Hello, beautiful people of the internet! Welcome to Just a Girl with Crutches version 2.0!
I am a professional faller. Not kidding, I fall at least 2 times a day every day since I was four years old.
I was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which basically means I look like a drunk penguin when I walk. I have no coordination, and I fall constantly which makes my life interesting, to say the least. Therefore, I use crutches when I am out in public to try not to freak people out when I fall. Sometimes it works, other times you will catch me falling into the shelves at Aldi. Cerebral palsy also affects my hands, speech, and basically how I live my life.
I was raised on the principle of high standards and expectations. I was expected to do everything everyone else was, and until recently I did. I was in plays, worked about 5 hours a week, and was in my highschool's marching band. All while taking a full honors course load in high school. I was the only kid with cerebral palsy in my school. So it has been a ride, living in a small town. I have been staying at home because of COVID-19 now while taking online college courses. Needless to say that I have slowed down a lot.
This is just one of the many ideas that were playing hopscotch in my mind from quarantine. I thought about a nonprofit. (Right now we have a group called "The Beauty in Disability." It has a Facebook and Instagram page if you are interested in learning more.) Christmas cards, revamping YouTube, and this, a blog.
I also have a lot of hobbies I can talk about. I love music. I always have headphones in listening to everything from classical, to alternative, to mild rap, to Christian. I mess around on the piano, cello, and ukulele. My hands make it hard to play, however, I am not planning on playing anywhere but my own room. I paint, while colorblind, that is a thing, it gets interesting when the sky magically turns purple. I also find a way to paint everything! (including my crutches!)
I also love to write. I am not the best writer, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a good past time. I wrote an article for our state's newspaper, and I am currently writing a book. The book will need a few more years of evolution, but in the meantime, people wanted to read something about my life.
I am currently living at home, with my wonderful mom and dad, who allowed me and stay and annoy them a little longer. I also have a younger sister, Anna, who is the greatest sister of all time. I also have the privilege of being able to spend time with both sets of my grandparents, who I am close with all of them, as well as my aunts.
With a few details changed, and names removed, let me tell you about what life is like for a college student with a disability. It is not that different from the average college student, I just walk with crutches and need extra help. At the end of the day, even though my disability can intemidate people from time to time, I am nothing more or less than a girl with crutches. Let me tell you my stories about my life. Let me teach you how to talk to other people with disabilities. Most importantly, let me teach you how to fall and get up with a smile on your face.
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