Hi Marilyn,

I'm 17 with spastic diplegia CP.  I'm also pretty bright (National Merit
Scholar, not to brag), so I know what your daughter's going through.  I've
been lucky to find a great group of friends who can see me, not the
wheelchair.  I'm going to college in the fall (George Washington
University), and I'm hoping that as guys get older, I'll have more luck on
the boyfriend front.  Forgive me if I'm stepping out of line here, but has
your daughter ever seen a psychologist?  I did for about two years, and that
(along with Paxil, an anti-anxiety/depression medication) helped a lot.  I
don't know of any teenage discussion groups like this, but if there's
anything else I can tell you that would help, please let me know.  I'll be
sending good vibes to you and your daughter.

~Joy~

http://www.geocities.com/joy0823
Last Movie Seen: "Anywhere but Here"
Now Reading: "Dead Even" by Brad Meltzer


You wrote:
> I have a 16 year old with CP ... honor roll student in a wheelchair.
> Suffering from depression, one trial with suicide, self-diagnosis of
social
> anxiety syndrome.  Everyone who knows her, loves her, but do not
necessarily
> want to be 'seen in public with someone in a wheelchair'.  High School
> equates wheelchair with MR.  Many, many surgeries, lots of pain.  Older
> sister leaving for college this summer.  Told me once the only way she is
> going to find a boyfriend is over the Internet.  Unwilling to admit and
> recognize her physical disablity.  Does not want to associate with the PD
> community, that would be associating with what other see as MR.  Is
starting
> to put together a web site, and is looking for a teenage group like this.
I
> have found some, but none that are active.  Any suggestions for
> teenage/college discussion sites (she is looking into colleges so that
would
> be a big help.)
>
> Thanks,
> Marilyn, a very concerned MOM