a clear history. Making the transition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/it-was-the-best-route-to-get-folks-to-understand-segregation-fast/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Therefore, you are not training young people for the world of today and the world of tomorrow unless you are doing proven technology training.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/therefore-you-are-not-training-young-people-for-the-world-of-today/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [We have to start with a ban on the manufacturing and import of handguns. From there we register the guns which are currently owned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/we-have-to-start-with-a-ban-on-the-manufacturing-and-import-of/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [It is very difficult to get legislation passed. But then the danger always is that you have no power at all if you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/it-is-very-difficult-to-get-legislation-passed-but-then-the-danger/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Children are already accustomed to a world that moves faster and is more exciting than anything a teacher in front of a classroom can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/children-are-already-accustomed-to-a-world-that-moves-faster-and-is/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Education technology and school construction go together. Modernization, updating education facilities, and making a capital investment in education are all included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/education-technology-and-school-construction-go-together/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [It's a sad day when the leaders of the free world engage in such deception and trickery. I voted against this unnecessary war and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/it-s-a-sad-day-when-the-leaders-of-the-free-world-engage-in-such/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) [Explore all 38 Major Owens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) ## More Disability quotes > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“She would prove to everyone she could do everything. She wouldn’t let her disability be an excuse, wouldn’t give anyone reason to pity her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-grace-davis/she-would-prove-to-everyone-she-could-do-everything-she-wouldn-t-let/) [Liz Grace Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-grace-davis/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [“Consider this: the US economy created 2.4 million jobs in the three years beginning in June 2009. In the same period, 3.3 million Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-ferguson/consider-this-the-us-economy-created-2-4-million-jobs-in-the-three/) [Niall Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-ferguson/) > [“Every EDS patient knows that one of the hardest parts of our day is the moment we open our eyes and waken into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bihovsky/every-eds-patient-knows-that-one-of-the-hardest-parts-of-our-day-is/) [Michael Bihovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bihovsky/) > [I'm just a man on a mission, to prove my disability hasn't won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/i-m-just-a-man-on-a-mission-to-prove-my-disability-hasn-t-won/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [I love my disability. It is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/i-love-my-disability-it-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [“He took the teapot and poured two cups. She was grateful. And also frustrated. Not being able to walk was annoying, and that emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/he-took-the-teapot-and-poured-two-cups-she-was-grateful-and-also/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [When people say there are people who are faking it, if I had a choice I wouldn't want to have a disability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kadeena-cox/when-people-say-there-are-people-who-are-faking-it-if-i-had-a-choice/) [Kadeena Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kadeena-cox/) > [We think we know what it's all about; we think that disability is a really simple thing, and we don't expect to see disabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/we-think-we-know-what-it-s-all-about-we-think-that-disability-is-a/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [“I wanted to share the realities of living with a disability since birth. My book is my attempt to promote increased inclusion and greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-torreno/i-wanted-to-share-the-realities-of-living-with-a-disability-since/) [Stephanie Torreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-torreno/) > [Woman has so long been subject to the disabilities and restrictions with which her progress has been embarrassed that she has become enervated, her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/woman-has-so-long-been-subject-to-the-disabilities-and-restrictions/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [It feels amazing to be a role model for people with and without disabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-potter/it-feels-amazing-to-be-a-role-model-for-people-with-and-without/) [Lauren Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-potter/) > [I didn't know anything was wrong with me when I was growing up. 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