My Life with a Disability (The YouTube Edition)

Otherwise known as "Something about Me that You Didn't Know".

Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments below.

Special thanks to ByeByeBelly/Jennivision for allowing me to use her as a visual aid.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• disability
• cerebral palsy
• life
• spastic diplegia
• legs
• muscles
• ByeByeBelly
• Jennivision
• coping
• crutches
• braces
• birth defect
• education
• awareness
• health
• collab

[Reneelawrence666]

You're hot

[benvolio15]

@Reneelawrence666 LOL! No, I'm not.

[eeploo]

(con't) to use a w/c. The classes can't be put closer together for whatever reason. It was suggested to have chairs placed along the way for him to rest, allow him to leave class early and come late, and put padding where his hands grip to absorb some of the shock to his hands. Have you found anything that makes your walking more comfortable or easier or is it something he'll have to 'grin and bear' until his old school is done with construction due to limited choices. Thanks so much!

[benvolio15]

@eeploo I myself don't really experience the same level of discomfort with walking. and I don't have the same wrist issues. His wheelchair issue concerns me a little bit more; it seems to me that the real source of his distress is that he feels it will limit his mobility even further. He probably carries a certain amount of pride at having mastered the ability to walk with crutches by himself, just as I did at his age.

[benvolio15]

@eeploo (con't) I would reassure both him and his mother that the real purpose of the wheelchair is not to make him look bad or reduce his mobility, but to give his legs and wrists a break while he continues to work on increasing his mobility, which will ultimately make him stronger.

[eeploo]

I'm an occupational therapist and work with kids in the schools who have similiar issues. Thank you so much for this personal video and educating others. It is wonderful.

[benvolio15]

@eeploo You're welcome.

[Reneelawrence666]

@benvolio15 Yes, imo

[eeploo]

"He probably carries a certain amount of pride at having mastered the ability to walk with crutches by himself"

That's exactly it. The mom is afraid the w/c will take away his sense of independence and mobility. He doesn't want to be seen in a w/c. High school is hard enough for anyone good grief, so everyone is just trying to brainstorm for him. My friend thinks he is the best kid/young adult and feels for his situation. He's going to the ortho today. Thanks so much for your input!

[eeploo]

Would you mind if I asked you a question? A friend of mine who is also an OT is working with a sophmore in high school with spatic diplegia who for the next 8 weeks has to go to a new (and much bigger) high school. He is really fatiguing because he has to go so much farther now on his forearm crutches. There is a wheelchair in the office for him to use but he does not want to use it. Mom says the short term fatigue and possible wrist issues are better then his emotional distress at having