Rudys Way

This is another related blog that I would like to point out. Rudy's blog is about how he deals with his Cerebral Palsy. There are posts about causes, personal experience, etc. I like the way that he has organized his blog. Also, there are category links that take you to different topics of his blog. The slideshow header at the top of the page is a reall neat idea. It displays the five newest posts. I suggest that people take a look at Rudy's blog.

http://www.rudysway.ca

John W. Quinn (Guest post)

My name is John W. Quinn. I am a Senior Chief Petty Officer, United States Navy (Retired). I joined the Navy in January 1982 and retired in October 2002. During my career I sailed the world on two aircraft carriers, a destroyer, a battleship, even did paperwork and worked out every morning with the Navy SEALs. I trained, molded and led a generation of sailors, many of who are still serving today. It was an honor to serve my country.

Did I mention that I was born with cerebral palsy?

You are probably thinking, “How in the heck did you get into the Navy and serve 20 years? That’s impossible!” It is possible. My recently published memoir titled Someone Like Me – An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy details how I was able to accomplish that feat. I kept my CP a secret during my entire military career. My friends didn't know about my disability, the sailors who served with me were unaware, and fortunately my CP went undetected by government officials who could have sent me home for false enlistment. Granted, I'm not in a wheelchair or braces. My CP symptoms are generally mild enough to pass off as injuries, clumsiness, or to hide behind an administrative desk. I got some lucky breaks. Was it difficult to go 20 years with no medical attention, support or care? That's an understatement! So why did I choose to go that route?

I kept my CP hidden for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t think the Navy would let me enlist. Second, and more important to me, I just wanted the same opportunity as everyone else. I didn't want to be known as “that sailor with CP.” I just wanted to be known as a great sailor – one known for ability, not remembered for his disability.

I am hesitant to use the word disability because it really bothers me. Look at the word again. I am not an English major, but I know that the prefix “dis” means the absence of. So the word disability means the absence of ability. If that’s the case, then yes, I have a disability. I cannot do fractions. In fact, when it comes to anything having to do with math, I struggle mightily.

But there are many areas of my life in which I am very capable. Some big, others small. Everyone has some ability to offer this world. You just have to find it. It might be hidden deep down inside you, just yearning to come out. I encourage you to not let any handicap hold you back, to not listen to the people that tell you it cannot be done. My parents told me that I could do just about anything that I put my mind to and I believe that to be true for anyone, regardless of obstacles faced. If you don’t push yourself to find your ability, who will? Franklin Delano Roosevelt suffered with polio and became President of the United States. Albert Einstein didn’t talk until the age of three and was severely dyslexic. The English author/poet Milton lost his sight at the age of 43 and then wrote the classic tale Paradise Lost. What would the world be like if these people had given up? Can you imagine FDR saying, “I can’t do it, it’s too hard.”

Have you always wanted to paint but thought it was a waste of time? Perhaps you've felt a strong desire to get up on stage in your community theater but were ridiculed when you shared your dream out loud? I have been laughed at. Most people thought it was nuts for a guy with cerebral palsy to even dream of joining the Navy. Mocking turned to cheers 20 years later when I retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. When I decided I wanted to write my memoir, some scoffed. “You’ve never written anything before. “What makes you think you can write a book?” Well, Someone Like Me, An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph over Cerebral Palsy has been in the Amazon Top 100 and just turned into an audiobook!

You might not become President of the United States, discover new math theories, or become a Navy Chief Petty Officer. But then again, you might. So I ask you.

What’s your ability?

To find out more about John and order a copy of Someone Like Me – An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy, go to www.johnwquinn.com


John W. Quinn Motivational Speaker and Author of Someone Like Me Executive Board Member of the Reaching for the Stars Foundation Website - www.johnwquinn.com Email - quinnjohn21@comcast.net Twitter @johnwquinn

My View on Living with a Disability (Guest Post)

Living with a disability is different for each of us. What one person will find challenging, another person will find non-challenging. Our disabilities don’t match one another, so it would be difficult to gauge how someone else feels.

Disability comes in many forms, with many conditions that are more challenging than others. Unfortunately that makes a difference on how we view our lives and what we deal with. I think what also makes living with a disability hard is other people’s perception of what we deal with.

For me living with CP has slowly given me a better outlook on my life. As a child I struggled to understand and come to terms with living with CP, but as the adult it has helped me put my life into perspective.

Not many people would give what we deal with a second’s thought and on a day to day footing they probably don’t, but they would still be quick to comment on what we deal with as if they know how we feel. No one really knows what we deal with unless they step into our shoes. I think with any disability, it’s the support that allows us to deal with our disability so that we cope with it better.

Unfortunately disability still doesn’t seem to be accepted in the way it should be. I believe if people were more accepting of disability and perceived disability differently we would deal and live with our disabilities in a more positive way. I think because society isn’t always accepting of people’s disabilities, we become less accepting of ourselves.

I very much believe that disability needs to be embraced by society more and by families alike. We all need to unite.

http://www.thecpdiary.com

Guest Bloggers

Now that I have my blog up and running I'm looking for new ways to expand. One way I thought of was to allow other to input. That's why I added a new page, "Submit Guest Post". This page will tell you where to send your post and has a few rules listed. In my opinion this is a good way to network similar blogs.


Another reason why I like the idea of finding guest bloggers is finding more views on disabilities. To see through someone else's eyes. I think that people can gain a better perspective this way. I like learning about how others cope with the disability that they have. After reading other's posts and blogs I can now see that living with a disability can be difficult but is not impossible.

Never Accept No With Cerebral Palsy (Guest Post)

Growing up with Cerebral Palsy was no different than any other kid, expected that I walked a little different than my friends. I was always very ambitious to do anything that I wanted and it was hard for the people around me to say no to me because I wanted to do something that everyone else was doing, like playing a sport or riding a bike, let me tell you when I learned to ride a bike it was hard for my parents to get me off of it, I loved riding my bike.

But there were things like playing sports for my school that the school wouldn't let me participate in and I didn't know too much about the reason, until one day in 4th grade we were in gym class and we were learning the fundamentals of basketball and I wanted to play so the teacher didn't know what to do. So she sat me on the sideline to watch and lets just say I wasn't a happy camper. So I went home and told my mom after school I wasn't allowed to play basketball today in gym and my mom being the nicest lady I know told me I will go and talk with the school tomorrow, so the next gym class I went and sat on the sideline like I normally do during gym, but that day was a bit different. My gym teacher let me participate and from that day forward I was able to participate in any and all basketball teams and seasons when I got into 5th grade.

I was the 8th grade basketball team captain and I was really honored to have that roll with all my friends. So the moral of the story is and I am talking from experience that when you are told you cant remember don’t let the answer NO get in the way of something great, because you can and all of us just have to prove it sometimes.
Follow Me
@Rudysway

http://www.rudysway.com/

My thoughts on becoming an adult

As you become an adult your view on the world begins to change. Its strange because you also feel like the same way you did before. Your responsibilities and tasks now become more complex and difficult. But that being said they are also more rewarding. For example, college and university. Your task is to complete each course and your responsibility is to make sure that you work on your task. Not only do these schools give you experience in the field of your choice, it also gives you an opportunity for a career.

My thoughts on strengths and weaknesses

Everybody needs help and it isn't that they are a lesser person, it is because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. One strength that everybody should have is admitting that they have weaknesses. Our strengths and weaknesses are what makes us who we are. Its what separates and brings everyone together as a community. If everyone was the same the world would be a dull and dark place.

The Cp Diary

I find this a very well organized blog, easy to read and has a great eye-catching color scheme.

Jesse has a lot of amazing articles and I think that you (my readers) should check these out! I would not be surprised if this personal blog had a lot of new and returning visitors. I know that I check up on this blog regularly. Follow the link below and read her articles!
www.thecpdiary.com

Life

Before I was born my mom had become ill. The doctors at the hospital had thought that she had the flu. So they treated her for that. Only after I was born they found out that my mom's amniotic fluid was infected.