Coleman as a Lens for Parts of the Mooney Book Essay

Coleman as a Lens for Parts of the Mooney Book - Essay Example He sought out to learn how others managed to move out of and beyond such labels by buying his short bus. He then travelled across the country in search of children who held on to dreams of beautiful and magical ways of overcoming obstacles that separate them from what is otherwise referred to as ‘the normal world’. Coleman sets out to demystify the stigma surrounding the enigma of ‘normalcy’ to shed light on the inexistence of what society has labeled normal (Brown 179--192). The deviation from normative social categories created by the ones in the majority can result into a source of stigma for anyone according to Brown. Disability should not be painted or represented positively for those with shortcomings to counter the stigma experienced in society. Instead, the positive attributes and unique gifting of everyone is what makes the universe appreciate all in it and forge a sense of oneness. This is a reflection evident in Mooney’s book when he meets Brent in chapter three, ‘The hole in the door’ (Mooney 46). The interaction is one that elicits confidence and courage to face life and defines real living as finding a person’s own way to keep on. Coleman puts it that the concept of stigma places superiority on one and inferiority on another (Brown 179--192). The sense of ‘normalcy’ is just a conception of those who consider themselves ‘normal’ preying on the idea that those who lack one or two physiological functions are ‘abnormal’. The people considering their selves superior need affirmation from those they consider inferior, which in the real sense is fallacious (Link and Phelan 363--385). Mooney in relating with the story of Brent shows how the world around children with special needs can denigrate them and curtail the achievement of their full potential. The message that the world around Brent sends him is that he is broken and has to change or be fixed somehow, something