雙語美文：有特殊需要的人
My two sons are all grown up now.
我的兩個兒子如今都已經長大成人
They are 32 and 27 years old this year.
一個32歲，一個今年27歲了
Yet they both still have the minds of children.
然而，在心智上他們都還像是孩子
Autism has limited their intellectual growth over the years
多年來，孤獨症限制了他們的智力發育
and they still need to be looked after
他們仍需要被人看護
24 hours a day,
一天24小時
7 days a week.
一週7天
When I was a boy
當我自己還是個小男孩的時候
the term used for people like my sons
對那些症狀和我兒子類似的人
was Mentally Retarded.
人們慣用的說法是，智力發育遲緩
By the time I was an adult
當我成爲成年人之後
the term had switched to Mentally Handicapped.
這種病症的說法變成了智力殘疾
Later
隨後
this was changed again to Mentally Challenged.
稱謂又變成了，智商收到挑戰的人
None of these terms truly defined them, however.
不過，這些說法都不能準確的定義他們
They are so much more than these labels.
他們的人性比這些人格標籤要豐富的多
These days
如今
the newest term is
最新的說法是
people with Special Needs.
有特殊需要的人
I like this one better than the older ones,
比起那些老舊的說法，我更喜歡這一個
because it is not only kinder
因爲它不僅更加友善
but more accurate.
也更加準確
My sons do have Special Needs
我的兒子們確實有特殊需要
but they also have Special Gifts.
但他們也有特殊的天賦
My oldest boy may only be able to talk about certain things.
我的大兒子或許只能說出關於特定事物的少數字詞
Autism has limited his learning and interests.
自閉症已經限制了他的學習能力和興趣培養
But when he greets people by name
但他也會記住親友的名字，並且對他們打招呼
there is a contagious happiness in his mood and manner.
他的情緒和性情裏都有一種具有感染力的幸福感
He gives out love
他會給予愛
and hugs far more freely than I do.
他豪無掛礙的擁抱別人，比我更欣然如此
And he always leaves the people he meets feeling better.
他總能讓遇到他的人得到安慰
My youngest boy doesn’t speak much at all.
我的小兒子少言寡語
He is lost in his own world most of the time.
大多數時間，他都沉浸在自己的世界裏
Sometimes he even has fits
有時他會突然爆發情緒
where he will cry
會哭鬧
and hit himself.
會打自己
But he also has an ability for laughter and joy
但他也會歡笑，也有喜悅
that is far beyond anything I possess.
這樣的歡笑和喜悅比我擁有的任何東西都要珍貴
Often
時常
after he finishes crying
當他哭完了
his happiness will immediately return
他的幸福感也會立刻回來
where I would be lost in a mood for hours.
而我則會接連幾個小時沉浸在悲傷的情緒之中
In truth
事實上
my two Special Needs sons
我兩個有特殊需要的兒子
have taught me more about how to live
教會了我如何生活
and how to love
如何去愛
than I could have ever learned on my own.
比我自己一生所能學到的還要多
The fact is
事實上
all of us in this life have Special Needs.
生活中每一個人都有特殊的需要
All of us also have Special Gifts.
每一個人都有特殊的天賦
It is up to us
我們有義務
to share our Gifts.
用自己的天賦與他人分享
It is up to us
我們有義務
to meet each other’s Needs.
滿足彼此的需要
It is up to us
我們有義務
to treat each other with kindness and love.
用善意和愛對待對方
Remember,
記住
we are all one family here.
我們是世界上的一家人
We are all Children of the same mother nature.
我們都是大自然母親的孩子
