The Giving Hands

Bobby has Cerebral Palsy, glaucoma, and a nerve injury. The CP and glaucoma were caused by prematurity, and the nerve injury was due to an accident when he had his tendon release surgery; he was diagnosed with glaucoma when he was 14 and the nerve injury at 15.

Bobby maintains a personal blog at Wise Words From The Cynic, he on top of that, he posts in a few: No Pity, and LiveJournalers with Cerebral Palsy.

Bobby is a member of the local chapter of United Cerebral Palsy, which works to assist and advocate independent living skills for people with disabilities (similar to the Eden Handicap Service Centre in Malaysia). In addition, he also follows the news on many, many groups - Not Dead Yet in particular - but he is not officially a member of that organisation.

He is most inspired by Holden Caulfield and his pain management doctor. Seriously, his inspiration comes from the successes of the disability rights and independent living movements: The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 1977. On a more personal level, Bobby adores Harriet McBryde Johnson and Diane Coleman, both lawyers and activists with neuromuscular diseases.

Bobby thinks that probably the most annoying thing about being disabled is being regarded as an able-bodied person in a broken body.

Being disabled changes everything, from how you look at life to how you access the world. This actually is the trigger to the bigger problem, that severely disabled people have little to offer (ala the “Ashley Treatment,” A.K.A. The Pillow Angel surgery). Recognise that everybody has value and potential, even if they have severe cognitive or developmental disabilities.

- Bobby

So what can the public do with regard to the issue he’s mentioned above?

Support, support, support. There is not enough support for families of newly diagnosed disabled people. No one should feel stuck or burdened, and no one should feel alone. Actually, support for everyone is really lacking right now — so on a closing note, it’s not bad to need help. And, as Herman Wouk writes, “The one who considers himself to have no limp may be the worst-crippled.” This is especially true…we are ALL disabled in some way, because we all have something we’re bad at ( e.g., math, sports, etc.). We should take pride in the talents that we do have!

- Bobby