We’re Just People

By Steve Ferreira

Steve Ferreira

Student at Bellevue College I’m here to let you know what it’s like to

live with a disability

Ea Early Life

Born in Taipei, TaiwanSecond born of twins;

twin sister EmilyBorn not breathing and

placed in an incubator with an IV in my head

At three months diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

What is Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy describes a group of disorders which affect body movement and muscles.

Damage to the brain interferes with messages from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy Damage to the brain

before or after birthDamage from injury

or disease.Premature or low

birth weight.Infections such as

meningitis.Head injuryDrowning or

poisoning.

Living With Cerebral PalsyChildhood is not the

same as other childrenThings are difficult;

sitting up and crawling are hard

Muscles will not do what your mind tells them; very frustrating

All types of therapies; physical; occupational; hydrotherapy; hippotherapy (with horses)

Cerebral palsy varies from person to person.

Muscle tightness or spasmsInvoluntary movementDifficulty with “gross motor skills”

such as walking or runningDifficulty with “fine motor skills”

such as writing or tying your shoesCerebral palsy cannot be cured but

you can make your body stronger

My Early ChildhoodSeizures – at the age of four I had my first

seizure.Seizures are frightening because you lose

control of your bodyBody starts shaking and freaking outTakes hours to feel regular after a seizureTake medicine to control seizures

WheelchairsReceived my first manual wheelchair at 4

years old – was okayReceived a motorized wheelchair at 6 – was

amazingGave me freedom and made me feel like I

could run!

Elementary SchoolHad lots of friends and kids accepted my

differencesAbout third grade kids started to notice I was

differentOne kid called me a retard!First time I felt discrimination.

Middle SchoolCombination of three local elementary

schoolsSome kids had never seen someone in a

wheelchairSome kids tried to bully me and called me a

cripple and a “fag”Learned to advocate for myselfSchool had a zero tolerance level

High SchoolHigh school was great; lots of freedomIt was great rolling down the hallways and

having everyone yell out my nameSometimes there was kids who made nasty

comments and it hurt so badOne time a kid turned the light off in the

bathroom to be funny and I lost my balance and fell

College LifeCollege life is greatBellevue College is very accommodating to

disabled studentsJoined different clubs and I’m a member of

the Leadership teamReally like the freedom at college

Out in PublicPeople tend to stare at me when I’m at the

Mall or in public placesSee the wheelchair and not me as a personWant to say “keep staring, I might do a trickSometimes people talk to me VERY LOUD or

VERY SLOWJust talk to me regular!

My SpeechMy speech is sometimes hard to understand

because of the cerebral palsyI talk slow not because my mind is slow but

because the cerebral palsy affects the muscles in my mouth

If you don’t understand me, ask me to repeatThis is not offensive

Living a Disabled LifeVery hard but you need to deal with itI speak because I want people to realize what

it’s like to have a disabilityPeople in wheelchairs are NOT weird –

they’re just regular peopleI try to do the best I can despite my disability

SportsI’ve played baseball, wheelchair basketball,

wheelchair rugby, swimming, field, biking and weightlifting

International competitions for discus and shot put – won Gold in discus in 2010 in Czech Republic; won Bronze in Shot Put in 2008

How Does It Feel to be DisabledSometimes it feels like I’m

invisible. People see my wheelchair and my parents or caregiver but NOT me.

It feels like people don’t try to get to know me as a person.

Sometimes people think that because I’m in a wheelchair, I’m weak and they then pick on me.

How Disabilities Affect Peoples LivesLiving life as a

disabled person is hard because you don’t always have the same opportunities that abled-bodied people have.

Sometimes daily living needs are a struggle.

How to approach people who use a wheelchair.

Talk directly to the person, not to the person who is with them.

Sit down, if possible. when having a long conversation so you can be on eye level.

Talk to the person in a normal tone of voice. They are probably not hard of hearing.

If you do not understand what the person said, just ask the person to repeat. Don’t pretend to understand.

If you still don't understand a word, ask the person to write it out.

Be a patient listener. Don't interrupt or finish the speaker's

sentences unless that person looks to you for help.

Concentrate on what the person is saying, not on the difficulty you are having understanding.

Do not assume the individual needs help or wants someone to push his/her wheelchair --- ask first.

My concerns about treatment of the disabled

“Normal” people sometimes treat disabled people like they are not good for anything

Disabled people are sometimes treated as if their feelings don’t count

Questions are asked to the parent or caregiver, instead of the disabled person

Disabled people are perceived as weak and therefore are prone to being bullied

ConclusionSome disabilities are apparent or

obvious which lead to poor assumptions – don’t assume. If in doubt – ask.

Some disabilities are not obvious and people don’t understand. Be open minded when you meet a disabled person.

Everyone is important and needs to be treated the same as everyone else.