Jacqui @ Terrible Palsy wrote an insightful post about prejudices, and I thought I should share this heart-warming piece with you :) You see, Jacqui’s son, Moo, was born 13 weeks too early and has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy..

Prejudices.

We all have them.

Some people wear them on their sleeves like badges of honour.

Some people hide them deep inside.

But they are still there.

Born from fear.

Fear of the unknown.

One of the most common statements that people say to me about Moo is how “normal” he is. People are honestly surprised about this. I’m not sure what they expect when they meet him. He is normal. Not unlike any of his brothers. Obsessed with motorbikes. Loves to play with his toys. And hates to brush his teeth. Extraordinarily normal.

The other thing I get is disbelief that he has cerebral palsy. Those two words conjour up preconceived thoughts of how he should be, what he should look like, the limitations placed on his ability. The surprising thing is that I get this reaction most commonly from other parents of children with special needs.

I’ve talked in this blog about prejudice that Moo faces. That we face as a family. But I’ve always steered away from a subject that is pretty raw.

And pretty ugly.

Cause as much as you see the prejudice staring at you on the faces of others - sometimes that same prejudice is staring back at you as your reflection in the mirror.

Honestly, having a child with special needs isn’t something I expected to happen. Along with the shock, the guilt, the anger and the acceptance, has also come another realisation. The realisation that not only am I not perfect, but I also contain those same prejudices that I see in others.

That inner prejudice that I try so hard to hide rears it’s ugly head as I ponder Moo’s future. What sort of life is he going to have? Will he be able to work? Earn a living? Get married? Have a family of his own?

And yet none of those things require him to walk. The one thing I ponder most about.

Does this make me a bad person?

No.

It makes me human.

But I have learnt that the inner prejudice, born from fear, is different to the reality. That you can’t put someone in a box and stick a label on them. That disability is not a sub-species of the human race. That those of us who have a disability, whether it be congenital or acquired, are normal. That “they” live, love and learn, just like I do.

You shouldn’t be surprised.

Laura @ Bums & Bellybuttons is a freelance artist and writer from North Carolina. She has a genetic disability, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease. Due to her OI, she uses a wheelchair and therefore is very familiar with the local disabled community. Laura feels that it is important for people with disabilities to have a voice in the world, and she is proud to be a part of that collective voice.

I’d like to share this very positive post written by Laura — From the Beginning.

Let me tell you something about my world: The scenery rarely changes. As you may have guessed, it’s all bums and bellybuttons from where I sit. I’ve spent my life judging people by their belt buckles and now it’s time for me to pass on my wisdom.

I was born with a disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (aka “brittle bone disease”). Milk is not the answer to OI, because OI is not about calcium. It has to do with the collagen in the bones being poorly formed or lacking altogether. OI is a rare disease, but it’s slowly coming out of its shell.

But, this is not about OI. This is about the community of people with disabilities as a whole. The challenges we face. The obstacles we overcome. The barriers we barrel through. And the people who stand (quite literally in some cases) in our way.

Although people with disabilities make up the largest “minority” in the world, the non-disabled community still does not seem to quite “get it.” That community does not get that having a physical disability does not equal incompetency. A physical disability is not catching. It is not a sign of demonic possession. It simply is what it is: Different.

It is important to remember that disability can befall anyone at any time. I just happen to be a genetic mutation. Illness or accident can cause disability as easily and as readily as being born. Only a handful of people will escape joining this particular population. Some will die before they have the chance. Most will join by the default of getting older.

I am out to change the world by changing minds and opinions. I am offering an education through the simplest means I know: my own experience. I have been called bitter, sarcastic and philosophical. My views on the world are my own and have been shaped by the daily interaction with a variety of people ranging the spectrum from pitying to “I wish I could throw them under a bus.”

I will answer questions about what it means to be a person (more specifically, a woman) with a disability. Questions people have actually asked me (or other persons with disabilities) and ones supplied by my own imagination. This means discussing sex, drugs and rock & roll! I am open to receiving new questions, but make no promises as to answer them.

I brought my own set of wheels and I promise, it’s going to be an interesting ride.

So yeah, if you have any questions related to women and disability, you may want to direct your questions to Laura @ Bums & Bellybuttons: The View From Here.

Emma shared with her readers the family ties she has with her family at Family Relationships.

My sister is seven years younger than me and we have a brother who is slap bang in the middle of us. Which meant there were times when I was in my chair and she was in the buggy. Explaining to a four year old why he is the only one who has to walk is not easy. So I can remember a time when we were in a DIY store. I was being pushed in my chair (I didn’t get an actual chair I could self-propel until I was 9 or so) and Sophie was being pushed in the buggy. And Ben was screaming and throwing a tantrum because he had to walk and it wasn’t fair.

And then there were the times when I would throw a fit because I wouldn’t be allowed to do something Ben or Sophie were and I was the oldest and it just wasn’t fair!! I think the worst was when I was 13 and had to have it explained to me that Cerebral Palsy was forever.

… Continue reading Family Relationships

What more could we ask more? I am sure during times like this, we’d all want our family member to be understanding, caring and at the same time give us enough time and space for us to grow up, no?