Judging the Disabled: Choice or Instinct?

"Disability" by Nancy Mairs preaches acceptance of the disabled in our everyday lives and viewing disability as a normal part of life. Although she never specifically said it, Mairs's point is that we shouldn't judge the disabled and other minorities, but we should consider them equals. On the topic of judgment, I believe it's wrong to put labels on people and I try to keep an open mind. When I see someone in a wheelchair or someone with a mental disability, I consider what they've been through and think of them as regular people. I'd like to say that I don't judge, but even after all that, I know I judge everyone I see upon a single glance. Everyone makes unconscious judgments, whether they are aware of it or not. Some people may think they are above judging others if they are open minded and make an effort to see past differences, but even the least judgmental person judges everyone they see. The fact that we have to remind ourselves that a person in a wheelchair can play basketball, or that a mentally disabled person has favorite foods and tv shows just like everyone else, shows that we are trying to convince ourselves not to judge them. We only need to do that because we initially judge them when we first see them. If you're still not convinced that people judge no matter what, consider this: you are walking down the street and you pass a person in a wheelchair. Your first though will be to notice the wheelchair, and then you might feel pity or sympathy for the person. Even though that's not negative, you just judged the person in the wheelchair by thinking that, because of his disability, he leads a lower quality life and deserves your pity. Of course, this isn't true; people with disabilities still live happy lives. Their disability is just one characteristic about them that isn't necessarily pleasant. I think premature judgments are wrong, and that people should try to put them in a mindset to avoid it as much as possible, but I believe people cannot help judging to some extent.