“What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” Mephibiboseth, the son of Jonathan and the last of the house of Saul pleads before a victorious King, David. (2 Samuel 9:8)
Jonathan and his father, King Saul, had fallen in a war against the Philistines.
Mephibosheth was a person living with a disability: “Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.” (2 Samuel 4:4)
Today is the International Day of People with Disabilities. It might still be true that a Mephibiboseth/David relationship still persists. David is seeking to help the only living relative of his friend Jonathan, who had been killed in battle, even as David became king of Israel. “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1)
But Mephibiboseth is acutely aware of his double peril, as the last of Saul’s family and as a person living with a disability. Calling himself a dead dog indicates how very desperate he would have been when brought before the new king.
There are significant changes to the NDIS that change what the scheme will pay for – for example respite is being cut back particularly for people who live alone. So there is a bit of a “new king” feel to things. People are frightened and invoices for things previously paid for are suddenly being refused.
There is a Mephibiboseth feel to the moment.
A great champion of the NDIS Bill Shorten was farewelled from parliament this week. He was a true hero to NDIS participants. At the Special Olympics national games in Adelaide the whole stadium cheered his speech.
But Shorten has left the building.
On this day, please pause and think of those frightened or concerned by the NDIS changes. (This is not meant to be an analysis of what the rules should be but simply a reflection of what the International Day of People with Disabilities feels like this year.)
And on a practical level please consider how to support and befriend those who are different.