Read it and comment on this page. Do you agree or disagree.
Monday, October 19, 2015
31 for 21 Day 19 : Virtural Field Trip
Read it and comment on this page. Do you agree or disagree.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
31 for 21 day 17 :Great Ted talk
This is a great Ted talk done by a women with CP.
I have chatted with her via Facebook She is nice women who speaks her mind about things that she is passionate about. Remind you of anyone?
Friday, October 16, 2015
31 for 21 Day 16 : Memories from first grade
In First grade I remember.
Learning about the contents and dinosaurs.
Falling and hitting my head three times in the same sport.
I fell and hit my head playing with my siblings in the play room. I remember going to the downstairs bathroom being all bloody. It was not a present site.
I fell at school.
I also fell when book girl pushed a toy shopping cart with me riding on top. That was not a good idea.
Today I have a scar on my forehead from where that happen.
My class got chicken pox. I got the shot but the next day I went into school and my teacher told me to go to the office because I actually had the Chicken Pox.
I remember getting tested for NLD. I did not understand that I had it until ninth grade.
I was very close to my first grade teacher. My mother always reminds me of this by saying that first grade was the year I sat on my teacher's lap. I do have memories of not sitting on her lap but I think it happened more times then not. I also remember
being sat down and told I had CP, so maybe that was part of it I am not sure. I had behavior problems and was labeled the bad kid. This was the last year that I attended that school. From then on I attended public school. Academically that was the right choice socially well you will have to see in my next post.
Past posts about first grade
NLD
Learning about the contents and dinosaurs.
Falling and hitting my head three times in the same sport.
I fell and hit my head playing with my siblings in the play room. I remember going to the downstairs bathroom being all bloody. It was not a present site.
I fell at school.
I also fell when book girl pushed a toy shopping cart with me riding on top. That was not a good idea.
Today I have a scar on my forehead from where that happen.
My class got chicken pox. I got the shot but the next day I went into school and my teacher told me to go to the office because I actually had the Chicken Pox.
I remember getting tested for NLD. I did not understand that I had it until ninth grade.
I was very close to my first grade teacher. My mother always reminds me of this by saying that first grade was the year I sat on my teacher's lap. I do have memories of not sitting on her lap but I think it happened more times then not. I also remember
being sat down and told I had CP, so maybe that was part of it I am not sure. I had behavior problems and was labeled the bad kid. This was the last year that I attended that school. From then on I attended public school. Academically that was the right choice socially well you will have to see in my next post.
Past posts about first grade
NLD
Thursday, October 15, 2015
31 for 21 Day 15 : First grade Opereta
Tomorrow I will be sharing more about first grade. Lets just say that First grade was a tough year but I was still cute.
Here is proof.
Here is proof.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
31 for 21 Day 14 A major misconception about NLD.
I have Non Verbal Learning disorder, NLD for short. When people first hear that they think that I am non Verbal . The answer to this is false. I talk and use speech for all of my communication needs. My speech is unclear but that has to do with Cerebral Palsy not NLD.
Too learn more about NLD please watch this somewhat short video,
Too learn more about NLD please watch this somewhat short video,
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
31 for 21 Day 13 Sending your kids with disabilities to college an Q and A
Today’s post will be from Stephanie, Stephanie has two kids the oldest is Ryan, who has been on my Special Olympics Track Team for the past four years, Ryan has Autism but that does not stop him from going to college. He goes to the Wayfinders program at Fresno State. I talked to Stephanie about her family’s decision to send her son to college.
AZ :How did you find out about the program?
Stephanie: I heard about the program when I googled colleges for kids with disabilities. I did a lot of research on Fresno State Taft College and UCLA.
The process to apply for Fresno State took about six months. We visited had interviews and there was extensive application process. In the end Ryan liked Fresno State
AZ Why did you guys chose the Wayfinders program?
Stephanie: I didn't take him to UCLA because I thought LA is too big and too far. When I did research about Taft College it was also too far and it is a very small school. Fresno seemed perfect because it was a perfect mix of not really a big city but a nice college campus
Their program is very extensive. Not only does it include independent living skills and budgeting finance paying bills on your own it's also a work program.
Ryan starts his job in the library and bookstore this week.It's a great school for not only social interaction academics but also the independent living component and they have a lot of life coaches and other coaches to help them along the way
It's challenging because they really work you hard and they make sure that you stick to a budget and that's not always fun. But the whole goal is to get you to a place where you can live and work independently and have a social life. And really isn't that what everybody wants?
AZ How is Ryan doing?
Ryan and his brother Will |
Stephanie :It's taking some time adjusting to all of the new experiences having three roommates sharing living spaces sharing refrigerators going out to parties and events going to classes and all the while keeping track of your own money. Ryan is finally starting to enjoy it a lot more I think at first it was very very difficult because he's never had to do anything like this
AZ What would you want to say to other parents about sending their student with disabilities to college ?
Stephanie: I would say be prepared for a lot of ups and downs. First of all it has to be what your child wants not what you want. Like with Ryan him being 3 1/2 hours away it's very hard. He gets homesick he didn't know anyone when he got there and for some kids with disabilities it's very hard for them to use language skills and social skills and get out there and meet people.
You have to be prepared for a lot of phone calls and a lot of support.
And you also have to realize that it's OK to fail if it's not the right situation for your child or your child is it happy then it's OK to say come home
Thank you Stephanie for giving us some insight. I can not wait to hang out with Ryan over winter break. Have a question for Stephanie leave a comment below .
Monday, October 12, 2015
31 for 21 Day 12 Meet the girl that stared in Switched at Birth
Meet Sofia Sanchez. She is a first grade student who is also making quite a name for herself as a modal in the Change the Face of Beauty and has recently made a guest appearance on Switched at Birth.
In the show Toby, who is the older brother of Bay who was Switched at Birth with Daphene, breaks the news to his family that he is expecting a baby with Down Syndrome. In an effort to educate themselves about the condition the two of them go to a school for kids with developmental disabilities. There they meet Sofia who shows Toby that Down Syndrome is not the end of the world. Sofia stole the show and was supper cute. I have been Facebook friends with Sofia mother Jennifer for a while now She was kind enough to let me interview her.
AZ:
I know Sofia was adopted can you tell me anything about where she came from
Sofia and her brothers. Mateo, Joaquin and Diego |
Jennifer:
She was adopted from an orphanage in Ukraine. She was abandoned at birth.
Her bio parents were married and she was their first child. We believe they were fearful of raising a child with a disability or maybe felt like they were equipped. Culture in Eastern Europe is about 40 years behind us in the U.S. in terms of people with disabilities.
AZ
How long have you been watching switched at birth ?
Jennifer
Just Season four !
AZ
Was it hard to catch up on all the drama?
I have been watching since the first episode back in 2011
Jennifer
Jennifer
It was pretty simple to get up to date. I did go back and watch the first few episodes of season 1
I am missing a few key players like Angelo but I do plan on going back and watching from the start.
AZ
How did Sofia wind up on the Show?
AZ
How did Sofia wind up on the Show?
Sofia high five Lucas Grabeel - who plays Toby - for a job well done. Grabeel also played Ryan in High School Musical |
Jennifer:
She auditioned for the part and was chosen by SAB
We got the audition from her agent Gail Williamson at KMR Diversity
AZ
How was it on set?
Jennifer
The set was impressive. Soooooooo many people behind the scenes to make it all happen. It was amazing to witness
AZ
What has the reaction been to Sofia's stardom?
Jennifer
Her peers (other 1st graders) LOVED seeing her on TV and are so excited to say hi to her. Her teachers and family are so proud of her. Sofia loved it all. She loved the work, the people, watching herself on TV. She loved it all.
AZ: Any future projects?
Jennifer: She has a modeling job next month for Freckles & Kitty and Zulily and she auditioned recently for a movie role that we are still waiting to hear about!
Sofia on her first day of First Grade |
School is her top priority! She's learning to read and write and working on her speech. This way she has a bright future ahead of her! But her love is modeling, acting, performing and making people smile!!!
AZ
What does Sofia like to do for fun?
Jennifer
Sofia likes to dance, sing, read, swim and play barbies.
AZ
If there was one thing you want other people to know about Down Syndrome what would you want people to know?
Jennifer
That people with Down syndrome are PEOPLE with their own sets of dreams and hopes and wants.
Thank you Jennifer and Sofia
Have any other questions for Jennifer ? Leave a comment below.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
31 for 21 Day 11: Learning disabilities video
This is a great video I watched this last spring in my intro to special education class. I hope you enjoy it.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
31 for 21 : Day Ten more about Unified Sports
Earlier this week I posted about Unified Sports. Here is more information about the program from Special Olympics Northern California.
Friday, October 9, 2015
31 for 21 Day nine : Reflections from Kindergarten
I remember
Me in Kindergarten. I was so cute. |
Sound books esp the letter /k/. The teacher told me I was different.
Jump rope Every day at recess my teacher would try to teach me how to jump rope. I was able to jump rope by the end of the year.
Read Write and Type Click here to read more about it.
Learning about community jobs highlight was having my mom come in her scrubs to teach us about being a doctor.
Learning different coin values
Butterflies We watched them in our classroom go from caterpillars to butterflies. It was very fun.
Thanksgiving play. I was the cat on the Mayflower.
Not bad considering I was only six.
Eight Months I will be graduating with a BA.
Other posts
In Kindergarten
Learning to read
Thursday, October 8, 2015
31 for 21 Day Eight: My inclusion Story
Hi guys for those of you that are new here, or want to watch my story again . Here is my inclusion story. As I Countdown to College graduation I will be talking about my memories in more detail in the weeks and months ahead but here is a quick overview of my story.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
31 for 21 Day Seven: World Cerebral Palsy Day 2015
Thank you everyone for sending or agreeing to let me use your picture. I hope you have an awesome day today. Be sure to wear Green today. Here is the montage It is the longest it has ever been.
A member of a group that I am in made this for me. I think it turned out well.
Wearing Green Today? Let me know in the comments or share a pic on my Facebook page or email me if you want.
A member of a group that I am in made this for me. I think it turned out well.
Wearing Green Today? Let me know in the comments or share a pic on my Facebook page or email me if you want.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
31 for 21 Day Six : Who’s the Slow Learner? A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion
AZ with Sandra and Sean March 2014 |
Today is Sean McElwee's twenty second birthday. I have met Sean and his Mom Sandra at CA TASH in 2014 .
Sandra wrote a book about her son's educational experience called Who is the Slow Learner. I decided to let her talk about her book and if you like it then you can enter for a giveaway at the end of the blog
AZ: Why did you write the book?
Sean in kindergarten |
Sandra: The real purpose was to educate and inspire while entertaining in the hopes that parents could learn, and educators could see that they hold the key to success…or hell. Who’s the Slow Learner? A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion was an accidental book. Sean had a text-book perfect elementary school inclusion experience, but secondary school was a stark contrast. I started documenting the bad behavior of the administrators and educators and five years when Sean graduated from high school I looked back and thought, “I couldn’t make this stuff up!” That’s when the idea of turning Sean’s story into a book, but it couldn’t just be the secondary school experience. Parent’s needed to know what to watch out for, but it would have been too depressing. So I broke out the elementary school communication notebooks, IEPs and started recreating each grade chronologically.
I searched and searched and I couldn’t find one book that chronicled a student with special educational needs from preschool through high school graduation. We have plenty of the ‘baby born, parents mourn’ stories but none that provide practical realities of the school-age years.
I wrote the book as a memoir, simply because I enjoy reading real-life memoirs. My hopes were that parents could learn first how inclusion was supposed to be supported and accommodated as it was in Sean’s elementary school…and what legal tools they have to use when it isn’t provided appropriately from the secondary school experiences.
AZ Chapman : What has been the feedback for the book?
A lot of people like Sandra's story that shows that when you include everyone benefits |
Sandra: I am thrilled to have 31 Five-Star Ratings on Amazon.com. Parents have told me they purchased the book for their teachers and administrators and have had them comment they never looked at Inclusion from a parent’s perspective before. This has led to positive changes in their schools, and THAT is the feedback that makes my day. Some of the headlines from the ratings on Amazon ‘Highly recommended,’ A must read for teachers and parents,’ Invaluable resource,’ and my favorites comment that they couldn’t put the book down.
Sean in forth grade |
AZ Chapman: What advice do you have for future special education teachers?
Sandra: My advice for special educators and general educators alike is to always have high expectations for their students. To learn to collaborate as a team and to spend the time they are in school learning to differentiate instruction so they can teach one subject to learners of different abilities and learning styles.
Sean with the baseball team. He was an assistant to the team during his high school years |
AZ Chapman: What is Sean up too now?
Sandra : Sean is about to turn 22, and is attending community college focusing on acting classes. He is an assistant coach for a Challenger Flag Football team, volunteers in a SundaySchool class and goes dancing every chance he has. He was just hired to work at Home Depot! He has a full social life and enjoys doing presentations and signing books. In his spare time, Sean loves to make music videos using an app on his Iphone. He’s currently single, but has a girl that he is trying to woo.
Thank you Sandra
Enter for a chance to win a copy of this book by leaving a comment on this post. The giveaway will close on the 31st. Winners will be announced on November forth.
Click here for the book's website
Click here for the book's Facebook page
Monday, October 5, 2015
31 for 21 Day Five : Laying the foundation
I have been playing golf since 2007. I first learned about the sport through Special Olympics. My first year I started playing I was in skills and I could not hit the ball over 100 ft.
First golf event with Special Olympics 2007 |
After two months I decided that I wanted to play for my high school team. My dad thought it was foolish but he drove me to the course anyway. The coach was a former special education teacher and felt that he could handle a teenager with disabilities and let me on the team. By saying yes to me he allowed me to become a part of the golf team he also laid the foundation for something magical to happen a Monday night in August.
Good chip |
That night I played the best game of my life. I got two great chips and great drives. I also was able to connect with a peer who is quickly becoming my friend. We were not close friends in high school , but we were able to reconnect, She originally lived on my street but moved to another city. Being on that team laid the foundation for us to play together .
I know a lot of families of kids with disabilities who have to fight for inclusive education. My heart breaks for these families and their kids. I also feel very angry because educators need to understand that school is more than test scores and academic honors. It is the center of a child's life. Friends come from school experience when people ship students off to another place there is no foundation for friendships to form between those with and without disabilities. I am not saying that these friendships will form while in school, but they could, but as people grow and mature and see their surroundings in a new way they might want to become friends with people with disabilities, but if they did not have the chance to attend school with people who did have disabilities they will not know where to look.
Inclusion lays the foundation for friendships.
Tune in tomorrow for a book giveaway
Sunday, October 4, 2015
31 for 21 Day Four : Project Search
Project Search is a wonderful program. It helps young people with disabilities find jobs. There is a program in my town and my friend with DS went there last year. From there he got a job in a inclusive work environment . It is a wonderful program. I would highly recommend it to any young person with disabilities.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
31 for 21 Day Three: Dear Future Mom
Happy Saturday guys. On weekends this month I will be posting video clips that are disability related. Do you have any suggestions for you tube videos that I should link to? Leave a comment below.
Friday, October 2, 2015
31 for 21 Day Two: The update preview and a new label
Hay guys so I have not really updated you guys on my school stuff since Spring . I am set to graduate college in 2016. I am taking 16 units this fall and am doing well. Three of those classes are Graduate level classes that I am taking for my Special Education minor. A big goal of mine was to graduate in 2016 and I am ecstatic that this is a real possibility. As long as I pass my classes.
Because I am graduating from undergrad I will be blogging a lot about my experience-particularly pre school through eighth grade in school. In order to do this I will be sharing some older posts about my school that I have written along with some new posts so be sure to come back for more from now til June .
Because I am graduating from undergrad I will be blogging a lot about my experience-particularly pre school through eighth grade in school. In order to do this I will be sharing some older posts about my school that I have written along with some new posts so be sure to come back for more from now til June .
Thursday, October 1, 2015
31 for 21 Day One: Welcome
Hay guys long time no blog. Sorry its been so long I have been busy. I have lots to tell you and you will be hearing a lot about my life now that its 31 for 21. This is an event hosted by Big Blue Berry Eyes in which people post every day in October for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Welcome please leave a comment that lets me know that you are here,
Grab This Button
Welcome please leave a comment that lets me know that you are here,
Grab This Button
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
A poem in Honor of Back to school
Today is the official start of School for local schools in the are, My Jr college starts back Monday.
( This year is going to be a very special year for my family you will have to wait a little bit longer to find out why )
Here is to a school year where all children are visible in local neighborhood schools
The invisible student
I am a child just like you.
I go to school, and think recess is cool.
But there is something different about me.
I have an disability.
I sometimes drool
You sometimes stare.
Many people pretend I am not there
For I am invisible
you can’t see me I have a disability.
District personal see my education a joke
so they bus me across town even though the neighborhood school is not broke.
there system is.
At school I am sent down the hall.
The classroom door closes and that is all.
I am there all day down the hall.
Its not fair,
Its not fair
it can’t be
I should be treated fair
as an equal you see
We learn about freedom
we learn about the world, but we are not there.
Left out of pictures
of social life
the websites about the school do not include us.
Why can’t I be in the pictures?
Why do my parents need to fight for me to be seen?
Seen as a disabled person
seen for me.
Inclusive education that is key.
Its time to close separate classroom.
Cause Separate is not equal
We learned that in 1954.
Its time for us to become visible-
for us to be seen.
For us to be in all general education classes
Learning and living about Freedom
Learning how to read.
Learning about Romeo, Juliet, and Huckleberry Finn.
Discovering our past
Exploring through experiments
Its time for all that
Its time to presume competence for all kids
Teach us everything so we have a chance at learning about this world.
Its time to move the desk from down the hall.
Into same aged classrooms.
Open the classroom
Let me in
Now is a good time to begin.
Have a great year everyone.
( This year is going to be a very special year for my family you will have to wait a little bit longer to find out why )
Here is to a school year where all children are visible in local neighborhood schools
The invisible student
I am a child just like you.
I go to school, and think recess is cool.
But there is something different about me.
I have an disability.
I sometimes drool
You sometimes stare.
Many people pretend I am not there
For I am invisible
you can’t see me I have a disability.
District personal see my education a joke
so they bus me across town even though the neighborhood school is not broke.
there system is.
At school I am sent down the hall.
The classroom door closes and that is all.
I am there all day down the hall.
Its not fair,
Its not fair
it can’t be
I should be treated fair
as an equal you see
We learn about freedom
we learn about the world, but we are not there.
Left out of pictures
of social life
the websites about the school do not include us.
Why can’t I be in the pictures?
Why do my parents need to fight for me to be seen?
Seen as a disabled person
seen for me.
Inclusive education that is key.
Its time to close separate classroom.
Cause Separate is not equal
We learned that in 1954.
Its time for us to become visible-
for us to be seen.
For us to be in all general education classes
Learning and living about Freedom
Learning how to read.
Learning about Romeo, Juliet, and Huckleberry Finn.
Discovering our past
Exploring through experiments
Its time for all that
Its time to presume competence for all kids
Teach us everything so we have a chance at learning about this world.
Into same aged classrooms.
Open the classroom
Let me in
Now is a good time to begin.
Have a great year everyone.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
World CP Day Photo Montage
Its that time of year people time to start sending in photos of you or your child with CP. October is world CP Day . So send in one photo to azchapman1991@gmail.com or post it on my and tune in October seventh to see this great montage.
Feeling left out?
Find a friend with CP and take a photo and submit it.
For more information please see the tab labeled. World CP day photo montage
Monday, July 13, 2015
25 years later .. we have a long way to go
Hay guys I have been extremely busy sorry I have not been able to blog for you guys. I am in summer school. I will try to update soon. |
People with disabilities still face large unemployment or under employment . People with disabilities still are forced to work for less then minimum wage
People with disabilities that receive benefits from the government can not get married because their benefits will evaporate.
Parents of disabled kids still have to fight to ensure that there child revives a fully inclusive education.
25 years ago things changed for the better for people with disabilities. We still have a long road ahead to ensure that people with disabilities are given equal access. We should celebrate how far we have come but realize that this is just a pit stop. We will have to get back on the road for access equality and inclusion.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Spring Quarter 2015
\
First day of Spring Quarter |
B gave me an incentive for me to finish my BA. B also helped me by telling me about a program called Open University. This is a program at Cal State schools where anyone can pay a fee to take classes. This is what I am doing so I can gain credits that count towards my major before the fall term. Anyone can enroll in Open University there is a form you fill out but there is no need for transcripts or grades. I am so happy that B recommended this program. The only downside is that the units cost more.
I had to go karting for a class project. I made a video which got 100 percent |
What has changed in ten weeks
Confidence and a new found belief in myself that I can finish my BA.
Units After I pass all my classes I will double the upper division units that I took at the private school.
I made a worksheet for a class project.
Me yesterday after finishing finals
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
I do my own laundry
I do my own Landry at home |
So for those of you that do not know what is happening read here. Then come back, then read here.
HOW
IS
THIS
OK?
HOW IS OKEY FOR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO BECOME SERVANTS TO THE OTHER?
ITS NOT
WHAT MESSAGE DOES IT SEND TO THE OTHER STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.
THEY ARE SEPARATE, THEY ARE SPECIAL THEY DO NOT BELONG.
THIS IS TOOO IMPORTANT. WHEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE GIVEN THE DIRTY JOBS AT 11 OR 12 , WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO THEM. WHERE IS THE PRESUMPTION OF COMPETENCE? its not there. WHERE ARE THE BOOKS, MATH BLOCKS, EGYPTIAN TUMS WITH MUMMIES, WHERE ARE THE SCINCE EXPERIMENTS.
THOSE THINGS MATTER. Reading matters because information is in these books. Stories of our past. Explores Dragons Shakespeare they matter .
Writing to be able to connect with people over social media is important. Sharing our own stories so that future generations will know us.
History the stories of the past are a light to understanding our future.
Science to discover how the world works, It is also fun,
So in short why are you wasting precious learning time doing laundry in middle school when most kids don't.
There was a time in American history where one group of people did the dirty work in America. They did the laundry. They cleaned up the house, They worked the fields and picked cotton too, They were slaves in America. We now look down on this as a society . Although this isn't slavery. Its still dehumanizing.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Blogging against disablism day 2015 : My ideal classroom
This quarter I am venturing into my field of choice, special education, my goal: to become a special education teacher who provides inclusive services to high school students with intellectual disabilities .
image of and empty classroom. The classroom has desks a flag and Television |
My program would have kids with intellectual disabilities included for English, History, and Science and elective with modifications and support. They would be doing work that is connected to what the other students in class are doing modified to their level.
My students would have math and life skills in a special education class that I would teach. I say math because some of my students might need life skill math. The math would be temporary I would reach out to general education math teacher with the hope of having students with intellectual disabilities included. I would try to offer life skills for general education students because all kids need to learn life skills, Life skills would be one period.
A lunch time sandwich shop which students with and without disabilities would get work experience,
Office Aids and on campus jobs for my students.
A chance to participate in sports and plays or anything else that students are interested in.
Homework every night to reinforce learning concepts.
Special Olympics practices that would be healed AFTER SCHOOL once a week and compete in the community program.
Independence jars where students can do things both at school and in the community and then get tokens to earn for their jars.
Presumed Competence
Fun club which would take place monthly. Students with and without disabilities would be invited to do fun things in the community. Events would include activities in their communities. This would be done after school.
Lofty goals and high expectations.
My main goal for my students would be to learn and have fun. (in that order)
Who knows as I go through my teaching maybe I will add more things to this list. One thing that will not change in my mind is inclusion in core subjects. I am a die hard inclusion fan for life.
My high school graduation photo. |
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
The best word in a human development textbook
my textbook |
Most. The sentience talked about the fact that most babies who are over two walk. This was music to my ears, literally I read out loud to increase my comprehension.
The reason why most is such a great word it that it leaves room for people who are different. I had to read a text book that was so exclusive and ablest it was hard to read. That text book said that all children learn language without ever being taught. This cut like a knife because learning to speak clearly is something I struggled with at 22 and continue to try to learn at 23. I am not delusional, I know that many people speak clearly without thought and do not have to think about walking or use their hands, but to deny the experiences of those of us who struggle to do these things is not fair. By including most it allows for the diversity of the human experience. It is allowing for the disabled to be included as people. One small word goes a long word in telling all people that there experience is valid. They are still people and they matter.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Cerebral Palsy Party Day 18 : National Cerebral Palsy Day 2015 - Please don't blow the candle out - A Ceep view on curing disabilities
Happy National Cerebral Palsy Day everyone and the last day of theCerebral Palsy Party. I hope you are all wearing green today.
Today is the national day for Cerebral Palsy Awareness. The history behind this is Reaching for the stars. These guys are trying to eventually find a cure for CP.
Hay guys I want to let you in on a secret. We don't need a cure, Now at this point you may be thinking that this person is crazy and doesn't make sense. So on this day I want to share my feelings with you about why as a person with Cerebral Palsy. The idea of a cure is treating to me. I hope that there will not be a cure for CP or any other disability we are meant to be here.
Some people with disabilities see that the world has it wrong. Instead of believing that people with disabilities are flawed the society is at fault for denying us rights. I mean the ADA is only 25 this year . Low expectations rule supreme and segregation is still practiced under the name special. That is far more disabling then the disability. I have a personal experience with this.
I come from a big sport family. Both my parents played sports in their youth. My brother played baseball for a number of years and I spent saturdays at baseball games supporting him. When the fine motor challenges of playing with dolls became too much for me I turned to sports where I was able to join community team and recess. I was a true tom boy. Did CP make it hard for me to play you bet but I really liked playing.
In eighth grade I came to the realization that I probably would not continue to play on inclusive teams. IT WAS THEN THAT I LONGED TO BE NORMAL. It was not that I couldn't talk clearly, or use my hands. IT WAS THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE INCLUDED ON A SPORT TEAM.
Now if there was a inclusion basketball team I would not have yearned to be normal because I still would have been included on a sport team like I always wanted to do. If there were the same opportunities offered to me as my parents and siblings and to all citizens then there wouldn't need to be a cure because we would be able to contribute to society.
Its like this, think of life as a movie theater, now imagined instead of seeing the movie in two d and 3d You saw it through color lens. These lenses tint what you see and how you view them. A lot of factors go through these color lenses including race, gender, economic status ,family , political ideation,and disability. In short the thing that you are trying to cure has shaped how I see the world around me. I have lived with it my entire life and will continue to live with it til I die. If disabilities were not suppose to exist then they would not exist. They have always been around . It is a part of diversity. One that I hope will always be included in every aspect of life.
Happy Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day.
I am disabled and proud
There are no new post tomorrow but be sure to check out my other post from CP month.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Cerebral Palsy Party Day 17 : Gifts
What is a birthday party without gifts.
Today's post will be a guest post. I asked people with CP in a facebook group that I am in to tell me what are some gifts that have been given to you because of CP.
This is what other people said.
"A more open mind to race gender sexual orientation social and economic inequality."
"A better understanding of social issues, I suppose."
"a sense of humor.
"All of the above"
"Empathy"
Creative problem-solving skills.
It's hard for me to pick out specific gifts because cp has impacted so much in my life mostly in a positive way. Nothing about me would be the same without cp, that includes my gifts. I guess the greatest gifts I have because of my cp is the ability to use my experiences as a disabled person to help others with disabilities, especially children with disabilities.
See you tomarrow and do not forget to go green,
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