Author: Grace W. Dow

CW: Mention of assisted suicide. I remember when I was growing up, I very rarely saw characters on TV or in movies that looked like I did. It wasn’t until I was 17 years old that I saw the television series Speechless which featured Micah Fowler, who has cerebral palsy. It was the first time… Continue reading Growing Up Disabled In America:

As a disabled person living with cerebral palsy, sometimes I have been thought of as being lazy. Growing up, I was often told that I was lazy by peers in school because I needed accommodations in the classroom or that I sometimes wore sneakers with Velcro. I knew that I should have been to tie… Continue reading Why I Don’t Consider Myself Lazy as a Disabled Person

Today is July 31st which means that Disability Pride month is ending today. Disability Pride, for me, is something that I haven’t felt all of my life. Although I am content with who I am and understand that I have Cerebral Palsy, it sometimes is hard to accept that my disability does limit me in… Continue reading Why Disability Pride Is a Difficult Concept for Me to Embrace:

According to the website Access Living, “Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.” Growing up, I always felt less than because of my cerebral palsy. It was hard to see the other kids in my classes go to sleepovers and be… Continue reading When Ableism Makes You Feel Worthless:

As someone who has cerebral palsy, mathematics is not my favorite of the academic disciplines. Due to my disability, I have poor visual perception and spatial skills. I have never excelled at mathematics. However, there is one math equation I complete multiple times a day. While reading the blog, The Squeaky Wheelchair, run by Kathleen… Continue reading A Math Equation I Use More Than Any Other:

Since the day I was born, my body has not belonged to me. Instead, it has belonged to a seemingly endless catalog of doctors, therapists, and personal care assistants. It isn’t easy to feel comfortable in your own body when you are constantly being looked at and touched by people helping you or by people… Continue reading How It Feels When Your Body Doesn’t Belong to You

On this day in 1990, former president George H.W Bush signed the Americans With Disabilities Act. While this was a milestone for the community, we still have much to improve for disabled people in the United States. Physical accessibility to restaurants, stores, and schools is wonderful. However, ableism and related attitudes set us back more… Continue reading 31 Years of The Americans With Disabilities Act:

Recently, a Paralympic athlete decided not to compete in this year’s Paralympic Games. 26-year-old Becca Meyers, who has previously won three medals in 2016, is both deaf and blind due to a condition called Usher Syndrome. Meyers has decided not to compete in this year’s Paralympic Games after being told that due to COVID-19 regulations,… Continue reading People Need Their Accommodations Even During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Cerebral Palsy is a challenging condition at times, but that doesn’t mean I don’t experience a unique kind of joy. For example, in March of this year, my new power wheelchair was finally delivered. The night before the wheelchair was scheduled to arrive, I hardly slept. I felt excitement akin to what I felt on… Continue reading My Own Unique Joys With Cerebral Palsy

This post is going to differ from my usual posts. It is more of a lighthearted post. Without further ado, here are some ways you know you have cerebral palsy. You Know You Have CP When: -You want to list medical terminology as a second language on your resume. -You consider physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, physical… Continue reading You Know You Have Cerebral Palsy When: