People with disabilities have abilities too and that is what this

When Mary McAleese, the former President of Ireland, proclaimed, “People with disabilities have abilities too and that is what this course is all about—making sure those abilities blossom and shine so that all the dreams you have can come true,” she was not merely speaking of inclusion; she was redefining the very meaning of human strength. In her words, one hears the voice of compassion joined with the ancient wisdom that every soul, no matter its burden or limitation, carries a spark of divine power within. It is a reminder to humanity that ability is not measured by perfection, but by perseverance; not by comparison, but by the courage to rise and shine against adversity.

McAleese’s words emerged from her long devotion to education, equality, and peace. She lived in a land once divided by conflict and misunderstanding, yet she believed deeply in the healing power of community and the worth of every individual. In speaking of people with disabilities, she sought to awaken society from the blindness of prejudice—to turn eyes away from what people cannot do, and toward the infinite wonder of what they can. Her quote reflects an ancient truth: that even those who appear weakest in the eyes of the world often possess strengths unseen, gifts forged in struggle, and dreams as vast as any other heart’s.

The ancients knew this well. In the story of Homer, the poet himself was said to be blind, yet he became the visionary who gave the world The Iliad and The Odyssey. Though his eyes could not behold the sunlight, his mind saw galaxies of heroes and gods, his heart heard the music of destiny. His “disability” became his passage to immortality. So it is with all who dare to believe that limitation can be the birthplace of greatness. The world often mistakes difference for deficiency, but those who see through the eyes of wisdom know that diversity of strength is the foundation of creation.

McAleese’s phrase “making sure those abilities blossom and shine” is more than a metaphor—it is a call to action. Just as a gardener tends each seed according to its nature, society must nurture every person according to their unique gifts. For within every life there lies a hidden seed of excellence, waiting only for recognition and care. When given trust, education, and encouragement, that seed grows, blooms, and lights the world. To deny this nurturing is to rob humanity of its richest harvest; to provide it is to participate in the miracle of transformation.

There is a heroic beauty in this idea: that every person, regardless of circumstance, is both worthy and capable of greatness. History abounds with those who proved this truth—Helen Keller, deaf and blind, yet a teacher to the sighted and a voice to the voiceless; Stephen Hawking, whose body was imprisoned by disease, yet whose mind traveled through the infinite realms of time and space. Such lives are the living proof of McAleese’s vision: that when given the chance to shine, human potential knows no boundary.

From her words, we learn a lesson for all ages: to see ability where others see limitation. This vision requires humility and faith—humility to admit that we do not see the full measure of another’s worth, and faith to believe that every life holds purpose. The wise and compassionate do not pity; they empower. They do not speak of what cannot be done; they ignite what can. For when one person’s light is allowed to shine, the whole world grows brighter.

And so, let these words guide all who hear them: become a cultivator of human potential. Wherever you find someone overlooked or underestimated, be the one who believes, the one who lifts, the one who opens the gate for their dreams to enter the world. Do not measure people by their limitations, but by their capacity to love, to learn, and to contribute. When we act in this spirit, we fulfill not only McAleese’s call, but the timeless commandment of humanity itself—to see the divine in one another.

Thus, may her wisdom endure like a flame in the dark: that every person, regardless of ability, carries the light of possibility, and it is our shared duty to ensure that this light is not extinguished by ignorance, but allowed to blossom and shine—until all dreams, no matter how improbable, find their wings and soar.