Cerebral Palsy Does Not Affect My Intelligence

WRITTEN BY PETER HOGAN

I was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP), which limits me from walking and doing other physical activities that most people take for granted. This disability has eliminated me from playing sports, driving a car, and being able to handwrite things, just to name a few. 

 I was in regular education classes and had special accommodations throughout school. I had an accommodation that allowed me to have a paraprofessional (para), a person who provides instructional, behavioral or physical support to a student(s) within the classroom. I had various paras throughout school, but they all had the same job, to write for me.I would verbally tell my para how I wanted to answer on assignments but they physically transcribed my answers for me. This assistance helped me get an education and make it through school, and I greatly appreciated it. I was then able to achieve my associates in _ and my bachelors in_. However, I still had peers who would assume that I was getting help with my schoolwork just because of my disability. This hurt my feelings as I was held to the same academic standards as any other student.

Since childhood, I’ve noticed that people have always attached my CP with assumed a decreased mental capacity component. attached to my CP and have treated me as such. Because of this, it has and sometimes remains difficult for me to make friends and be socially active in society and the community. A lot of individuals with special needs sometimes only have relationships with family members or people paid to be with them. I often feel forgotten about. It feels hard to encounter others who don’t understand that we want comradery and relationships like anyone. I want to surround myself with people who share similar interests. I want to get to know people for who they are and have them see me for who I am. I don’t want to be chosen begrudgingly, as an obligation or a “service.” I’m pretty happy in life, despite my disability. However, it has been an ongoing battle trying to prove to people that I may be physically disabled, but I’m just like everyone else, mentally and socially.