Back to College: Spring Semester

It's that time again, time to hit the books.  After a very low-key, uneventful, and relaxing break, I was so ready to go back to classes.  Little did I realize how much of a pain it is to get accommodations  for those classes.  In past semesters, I had really understanding professors who just gave me copies of notes without me having to fill out the necessary paperwork.  At my college, students with disabilities are supposed to have paper work filled out saying that they have a legitimate disability.  I can understand having to fill out this paperwork if a student doesn't have a visible disability, but it's so obvious that I have a disability, I am in a wheelchair after all.  I believe it is incredibly asinine that disabled students have to jump through these hoops, we have enough things to worry about in our lives, the least professors could do is make our lives a little easier!  If a professor sees a student struggling to write notes, I believe they should anticipate that students needs, and offer up a little help.  After all, that's what makes a good teacher!

When I was sitting at home over break, I began to think about the ridiculous amount of money I would have to spend on books.  I hate textbooks because they are so big, heavy, and hard for me to manipulate!  I just recently bought myself an iPad 2 so that I could put my textbooks on it.  Talk about the ultimate in accommodations, they are so easy to use!  Not to mention I saved over $200 on my textbooks, and all I did was download the free Amazon Kindle app!  Anything to make my education a little easier!

Until next time.

~C 

Disabled People in the Media

 With the winter premiere of ABC Family's Switched at Birth, I Thought that I would post about disabled people in the media.  I find this show incredibly interesting, it tells the story of Bay and Daphne, these two young girls were what else, switched at birth.  Daphne is a deaf person who doesn't seem to let anything bother her.  Well, aside from normal teenage girl problems!  I love the fact that networks are raising awareness about disabilities.  I want to see way more! Switched at Birth is the only show that I know of where one of the main characters has a disability. It would be so awesome if there was a show about a person who had multiple disabilities or exceptionalities. That way, some people with disabilities would feel that they could relate to, or idolize someone who goes through some of the same things that they do.  I know from experience that it can sometimes be difficult to relate to people simply because they do not understand what I am going through.  I also believe that it would do wonders for other disabled people and "normal" alike because it would show them that their situation could be a lot worse, and things happen for a reason.  It is all about how we deal with it, and triumph through the bad circumstances that we have been given.  I am a firm believe in the statement, "We all have a purpose in our lives, it is our destiny to find out what it is!"
Until next time.
~C

First Post. Happy 2012!

Hey everyone!  Happy New Year.  Here's to hoping 2012 is wonderful.  My name is Christy. I am 20 years old.  I am in college majoring in psychology.  A few months ago, I decided to start a blog about my life. :) One of the main reasons I decided to start this blog is because I want to raise awareness about disabilities.  You see, I am not your average 20 year old college student. I have a disability myself.  I have what is called Cerebral Palsy.  I was diagnosed with C.P. when I was 18 months old.  I use a power wheelchair to get around.  I sometimes get sad because I'm not able to get up and get things myself.  However, I am a very lucky girl!  I still can speak on my own, feed myself, and I have full cognitive ability.
   I felt compelled to write this blog for others who are in the same situation as I am,  I want others who have a disability to know that they can still follow their dreams... it just may take them a little longer to accomplish them!  I also want others to know that it is NOT ok to take "no" for an answer.  If you want something, fight for it, no one said life was easy, but it's definitely worth it! NEVER SAY NEVER!  Until next time!
~C