Betty, As an elementary teacher, I can tell you that I think it is still very common for parents to say, "Don't stare! Don't ask questions! Don't talk to them!" Each year when I begin with a new group of students, I walk back and forth at the front of the room, introduce myself and give students a chance to ask me any questions they want. Everyone looks at my legs as I walk but no one asks. Then I say, "I know there is a really important question that you all want to ask. It is ok. Ask." Then a brave soul slowly raises their hand and asks, "Why do you walk funny?" The ice is broken. There is a big sigh of relief from the class. From my reaction, they then know it is just fine to ask me questions about having cp. In fact, I tell them that if they have been taught to "not stare or ask questions" that they can forget that approach with just about every disabled person. Then I live each day to show them that having a disability is not that big of a deal, that I am just a person. In the five years I've been teaching, I can already see a difference in the way kids relate to me and to other kids who are different. Linda