Cerebral Palsy Support Group

Hey, I read it...And I agree. What I hate is when a doctor, nurse, cashier, family or people in general talk to my sister about what I want or need as if I'm not their or can't answer. Kids stare at me in stores and their parents don't take the time to explain why some people are in wheelchair or are different from others.

i know what your feeling

I think we all know exactly how you feel. It's what I call uneducated people that act this way. It does hurt and make you so mad you could chew nails but it has always been that way and always will be I hate to say. Kids doing it is somewhat understandable since they know no better yet. You, family and friends know the type of person you are and thats the most important thing. People who don't let themselves see the samething are missing out, not you. So don't let those uneducated people get you down eventhough its hard. I know all too well. Remember, you might have a disability but your not disabled. Good people far out weigh the jerks.

"HEY"
I agree, and understand where your coming from about dating. It is funny, and I know exactly what your saying about guys. Not all but some are not mature enough to handle the extra attention that sometimes follows us. Its hard be patient and you will meet someone who looks past your cp and takes you for all you are. If you ever want to chatter Im here.

Yo!!! Jesusfreak!! easy.Some ppl are uneducated;most are insecure & feel that making fun of a disability,obesity weird clothes, etc makes them seem worldly. sad. I have seen a guy w/o legs below the knee in a wheelchair get pushed over. I was very happy to see the guy who did it found the whole bar wanting to kick his ass. Most ppl are good. I personally seldom have a problem ; anyone over 12 asks me about my disability gets told 'wow- intelligent ppl never refer to my disability' & keep going.
God Bless
chip

once i was going up to town on my little mobility scooter and theres this sandwich shop with a big window so can see whose coming up, i was chugging up into town and this guy jumps out of doorway of this shop and shouts 'spaz' at me! Never seen the guy before in my life, i didnt say anything cos my speech is bad and he would only have made fun of that so i just carried on, but some other people were looking disgusted at him as they passed.

I have tried communicating with some neighbours, and invited them in for cuppa tea but they often dont want to come in, its frustrating as i been here longest and others who moved in more recently are always kinda in and out of each others houses.

Access is an issue with me been a wheelchair user and there houses not been accessible but i have tried.

You just have to accept thats life i guess, some are friendly when they have to be, like when you been invited to same birthday/wedding etc but then dont stay in touch when they dont have to.

It is disappointing after you thought someone might want to stay friends only to find you dont hear from them again afterwards. Most of my friends now are disabled like me and the only ones that stayed friends from before were my deaf friends. ( i been deaf since i was 16), who obviously been born disabled themselves can see that i'm still the same person even if i cant walk or speak as well as i could when they first met me!

My 'normal hearing' colleagues from previous work etc i havent seen since i had to go in wheelchair and retire on medical grounds.

I tend to keep to myself these days, i just see my deaf friends when i can and mostly i chat online to friends on here and from ataxia group i'm with.

I was hoping a communication aid might help but it probably wont make any difference, other than it will be easier for me to communicate with doctors when i have to.

i hear you. too many people are ignorant about cp, even tho it's been documented for almost 100 years.

whenever i encounter this, i bring it up in a polite but direct manner. if someone ignores me in a store, i get their attention and have them interact with me. if it concerns health care, i let them know that i'm an informed partner with them in improving my quality of life. with jobs, sometimes people start out treating me different and then realize they misjudged me by my actions. some family took years to come to terms with what is happening to me. others don't want to talk to me, but a few are more understanding. friends have gotten more distant over the years, so my support and social time comes from online friends mostly plus my sister, two friends, partner and grandmother.

it does get frustrating when strangers bother me. teenagers laugh or adults look at me scared or uncomfortable. i just ignore it and move on, unless i've to interact for a specific reason. compared to elementary and junior high, i don't get teased as much.

it's not easy to get over people's ignorance. i figure with all the battles i've to fight, rude strangers are at the bottom of my list, probably because i look down on them for being so rude. other people i care what they think, but had to leave friends, jobs and some family when people just didn't get it.

my real friends are golden so that comforts me some. you can find out who the jerks are quick and then waste less time dealing with them. maybe that's a positive way to look at it? hugs and hope you feel better soon and figure out a way to deal with discrimination. it's not easy, but a constant process (for me, anyway).

I hear you totally. if you want to talk I'm here

I read a lot of what everyone talks about in hopes of preparing my child for what the future holds. I have read a lot of the things everyone has said about the ignorance of others or hard time finding friends and I wanted to say that every person has gone through similar things in their life. It doesn't happen only because you have CP. I have always had a hard time making friends but that is because real friends are hard to come by for anyone. I have had people make fun of things about me in my life but who hasn't. I am not at all trying to make smaller the horrible things ignorant people say or do but it's just that, they are ignorant people. They don't matter in your life. Their opinions don't matter. A person who has a mean comment to say only does it because they feel so insecure about themselves. Trying to make someone else feel bad is what they need to feel better about themselves. They point out your flaws so that theirs are less visible, only they don't realize that their comments magnify their true being. I don't want to simplify these situations because they are hurtful to deal with but I just hope you know that everyone has been there.
OK...now tell me, how did that sound??? This really is how I feel but I want so bad to be able to convey this truth to my daughter when her feelings get hurt.

This is not just because of stupidity, ignorance, or lack of intelligence. The key word here is "discrimination." When you get right down to it, don't we all discriminate against people in one way or another?

We base our preferences on such things as hair color - blondes, brunettes, or redheads. How about eye color? Blue, green, brown, or hazel eyes.

Tall people, short people, thin people, overweight people - each of us likes certain types.

How about sexual preferences? There are straight people, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, transvestites, etc.

See, it's not only about others discriminating against those of us with disabilities because we do the same to those who are non-disabled as well.

I believe in treating others the same way in which I would like them to treat me. Try it sometime - it does work!