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