Put the Able in Disabled

On June 16. 2020 I officially graduated from Kingsborough Community College with my associates degree in liberal arts degree. This June 2020 This day turned less expected then I imagine due to situations happening in the world but it didn't change anything about me getting my degree on that day my degree was conferred. I knew I was free and empowered to tell my  college journey story! Now it's my time to shine! Many may have viewed my time in college as totally a success story but trust me I faced lots of struggles that I truly never shared in my college struggles because it felt odd for many reasons "What IF I fail??? but what if I fly???  Growing up for the past 18 years and have been apart of the special education system. I remember my mom sharing with me in the beginning of me going into the public school system a school physiologist came to evaluate me and because I didn't respond to her she assumed I didn't know my colors and made a decision th...

 I am a women of color who just happen to use wheels for mobility. My parents are black my sister and brother is black too my cousins and so many more dear are  too. Growing up as a kid I never really focused on the lot of things that now I see intersects with me personally despite having a disability. I was also born and raised until this day in Brooklyn, East NY. They say we live in the hood the ghetto and known for violence. Which raises fear? I am black and have a disability that requires me to use a wheelchair.  My biggest question is how can I defend myself? Just imagine the double fear my parents has.. knowing their children are a target because they are a person of color and even more for me with my double magics, abilities and areas where I will need support forever  A woman, a person of color and use a wheelchair how would I know which one is creating a barrier for me or being discriminated against for.. let alone when you are from the so called hood ...

I graduated with with honors from community college Kingsborough Community College. it was a success of course but a road mix with lot. ASK ME How? But I have a story to tell.. This all started in 2013 This was a true journey but I made it I made it! During this college journey from the beginning it was draining.Many times I wanted to give up!! dealing with unreliable transportation such as Access A Ride and needing to set my schedule around my home attendant. They were days I got to school 10 minutes before my class ends.. some days I only had one class so it was just enough time for me to wait for my Access A Ride to return home I spend most of my day traveling from time to time it was 2 hours to go to college and 2 hours to come home so most of my time in class was 4 hours for 2 classes My home attendants went to school with me to support me with my personal needs so I have them for 8 hours a day and needed to make sure I am home in...

To the girl who was told she could not be a lot things.. told college was not possible told job supports was not possible because i need to be able to transfer out my wheelchair.. never hard back from a job interview i went to to support individuals with disabilities on their college campus classes.. to the educators and school team who simply saw me through my wheels as if i could not get very far is graduating college with my associates degree in a few weeks. .seeing studen ts with disabilities face obstacles with remote learning and is falling behind even the last to start this process.. i am ready to rewrite how a school looks like for students with uniqueness as i call it.. i am going higher not only about starting a non profit but to create school for child with disabilities.. i don't have it but i am going all the way up to my masters degree slowly but for sure! they need my voice better yet the passion and vision that i have♥ ❤ .. especially in those le...

Life in quarantine as person with a disability is nothing new it's often our reality in some cases. Before this current situation I feel like I once lived in aspect of quarantine in high school for 4 years. It never really hit me to make such connection to the new reality until today.  In 2009 the beginning of my high school journey On the first day of school when the school bus came to pick me up the diver inform my mom  that the school i was in route to go to was not wheelchair accessible.. I never really talk out this experiences in my speeches but a few weeks ago I was ask to share my journey with college students majoring in education ask me if I had the opportunity of going to same schools as  my peers and neighbors if wanted too and that was when the light went of in my head to share this experience. very few of my neighborhood schools are wheelchair accessible so again my parents and I didn't have many choices on placement of school. Once I got the okay to...

April 20.2020  I went into this journey of life with an open book and many unexpected blessings and miracles. When my parents received my diagnoses  they had no idea what a disability was let alone "Cerebral Palsy" . My parents were born and raised in the Caribbean where disability is invisible  and a scene of shame so of course they went in to not only adapting to a whole new world better yet raising me with an open book. Their is no instruction to taking care of a child with a disability. So an open book is needed.  To be honest growing up I always talked about how I wanted to become a lawyer and write my own book. Most of my life I heard about the things I can't do instead of sharing bright possibilities with me. I heard as a kid doctors said you will never be able to talk,walk, see, hear and play like other children. My favorite thought after these statements is what is normal anyway. Despite feeling invisible during my time in public school.  In my senio...

Wow! I am writing this on the day the world around us is going through so much. We are kept at home most of the time due to the corna  virus was are mostly on lock down. To keep my thoughts/feelings on the right path. Yes it got me worried at times but I am focusing on the light. First this plan, dream and goal of perusing a college degree was not possible due to me having a physical disability Cerebral  Palsy. Yes I may do things a little slower than others but that does not mean it's not possible! My disability is limit less. I spent my 18 years in the NYC public school in between the special education and mainstream courses just because i needed to be in a smaller class size to focus better on my learning that was the only benefit I needed honestly. Instead they focused on the fact that I am a little girl in a wheelchair that's it! Besides being forgotten for school trips,award ceremony and more. I got to high school. My mom was told that it's best for her to hav...