Hi Kat,

           It was the brain damage at birth part - that was the tip off.  I
did talk to the man for sometime and his girlfriend at length. Amber and the
therapist think Jonathan is a Hemi - we could be wrong - but he looks carbon
copy of Amber and as Amber says - no one holds their arm like that for
balance. Personally I don't care what you call it - its going to have aging
similarities to CP.
        Lots of people - especially older ones aren't comfortable with
disabilities and in the old days - the kids where hidden away - I remember
the little girl who sat behind me at the beginning of 1st grade - had some
problem - and they just took her away one day - and I would see her at her
house playing - I have no idea what was wrong with her - But I remember her
to this day - and I wonder how has she fared with no education? Of course
that was the 50's - thankfully the majority of us have moved into the 00's
with some better ideas - but what about 30 years ago - 20 years ago? Leaves
some room for some possible doubt - especially if like Jionathan's parents
you are macho male - who can't handle a disabled son. Who knows - he may
well only have a deformed knee and need to hold his arm under his chin for
balance( just like Amber) ( and therefore it has atrophied - just like
Amber's) - and therefore no be able to use his hand - he was born early and
ill becasue his mother is diabetic - But I tend to think - his parents are
ashamed of the CP - they refused any help for him in school - so he has no
IEP - his parents frustrate the teachers who want to help him.

                                      Trisha


> Excuse me, but just how do you know someone has CP?  I realise you see
> something like awkwardness in gait and spasticity and see CP, but there
> are
> other things going on you may not be aware of.  I have CP but I don't
> assume
> someone else has just because he or she looks like they do.  It could have
> been a stroke or menningitis, or an isolated case of polio; you don't
> know.
>
> Kat
>
>
> On Tue, 16 Jul 2002 16:31:50 -0400 Trisha Cummings <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> Kyle,
>
>    I think your website is a great idea.
>
>    Don't let the "little" folks get you down.
>
>    One thing to think about is not everyone with CP knows they have CP - I
> ran into a man in the McDonalds by my house - he was standing just like
> Amber and stubled and I grabbed him before he hit the floor - and he said
> I
> am disabled - and I said yes I know - you have CP - he said no I have
> brain
> damage since I was a baby. and so on ( he is Hemi- like Amber). And
> Jonathan
> who goes to school with Amber (also a Hemi like Amber)  - and he has a bad
> knee - But Amber, and I and her special ed teacher know its CP. It think
> denial and perhaps like with Amber - rthey never said the word - I read it
> in a book - leads people to not know they have CP - just that they are
> disabled. I was a premie, had braces and special shoes when I was little -
> and to date still have this walk funny - right foot points out to the
> right
> at 45 degree angle, the attached knee angles off to the left, and the hip
> joint pops so bad sometimes - it hurts and feels like its coming apart.
> Who
> knows what you call that - I call it darned awkward.
>
>    Go for your website - when you change your name from Kyle Cleveland to
> Cerebral Palsy Man - then maybe your are taking things to seriously - in
> the
> mean time you are doing a great thing to help others.
>
>                               Brightest Blessings - Trisha
>
>
>
>
> >  Sign me up for the survey, Bobby.
> >
> > I met with an old friend for breakfast yesterday (old in the sense that
> > we've known each other for a long time, but we still talk at least a
> > couple
> > times a week).  I was telling him about the web page idea.  Could not
> > believe his response.  Something along the lines of, "Well, you know,
> you
> > have to be careful not to invest too much time into something like this.
> > It
> > could take away from your family time.  Also, I would hate to see you
> > start
> > taking your 'identity' from your disability."
> >
> > It's amazing how people are so quick to pour cold water on other's
> > excitement and so slow to encourage.
> >
> > -Kyle
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: BG Greer, PhD
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: 7/5/02 12:20 AM
> > Subject: Re: A new aging survey for the list
> >
> > In a message dated 7/4/02 7:20:44 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> > >I would, of course.  And you might add "paraplegia" to the location
> > list.
> > >
> > >Kat
> >
> > I will be cantankerous and stick with diplegia. LOL Actually, I plan to
> > reformat Carla's original 10 questions. I hope we get a better response.
> > How
> > far along are you on the new web page?
> >
> > Bobby