Keeping It Real: An Anonymous Story, Part 4*

We recently connected with someone in our community who wanted to share their story anonymously. Check out the final part below.

What do you wish other people knew about what it’s like to have cerebral palsy?

Just because someone looks like they have a more “severe” physical disability does not necessarily mean they are cognitively disabled. Me being in a power wheelchair and needing help with most physical tasks, like eating, transferring, etc., does not at all paint the picture of what I am capable of as an athlete. The second I am out of my chair and into my ski, everything changes! I am suddenly much more capable than the average person, as opposed to much less.

What advice would you give others with cerebral palsy?

Find your passion and your people and stick to them! Do not let what others assume of you dictate how you perceive yourself. If you find something you love to do, dedicate yourself to it. You never know where that journey will take you. Along that journey, focus on finding people that believe that you can become whoever you want to become. Allow those people to push you, even when you feel like you might not be able to push yourself. Having a filter for the people you choose to keep closest to you is key in allowing you to achieve your goals. You may find them in places that you would not expect and they do not necessarily have to be the people society may assume that they should or would be. These will be the people who will help you pursue the path that you want for yourself, as opposed to the path others may want for you. I firmly believe that my outlook on things like this is not greatly impacted by me having CP, so this is the same advice I would give to anyone, with or without a disability.

*This story is part of KEEPING IT REAL — a series of personal stories that will take you deeper into the lives of people with CP. Each person makes different choices based on what works for them, and we’ll showcase that — highlighting what life is like for them on a daily basis, what they care about, and the ways CP impacts them. 

The KEEPING IT REAL blog is intended solely to raise awareness about the varied human experience with cerebral palsy and shouldn’t be read or construed to contain any medical advice or medical endorsement by Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. Only you and your doctor know what’s best for you. Please consult your doctor for medical advice.