Intriguing Video

The recent outbreak of Cholera in Haiti reminded me of this video:

Solidarités International: Water talks from La Boite Concept on Vimeo.

Makes you think. Doesn't it?
Via: Black Effiel

New School Year, New motivation to Exercise

I just had an appointment with my physiatrist (not to be confused with phycologist), who talked about the possibility of me maybe getting another set of botox injections in my achilles tendons, my hamstrings, and my hip flexors. Although, if I seem to become looser in the next few months I will not have to get botox. Brilliant! =)

So here's the plan:

1). Once a week a will go to my regularly scheduled Pilates session (maybe twice a week if i can a duet with one of my friends).
2). i will work out at the gym 2-3 times a week, in addition to my Pilates, using the treadmill and the elliptical machine.
3). I will wear my knee brace for a few hours a day and one of my splints each night.
4). I will stretch daily.

I think i found a new set of workout songs by Angus and Julia Stone. Their music is relaxing, simple, and beautiful! My three favorite songs of theirs: Paper Aeroplane, Mango Tree, and Big Jet Plane.

Here are my two questions, does anybody have a favorite brand of knee brace? Also, what are some of your favorite weight-bearing exercises?

Summer Shoes Oh Ten

I wanted to share two pairs of shoes that I have been wearing this summer because shoe shopping can be quite tricky for someone with Cerebral Palsy!

1). Jambu Planet
Positive: Good all-around shoe, has good support, the straps are hidden when these shoes are worn with pants (personally my favorite pair of pants to wear with these shoes are dark-washed jeans).
Negative: I got blisters the first few times after wearing these. Maybe a half-size larger would eliminate the blister problem?
2). Teva Devi
Positive: Like a pair of flip-flops, but with ankle straps. Hallelujah! Finally, Teva made a pair of shoes that is both stylish and functional.
Negative: Not much support!

What's your favorite pair of shoes?

Presentation

About a month ago, I gave a presentation to a group of about 20 teachers about how I think the school system has helped or hindered me, specifically with regards to my Cerebral Palsy. I wanted to share some of the most prominent parts of the whole experience:

1). I was both enlightened and amazed by the types of questions I was asked by these teachers. One of the most enlightening questions was, "I assume you took chemistry lab, did you ever have any accommodations when working in the lab?" At first, this question seemed slightly out of the blue, but then I realized that this teacher's question must have came from a personal experience. i soon learned that a colleague of this teacher had a student with Cerebral Palsy who had accommodations in chemistry lab. Honestly, I would have never have thought of giving someone with Cerebral Palsy accommodations during chemistry lab.

2). People don't understand that Cerebral Palsy runs from very mild to severe or that conditions like, intellectual disabilities are not caused by Cerebral Palsy, but are completely separate entities.

3). Teachers are trying to help students recognize and be proud of their personal differences, but (at least in my school county) teachers are not allowed to talk about the differences of a particular student in front of his or her class, or some other group of students.

At the presentation I handed out a flyer titled, "Attending School and Having Cerebral Palsy" The flyer included beneficial actions, which are, encouraging, asking, and adapting, and detrimental actions, which are, patronizing and assuming.
A fun acronym to remember these actions is "Don't PA, EAA." Other acronyms and insight is greatly appreciated!

Perspectives: Katie

This interview is between my cousin Katie and me. We are extremely close, so much so, that we are practically sisters. I thought her thoughts would offer an honest perspective on being close to someone with a disability.

Ann: What do you think of when you hear the term Cerebral Palsy?
Katie: I think of you because you are the only person I am close to who has Cerebral Palsy. I think of you as having the same mental capacity, but not the same physical capacity.

Ann: What is the most respectful term to use to describe someone who has Cerebral Palsy?
Katie: I just say that someone has Cerebral Palsy. I say someone has a disability because I know, firsthand, how people are sensitive because of you.

Ann: What do you think of using the term differently-abled to describe someone who has a physical disability?
Katie: I've never heard that term used before. I think it's okay if it doesn't insult someone, but if it does you shouldn't use it?

Ann: Have you ever seen me treated differently in public because of my disability?
Katie: No, but I've seen little kids and people stare.

Ann: What do you think is the typical stereotype for someone with a physical disability?
Katie: This is a deep one. I think that (i don't think necessarily) it is that they are not able to do things as quickly, or at all. This stereotype may carry over into people's perceptions of that person, thinking they may not be able to do things mentally as well, which is not true at all.

Ann: What do you think of the media's perceptions of disabilities?
Katie: The first thing I think of is Glee. They try to make the shows diverse. i don't think they necessarily look down on people with disabilities.