Being from a small town, there were very few people in my life with a disability who were around my age. Of those people, few of them have physical disabilities. Of those people, I was the only one who could walk. So for most of my life, I was the only one with cerebral palsy. There was no one else in school “mainstreamed” with a similar disability, and I didn’t really have anyone that related to my experiences.
Some days people at school were “nice” and talked to me, but they never did anything with me. I spent many days at school alone. I was rarely invited anywhere and hardly had anyone over — only three times in four years! I learned to be ok with that though, I would rather have real friends rather than acquaintances. For three years in high school, I had a friend just to eat with, who graduated a year before I did, so I was never completely alone all day for that time. When she graduated, I no longer had anyone to really hang out with. I didn’t have anyone to eat lunch with, so I ate lunch in one of my teacher’s rooms. I was pretty lonely most days, the teachers and I talked from time to time.
I decided in 2020 before the pandemic even happened in January to make it my mission to find good quality people to hang out with. I only found much older people who would take the time to get to know me. I took one person to dinner, and it was great! I had a few other people who I got to see and hang out with from time to time also but they lived farther away.
Then the pandemic hit, and I think one of my high school recommended assignments was to call someone you have never called before. Most called a distant relive, or their grandparents. (I could not imagine never calling my grandparents) I took it one step farther though and got out the church directory. I called one sweet older lady, and she recommended me to call another lady. I then attempted to call everyone I knew in that directory. I missed a few and was too scared to call a few, some of the phone calls were not so great, but others I really got to know a few people a lot better. It is important to note that most of these people were older than my mom.
That was all well and good, but I still never got to talk to anyone “like me.” I was just kind of floating around people who were all much older, and even though I get along great with older people, I was still a teenager. I always wanted to be apart of a good group of friends.
So I started thinking of possibilities for meeting people. The question beckoned “How do I meet someone like me?” Then I was also wondering about what I can do to make having a disability less isolating.
The “Beauty in Disability” support group was born. We do not have a lot of people, but I can totally relate to the conversation, and that is awesome! To finally have some people who understand what I am going through is really impactful. I started working harder, being a better person, and started to value myself and other people just a little bit more.
It is just nice to have people who “get it” who understands what it feels like to be a “drunk penguin”. Who we can say “OMG That happened to me too!!!” These conversations need to be had. And I am very glad I started mine.
If you want to join the meeting or find out how you can get involved. Please Email beautyindisability@gmail.com or comment with your email address below. Meetings will be on Sundays at 3 PM EST. Anyone is welcome.
Being from a small town, there were very few people in my life with a disability who were around my age. Of those people, few of them have physical disabilities. Of those people, I was the only one who could walk. So for most of my life, I was the only one with cerebral palsy. There was no one else in school “mainstreamed” with a similar disability, and I didn’t really have anyone that related to my experiences.
Some days people at school were “nice” and talked to me, but they never did anything with me. I spent many days at school alone. I was rarely invited anywhere and hardly had anyone over — only three times in four years! I learned to be ok with that though, I would rather have real friends rather than acquaintances. For three years in high school, I had a friend just to eat with, who graduated a year before I did, so I was never completely alone all day for that time. When she graduated, I no longer had anyone to really hang out with. I didn’t have anyone to eat lunch with, so I ate lunch in one of my teacher’s rooms. I was pretty lonely most days, the teachers and I talked from time to time.
I decided in 2020 before the pandemic even happened in January to make it my mission to find good quality people to hang out with. I only found much older people who would take the time to get to know me. I took one person to dinner, and it was great! I had a few other people who I got to see and hang out with from time to time also but they lived farther away.
Then the pandemic hit, and I think one of my high school recommended assignments was to call someone you have never called before. Most called a distant relive, or their grandparents. (I could not imagine never calling my grandparents) I took it one step farther though and got out the church directory. I called one sweet older lady, and she recommended me to call another lady. I then attempted to call everyone I knew in that directory. I missed a few and was too scared to call a few, some of the phone calls were not so great, but others I really got to know a few people a lot better. It is important to note that most of these people were older than my mom.
That was all well and good, but I still never got to talk to anyone “like me.” I was just kind of floating around people who were all much older, and even though I get along great with older people, I was still a teenager. I always wanted to be apart of a good group of friends.
So I started thinking of possibilities for meeting people. The question beckoned “How do I meet someone like me?” Then I was also wondering about what I can do to make having a disability less isolating.
The “Beauty in Disability” support group was born. We do not have a lot of people, but I can totally relate to the conversation, and that is awesome! To finally have some people who understand what I am going through is really impactful. I started working harder, being a better person, and started to value myself and other people just a little bit more.
It is just nice to have people who “get it” who understands what it feels like to be a “drunk penguin”. Who we can say “OMG That happened to me too!!!” These conversations need to be had. And I am very glad I started mine.
If you want to join the meeting or find out how you can get involved. Please Email beautyindisability@gmail.com or comment with your email address below. Meetings will be on Sundays at 3 PM EST. Anyone is welcome.
Just a Girl With Crutches 