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It& #39;s #CerebralPalsyDay - I do also have it the other 364 days of year, but since it& #39;s trending, maybe now& #39;s the time for people to listen [Thread]
Facts: My birthday& #39;s in March, it was meant to be June. I was born at 24 weeks, 1 1/2 pounds, 900 grams. Stopped breathing a few times - death didn& #39;t finish the job. My parents believed in me, even when told I wouldn& #39;t be able to read or write. Now staff at the BBC
Reality...?
Reality...?
The severity/scope of the condition is a roulette wheel - it can be mental (e.g. learning difficulties) and/or physical, but it& #39;s a spectrum!
Still, its charity, Scope, used to be called the Spastics Society (in line w/social views), so stigma around the condition is inherent
Still, its charity, Scope, used to be called the Spastics Society (in line w/social views), so stigma around the condition is inherent
I knew spastic as an insult before knowing what it meant or its medical history. In fact, when I found out its specific link to cerebral palsy as a kid, I cried. I thought it justified the bullying and name-calling.
As an adult, I know the reality is very different. And yet..
As an adult, I know the reality is very different. And yet..
I find people #CerebralPalsyDay, much like other disability days, attracts a lot of projection - infantilising inspiration stories. Society still hasn& #39;t mastered allowing people with cerebral palsy, (or disability in general) to define the narrative and reality of living with it
I know media is part of this, but things are changing: @KrisBramwell @Lucy_Webster_ @ellispalmer94 @estwebber @MaxSkyNews to name a few. And best of all we& #39;re not purely known for disability coverage - we each have our specialisms as INDIVIDUALS with cerebral palsy
This is an important distinction. I still have interactions/conversations where it& #39;s clear people are projecting their (diminished) expectations of what/who someone with disability can be, even when these very clearly don& #39;t match with my own life/personality
Structural inequalities, from inaccessible housing to a broken social care system, work to mute the voices of disabled people
So, yes it& #39;s #CerebralPalsyDay. Learn about it, raise awareness, but most of all, see the individual, listen & hear what& #39;s being said
My name& #39;s Alex
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So, yes it& #39;s #CerebralPalsyDay. Learn about it, raise awareness, but most of all, see the individual, listen & hear what& #39;s being said
My name& #39;s Alex
