Treat Me Like A Human

We are fragile. In a world like today's with political correctness, and people judging other people, and bullying, and everything that's going on in the world, we are fragile human beings.  We're afraid to say what we want to say and speak our minds, we're afraid to hurt other peoples feelings but we all want the same thing; to be equal. 

       That is something I have never understood – being equal.  Everyone of us being treated "normally".  Because the thing is, we are not normal, we are not equal.  Each one of us walks a different path in life.  Everyone's normal is different.  My walk of life is different from someone else's walk of life which is then different from another persons walk of life.  My norm is different from someone else's norm which is then different from another persons norm.  We are all different.  We are all have qualities and hardships.  We can not compare lives.  

       All though I have said all this, we are ALL human beings.  Human beings who walk on different paths but sometimes share the same sidewalk.  We want to be treated like human being.  Understand that your walk is different and be open to understanding mine.  That is where acceptance starts.  Understanding that we are not all equal.  

       When we understand.  When we open our hearts and accept people.  That is when political corectness and bullying and all that stops.  That is when we understand so we stop hurting other people's feelings. 

I Am Aware

I am aware. I'm aware of how my visual impairment affects me.  I'm aware of how tired and weak I am all the time.  I'm aware of my dysarthria.  I am aware, and wether these are new symptoms or my new found awareness, I am not sure.  

     I suppose I've known about my mystery disability since I went from forearm crutches to a walkerr and I've definitely known that I'm legally blind since birth, but when I was a child nothing got in my way.  I knew that I was legally blind but not as much was based on sight.  As for the dysarthria and the tiredness I am pretty certain that those symptoms are fairly new.  

     Everyone whom I tell about my mystery disability tells me that a diagnosis is just a name, that in the long run it doesn't matter; they don't get it.  Instead of a diagnosis I have a list of symptoms and diagnoses that seems to keep growing.  Doctors will not treat these symptoms with out this name, without a diagnosis and I wouldn't really care if I wasn't exhausted and weak all the time, if it didn't take multiple times for someone to hear and understand me, if it didn't take the breath out of me when I talk.  

     Most of the time a diagnosis means a reason and doctors won't treat without a reason.  According to almost every test there is no reason for me to have a disability.  

     I am more aware than I was when I was a child because back then I didn't feel it like I do now.  I am a mystery that defies all odds and… I am aware. 

      

Wheelchair Guides/Guide Dogs

I'm annoyed; yes, I am being blunt because I am very annoyed and frustrated!  

     For a little over three years - THREE YEARS! - I have been research, emailing, and applying to different guide dog and service dog schools.  I have been denied by all of them.  The service dog training   centers said that do not train dogs if you are legally blind and the guide dog schools said they do not train dogs if you use a wheelchair… and of course, I am both legally blind and use a wheelchair.  

     Then, I thought I hit the jackpot, when I heard of ‘wheelchair guides' which are guide dogs trained to guide people who use wheelchairs.  I decided that my visual impairment is my primary disability and that it is necessary for me to have a guide dog before I go to college.  But, every guide dog school that had a wheelchair program has now stopped it or is not able to help me.  

     So I am open to suggestions. If you can help me please comment on this blog. But I'm annoyed and frustrated and this adventure is not over. 

Make Your Voice Heard

Im a writer; I'm a writer and I started this blog because I wanted  my voice to be heard.  I'm a quiet, shy person in general but I'm also quiet because I have 40% lung capacity and it takes a lot of energy to get enough air out in order to project my voice.  So, I'm a writer with a blog because I need a way to get my opinions heard throughout this world.  This is my voice and I beleive that everyone's voice should be heard. 

        Sometimes it's hard to have the confidence to speak when it's hard to speak.  Sometimes it's scary to speak, to make your voice heard, to share your opinion just in general.  We are scared or at least I am of people judging me.  I like to hear people's opinions on what I have to say.  I like to have friendly debates but when it comes to using my quiet out loud voice in public speaking I'm scared of what people will think when my voice gives out. 

     It easier said then done but I truly believe that not caring what people think makes it easier to do what needs to be done.  It makes it easier to share your opinion and not feel beaten down if others are judging.  It makes it easier to not assume others are judging you.  

     It doesn't matter if you can or can not speak.  It doesn't matter if you have the power to make your voice loud enough or not.  It doesn't matter if you stutter or stumble on words.  There are things you can do to be self sufficient.  You can hope people listen hard and listen close, you can get an app on your tablet or something where you type a sentence and it speaks for you, you can write, and you can do so much more.  

      I beleive that everyone's voice should be heard no matter how it is heard.  No matter your abilities and disabilities.  I once said "I have the power of silence; it moves people."  This I believe. 

Segregation in the Classroom

Is it right to have a classroom of only students with disabilities?  

     

Some of you may say that it depends on the focus of the class and the nature of the disabilities.  That it is not right to have students who have cognitive disabilities in a classroom of students who are mentally their age.  But let me ask you this: is it right to have a classroom of only African Americans or only whites or only lesbians or only gays or only bisexuals or only transgendered people?  The answer is NO, it is not right!  It is not even right for me to categorize and for that I am sorry.  So then why do people seem to think it's alright to put every student who has a disability into one classroom at the end of the hall where the door is always closed?

     It is hard work for the adults to accommodate for the students needs, therefore these needs do not get met and the child is left with no way to demonstrate their understanding.  Some kids have trouble with talking and writing, and left with no way to show that they know what's going on.  The teacher is then discouraged to teach their students anything, taking their students out of class when they should be learning, baking and doing mindless activities.  This is what happens in a "special ed" classroom and this is why students with disabilities should not be put into special ed.  No one should be segregated and segregation should not be happening. 

     You may be thinking, "What about the kids who actually need to be in the special ed classroom?"  A student who has a cognitive disability often benefits in many ways by being surrounded by their same age peers.  It not only benefits them socially but it also with speech and understanding because of the interaction with kids their own age.  It also benefits the typically abled students in having the knowledge to interact with the student who have disabilities as you would interact with anyone else.  

     All students in a school are students just the same, so treat them like human beings, like kids and treat others how you would like to be treated.  Remember: "All students are general education students, some students have special education SUPPORTS."