Kathy, on re-reading my post, I realise that I expressed myself
unclearly.  I didn't mean to say that everyone with CP lives with
chronic physical pain, I know that I do, and some others might but I was really
only speaking from my perspective.  What I really was trying to say
was that I don't regard my CP as an illness, and that I think the
portrayal of CP in the media etc, as an illness, contributes to this
gung ho attitude of the AB society to cure us so they don't have to
deal with their prejudices.  Hope this is clearer.

BTW I know what you are saying re the anguish and emotional pain
caused by others attitudes.  I find physical pain much easier to cope
with than bigotry.

Rayna

On Wed, May 02, 2001 at 09:57:16AM -0500, Kathy Jo Pink wrote:
    Ranya,

    Do you know for sure if all of people who live with Cerebral Palsy , live
    in chronic pain?  People's attitudes have caused me to have a lot of
    anguish and emotional pain.

    Kathy






    -----Original Message-----
    From:   Rayna Lamb [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
    Sent:   Friday, April 20, 2001 8:10 AM
    To:     [log in to unmask]
    Subject:        Re: A Question

    Arnold, I would have to say that I agree with you.  The difficulties
    that we all experience, although sometimes a direct and unavoidable
    result of CP - ie chronic pain, are too often a result of the world's
    inability to understand and accomodate difference.  Although people's
    attitudes to me and the CP have caused me a great deal of anguish and
    pain, I would be unwilling to pander to the AB world's desire to cure
    us rather than accept us by referring to it as an illness.  I don't
    want a cure, I want acceptance for the totality of who I am and can
    be.
    Discrimination and prejudice are illnesses, CP isn't.

    Rayna

    On Thu, Apr 19, 2001 at 03:18:59PM -0500, Anthony Arnold wrote:
        I don't know how to word this without saying something wrong that might
        offend people.  However I believe that it might be a good idea for some
    of
        you and even myself to look around our local area for an ARC,
    Independent
        Living Center or whatever disability resources we might have to go to
    for
        help in better understanding in Cerebral Palsy because it isn't an
    illness
        or a life limiting thing like some of you love to believe.  I realize
    that I
        might have to use a power chair and a communication device for my life
    but
        so what, its a lot better than being in bed dying from cancer, aids or
        whatever else.  I would be careful selecting the word illness to
    describe
        Cerebral Palsy if you want to open up a life insurance policy because
    you
        would find it very difficult being accepted for one, it took me a long
    time
        to get mine because everybody was believing that I had an illness like
        cancer, and not just a physical disability that I can't die from .

        Thanks,
        Anthony

        -----------------------------------
        Join my AAC listserv today at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arnoldaac


          ----- Original Message -----
          From: Bobby Greer
          To: [log in to unmask]
          Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 1:42 PM
          Subject: Re: A Question


          In a message dated 4/19/01 6:07:47 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

          << I'd like to know why  Kathy Jo asked the question.  Kathy?
           >>

          I have no earthly idea, Kathy.

          Bobby