Hi-

You know I just wish people would stop looking at disability as something to
fix...something that needs improving.

And I am not trying to critize parents.  I am just trying to offer some
guidence based on my life experience thus far as a person with CP.  Trying to
make you think about things that you may not have thought of...that's all.
Offering a diffrent perspective.

I mean I am fine as I am, as long as I accept myself for who I am.  So who
cares if I use a wheelchair. (I don't)  Who cares if I walk funny or ruin my
shoes as one person said...who cares if I can't walk or stand at all. (I
don't)

The thing that counts is that I AM a productive member of socitey.  (and
that's what relly counts in the end)  I can work at a job.  I have or can get
an education.  I can and do go to college.  And walking or standing dosn't
make (in the big pictiure) a whole lot of impact on that.  (it inpacts on how
you do it but it dosn't flat out prevent you from doing it).  And I know not
everyone with CP can go to college because some have sever learning
dificulities or developmental delays but that is not the majority.

I know a high school teacher who has sever athetoid cp.  He can not stand,
walk, write, type, or feed himself without assistence.  He has sever speech
problems.  But he has a PhD in physics, has published 2 books...one in
english and one in korean...and is now teaching high school physics.  The
possibilities are endless.

I don't know many jobs were all you do is standing so I have never understood
what the big deal with being able to walk is.  (Just because eveyone elce
walks around on 2 legs?...I don't get it)...actually in about 6 grade I
became very cofterble with having cerebral palsy...to me it's not a big deal
any more...I am actualy in a way thankfull for my disabilty because I belive
that it has offered my grater educationl oppertunities...being more awear of
people...etc.  Even in jobs that you do standing up you still have to be able
to use your arms and hands.  To me it is much more important to be able to
use your upper body.  And if you can walk that's fine to.  But I think
sometimes to much attention is paied to the lower body becasue that's were
people notice diffrences right off.


I don;t know if this messege has a point or not.  I just wanted to share
these thoughts with all of you out there.

Anee
Webmaster,  <A
HREF="http://yahoo.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4441/CPIC.html">CPIC</A>

In a message dated 9/16/1999 12:46:40 AM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Hi,

 I have memories going back to at least the age of 3 1/2 or 4 if not earlier.
 I remember my first surgery at 4 1/2 very well. I had one of the same nurses
 at the same hospital when I was 8. We both recognized each other and stuff.
 My parents didn't talk to me about my second surgery. I found out the day
 before when I was having surgery. My mother's way of dealing with it was: "If
 you going to cry about it, we're not going to discuss it. End of subject."
 All I knew was that I would have casts below my knees, and that my feet would
 be straight afterwards and that I would no longer make holes in my shoes. I
 also knew that I would be in the casts for six weeks.  It was six weeks of
 pain and he**!! I also relied on my memory of what would happen in the
 hospital and it was all the same... unfortunately. A week of He** that I
 could have lived without!

 Since my doctor "screwed up", I wouldn't let him touch me again with a knife.
 I still ruined my shoes and got the blame for it. I got the blame for my foot
 turning out. I got the blame for not picking up my feet after this surgery
 that "was supposed to make me walk more normal and straight."

 Enuf said,

 Dina >>