July 18 - Maclean’s Magazine re Alberta Flood

There have been numerous pictures with glimpses of the devastation reeked by the recent floods in southern Alberta. It wasn’t too long before Maclean’s Magazine put together a comprehensive collection with accompanying text. I was surprised when several friends contacted me to say that my own picture was in the collection. (See Maclean’s Magazine, The Great Alberta Flood,  June 2013, page 45.)

Many thanks to Cheryl and Carolyn who noticed my picture among the many that were featured in this special Maclean’s issue.  The aerial photographs are quite amazing and the special Maclean’s issue is certainly a keepsake of this tumultuous time in the province’s history.

Now, I hadn’t seen the special edition until today, and although the picture itself is very clear, I was curious about the caption, which appeared below it. It read:

Military escort: Troops assist special needs people after they were flown out from the William Watson Lodge to an evacuation site in Kananaskis.

I have never really thought of myself as a person with special needs. Sometimes I describe myself as visually impaired, sometimes as legally blind and sometimes as partially sighted. Sometimes I might just say that I don’t see very well, although this is a bit of an understatement. Still, when all is said and done, I suppose that I do have some special needs.

I use a white cane or the services of a sighted guide in order to get around safely.  I use an audible screen reading program on my computer.  I enjoy hearing descriptions of things in the visual world – things that I can’t see for myself. So, I suppose that I do have some “special needs”, but it was a surprise to come across those words in print. Personally, I like to think of myself as being fairly independent. I know that Lyle dislikes being referred to as my “attendant” or “care giver”. In fact, I have heard him correct the speaker, saying that he is my husband.

Then again, perhaps we are just being overly sensitive. I try to remind myself that most people just want to be helpful. I try not to let mere words define who I am.