You are SO right Kat and Susan!  I'm not liked by some care provider
agencies' supervisors in my area because they want to try to control and baby their
clients.  I'm one to show another way of living.  I've been kept away from a lot
I grew up with, but the clients still think highly of me because I made it on
my own and raising my daughters.  Parents are told by some doctors "Set your
expectations low for your child.  They will not have a normal life."  I was
told by a school physician that I should not try out for track because of my
disability.  I should be in Special Olympics.  My teachers went to that physician
and had a few choice words with him.  I was approved the next day.  I never
won a race but I had the chance to try and be with everyone else.  I run the
Cleveland 10k race every year in honor of those who stood up for me.  My fastest
for 6 miles has been 1:24:42 .  Patricia was 4 at this time and she did
1:25:32.  Next year will be Susan's first race.

Every disabled person should be given a chance to make something out of their
lives.  Too many are locked away just on a doctor's say.  You are only as
good as your belief in yourself.  Parents who feel because their child is
disabled, that they are defective and don't want them out in society because of THEIR
shame over having a disabled child.  You can be whatever you want to be
within the scope of your disability.  Know what you can do and what is out of your
capabilities and try to work around what you cannot do.  I was told I need to
drive to get to work and raise my children.  I take the bus to work and take
my daughters to school and to doctors appointments.  I may be tired when I get
home but I know something was accomplished.  I lived one more day to prove
people wrong about me.  I'm making it on my own, on my own terms.

 You need to break out of this cycle of feeling sorry about yourself and
always listening to your parents that you can't do anything for yourself.



Michael Jeffries
ICQ# 53522767 AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! ID MJeff25916