“Differences Are OK”

Article

Dictionary

autism(noun)a condition that is characterized by difficulty communicating and relating to others

gender(noun)a person's sex--male or female

  1. What is the main idea and thesis of the article?

2.Which details support the main idea?

WASHINGTON, D.C.(Achieve3000, July 17, 2006). What isdiversity? One dictionary defines it as "the condition of being different." In reality, everyone is different and unique, and that's why celebrating diversity is important to understanding what every individual has to offer. October is Diversity Awareness Month, a time to learn about and gain respect for diversity.

Diversity comes in many forms—it can be related to race, gender, culture, religion, or economics, just to name a few. There are two forms of diversity that are sometimes overlooked: age and disability.

Equality and Age

AP Photo

In the 1960s, the government conducted a study and found that some companies were discriminating against people over age 40. Companies sometimes fired or refused to hire people based on age. Sometimes, they treated their older employees differently than their younger employees.

In 1967, in response to these findings, the government passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The law states that a person cannot be hired, fired, or denied a promotion or assignment based on age. Despite this, many people over 40 report having trouble finding new jobs.

Age does not have to be a barrier, however. Here are some examples of people who did not let age get in their way.

At age 86, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens still holds his post on the nation's highest court. Supreme Court justices are appointed in their 50s and 60s, after decades of experience. They have their jobs for life or until they decide to retire; many justices have remained on the court well into their 80s, making decisions that have an impact on the entire country.

 African Americans were not allowed to play in the major leagues for much of Satchel Paige's career—as a result, Paige did not play on a major league team until he was in his 40s. By then, he had already gained a reputation as one of the nation's best pitchers. Born around 1906 (no one was ever really sure of his age), Paige did not retire until 1965, when he was about 59 years old.

 Gloria Stuart began acting in movies in 1932, but she was not nominated for an Oscar until 1997—this was for her role inTitanic. Since the 87-year-old was playing a 101-year-old in the movie, she had to wear make-up so that she would look old enough!

Equality and Ability

AP Photo

In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects people with disabilities against discrimination and gives them equal access to employment and public property. It recognizes that it is unjust to deny a person certain opportunities based on a disability.

Adisabilityis an impairment that interferes with a major life activity. Life activities include walking, speaking, breathing, seeing, hearing, using the hands, or learning. Being unable to do any of these things is only one part of a person's life. People who are disabled are people first, with a wide range of talents, skills, and personalities. While there are some things they cannot do, there is plenty that they can do—just like everyone else.

Here are some examples of people with disabilities who have made notable accomplishments and contributions.

 Erik Weihenmayer lost his sight at age 13, but he did not let that stop his adventurous spirit. Weihenmayer began rock climbing when he was 16 and worked his way up to climbing higher and higher peaks. Then, when he was 32, Weihenmayer became the first blind person to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

 Stephen Hawking is one of the world's more brilliant and respected physicists. Professor Hawking studies the universe and its contents, and he has come up with several important theories about them. Hawking has not let anything stand in the way of his work—not even Lou Gehrig 's disease. Hawking is almost completely paralyzed and must speak through a voice synthesizer. This has not stopped him from traveling, making speeches, and writing popular science books.

 Seventeen-year-old Jason McElwain loves basketball, and he hasn't let autism stop him from being involved in it. McElwain's enthusiasm made him a beloved manager of his high school basketball team. As a reward for Jason's dedication, his coach called him into the final game of the regular season. McElwain didn't disappoint, scoring 20 points in just four minutes!

Understanding diversity means two things. It means appreciating and respecting what makes people unique and recognizing what people have in common, regardless of their differences.