Misconception about my Cerebral Palsy and other Diversrsities

I leave for Fernie tomorrow! I was supposed to leave today but the bus that I was going on had to cancel because there was a huge mudslide close to where I live. Fortunaly, no one was hurt but it did do a lot of damage! It was huge! So, Grace and I have to wait one more day to see eachother, which is ok because it makes the excitement that much more greater when you wait longer, I think. Anyway, today I wanted to talk about diversities more,and talk about some misconceptions that people make about us sometimes. It's hard with my Cerebral Palsy because I can do so much, and I look like a typical teenager when I walk, but there is something a bit off about me. Especially, when lefty is flying around up in the sky, people sometimes might think I have a learning diversity or things like that. I don't though. I am just as smart as a regular kid in a highschool, all though some people may beg to differ. Anyway, I get questions asked about my divesity lots and so I just wanted to make some things a bit more clear. This entry is going to be a true false blog. It's going to talk about true things about my Cerebral Palsy, because some people hit them right on the nose, but it is also going to talk about some of the false things as well, because some people don't quite get certain things. To help, I did a quiz online about diversabilities, to get some ideas. I did the quiz preety wll. I got a few wrong. So, this will be like your quiz me. Lets see how you do! 1.There are diffrent types of each diverseability- TRUE! It's crazy how one diverseability can range so much. For Cerebral Palsy, you can have it be very mild or very severe. It depends how much oxygen you lose to the brain at birth. I think I lost a far bit but not enough to have much troubles. There are kids that are confined to wheelchairs, can't talk, and have visions problems. I think I am right in the middle. I'm very very mobile! I just have a few little troubles that slow me down but not much! I'm a very lucky girl! You should see the Autism spectrum! Holy smokes, does that range! I just heard about Mosaic Down Syndrome! I've never heard of that type of Down Syndrome before. So, yes, diverabulities can range all over the map. That is another reason why we are chanhging the name to diversabilities! 2. I am in the main stream curriculum at school- TRUE- I get asked this quite a bit; wheather or not I am able to funtion in a normal classrom with other children without diverseabilities! It always makes me pround to say YES! My school is amazing! They are very accomodating to my needs. I know some other kids with diversibilities that can't say the same thing, so once again, I'm very lucky. It does take me extra time to finish school work, so sometimes the teacher gives me extra time to in class or I have a study bock, STS, whhere I can work on homework so my load isn't so heavy when I get home. I have an aide in some classes to help get set up. This year, though, I was in a class without an aide, whitch was great! I need some special equipment in class like computers to help me speed up my writing. I need a book stand to hold my textbooks to give me extra room on my desk. I need a foot board because the muscles in my legs are tight and they fly up some times. The board just gives them a place to relax so I cn focus more easily on school work. Other than those couple of things, I'm free sailing in school. I can write essays. I can do homework. I can do ANYTHING! 3. I broke my legs- FALSE- Because I am either in my wheellchair or walk with braces, people tend to think that I broke my legs. Mostly children think that, but sometimes adults do as well. I am in my chair so I can move around faster and more independenntly. I have leg braces called AFO's (Ankle Foot orthotics) on to keep my feet from turning in while I walk. When I don't have them on, I walk on my ankles and turn my legs in. It can be a bit painful on my ankles when they are turned in like that. Sometimes it's nice to go with just bare feet, but sometimes I feel more comfortabe with braces because my feet are all snug and in place in them. So, they are just braces. They are not my artifical legs! I didn't fall of the hospital bed and break my legs when I was born. Ha ha! Good times when that little boy asked that! Good times! Good times! 4. I can't walk- FALSE- I feel kind of bad about this one. I am in my electric chair a lot more these days either for getting around in school or for getting araround independently downtown. My chair has opened up a whole new world of independence for me. It's amazing. Sometimes though, it means I sit down more. My doctors are always stress that I keep walking and excercising or else I'll lose my mobility! Use it or lose it, they say. I would hate to have come this far and loose it. I know it sounds strange, because I dont walk as much as all of you, but I can't imagine being confined to my chair. Some days it amazes me that I can just get up and go, because others I know, can't. I said it once and I'll say it again. I am a lucky, lucky girl. 5. I tend to bond better with adults- TRUE- I've been around adults all my life with parents and teachers and aides and doctors. it was harder for me to socialize with other children when I was little. It's getting easier but it's still a little hard. I feel a little awkward in front of kids my own age becuse of my diffrences. There are some amazing kids at my school and they are ail so nice to me, but I am still nervous. I have some great adults friends though. I find it a little easier to talk to adults. They are a little more patient, but that doesn't mean I won't make friends with any kids. I'll be a friend to anyone! 6. I don't like to be asked questions about my diagnosis- FALSE- I can't say this for everyone with a diversity because some don't like to talk about theirs. For me though, you can ask me anything. I'd rather people ask questions than stare The more they ask, I feel, the more they feel comfortabe with the person with the diversity. Ask, don't stare. Staring makes us feel a little bit more uncomfortable. I know my diversity is kind of simple, but if you have any questions for me, anything at all, ASk,ASK,ASK! 7. A little bit of lighthearted humour is always neccesary- TRUE- I love to be funnny, especially about my diversity. I have a blog entry of funny things about it. I think that if there is a way humour can be incoorporated into any tough situation, it can help people get through the tough times. Some of my struggle are tough, but most of them are kind of funny, like lefty for example. If you have a friend with a diversity, instead of feeling sorry for them, laugh with them at some stuff! It might make them feel better! 8. I have a disease. I am crippled- FALSE- I don't like it when people think I have a diesease or I'm cripped. Cerebral Palsy is not a disease. It's kind of like a brain injury, because it effected part of my brain. I'm not in any pain. I'm not going to die. I have no symptoms of a diesease what so ever. Cripled isn't the right word ether. I am a bit hunched over when I walk but that is because of habit. My body is not crippled up or anything like that. I am simply a person with a few extra challenges and who is trying her best to overcome each and every one. 9. Inneed a lot of help- FALSE- This is a big one for a lot people I meet. They think I'm fragile and I need a lot of gentle support walking! THAT IS SO WRONG! ha ha. Don't worry about it! But, seriously, all I need is one hand. A lot of older ladies like me to rally lean on them because they are nervous I might fall. I don't need that support though, and sometimes that sort of help can increase the chance of falls. I like to show off a little bit to people about what I can do physically. Folks, you ain't seen nothin' yet! 10. I wabt to have fun too- TRUE- I have a friend who is confined to a wheelchair, and her motto about people with diversities is "All we want to do is have fun". Thats right. We just want to live our lives the best that we can and do some partying along the way. The more activities out there for people with diversabilities like skiing! its amazing! I get asked a lot, what do I want out of life? That's a big questions? There are a lot of complicated answers! The simpliest on is, I just want to have fun! So, how'd you do? You ace it? Awesome! I feel better now that I have confronted some things. Make sure that if you have a question for me or anyone with a divesability, ask! You can always comment here if you know how,or on Facebook, or email me at katers95@yahoo.ca. If anything in those brains of yours pop up, just ask. It may be the start of a great friendship!