"I'm not a little kid!!!"

This is an informational video essay from the viewpoint of a sixteen year-old girl on how she would like to be seen by society. She is 3'8" tall, wears hearing aides and, other than around the house, uses a wheelchair. As you'll see she is funny, smart, outgoing and communicates very well.

Her concern is how society views her and her abilities and how communication is altered as a result. Long held perceptions of appropriate methods of communicating with the disabled lead to conversations that frequently lack the air of equality necessary for a robust give-and-take, as Michelle, because of her stature, is sometimes viewed as a lesser participant. Additionally, her hearing difficulties turn the physical mechanics of verbal communication into an occasionally challenging undertaking.

She also has great concern for her friends who are disabled. Being disabled is a part of her but it doesn't define her. While she realizes that she has limitations she also knows that being who she is gives her a special view of the world. She understands that she may not look like everyone else but she does not let this hold her back. She is a very special person with a big heart, who is as perfect as they come!!!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• project
• babel
• communication
• disabled

[mikaylasax]

Beautiful! You GO girl!

[faithhopelove4]

U Are a great friend!

[dreamer9816]

I LOVE YOU ALREADY!!!!!! look i was born with osteogenesis imperfecta and like my life has been hard to gurl we should be total friends

[MegaLebanon100]

Now that's what I call aweeeesome!!

[BeckiJordan1]

Aww I love you Michy :) Your amazing! :D

[Jastuna]

She's sweet. :D

And knows how to live. <3

[GirlLetter]

I'm handicapped too, and I'm 4'8''...I seem to always get the kids menu without request when I go out to eat with a bunch of my peers (I'm 17) and its really embarrassing...my friends always correct the waiters though, makes them feel bad...I hangout with a pretty punk-ass group too...

[sawaugust]

hey wats worng with the kid at 3:23 to 3 :24

[SilentAngelic]

Aw..

[jjf1805]

awe i feel bad for her

[faithhopelove4]

This is my Great friend and if you have a problem with this....its your problem because God made us all special in our own way.

[butlerproman]

I was kidding. I suppose I should have put " ;-) " at the end of my sentence. Anyway, what I like about videos like these is that they help people to see those who are "different" as individuals rather than stereotypes, to look at them with more enlightened eyes, in fact, to see them not as "them", but one of "us".