The Hawk Can Soar

Societal Perceptions of Disability

What is Societal Perceptions of Disability? -Societal Perceptions of Disability is Functioning of the individual with disability in the society, as well as the perception of this individual by other members of the society may depend on an array of factors, such as the type and severity of disability, personality traits of the individual, available physical environment adaptations, financial resources.

The article touches on how society perceives and reacts to people with disabilities. The author's experiences, including the constant limp and the impact of the word "disabled," shed light on societal attitudes toward disability.

Text Examples:

The Unpredictable Nature of Life

Some examples of this topic is, "A colleague at work points out my constant limp. I shrug." A colleague is pointing out her disability.

Another piece of text, ". A woman with a rollator moving slowly through

the world." This is how some of society views her and her disibility.

A last peice of evidence, "My father and grandfather didn’t even know they had a

disease" Her family didnt see that they had a disease and other people didt think so either so society didnt have much effect on them.

What is the Unpredictable Nature of Life? - The Unpredictable Nature of Life is Life is indeed unpredictable, which means that it can be full of surprises, both good and bad

The article explores the unpredictable nature of life and how one's circumstances can change drastically. The author's journey from an active life to one marked by disability underscores the theme of life's unpredictability.

The Hawk Can Soar

Text Examples:

Hope and Symbolism

What is Hope and Symbolism? - Hope and Symbolism is finding hope in yourself and not giving up.

An example from the text, "But over time, it happens more and more frequently. And other

things come too, in silent waves: I stiffen like a tree trunk."

Another text example, "I tell myself that I’m working too hard. Trying to do too much" She doesnt realize that she has this rare disease so she is just confused on what is happening to her and shes making her own diagnosis.

The last example from the text states that "I have seen neurologists at Duke and Johns Hopkins. They’re

baffled" Not oly does te]he narrator not know what's wrong, but neither does the doctors.

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The encounter with the hawk serves as a symbol of hope and a potential turning point in the author's perspective. The hawk's gaze represents a moment of inspiration and the theme of hope amid adversity.

Emotional Impact Of Disability

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What is Emotional impact of Disability?

- The Emotional Impact of Disability is how your emotions are after you are faced with a disability and how you handle it.

Text Examples:

The author reflects on the emotional toll of living with a progressive disability. They describe moments of frustration, exhaustion, and the profound impact of losing the ability to perform everyday tasks. This theme explores the emotional aspect of disability.

Some hope that the narrator found was when,"Thus subordinated, I live. And I keep on living" The narrator found hope in herself to keep living and pushing foward.

Another piece of text is, " This idea is a chimera but it helps

me to think that I am fighting. I am a fighter. I always have been, even

when I cannot win" The narrator is hyping herself up and finding hope in herself.

The last piece of text to back this up is, " Now I think of

it as a saving grace"

By: Payton Maresca

Period 1

Text Examples:

As stated by the Author,"I cannot live my life without being overcome with profound fatigue, an exhaustion so deep and unmeasurable that I weep when I don’t have the strength to make dinner"

Also stated, "The things I have earned seem ever further away"

This text example shows her emotiinal impact of disability because she was being sarcastic about how being disabled is amazing, when ts really not. Therefore, she's explaining how it is horrible on her.

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Lastly stated that, "How we love this narrative in America! The ultimate act of bootstrapping,Links to an external site. refusing to give in to a body you cannot control and that medicine is helpless to cure."

Identity and Self-Perception

What is Identity and Self-Perception?-Identity and Self-Perception is who you are how you see yourself.

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Text Examples:

The article delves into how disability can affect one's sense of self and identity. The author discusses their desire to live as who they were before the disease and the struggle to maintain their identity in the face of physical limitations.

Resilience and Fighting Spirit

Some text examples listed in this text is, "A colleague at work points out my constant limp. I shrug." This example shows how the author is fighting still and ignoring peoples opinion.

Another text example is, "I am a fighter. I always have been, even

when I cannot win" This is proof that the author is a fighter, and she even admits to it.

The last text example is, "Thus subordinated, I live. And I keep on living." This example shows that she is fighting it and living.

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What is Resilience and Fighting Spirit?- Resilience and Fighting spirit is when you refuse to give in and keep fighting.

Text Examples:

Despite the challenges, the author demonstrates resilience and a fighting spirit. They refuse to give in to their disability and view themselves as a fighter, highlighting the theme of resilience in the face of adversity.

As stated by the author, she was "Eventually, however, I am disabled. Disabled. Like this word is the sum total of my existence." The Author see's herself as "Disabled" for the rest of her life, and which she will be.

Also summarized by the Author, "I cannot live

my life without being overcome with profound fatigue, an exhaustion

so deep and unmeasurable that I weep when I don’t have the strength

to make dinner" She is describing how she cant do the things that she used to be able to do in her daily life.

Lastly summarized by the Author, "Weirdly, I begin to understand that I am but a

part of my body. My body is not a part of me." This describes how she cannot control her body anymore and how she sees herself.

Acceptance and Adaptation

Physical Struggle

What is Acceptance and Adaptation? -Acceptance and Adaption is when you finally accept, meaning that you just say "well ths is what im facing so I must just take it" and adapt to it, such as getting used to it or making your own way to get through it.

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What is Physical Struggle?

-Physical structure is when somebody physically struggles to do something from being either too weak or tired.

As the disease progresses, the author grapples with the idea of accepting their condition and adapting to a new way of life. The theme of acceptance is central as the author confronts the reality of their disability.

The article vividly portrays the physical challenges faced by the author due to their rare motor neuron disease. These challenges include muscle weakness, tremors, stiffness, and difficulty walking, which are central to the theme of physical struggle.

Text Evidence:

Examples from the text:

As the Author states, " It doesn’t matter that I said I would fight to stay upright. It doesn’t matter that I have resisted the wheelchair. My body has other plans and it doesn’t consult me." This explains how she said that "her body has other plans and it doesnt consult her" means that she accepted that she cant control her body, so shes adapting to it.

Also stated by the author, "Leaning against my car in a gas station by the side of a highway, pumping gas" The other was explaining earlier in the story how she had no balance, so with this text evidence, she is accepting to having to no balance and is adapting to it and finding ways to stabilize herself, such as leaning against her car pumping gas.

Lastly, the author states that, "It begins for me in my 30s. When I’m out running, my right foot goes out from under me, then comes back into position. It’s nothing." This shows that the author accepted her foot popping in-and-out while running and she has gotten used to it and calls it "nothing".

Some physical struggle that the Author admitted to facing was how, "I have to bring my right hand up to my waist to create my own version of balance". This shows that she has no strength in her body to keep her body balanced.

The Author also explaned how ,"I cannot easily rise from a chair. I cannot climb a flight of stairs. I cannot live my life without being overcome with profound fatigue, an exhaustion so deep and unmeasurable that I weep when I don’t have the strength to make dinner." This is another example of physical struggle from her body being too weak.

Lastly, the Author states that she was, "holding onto the side of my car for balance". She has to lean on her car for balance while she's pumping her cars gas because shes too weak to balance standing up.