Disabilities in HP?

[Brooke]

No: HPFGUIDX 60180

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "shanna" <slstich at h...> wrote:
> Hello everyone!
> I'm coming out of lurkdom for a moment with a random question I 
just thought
> of.  I'm curious what would happen if for some reason a disabled 
person were
> to attend Hogwarts or another similar magical institution.  I 
realize this
> is completely hypothetical and not likely to ever be included in 
canon, but
> as someone with a visual disability, I have to wonder.
> 
> Would magic be a help or a hindrance to a disabled person?  I can 
see both
> sides to this.  The summoning charm, for example, would definitely 
come in
> handy at times!  Of course it could be a problem if I were to try 
dueling,
> at least I think so anyway.   I'm curious what everyone here 
thinks.  I hope
> this question makes sense!  Thanks in advance for your time!
> Shanna


The subject of disabilities makes me wonder how far magic can go...I 
was thinking (for example) Harry having to wear glasses is not so 
much a major disability (as say, having to be in a wheelchair, or the 
like) but it is definitely a hindrance.  Is there a chance Harry's 
eyesight could be fixed by magic?  
Could Madam Pomfrey grow Moody's leg back so he wouldn't have to wear 
a wooden one?  At what point is magic useless in helping those who 
have become disabled, disfigured, or hurt?  Hermione was able to get 
her teeth to a normal size as well.  
Of course, it is completely writer's license, and JKR does not have 
to "draw the line" anywhere to justify why some ailments cannot be 
fixed by magic... but I wonder if in her own mind, she has her 
reasons for allowing certain things in the wizarding world, such as 
Harry's eyesight, to be fixed.
We all know there would be no conflict, struggle, or storyline for 
that matter if magic could fix all things & make the wizarding world 
perfect.  Otherwise, the characters would have no challenges or 
obstacles to overcome.  But I wonder if JKR deliberately chooses 
specific things to be "unfixable" by magic to get yet another theme 
or message across... any one have any thoughts on that?

Brooke