Differently Abled (fly your freak flag high)

[Words]

My daughter, who is differently abled (I love that expression by the way and am going to adopt it forthwith; 'disabled' sounds so negative), still believes in Santa (she's now 22). Because she believes in Santa, I get to believe in him too

[SuperFemme]

I love Santa. I love that my brain is like swiss cheese; some parts are fantastics other parts are just holes of nothing. I love feeling like I am having new experiences all the time, even if it's for the 50th time.

I don't mind when people don't understand me because I see it as a chance to educate.

Words, your daughter is so blessed to have such a fantastic Mommy.

[Random]

I get to entertain my family...

They love trying to play *Guess what word mom/honey is trying to say*?

They really do chuckle when I start at the word TOASTER and work my way through every applience until I get to the one that I am talking about..

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Ms Cyn

I get to entertain my family...

They love trying to play *Guess what word mom/honey is trying to say*?

They really do chuckle when I start at the word TOASTER and work my way through every applience until I get to the one that I am talking about..

While my family is playing this same game, I am playing the "Hmm, I wonder what she said? I'm pretty sure it's not pass the smashing pumpkins."

[Random]

Originally Posted by SuperFemme

While my family is playing this same game, I am playing the "Hmm, I wonder what she said? I'm pretty sure it's not pass the smashing pumpkins."

That one is cute... I need to write down some of the things that I think people say...

It is highly amusing to watch their face when you repeat back what you think you heard them say...

It's sort of..

BLINK... *where the hell did you get that?*

[atomiczombie]

*raises his hand*

I have a whole long list of labels for what is "different" about me. A.D.D., alcoholic-addict (recovering 23 years), bipolar, panic disorder, learning disability (spacial relationships- somehow that messes up my ability with math), clinical depression, agoraphobia, facial and body tics (no, not ticks!) germ-phobia, yak yak yak....

Yeah, I'm special.

*hug* for all my fellow freaks.

[Words]

Thank you, that was sweet of you. I feel the same way about your kids.

Re. the Swiss cheese analogy, I definitely hear you on that one. My daughter can't read or write, nor would she be able tell you our phone number, yet she would be able to remind you of something you needed to do a month or so after your asking her to remind you and, since she taught herself to tell the time, - the professionals didn't think she'd be able to learn - at the time you'd asked her to remind you. Unfortunately, though, she is often judged by others, especially those meeting her for the first time, on what she can't do, not what she can do.

A classic example. We went to visit a new therapist because of her behavioural problems. As is usual with professionals she's never met before, she was doing the poor helpless me routine, sitting there in silence, eyes to the ground, refusing to interact at all. Result? The therapist stopped addressing her directly and started talking about her, rather than to her. Eventually, he asked some really stupid question, the mere asking of which implied to me - and clearly, to my daughter as well - that he'd obviously written her off as being way less able than she actually is. At which point, in true unpredictable fashion, she turned to B/both of U/us and asked, ''What the fuck kind of questions are these?'' (hey, she has a 17-year-old potty mouth brother), thereby voicing what W/we were wondering O/ourselves. Not that I condone her swearing, but boy, did she teach that therapist a lesson in not judging a book by its cover.

Anyway, enough of my daughter

Best,

Words

[SuperFemme]

Your daughter is a HERO. Kudos!

[Bit]

Being different rules my life, although I fought against that for decades.... but yes, I too have chronic illnesses that have changed what I am able to do.

I think the thing which surprises me the most is that having fibromyalgia evidently messes with your brain in the same way that taking some drugs does... I needed no drugs to "open up" my psychic abilities... but I have to say, if my ardent childhood desire to be psychic is responsible for my getting fibro, well, THAT took a nasty turn! *horrified laugh*

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Bit

Being different rules my life, although I fought against that for decades.... but yes, I too have chronic illnesses that have changed what I am able to do.

I think the thing which surprises me the most is that having fibromyalgia evidently messes with your brain in the same way that taking some drugs does... I needed no drugs to "open up" my psychic abilities... but I have to say, if my ardent childhood desire to be psychic is responsible for my getting fibro, well, THAT took a nasty turn! *horrified laugh*

Interesting Bit. Very interesting. I wonder is being differenlty abled allows us to connect to others in a simpler more empathic way.

[WheelieStrong]

Originally Posted by Words

My daughter, who is differently abled (I love that expression by the way and am going to adopt it forthwith; 'disabled' sounds so negative), still believes in Santa (she's now 22). Because she believes in Santa, I get to believe in him too

i'm 30 and i know santa exists and i'm never going to say anything different even if i have to dress as Santa to make people beleive it!

[Andrew, Jr.]

I had to get a sticker for my car to go thru the tolls. It was so frustrating because I couldn't figure out what toll booth sold the stickers and what toll was for the EZ Pass thing. It took me 5 attempts to find the right toll. Talk about frustration. UGH! Then when I found the right tollbooth, the person was getting ready to leave for the day. I was her last customer. My nerves were just shot after that.

Then I had to deal with the cash. UGH!

Sometimes I ask people to explain things to me and they take it the wrong way. For some reason they think I am playing a game. I'm not. I am wired differently. I am not one for understanding concepts. I struggle with it. Then I get people who say things to me like they are happy to expose me to others. Expose me to others as what? Oh, as stupid, lazy, fat, what? I just get even more confused. It makes no sense to me. It is like telling me to go meet someone in another state at a certain time.

I don't know about other people, but telling time was a royal bitch. Thank God above for digital watches and clocks. The other kind are just nothing short of hell for me. Did anyone else have this problem?

[SuperFemme]

Andrew? When you ask for extra help do you preface that by saying "I'm disabled, I have a brain injury and I need a little extra assistance"? I have found that when I do this, people are usually more than willing to help. I have no problem coming out as differently-abled over and over again. It can be the difference between life and death sometime. Like when I get a new prescription? I need to be walked through the dosage instructions VERY carefully. Still, sometimes I make dangerous mistakes with my meds.

As for telling time? No worried, digital time is most everywhere...

[Andrew, Jr.]

Hi and Welcome Wheeliestrong,

I am glad you are here with us!

I know how you feel about your situation. I can so understand it. People are strange. I think if you don't fit into a typical sterotype or box, then you get a label as a trouble maker or a misfit. I have that label since childhood.

I never could keep up with other kids. Never. And nobody who was in a position to help me would help me. They just passed me along to let someone else deal with it. That is the public school system as I knew it to be.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with us.

Adele,

I never thought of coming out and asking for help. I will start to do that. It never crossed my mind. Thank you!

[Andrew, Jr.]

Hi Everyone,

I hope everybody is doing well today. I want to share some information here that will be somewhat of a shock to some & a joy to others. On May 26th I am having surgery for possible breast cancer. It seems I have a tumor in the shape of a banana that is going from an 8 o'clock position and ending up at a 2 o'clock position. It is hard, and has given me some side effects of cancer. My mother and grandmother both had breast cancer. I have a sister who died of skin cancer. And I have another sister who is in remission from ovarian cancer (8 years).

I am not too worried because I talked to Linus about this, and he gave me the best advice. He said one sentence to me, and it was the truth. He told me to rely on my faith. So I am.

I trust my surgeon, who is Yale trained. I have no doubt about it - I am going to be just fine. I know I am. I just ask for your prayers and positive thoughts sent my way.

Thanks.

Much love and peace,
Andrew, Dino, and Gang

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by Andrew, Jr.

Hi Everyone,

I hope everybody is doing well today. I want to share some information here that will be somewhat of a shock to some & a joy to others. On May 26th I am having surgery for possible breast cancer. It seems I have a tumor in the shape of a banana that is going from an 8 o'clock position and ending up at a 2 o'clock position. It is hard, and has given me some side effects of cancer. My mother and grandmother both had breast cancer. I have a sister who died of skin cancer. And I have another sister who is in remission from ovarian cancer (8 years).

I am not too worried because I talked to Linus about this, and he gave me the best advice. He said one sentence to me, and it was the truth. He told me to rely on my faith. So I am.

I trust my surgeon, who is Yale trained. I have no doubt about it - I am going to be just fine. I know I am. I just ask for your prayers and positive thoughts sent my way.

Thanks.

Much love and peace,
Andrew, Dino, and Gang

Andrew,

This breaks My heart to hear, because your one of My dearest bro's. I've seen what cancer can do to loved ones and others, and I hate to hear that anyone I care about has it. I am sure you will be fine but its still scary to hear that you have to deal with it, no matter how good the surgeon is. You've always been there for Me and this time is no different, I'm here for you if you need Me bro ........ take care My friend *hugs*

[WheelieStrong]

Originally Posted by Andrew, Jr.

On May 26th I am having surgery for possible breast cancer.

i will be thinking of you, i know you don't know me but i will support you if i can

[DamonK]

I've been reading this thread quietly...

I'm in the same boat.

I have no vision in my left eye, crappy vision in my right eye.

I have very little hearing in my left ear, a bit more in the right.

If I don't have my glasses/contacts and hearing aid, I'm fucked.

So, I have problems with dizziness. I have problems with coordination. I'm a klutz. I don't fall down AS often, but just last night, I couldn't get off my front porch because I couldn't see the step. I have next to NO depth perception. Tripping is not unusual. I trip over flat surfaces.

I don't consider english my first language; american sign language is. I'm fluent in asl and english sign language (esl). I hear through vibrations.

Unless I see it, or it's a tremendous downpour, like you'll be soaked in less than a second, I don't know what rain sounds like.

You can't whisper to me.

You can't talk to my back. You'd be amazed how many people I've pissed off, thinking I'm ignoring them. I flat out didn't hear you.

Sometimes, others are stupid and think yelling is the answer. It's not. You're just pissing me off when you do that. Slow down and talk clearly. But don't slow down so much that you're ridiculous. Don't treat me like I'm an idiot. Deaf does not equal dumb. I could be smarter than you.

I need asl interpreters for school. I try to go it alone, but most times end up needing the interpreters. I get stared at when someone is signing to me. That annoys my social anxiety. It's disconcerting to be in a classroom of 50 people and 48 people are staring at you, including the professor.

I'm lucky. I've had good interpreters. One told off my entire class for doing so. Including the professor. It was fantastic.

I laugh about my .... lack of abilities.

I was lucky to be alive.

[Andrew, Jr.]

Thanks guys. I appreciate your support. I really am trying to stay positive. If the tumor is cancerous, I am going to go to NIH. I figure Fiercegrrl and I need to get Building 10 in order.