Hi Mag,

Glad you mentioned that - I had that book in school.  I think I chose it on my
own, and owned my own copy of Follow My Leader.  It was a good story.  I usually
tended to read books like that when I was young - even if it had nothing to do
with my own disability.  I guess it was my way of figuring out how others coped,
and to know I wasn't the only one that was 'not normal', as some would say.  I
think in my own family life, my roles were reversed though, because my mom was
the one that could not accept my birth defect, (I still don't think she has, and
I'm 40 years old).  I never was an overly curious child, as some kids are - and
never really questioned 'why can't I do something'.  I usually managed to do
whatever I wanted - although not usually in a way a normal kid would do.  My
fifth grade teacher loved to tell the story of when she took her class to a
football game, and I climbed all the way to the top bleacher.  (I'm sure THAT
was a pretty sight, huh?).........  anyway, I guess if I had one wish, I would
wish that my mom could spend a day 'as me', and she'd further understand my
problems.  She tends to get aggravated when we shop together, because she goes
to one area of the store and STANDS in one place for at least a half hour, and
that drives me crazy - I have no balance and can't stand very well.  If I move
away to look at something else, she says I don't want to shop with her - she
just doesn't understand what it is like to not be able to balance yourself.  She
raised my brother (able-bodied), and me, as 'equal' as she possibly could,
(considering I was in the hospital a lot).  I'm not sure I could help anyone
else - but my info is:

 Age:40
 Sex: Female
 Degree of disability: mild, balance problems - also born spina bifida - and I
also elect not to drive.
 Occupation:computer operations specialist
 Location:  Staunton VA

See ya
Beth

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