This Pretty Much Says It All

[NYSitter]

I think this might give people some insight as to why I get upset when the use of "retarded" or that someone is a "tard" is used. It was recently written by my 22-year-old Grandaughter. Her Mom helped her with sentence structure but the ideas and comments were dictated by her. It is kind of long but I hope it touches people.

I am writing this article to tell people that it is o.k. to have a disability. I have been disabled my whole life with CP, epilepsy and I am legally blind. I have been able to have a good life though. In High School I did Drama Club and Track and went to a special program for kids that don't learn so good. Now I am a member of the Fireman's Auxiliary and I am busy in my church and I volunteer at the school that I went too.

I have had many bad times in my life and a lot of surgeries for my seizures. One surgery had me in the hospital for eight weeks because I got an infection in my brain. I almost died, but I didn't. It changed how I can use my right leg and arm but I got help from my Physical Therapist and from friends and my family and now I can walk one-half mile at a time. I have to wear what they call is a "gait belt" because I lose my balance real easy and then people can hold on it and keep me from falling down.

I have a lot of challanges every day. One is that I can't walk across a big parking lot because it is hard for me to see if cars are coming. This is why I have a handicapped sticker and my family and my worker use it when I am with them. One day when I got to the school all the spaces were used up by cars with no stickers on them. My worker had to park in the bus place and I got really upset. I told the secretary about it and she got the man who is in charge of those things. The next day he repainted the signs on the parking lot and put up "Handicapped Parking" signs. I was happy that he did this because it happens to a lot of handicapped people every day.

I have had a lot of good times in my life too. I love my volunteer work at the school where I make copies for the teacher's and do shredding of old papers or anything that I can do. On the days that I don't go to the school I go out with friends for lunch and sometimes to the movies. I can't see them very well, but I like the music and to be there. I also go to Physical Therapy two days a week and for swimming lessons. I love to be in the water. I feel so light when I am in there. I am trying to learn how to float by myself. In the pool my arms and legs work better. I also do a lot of things where I live that other people can do, I just sometimes need some help to do it.

Living with a disability is o.k. I am not afraid because I have been doing it for 22 years. My friends and family are always around to help me if I ask for help, but I like to do things by myself if I can. I also have help from many of my disabled friends who deal with some of the same problems that I do. If you see an empty handicapped parking place, please leave it for the people who have to need it. Thank You.

This was written for the newspaper of a school that she attended for 3 years after regular schooling was done.

BIG Hugs to miss D!

Very nice Sitter...I have no doubt why you are so proud of her :)

[Soldier]

Thanks NYsitter for sharing that.

I know myself that I take too much for granted most days.

I'm humbled by the strength of your litte girl and enriched by her letter. All too often I think that having all those empty handicapped spaced are such a waste but this reminds me that they are simply just there to be used by people other than me. Thanks.

[NYSitter]

Thank you both for your kind remarks. She is a very special young woman.

[Pal]

Yes she is Sitter :) Thanks for posting that.

xoxo

[KaliChris]

She sure is, Sitter. Glad you posted that.

[Mandy]

Bless her heart...........what a terrific outlook on life she has.

(((((HUGS))))) to Deidre.

[Scoops]

High five, fist bump, three cheers for Deidre....I love how brave she is for putting it all right out there....making people see and feel and relate.....keeping a good perspective, and not being afraid of the future.

My son doesn't have near the amount of challenges as she has, but he has some, and I sometimes wonder how he is feeling about things because like Deidre, mentally he is perfectly normal, so I am sure he gets frustrated....I never hear much complaint from him....and don't like to question because I don't want him to focus on those aspects.........I am glad to see a positive outlook and proof that if we are strong like Deidre ...and have lots of love behind us, we can handle anything life presents us with.


Much love to her from me. ♥♥♥

[MacBug]

Great perspective from your granddaughter, NYS. And who better to educate us than someone who lives it day to day? From my experience, it seems that those who have the hardest row to hoe, are the ones teaching all of us lessons on how to make the best of what you have. Deidre is very lucky and seems to realize it that she has wonderful family and friends to help her when she needs it. And still, she has such a wonderful outlook on life and her future. She believes in and probably will make the most of her abilities and what she can do, instead of feeling sorry for herself for what she doesn't. People like her teach us what struggles are really all about and to keep trying no matter what. That is at least one of her gifts to the world. God Bless Diedre!

I sub as a sped para almost exclusively at the Young Adult Program (sped students who've completed high school until the age of 21) in the Severe to Profound room, and sometimes in the Moderate room. Now those are kids with LOTS of hurdles and obstacles, yet they are the ones who make the most of whatever they do have and try really hard. And God Bless the teachers and permanent paras who work with these kids! They bring out the personalities of even the few who are totally dependent on others to take care of every facet of their existance, instead of just taking care of their physical needs, they talk to them and joke with them, as they would anyone else. I've seen these kids when they were in high school and believe me, they seem to just bloom when they get to the YAP with these people. I don't know if I'm making myself clear here, but I just wanted to give a shout out in support.

[ChicagoDiva]

loved it, thanks for posting it.

[itzg...]

You're a lucky lady Sitter . . . no, I take that back, you are blessed!

[123456]

Wow such a wonderful and inspiration thing to read. She sounds like an amazing young woman! I wish more people had that sort of perspective on life!

[Jules]

Tell Deidre she is an Awesome spirit!

[NYSitter]

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments. I think God provides every family with a "special" person and she is ours. she has taught us love, compassion, and what true grit means. I don't want people to think she is perfect. She can be a bit of a pain in the a** just like any other young person. The one that drives me crazy is when you tell her something and she looks at you and goes "Duh"!!!!

[MacBug]

LOL, sounds like the typical young person to me. And that's a good thing, isn't it?

[NYSitter]

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QUOTING FROM POSTER: MacBug;1915610 (Post Number)

LOL, sounds like the typical young person to me. And that's a good thing, isn't it?

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Sure is Mac, it sure is.