No matter the disability, all children have the ability to....

"No matter the disability, all people have the ability to dream!" That's the winner of a caption-the-photo contest Special Olympics recently held, submitted by one Abigail from Pennsylvania. Maybe that's not news if you're the parent of a child with disabilities, but it may not be obvious to others.

This weekend, I had a conversation with a friend who was visiting about how having a child with cerebral palsy had opened up a world to us that I'd likely not have otherwise known a lot about. As Max's mom, I've taught him so much—but he's taught me so much, too.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to communicate in their own way, whether with words, movements or their eyes.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to enjoy.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to have firm preferences and opinions. And to be quite stubborn, too.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to be cute, adorable, handsome or beautiful—the same as any child.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to be devilish or naughty or non-angelic. (See: "the same as any child.")

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to experience a range of emotions.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to dislike when people talk about them as if they aren't right there.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to want to belong.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to feel loved.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to love.

No matter the disability, all children have the ability to.....

You tell me.

Image: Special Olympics