tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post4059618123427369138..comments2024-03-21T12:57:45.093-05:00Comments on The Squeaky Wheelchair: I Can't, In Fact, "Do Anything I Set My Mind To" (And That's OK)The Squeaky Wheelchairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-14976259660471810942016-05-18T06:17:39.317-05:002016-05-18T06:17:39.317-05:00Hi there. My oldest son was born at 28 weeks and h...Hi there. My oldest son was born at 28 weeks and has been diagnosed with CP. He will be 3 in July and can't walk on his own or talk,...yet. He just got a new walker, which he loves. My son is so inspiring to me every day. He is so intelligent and has a great attitude. He gets weekly speech and physical therapy and goes to school. He never feels sorry for himself. I believe that he will do great things. He has already come so far. Thank you for writing and sharing this piece. I still don't consider my son "disabled." He amazes me every day. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055843455810805745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-66221679193283489942016-05-18T06:16:48.750-05:002016-05-18T06:16:48.750-05:00Hi there. My oldest son was born at 28 weeks and h...Hi there. My oldest son was born at 28 weeks and has been diagnosed with CP. He will be 3 in July and can't walk on his own or talk,...yet. He just got a new walker, which he loves. My son is so inspiring to me every day. He is so intelligent and has a great attitude. He gets weekly speech and physical therapy and goes to school. He never feels sorry for himself. I believe that he will do great things. He has already come so far. Thank you for writing and sharing this piece. I still don't consider my son "disabled." He amazes me every day. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03055843455810805745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-72978725221289597072016-01-26T19:10:49.603-06:002016-01-26T19:10:49.603-06:00I have a The Great Gatsby-inspired post on it. The...I have a The Great Gatsby-inspired post on it. The title will give it away.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616282351291824392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-6106038918215649902016-01-24T10:38:42.877-06:002016-01-24T10:38:42.877-06:00Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect!...Thank you for taking the time to read and reflect!The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-33261956945055799272016-01-24T10:36:59.385-06:002016-01-24T10:36:59.385-06:00I agree- and sometimes our dream or accomplishment...I agree- and sometimes our dream or accomplishment will happen, it's just doesn't look like what we first expected!The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-58054866353464253382016-01-24T10:35:00.173-06:002016-01-24T10:35:00.173-06:00Thank you for taking the time to read!Thank you for taking the time to read!The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-18692957336655565512016-01-23T22:28:12.334-06:002016-01-23T22:28:12.334-06:00I stopped "setting my mind" to my so-cal...I stopped "setting my mind" to my so-called American Dream. Remember that dreams can come true, but that dreams can also go awry.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616282351291824392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-11194434223342688642016-01-22T21:11:20.984-06:002016-01-22T21:11:20.984-06:00Wonderful expression of this concept. Thanks so mu...Wonderful expression of this concept. Thanks so much for putting this into eloquent, compassionate language. I have shared this with a number of people who will find value in your affirmation of doing what you can spectacularly to make a difference, utilising your strengths well instead of dedicating time to something you may never achieve, or at best reach mediocrity.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11434951302575466306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-988867512017609212016-01-22T18:02:40.195-06:002016-01-22T18:02:40.195-06:00Totally agree with you here Squeak! May I call you...Totally agree with you here Squeak! May I call you Squeak? :)<br />I think where we differ is in the semantics, but as I see we are coming from the same place.<br /><br />Don't know if you would find this funny or interesting, but feel free to take a look at my website. www.funnymanmike.com<br /><br />I try to talk about disabilities in a way that makes other people look at their own mis(dis)beliefs about what it is to be different.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265571708747957737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-30028385674034483412016-01-22T17:41:06.355-06:002016-01-22T17:41:06.355-06:00A lot of people have been hurt (especially disable...A lot of people have been hurt (especially disabled people) by the insinuation that their bodies or minds are unable to do something only because they "haven't tried hard enough"- which also implies a character flaw. That is something we all need to get away from as a society. People should have the right to say "I'm not able" or "This isn't for me; I'm better suited for something else" free of judgment. We know ourselves best!The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-44185341600175732702016-01-22T17:36:39.223-06:002016-01-22T17:36:39.223-06:00Thank you for reading, Mike! Adaptability/ reasona...Thank you for reading, Mike! Adaptability/ reasonable accommodation certainly make a lot of things possible, but I don't think saying you can't do something has to mean defeat; in some cases, it's an invitation to let another door open. Also, even people without disabilities have something they can't do, simply because no one is an all achieving superhuman. <br />The important message here is to respect that we may not be able to do everything, but we can do something-- and whatever it is counts. I also think it is vital to let people decide for themselves what is beyond the limit of their minds and/or bodies without judging them. The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-68508942642882847762016-01-22T15:34:28.665-06:002016-01-22T15:34:28.665-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265571708747957737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-14642145032576765872016-01-22T15:31:44.741-06:002016-01-22T15:31:44.741-06:00I should start off by saying I'm a 39 yo man w...I should start off by saying I'm a 39 yo man with CP. I acquired CP from a car accident 38 years ago. I have left hemiparesis. I appreciate what you wrote here, and how articulate you are, but I did not agree with everything in this blog but I did like the metaphor of trying to be a gymnast. It made me laugh out loud.<br /><br />My motto has been "I can do anything I set my mind to, within reason." To say I can't, implies defeat. To say I can within reason, implies adaptability and taking control of your own life without depending on validation from others.<br /><br />I will never be a juggler, but I can throw a lot of balls in the air and catch as many as I choose.<br /><br />I am so glad your belief that you can't go away to college, became I can, within reason and with adaptations. That to me is what an adult does, not an aspiring one. So see, you are already there. You had a goal, and you made it happen. I see this as looking at the limitations and rolling with it (no pun intended). <br /><br />Good luck out there, and thank-you for what you wrote here!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265571708747957737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-63275523658643146112016-01-22T15:12:06.347-06:002016-01-22T15:12:06.347-06:00I agree. Although CP is not progressive technical...I agree. Although CP is not progressive technically, I too have lost a lot of motion and function. It's totally understandable to be sad about that-- sometimes, I am too, especially about my knee problems. But I try not to let that keep me from seeing other things I am able to do. The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-85368214684159607262016-01-22T14:52:27.595-06:002016-01-22T14:52:27.595-06:00thank you!thank you!The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-52375580642464596382016-01-22T14:49:26.295-06:002016-01-22T14:49:26.295-06:00Thank you Hannah! I agree. Even though CP is not p...Thank you Hannah! I agree. Even though CP is not progressive per say, I still have lost a lot of function and that is hard to deal with sometimes. Totally OK to feel sad about that, but I try not to let that be a barrier to finding something else I can still do easily and well. The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-55409866677516304802016-01-22T08:42:21.064-06:002016-01-22T08:42:21.064-06:00I agree with Hannah. My disability is degenerative...I agree with Hannah. My disability is degenerative, and it's hard to come to terms with the ever-increasing list of "can'ts." Remembering that it's okay to not be able to do everything is so important! Thanks!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161435612112738501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-45427279812246771232016-01-21T21:24:16.765-06:002016-01-21T21:24:16.765-06:00This is still hard for me to do. I am constantly t...This is still hard for me to do. I am constantly thinking of how to balance this. I struggle with it because in the past I did more than I do now, and so I still struggle with I need to try harder because I know I can for myself personally. Especially when it comes to exercise, I will push myself much farther than I probably should and I will continue to do so because I know I see the benefits, and I know I can feel if I get sedentary and incredibly stiff, as I'm sure you know. But there is always a struggle between acceptance and health and independence. Thanks for this! <3Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03300515406804023223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-55351029339819591252016-01-21T20:59:27.022-06:002016-01-21T20:59:27.022-06:00As a fellow wheelchair user, I totally understand....As a fellow wheelchair user, I totally understand. Well said. There is definitely a balance between limitations and exceeding expectations. Jordanhttp://jordanstroman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-74679672238008150592016-01-21T19:40:54.002-06:002016-01-21T19:40:54.002-06:00It's an interesting world we live in - one whe...It's an interesting world we live in - one where we're told by mentors, educators, and peers that we can do anything. Then in the blink of an eye, we're adults who still live in that fantasy, not pushing ourselves and thinking that it's all going to be handed to us. I'm not sure exactly why some people (disabled or not) continue to push themselves and others do not, but it is tragic that some never realize their potential because of broken rhetoric.<br /><br />Excellent piece overall. Some really great points made.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-22144753256333716482016-01-21T18:21:41.374-06:002016-01-21T18:21:41.374-06:00Totally agree. Thank you. Totally agree. Thank you. The Squeaky Wheelchairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06173011955812450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287942833314297300.post-38737076141416886062016-01-21T18:16:08.481-06:002016-01-21T18:16:08.481-06:00I had this idea a few years ago about there being ...I had this idea a few years ago about there being two different sorts of limitations related to disability: actual and imposed.<br /><br />Actual limitations are things our bodies or brains can't do (or can't do well or quickly or without pain) compared to non-disabled people. The solution to these is largely acceptance, with a heavy dose of finding accommodations technology and ways to get things done given we can't do them the usual way.<br /><br />Imposed limitations are those from discrimination or lack of access. They are being told that people with your disability can't do - something that isn't actually true. The solution to these is advocacy and accommodations.<br /><br />The problem is that people both ignore the fact that there are real limitations and then act as though imposed limitations are real ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com