Bravo....!  I couldn't agree more, Stephen.

Kat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Allman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 12:38 AM
Subject: Striving For Independence


> Kathy Jo:
>
> There have been several suggestions during the past two weeks to try to
help
> you but I have not seen any response from you that you would try them. Can
> you physically go outside on your own or do you need assistance? How much
can
> you do for yourself? Are your parents being over protective because of
your
> disability or do they trust you that you will not hurt yourself?  If you
want
> some kind of independence you must take small steps first like walking or
> using your wheelchair to get around your own neighborhood. I believe Gary
or
> Anthony suggested going to a store and that's a great suggestion. You
should
> try to talk to your parents and let them know what you want for your
future.
> If they do not want to listen to you then you should talk to someone that
> they respect and that person may give you the support you need. It's a
great
> feeling when you go to the store for the first time and buy what you
choose
> to. When doing these kinds of things you build up confidence in yourself
and
> then you will be talking about your able to do.
>
> All of us want to be as independent as we can be.  Everyone needs some
kind
> of help  but for people with physical disabilities there are more
obstacles
> in the way. Some of us need more assistance than others but we can achieve
> our goals by being realistic, working hard and accepting our strengths and
> weaknesses. We need to work on our strengths and weaknesses so we can
> physically and emotionally become stronger.
>
> What does being independent mean? All of us may define independence in
> different ways. Some of us may find ways to communicate better, some may
find
> ways to get dressed or fed or have our bathroom needs met. We can find
ways
> to have these basic needs met by doing them ourselves or getting
assistance.
> There is no shame in getting assistance if it is truly needed. Many of us
> want to live in our own place, get a job and earn what we get out of life.
> For many of us our disabilities effects us in getting jobs and there are
many
> instances where the attitudes society has on the disabled community hurts
our
> chances to live the best lives we can. We cannot change everyone's
attitudes
> towards the disabled but we can educate as many people as we can that have
> open minds
>
> How do we become as independent as we can be? We must accept our own
> disabilities. We should always search to improve physically, emotionally
and
> spiritually. I believe we should never make our disabilities an excuse for
> not attempting to improve your life. We are human and it's healthy to get
> frustrated at times at what we cannot accomplish but we should not dwell
on
> that. Many of us with disabilities have more time and then we dwell on
what
> we cannot do but I try to use my anger to push myself more. I also believe
> it's important to help people and keep the mind and body active
>
> Stephen Allman