Yesterday

  So  yesterday I   got to watch the  Muppet  movie  via  Apple TV.


 I really  liked it.  It is about a  muppet who was raised in a human family  thus  he has a hard time  fittining  in  he is  really short. Then  he   watches the Muppet show  on  TV and  he  does not   feel so  alone.  It leads him ....    What you think I would  ruin the movie for  you..




 Anyway   one  of my  favorite  songs that Kermit,  you know  the frog, sings  is  It's not that easy being green.  I  remember watching   the song on Sesame Street  back when I was younger and liking the song but not understanding.  Now   17 years  later  I do  understand its  not that easy to be  different. It's really hard when society  tells  you that you are not wroth  the same because of   stroke  before birth.   Since  green  is the CP  color.   I feel like  Kermit is sining this song  especially  for  kids with  CP even though it applies to  all disabilities. 

TODAY IS

 



Today  is CP Awareness day so if u could tell people about CP I would appreciate. CP is a physical disability that results from a lack of oxygen. I have lived with it for 20 years. CP is the reason why I have trouble talking and running long distances, it is the reason that i can not do my own hair at 20. I just keep trying to do the best I can. Never underestimate a person with CP. Just because A person does not talk clearly or can talk at all does not mean that they have a intellectual disability.  To learn more about what it is like to have CP watch  below 

CP sports camp

  This is cool   I  wish   there was something  like that around here





Sunday is Special so stick  around

Seth's Story part three

           Here is part  one , 

here is  part   two 

 Now for the final chapter 

For every Seth that is saved, there are so many more kids, just like him, waiting in an orphanage. 100,000 in Ukraine alone. Somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6, depending on what part of the country they live in, they will be transferred to a “special needs internaut”… a mental institution. A facility housing ages 4-65. They will remain there the rest of their lives. Those with any sort of special need will never receive an education, no job training, no life skills training. They will sit and stare at the walls, slowly losing their minds, their bodies deteriorating and becoming weak, until they finally give up and die. That is hard to read. It seems sensational. In our day and age, surely not, right. But it’s true. It exists. I’ve been there. I’ve seen a child’s reality. Every time a child is adopted, that child is given hope, health care, family, love and an education. Children who were deemed “uneducable” In Ukraine are brought home, given an education, go on to high school, college, get married and have children. All because someone stepped out in faith and took a chance for a child.

Change is happening in Ukraine, but like all change, it comes slowly. There are a few schools opening up for children with special needs. But they are few and far between in comparison to the demand. Every time a child is adopted, a statement is made that these kids have value, are worth it, and deserve everything we go through to get them here. Slowly, the wheels of change turn.

When I think of Seth and where he’d be if we hadn’t walked through those doors, I think back to the line of wheelchairs, of his mind losing its grip. I think of him sitting there for 59 more years. Doing nothing. Sitting, moaning, rocking. When I think of Seth’s future, I see him starting school, learning to read, learning to walk, being on a high school swim team, maybe being a weight lifter. I see him studying hard, because he knows the value of what he’s been given. I see him being a cub scout, a boy scout, earning his Eagle, going on to college and being an engineer some day. With his captivating laugh and coy smile, I’m sure he will get married and have children. All of this can be his, despite his CP, with his CP, because of his CP. His cerebral palsy shaped him. Without it, he wouldn’t have spent his first six years where he did. He might not have the determination and drive he does. He certainly wouldn’t be in our family. We owe a lot to his CP. His CP put him where he is now… in our family.


 Thanks for sharing Laura.  I have enjoyed   reading about Seth's incredible journy for more information please vist   Laura's blog.  

Happy World Down Syndrome Day

 Happy  World Down Syndrome  day here is something  I wrote  about  LM.  My  friend  with  DS. I wrote this  when  i  was  a junior in high school 

Spending time with LM is like opening a Christmas present and being pleasantly surprised because it was not on your list, but you enjoy it all the same. L M is a year my junior. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. His name might be L but he prefers to be called Michael Jordan. Needless to say, he is a huge basketball fanatic. Surprisingly, LM and I did not meet on a basketball court. We met at Judo class where he is now an orange belt. L an easy-going kid, but that does not mean to say he is always happy. He gets grumpy and angry and he doesn't like to admit his defeat. L lives near my school, but unfortunately for all the students and staff will merely be a name without a face. L will live through the stories and the essay I am about to tell you. But chances are, you will never meet the Michael Jordan of San Mateo. The reason being is that L has to go to our rival school because he has Down Syndrome and attends a special program there. 

The summer before the eighth grade I was invited to the M's house to spend time with L. Although the intention of my visit was to have fun on a summer's day I learned a lot by going to his house. He gave me a quick tour of his house before leading me down to his room that he shared with his brother who is a year my senior. Stacked up along his wall were video boxes. The video boxes took me back to when I was young because there were Disney movies. L had a wide range of selection which ranged from Mulan to Aladin. It looked to me that he had all the collection. "Lets watch Mulan two ." L said bring out the DVD box. I was not so sure about that . I mean I did not want to tell L that my personal collection was gathering dust because I had grown out of them. L did not want to take no for an answer so after playing outside L played the video. As the movie was playing L pointed to Mulan and said " That is my sister. " He proceed to do this and it hit me that L was using his imagination to put himself and his friends inside the movie. At the time I did not think much of the move. I do not remember much of it except LM sat entranced by the story and sang along with the songs. 

LM was thirteen at the time of our play date but yet he still loved watching Disney movies. Some people might just write him off as less capable but mankind can learn a thing or two from him. Mankind's favorite saying is the grass is greener on the other side, whether it is adulthood or a different job or classroom. Humans can learn to enjoy their side of the grass and if you happened to get on the other side it would merely by an unexpected Christmas gift instead of a dream. Adults are always telling little kids that " they are such a big kid" we should not say this because it's impression is that being little is not okay. Instead of growing up being like the 50 meter dash man should slow down to enjoy the sights and sounds of childhood. It is surprising what someone with an intellectual disability can teach you about life.

LM has taught me that it's ok to do whatever it is that makes you happy. Even if it goes against the trends and thoughts of society. LM has taught me that it's ok to be different and that everybody matures differently. Some people might mature faster than others but in the end they do. LM has taught me that a childhood hobby can carry on into teenage years even if it is only for kids. The most important thing that LM has taught me is to not assume that a person is incapable of doing anything. 

Worked all day but

 I did not completely finish  my  project.  I got   exempt.   My   scapegoat is  Facebook   I spend way to much time on it,


 On a  Happy note I   tured  in the essay  portion 

four sided die

  So  today  i had a  lab  about  hereditary,  how   certain  characteristics and  we had  to use a four sided dice and  roll it.  I  did not get a video  of  it  but  it was  tough  for me to pick it up.  I   was able to do it though.  

Happy St Patricks Day

   I wonder if i  were  to  spend the  whole day doing a report while  wearing  green  tomorrow  if  that increases my chance  of  getting a  A.  We  will  see   Happy  St.Patricks day everyone 

Neighbors

    So    yesterday I saw a special needs  bus in our neighborhood.  Now me being  me and   being a disabled advocate and all I wanted to know who lived in the house  so yesterday  on my  way to  my night  class  I asked the neighbor  and  turned  out it was the other house.


 So today   it was  pouring rain   but I took a walk around the block to see   the house  I wondered if  the  kid   has  CP   or something.  I actually was  going to blog and ask  for advice but  then I got home  and   found  that  the door  was  locked  so   I took it as   a  go  ahead for me to check  the  house.


  There were cars outside  so I ding on the doorbell  and   a  cute  girl   answered it she got her  mom   who   had a accent  and spoke another  langue and it turned out that   she has a boy  with  DS    How cool  is that?    So  now     there are three  people   that  I  know of  that have disablties: D and a girl  with Autism  and  this little  boy  with DS  and  me  of course. Do you  have neighbors  with Disabilities?

I MADE

  

 FALL 2011  

      People  have told me that I would not be able to go to college.  I did not know   that I could  do  college as   a  senior.    Now  I  know  I can  do  anything.

Seth's story Part two

 Read Part one  here 

Seth started out in a gait trainer  after  X MASS 2011

It’s been just over five months since we stood in that mental institution and looked at the shell of a little boy, looked into his eyes, trying to find the little boy he was. He’s been home almost four months now, and he is amazing. AMAZING! He is by far the most determined child I’ve ever known. He is motivated. He is learning fast, hitting milestones and catching up at record speed. A child confined to a wheelchair is now in a gait trainer, taking steps. He’s learning self care skills he never got to use at the orphanage, and is preparing to go to school for the first time ever. The biggest difference I see in Seth is the light in his eyes. He is ALIVE! There is no way you cannot laugh when Seth laughs, because you know the cost he’s paid to get to that laugh. You know the days of misery that led him here, to a place where he could find joy, love and a family. My other children agree Seth has brought our family closer, united us in the cause of a child. Our children have watched Seth literally have life breathed into him. They’ve watched him go from a disconnected, scared, institutionalized child to a little boy who loves to play with toys, get into things and explore. He’s inquisitive, curious, and cannot get enough of his newfound freedoms. Our children have embraced Seth with open arms, delighting in his absolute sweetness. Accepting him just as he is, and knowing that healing is a process that could take years to achieve.

HE'S  NOW  IN A WALKER  STARTED  LAST WEEK IN FEBUARY   

               Aside from Seth, the people I feel the most sorry for are Seth’s birth parents. I wonder if they think of him, if they worry about him, wonder what became of him. They had a child in a country that is about 50 years behind the US in healthcare and education. It is extremely hard to have a child with a disability in Ukraine. There is no special ed, no programs to support families. Almost any child with any disability at all will be abandoned in Eastern Europe. I don’t judge them, because I can’t begin to know their reasoning. I wish them peace. I hope one day, they will learn that Seth was saved from the system they gave him up to. To his parents, I would say, “You missed out on a beautiful little boy. He is a light to our family. He has perseverance and strength. His laughter fills a room. His smile is contagious. When you walked away from Seth, you gave up one awesome little boy.”

CP is only one small part of Seth. It doesn’t define him. Seth is defined by his character. He survived something I cannot imagine. For six and a half long years. He survived. And he still smiles. That defines him. His unwillingness to give in, to give up. Seth has blond hair, blue eyes, he’s got double jointed fingers, he loves playing in water, eating yogurt and bananas, and he has CP. He will live a full life, filled with laughter and happiness. He is way bigger than his disability. CP will not

limit him, because he’s survived something way bigger, way messier, way more debilitating than CP.






    PART  THREE  COMES   SOON, AS ALWAYS   BE SURE TO STOP BY  LAURA'S  BLOG

Language arts Math History

           I have to say   that    I am  pretty smart. I am a   US  History  wiz  a  wonderful writer  and  even though  I had a hard time  with  math I was  able to pass  college level  math last sesmester with a  B.

  notice   how  I am  missing a subject   Science

    In  Elementary school  I  learned about  Science and I would  say that  i  thought it was  fun.  I  remeber learning about the digestive system  and  Dinosaurs.   In  fith  grade  I did  a scince exparment on  plants, but  after that     I did  not  attend  Science class    until   I was in tenth  grade.    So   to put it in  Years  from      May 2003  til   Augest  2007  I   did not      have   Scince Class   because  in   middle school  I  went  to   RSP  class,  that was when the  fun  begain.
  Middle school  was also the time when  I  first  entered a  RSP  class.  RSP  stands  for  Resource Specialist   Program.   It was  a study hall for students who  were not in Special  Day Classes  who  still needed  some  extra help.    Most of the students in the class had learning  disability  such as  ADHD and  dyslexia.   I   was  in  Directed  studies   under  a IEP, which  I  had  since  I  was in  preschool so  even though  I did not  meet with a Special  Education  Teacher   in  Elementary school  I  had a  aid and   Speech  Therapy.  In  sixth  grade  I  was one of the most seve   students  in  the class.  the other  one   was DD  who was  deaf and also  had an aid.    DD had  hearing  aides that she could turn of  to study. She  could  tune out the noise.  Why  would she need  to do that?    To  be  continued....

In Kindergaten

 Today is  e 's birthday. e  is the boy  I  told u about here  but  I told you  briefly about  our friendship  here is  the  Inside   Story

    

When I was  five  almost six, my birthday is September sixth, it was time  for me to start  Kindergarten. My parents  wanted me to  go  to a private  school which was  not  too bad for us  as   both of them were doctors at the  time.  Th school did not cater to  those with disabilities  but they took me anyway and there  I went.

 e (in white)  and az in overalls   Fall 1999

 I was  in KA  and so  was e.  We  were somewhat different.  E  knew phonics  and could  pronounce the names of the letters, me  not so much.  E  was  in a high gymnastics  level. Me  I was not.    To  put it bluntly  he was  not  disabled and  I was but  i do not  think e cared that much. e  and  I were  pals.   While other kids would be mean to me, and make me  the monkey in the middle for basketball, e  would  help me do the monkey bars, and   play in the sand  with me  at recess and lunch.   In  our   class  we would have  play time inside the classroom  and  e  was my companion.  We would  play read write and type and   jumping dinosaurs. Which was like chess.    e and I were equals.  he did not  treat me differently and that is one of the beautiful things about our friendship.   He did not see   a disabled six year old who could not  talk right  and sometimes drooled.  He saw a  six  year old with  black hair and loved  to have peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

  The last time I saw e   was  my eighth birthday.  I went to public school  after first grade  while  he stayed  in the private school system till high school.   A few  years back, I was able to befriend him via facebook and although we do not facebook chat that often and  have yet to be reunited  in  real life. I have the memories  and there  my kindergarten boy friend  will always be.

Happy  b day e!!!!






   got images  from

Seth story part one

 So  yesterday I  told  you about   what it used to mean  in America  to have a disability, and thus why we  should not use the  R word,  Well today  I   am  going to share with  you  a   story  of   a  Amazing  little  boy  named  Seth who used to live in similar situations, I am  happy to  report  that Seth has  been adopted into a loving family and is doing  quite well.  Seth's  mom  Laura   will  tell  us more.





I’m trying to think back to my life before Seth. Before adoption. Before cerebral palsy. It’s only been four months, but I have a hard time remembering what life was like. How did I fill my day, my life, my family, without this little boy? I know some things were easier, like getting into and out of a store quickly. But some things were harder, like getting my children to understand what a true “need” is, versus what a “want” is. Now that my children have met Seth, they understand how truly unimportant the newest phone is, or another pair of jeans.


Before Seth, I had very limited experience with disabilities. I knew next to nothing about CP. I didn’t go into adoption to find a child with CP. In fact, I didn’t really mean to adopt at all, and certainly not a child with CP. Seth and CP found us. I saw him while scrolling through a blog post that a friend of mine had written. When I saw his face, my heart dropped. He was mine. I knew it as well as if I’d given birth to him. He belonged to our family, and as crazy as it seemed, we had to go get him. It was only after that initial realization that I noticed he had CP and couldn’t walk. But he was a child. A child who needed a home. We had a home. We had what he most needed. Once your heart commits, the rest doesn’t matter.

Seth's family.   As  you can see  he is around love. This  is what EVERY child needs 

We set aside a night to talk to our kids. We have six biological children, ranging in age from 18 years down to 3 years. We called them all together and showed them Seth’s picture. We explained about CP, that he lives in an orphanage in Ukraine and we think we need to adopt him and bring him to our home. We had a variety of responses. One of our daughters, my most tender hearted, cried for him. Another daughter completely supported us but was very concerned about the length of time we’d be gone… seven weeks. We told them they can share concerns openly or pull us aside privately, but that we wanted to know how they felt. We have sweet children. They all agreed that this little boy deserved a life and needed our family.


Four short months later, we were flying across the world to meet our little boy, embarking on the biggest adventure of our lives. We knew Seth had been transferred to an institution three months previously, and we knew that likely did not bode well for him. Children with disabilities, and especially those who cannot walk, do not fare well in Eastern Europe orphanages. We knew Seth had likely been confined since his transfer. We were anxious, nervous and worried about his condition and what we’d find. We had pictures of him from right before his transfer. We knew what we should have seen when we walked in. The reality was far different. The reality took us back. Shocked us.

 Seth in the institution 

We learned that Seth had been confined to a wheelchair with the brakes locked, for three and a half months. He was in a room with three others, all in wheelchairs. No toys, no books, no conversation. All four boys were non verbal. Other than the sounds of moans, groans, and teeth grinding, it was a silent room. The sound of boys literally losing their minds. Our Seth had regressed fast. In fact, we didn’t even recognize him. The director had to point him out for us. He did not even resemble the boy in our pictures. He was slumped over in his wheelchair, not making sounds,not making eye contact, completely disconnected from his surroundings. Our minds raced with fear. This is not what we expected. He was like an infant. In that moment, we had to make the biggest decision of our lives. Our facilitator looked at us and asked us if we wanted to proceed with the adoption. Quiet. Racing heart. Brain numbing worry. Jeremy and I looked at Seth. A traumatized child. A hurting child. A child with some very serious problems. We looked at each other. And nodded. Yes. Seth was ours. Have faith.  


Stick around for part  two  of Seth story. Also Visit  Laura's  blog  

 Seth on the  move.      He  looks  much more  happier than   the pic above 

Conotation vs Denotation

I have a amazing  memory.  Literally   that is how  I am  able to share stuff from my  past with  you guys  and   that is the reason why   I  am  able to tell you  this story.

 I  remember the specific   moment  that I first  learned of connotation and  Denotation. It was in tenth  grade in  english  class.      A few years  later (2010)  when  I asked   a teacher  to speak about the R word  what  term  come to  mind   Connotation and  Denotation.      the students  were also  reading Othello so   I   used all three of those things to  explain  about the R Word.

  It really saddens  me  when  people  fail to understand the hate ful  affects of the  word  Retard.    You see growing  up   in  middle and high school  we never discussed  disabled  history. Growing up  we  never  learned   what     historically   was  ment  by the  R Word.

  Historically if    someone was  born  with  any type of disability  in the  United States  doctors  were told  to send their infant    to  a training facility away  from  family.    This  was not a school    it was  a  prison  where   it  was  common place to  see scenes like this

   And this

  That is  what the  connotation  of the  word  Retarded  was.  That is  what people  who were the  R word  were   subjected  to.  These  people  these kids  were subjected to   conditions  worse then  prisons.    These  people for no   apparent  reasson   other then  a dingoes of some kind  were  terrorized  and   lived  in  inhumane  conditions.

 The  Dictionary  term   can be found  here.  I will not post it because  the connotation is   way stronger.  When  people  say  the  R word    it     makes  those  poor  people  in  insitutions   suffer  even  more.  We  need to  teach  general  education   kids about this  painful  part  of    the  United  States  history because   this  is  still going  on  around  the world  today.

 To  be  continued

 In the  mean time  end  the word  or tell a friend about it

Funney People with CP part one

                 So   I am  thinking of  doing  a highlight of  famous people with CP  this  month.  Today's  post    is   of      Francesca Martinez               she is a comedian with  CP. She lives  in    the  UK and she is  really  funny.

The First day of middle school

 my Middle school logo 

 I  actually do  remember  a little  of my  first day  of  middle school.  I  remember  being   nervous because  I  thought  it was  on a huge  campus on a  hill.  I  quickly learned  that  was the high school.  My school was  in the   valley.  I  did not know  who my  one on  one aid was  so my  Mom walked me into school.   It  turned out    that   I had  my  old aid  from    fourth  and fifth grade, Ms.M,  I  remember my homeroom  was  English  class.  We  stayed  in English for two  periods.  My whole English class than   went on to  math  and  history class. Unfortunately  my aide  did  keep a communication book with my parents  but    I do not know where it is :( . I also do not have a lot of  pictures  from back then because the hard  drive is broken  and has not been  fixed.  If anyone knew me  in  middle school and has  photos  of me   from back then I would be grateful if  you  sent them to me.

Able to go to college introduction

             So    when I graduated  from high school  two years ago I was soo scared of what lay ahead. I  saw   my future as a abyss  and  I did everything in my power to  stay in high school.   What ended  up  happening was I  burnt a lot  of  bridges.  I had a  Flip  video    Senior year and  seeing the videos  today I am  ashamed of how I acted.      I see  both  sides  now  and do not blame anybody in  high school for   not    contacting me.

   I have been  taking  videos   of  my life as a college student. I learned in high school that you can   not film in class   so   most of the videos  I have  to date of  our   me  talking about college  life.    I am  taking college classes  and last semester, for the first time in a long time,  I have    gotten  mostly A's. I am    pulling out my camera  again, I  phone this time, but this time   taking a  weekly  video  about college  life.  My greatest hope is that  a high school student, especially those with CP NLD OCD or  other developmental disability can  see that     college is not scary and it is  doable   thus  they will  leave   high school  willing  making the  transition easier then  I  did .  Here  is a preview.

Thanks for stopping by but please stick around

  Today is  the  annual  Cerebral  Palsy  Connection.     I am  here to tell you  that     instead  of   getting  one day  of  stuff  on  CP. I  will be  posting  four  weeks worth  of  Cerebral  Palsy  information  about  my  life.  I will  be   posting about my  middle school  Memories    some  video    from  life as a college  , and  some  flashbacks     from the   past    20 years.  In case  you are  wondering  why      four weeks worth  March  is  Cerebral  Palsy  Awairness   Month   along with  the  all to  important  Spread the  word  to end the word. So  please  book  this  page  susbie   and do  whatever you need to do  so  you can  get   to this  page for the next  four weeks Mon-Fri.   I will not post  on  the  weekend. 

Living with NLD Past Present and future

 A   Filmmaker with  Nld  recently asked me some   questions  about  living  with NLD  because  she  is making a  documentary  about this    disability and since  have  not blog specifically about  my NLD  before  I  thought I  would  share the anwsers   with you  guys
This  is  a long  post  so    make  sure  you  have a lot of time to read 

 Me in   Kindergarten

* When did you discover you have NLD and how did it affect you in school when you were a child? Were you ever bullied because of NLD?

   I  was  born  prematurely and   was  diagnosed with mild  Cerebral Palsy  as a  toddler   I  received early intervention for  the  CP which  include   OT PT ST hippo therapy    My parents  could  tell that  I was   bright so  after I  Graduated from  the  county program   for disabled  preschoolers     I entered a  Private school for pre-k til  first grade

  Me in first  grade   shortly after  I was  diagnosed with  NLD

     When  I was in first grade    symptoms  of   Nld  started.  I  sat on my  teachers  lap   a lot and  needed  a  lot of  intervention.  I  was  still  learning but having a hard  problems  with  behavior    anxiety and of  course  making  friends.  I  got diagnosed  the  winter  of    first  grade  so     around  1998.    The school  did not  want me anymore  so  I left and  was in public school  ever since. I  knew  I had NLD    as a  youngster but   it  took until  I was  a  freshman in high school  to  understand what it  really meant   to have it.

  For the next  ten years of my schooling  I  had  problems  with   social skills   behavior problems  and  anxiety: however  I  was still in  the  general  education  classrooms and  I  am now in college.  I  was   bullied   all the way though  elementary school  mostly  because  of  my speech  issues  which  were from CP.    In  middle and high school  I was  bullied  most   in  special  education classes  which    teachers  thought  I was the  bad  student.


*How does NLD affect you know in the following areas:

       Executive Functioning/Organization Skills/Time Management

            Binders  are  a  mess 
       Visual/Spatial Issues (Getting lost, math, etc)

 College Stat test I  passed  it with a B.  With NLD  that is huge 

 I am  good with directions    but learning math was  extremely difficult for me as a elementary student.   in high school  I  really  struggled  with  Geometry   but I   got though  it and  passed it the first time.    I sometimes  bump into people.

       Social Skills—friendships
 This  has  been   a  hard  struggle  for me.     I  get my social  time with others  with disabilities   and  the whole high school drama  thing actually happened   outside  of school.   It was  hard because  of  clicks and stuff  that  con sits  of people of  all types of disabilities. My behavior problems  are  a part pf  this   and   for high school  this  was  part of  OCD  and  anxiety

*What's the most frustrating part of having NLD? How do you compensate for these issues?
  Lack  of  friendships are the hardest part for me.  I compensate by   going on facebook  and  blogging and  talking to myself

*Do you feel that NLD has in some way helped you in your life? How? What do you like best about having NLD?

I  know  what it feels like to be picked on  so   I think the   challenges  I  have  faced   have  motivated me to help others.   I  like  how   NLD allows  me  to focus on things  I  enjoy   such as  Toy Story   Harry  Potter  and  disability advocacy.
*I'm really impressed with you activism promoting disability rights in general and within NLD and CP communities? Why have you chosen to be this active? What do you get out of it and what do you think other get out of it?

 Me and my cousin  in  2007   the  year i  started blogging

   Thanks .    I  chose this because  I   started  reading  blogs of  parents   mostly   who had  children  with DS  and   it looked  like   a  lot of  fun.   That was  back in  2007 and some of those  bloggers  who  I  originally  read are no longer around. I get a way to express myself  and others  get a chance  to   meantime.   I  really  love being a disabled  advocate  and hope to   keep doing  it for Meany  years  to come
*Why did you blog about your life and why did you choose to include NLD/CP?    Those  were my disablites  at the  time   I started blogging    

*What would you like to do when you graduate from college?

 I want to be a special  education  teacher  that  helps  kids  with  developmental disabilities    be include  in   there high schools  for the Marjory  of their day  including  academics.  I am also   a writer so I might  write  a book.

* Are there any specific issues about NLD that you would want to see included in a documentary film about NLD?
  dating and  Nld  as  i  have never dated before  but would like to find a husband  some day
*What would you want an audience who's never heard of NLD to know about the disorder and about the people who have it?

  I like  parents and  teachers  to know that students  with NLD  are not bad  people  are not  trubble  makers I would also  say to  teachers  to  treat all  students  with  respect.  I am currently blogging about   my middle school  years and will go though  all  this   in depth later
*Are there any misperceptions of people with NLD that you would like to see addressed?

  see   above

Happy Valentines Day

  Hay  guys  sorry I have not posted   much the reason for this  is  college  has started  and that means  homework  I  have some big  plans   next month so stick around.   

Why I am supporting the Patriots

 he grew up in San Mateo CA and went to the same church that I went to for CCD and basketball. I played on a inclusive basketball team there and now a little guy with DS plays there because I recommend it to them when he played soccer on our county special olympics team

A little video

 FYI  today  is  women  in sports  day   that is why  I  posted  the  video   stick  around in march as   I will be  blogging a lot   about CP  that month because    March  is  CP  awareness  month

rocky road

 So    the lack of blog post  should  single  readers that I am back in  school.   but  unlike  last semester  it has been  really  rocky thanks  to     OCD. 

  Anyway for the  good news 

basketball  looks   promising we have a tournament  next weekend.

 I love my biology  class the teacher is super nice more on   this  soon.

 I am  also  enjoying      most of my other classes    

 I  behind on homework  but if  i get caught up  I will  cach up on here .

   If anyone  has  a  facebook  page  click here  for   my  blog  page on  facebook.

Guess who I met

  So  last  Tuesday   I  went to  San Francisco's  pier  at night. It was  nice because it was  not crowed or  anything  but  I  was not  there to sight  see.  I  was not there because I  like the city but yet I was  there to go  the  Aquarium  by the  bay   but  I was  not there  to see  fish.

 I  was there to see  a  movie  and not just a movie  but a Q and A  with  the  film maker  do  you  know who  yet?

    I will  give  u  a  hint   he is also a  father,

      He is a fabulous  photo journalist his work has been in   Time  Magazine

 got this from http://elmercqegs.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/time_magazine_logo.jpg

   It Was  DAN HABIB OF  INCLUDING SAM.

 I was so excited to meet him and  listen to him speak.  He is soo good  with  presenting there were some kids there  and it was  really nice that   he  took the time to interact with him.     He  had  recognized me   and   during the presentation    asked  me  to stand up  and  I got a standing ovation.   I  really  loved   going  it was  soo   cool  because   I  finally got to 'meet' him .  Of course  we have been Facebook  friends  for a while  now.   I really love   having  IRLs.  I  was in my element  going to stuff  like  this  really  solidifies that I  want to  be a disabled  advocate   on the rights of inclusion of  students with disabilities. I am  norm,  something  I am  a part of   is   going to be having another  youth summit   and this  time  I will be attending.  The best part was that  the evening changed  people's   attitudes  and got the  conversation started. Thanks Dan  for  coming hope  to see  you again soon

MLK Poetry contest 2010

Happy MLK day


here is what I have to say to DR.King
Thank you Martin Luther King for paving the way for me. If it was not for you I would not have been born Thank you for laying the ground work for inclusion of those with disabilities wish you were alive to see how much closer we are to achieving your dream.

Ps when i do laundry I do the color load first then the whites

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

America 2012

   I  have never been   to CHOP which stands  for   Children's Hospital  of  Philidelphia   nor do i plan to  donate  a   penny to them?

Why   you  ask


           Meet Amelia she is a little girl  whose  needs a new kidney  yet her parents  were told  by  CHop that she  can't because   she  has  as  the doctor's  put it ever soo nicely.   can  you hear  I am  being sarcastic here  Mental  retardation and brain damage.

  IF  I  WERE  A CARTOON  I  WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS  

   This  is not  fair as a  advocate for those with disabilities   It feels as  if    we are  back to square  one  where   kids with   Intellectual disabilities   yeah    that is  the right  term    are  put into  instutions.       Socity  has  come  to a census that this is wrong yet   a  DR can  still  say fthis  in  2012     that is not fair.

    As a person  living  with CP  I  feel  deeply saden by the fact that   this  can still be said in  2012. I have been  preaty lucky so far  in that  I have not  needed  and surgryies and   would  hate to think that someone  would say  no  to me  because  I  was not fit  to live.     Isn't  that  what  Adolph  Hitler  did    in Germany   nearly  100  years  ago.  Isn't that  what   slave  owners  did  to blacks  when they treated  them  like   horses  during  slavery.  yeah  that is  exactly  what    they  did but  we  now look  back on that with same.   





COME  ON AMERICA WE CAN DO  BETTER.






 CLICK HERE  TO  HELP   AMELIA  BY  SIGNING A  PETION THEY  NEED A LOT MORE VOTES 

Cerebral Palsy is not hopeless

        I have many  memories  of  watching  60 minutes .  It has been  a tradition that    has    been    happening for a long time in  my household . I loved seeing Andy Rooney   at the  end    and  I am sad that he died.  He  passed away   the  day of my softball  torment  last year.

 So  On  sunday when     I was   on  face book and someone  posted that 60 minutes  would speak  about CP  I   do what  I normally do. I  sneak  into my parent's  room and  watch   TV as was the  case  Sunday  night.  I  really  like  how  60 minutes so far has  portrayed  people  with  disabilities   up  until this  point  but     the piece was a  exception.


    The way   the reporter  talked about  CP painted a   very sad  picture  of   my disability.  The  story starts  out  with   phrases   such as   "hopeless  disease."  Sorry  but   I  have    CP  and no it is  not  hopeless nor a disease, its  a disability.I  invite  anyone  who thinks  that Cp  is  hopeless   to come  spend  some time at my  place.   Laughter  is  a common thing in  my house  and  I  have  played sports gone to school   attend  college.      I  am  really funny .  yes  I have a disability  but  it is not the  end the world.


 This  brings up the  whole point  of the   article. The article talks  about wanting to "cure"  CP and   other disabilities  using  illegal stem sells.   I  find it  wrong because  I have  CP and  I  do not  want to be cure of CP.  It is apart of  who  I  am .     It is not  hopeless  nor is it the end of the world.  My advice to  parents of  kids   with CP is     step  back   take a deep  breath  and do not    go to other countries   to get stem cells  because    having  CP is not that  bad.  As  of    January  2012 stem  cells can not help  Cp   yet    CP is not  hopeless.  I  am  living proof that therapy   and lots  of  love  will do  wonders. For whatever   reason I  have  disabilities    and you  know  what   I am  normal. This  is  my  normal.

Sixth grade part one : orientation

 I  remember   going to school  for  orientation.  I would be  in  Pod  2.  My  sixth grade  class  was  split up into  Pods.   This  meant that   a group of  kids  would have the same  English Math  and Science class.    This  would be my first time rotating  classes as  well.  This system seemed  to be a good  idea  because    all the teachers  were  next door to  each other.     This was  also a good  idea because the kids in each  class   had the  potential to become  great  friends. I  stay   potential because    it  never  really worked out.    Due to social skills problems   I never really  had  friends without   disabilities   from  middle school on up.     Let me say that   at least I  knew  everyone  name by the end of the year.

   During ordination I  would  come to find that my  pod was the  cool  advanced  pod.    Our  pod  had  a mascot   the sea horse   which    none of the other  pods had as  well  as fun math.  I did not  do  very  much  math that year  instead we  did art  projects   it  was   cool.   My  teacher was  very  old   in  fact  back in 2003 he had   some  former students   children.   He is now  retiring at the end of this school year 2011. I  was the only  one from  my  family to have  him.    Book gal  went to a private school and Princess   was in a different  pod.    He   had  some  disabilities but  that  did not prevent him from teaching math  science   and PE as well as coach  sports.






 Anyway  after orientation I went out  breakfast  with  DD, we were  friends all throughout  middle school,    I  had    no idea   what w to as    to come that  year.

My MIddle School Memories Introduction

  Hi guys      I  just want to let you know that    I  will be training to  blog about  my mid school     years from the best of  my  memory.  There are a few  reasons  for doing this.

   1  The  people  I started  blogging with   now  have kids that are  almost middle school  age

2  It was a  rough  years  for   me

3 I hope  my story can  improve   other   middle school, or  future  middle school  students.

  So   have a  great  weekend    and  be sure to  tuin in  Monday  to read  about  orientation to   sixth    grade.

Something that has been on my mind since the new year o

      So    we had a  New  Years  day party at my house   yesterday.  I had a great time  ; however    some  one said  something about Dick  Clark


  Dick Clark   and  new years  eve  have been    a  package deal   most of the time since  i  was born.      , It is  only  recently that  I  became aware  of the  person who  has  hosted for a long time   apparently  to  long   for some  people.

 here is  what I heard  by two  people  say about  Dick Clark.

  Dick Clark  should not be  on  tv anymore.  I could not  understand  him.


   First off  Dick  Clark  had a stroke   that caused  his speech to be slurred  but  HE  IS  THE ONE  WHO CAME UP  WITH THE  NEWS  YEAR  EVE.  When  he started  if  ,40 years ago  he  was  abled  body the only thing  that happend  is  he  had  a  stoke.  What would have happend   if  Dick Clark had   the stork  around the time he was born ie  Cp,  Well  back then   his  parents would have been advised to  put him  in a institution  and    the   New  York  new years   thing would have not existed.

 So  here is  my option  on the matter.   Mr.Clark should get to contiue   bringing in the new years as  long as  he wants to. It is  a good   awareness    for people with  strokes.    Having a stroke  should not hinder  anyone  from   having   a  fun   New  Year.  Happy  New  Year  Everyone