Put the Able in Disabled

My niece means the world to me  not only because she is my niece but she amaze me with her understanding towards her aunt with a developmental disability called Cerebral Palsy. On the day she was born we had a special bound with each other. When we want to the hospital the day after she was born and when me and my dad started leaving she started crying that what made us have a special bound. I started to think how would I be able to show her that I care about her. I was not able to lift her up. Hold her in my arms to comfort her. But I shown her a different way of being an aunt and loving her... She learn how to adopt to me. At a very young age she would step up on my foot plate an hug me and to give me a kiss to show that she love me.. She helps me take off me shoes..ect.. I tell her thank you she says okay. Going to be sharing more to this blog in the up coming days hope you enjoy it so far.  

Motivation is the key.   No excuses. No limits.. Your disability is your abilities.. Determination is the key to unlock the world.. Doctors you use to fear me now you build me..You told me "no" many times but I am doing it anyway.. I believe in miracle. I still imagine myself walking or using a walker.. In my wheelchair I feel like I am lock in box.. When I am out I am so happy with a smile.. I went through process after process to almost giving up to finding a place that I will benefit from and give my body motivation and to see steps in a way I will get to use a gait trainer again  Yesterday I did leg cycling for over 45 minutes and then I was in the stander for a half hour it truly was a great work out  I don't think this will happen over night but I will keep going Yesterday was an awesome  day.. This only the beginning follow my new journey.. 

THE  most challenging thing about having an obviously disability is when young children stare at you because you are in a wheelchair and comes up to you and ask you why you are a wheelchair? How do you respond to this especially when it’s a child? They often ask me what happen..Did I break my legs and I respond no I use to say I was born like this, they look at me like born in a wheelchair so now I just don’t answer because it's so unexpected. I want to be thoughtful about so I can respond with an honest educated statement because it does so well to educate children at a young age about people with disabilities. Advice to parents: If you make your child aware of people with disabilities it will an increase amount of awareness. It will stop the way people pity us. They will be educated on the language to use towards people with disabilities. Which I believe should start at an young age as well. Ignorant statements towards people with disabilities will decrease If you ...

After I shared this at my msc agency on self advocacy I said their is a must to share with you Wake up in a different world written by me. What if you wake up in a different world What if you wake up one day not being able to talk. What if you woke up one day not being able to walk Get out of bed on your own. Do your own hair? Dress your self Use your arms and legs . Wake up how would you feel? What if  you woke one day an need to use a wheelchair,cane or walker and you go to a job and you are pushed away because you appeared to be a person who is disabled? Who am I? Wake up.. What if you wake up with desires,dreams and goals but didn't know who to reach out too and the one that makes it happen is your msc! I wake up everyday with many goals and desires. My mind is like a clock that goes non-stop. Wake up in a different world! Its a blessing when you wake up being able to see etc.

Does anyone know that there will be a disability parade in NYC celebrating the 25th anniversary of the American disability Act in NYC?   Happening on July 12 2015.   Only July 26.1990, just 4 years  before  I was born the American Disability Act was passed. On December 23. 1994, I was welcome into this world as a healthy premature   baby after 3 months of intensive medical care in the hospital I receive medical neglect from staff. Shortly of an year old my parents found out I had Cereb ral  Palsy, placing myself into the disability population and the Ada generation as I am the first generation  to see and experience the greatest of the ADA.   I am grateful that I grew up in this generation of more people who are now more aware and accepting to people with disabilities, but I would  never want to forget those who struggled, faced harsh living conditions and some even died from such life style leading to making a difference...

Who am I? My name is Ketrina I believe in the People First Term. I am often label a person who is wheelchair bound. I am not confined to a wheelchair, I use it mostly for mobility My disability does not define my personality or disability it mainly defines my abilities, goals or dreams. I accept my identity don't get me wrong thats a gift that my family was given. It take me  a while to understand and realize things will not change. This was medical work.. I often felt down and ask myself Why me? Justice needed I will say But doing what I love since age 14..I got inspired with such vision... The happiness grew with me as I became an young strong youth advocate Thats who I am?  

I learned about People First Language when I started my Partners in Policymaking Course. It  made me a better advocate than I am today Many workers\aids that I have worked with often use the phase "wheelchair bound"  to define me and against They often pick or do for me instead of asking me utilizing my rights of choose. Also they often spoke to my mom before they address me. My mom will always have mothers rights but still.. One of the workers once told me you are wheelchair bound..you can't do anything for yourself I wanted to give up from that day one  They often just picked up my sneakers and put it on..I would get upset but I only wanted to keep the peace.  I recently realize why all of this was happening  A few days ago   my nurse came from my Home attendant agency and made some changes to my plan of care because I told my old msc which was over 6 months ago to call them to make some ch anges to my plan of care because they have on ...