Disablities at Birth
While it's common on Guardian Dragon to consider disabilites as simply gates that bar an individual from certain duties rather than a burden or something to be ashamed of, it's rare to view the disabled with the amount of respect they get in the Agerian culture. In there, all beings are considered the creations of the god Smith, and their bodies crafted by her. Sometimes, when an individual is born, Smith doesn't have enough parts to give for them as there are more children than she has time to forge for in that moment. When this happens, it is believed that a soul may pass a trait to give it to another who will need it more: an individual born without legs gave them that someone may be a swift, trustworthy messenger; a blind one gave their eyes so that someone else can see incoming danger and protect Peoples; constant pain for one is the ability to tolerate pain to another; mental handicaps happen when a soul gives a sharp mind to a tactitian or a leader. While some children still end up in orphanages, majority are raised by their birthparents or their close relatives, and abandoning a baby just for the sake of a disability is seen as a shameful act, compared to denying a knight a meal at your table or closing the door on your King or Queen.
Due to the belief of a soul making a sacrifice for another, disabled are seen as people who, before birth, decided to enable another person to protect and help the realm. This of course doesn't mean that all people carry their disabities with pride and joy, but all communities from cities to villages to monasteries make sure that they find a place in the society, whether it be a childminder, a scribe, a handler of important intelligence, or something entirely else.
Disabilities from Later in Life
While a disabled baby is seen as a result of a generous soul, the matter is slightly more complicated when one comes to it at a later date due to an accident, act of violence, or some other reason. It doesn't change the general view, especially since one can rarely tell the origin of one's disabilities of a stranger.
If one has become disabled due to random act of violence, such as robbery, they are sometimes unfortunately viewed with pity. They are usually given what help they need, and in tight-knit communities, it's not rare to see people coming together to hunt down the perpetrator: some do it to uphold the safety of their homes, some to seek justice for those wronged. The reasons are as many as there are people.
Should one be the victim of war, they are regarded much like those who are born disabled: they gave up something of theirs for the greater good. Such individuals are often looked after, and get many offers for jobs they could possibly perform as they adjust to their new life. It's not a secret this is sometimes to boast that one has a hero in their service, but a lot of the time it is genuine gratitude. Those who cannot work are generally viewed with pity mixed with gratitude.
Some few find their lives changed due to a curse, and as magic-wielders are often viewed with awe and respect, the common opinion is that the person brought it upon themselves by disrespecting a mage. It's rarely that simple, though, and petty nor cruel practisioners of magic are not unheard of, but these are the sort that very few dare go against, leading the victim to often times becoming an outcast. They might find sanctuary elsewhere, as long as they can keep the origin of their disability a secret, but not many can find the safety of community from their home.
