From a Wheelchair

Joe Hemphill

Not all people were meant to walk. I have had cerebral palsy since birth and I have never walked. Like many people who find themselves in this situation, I tried at one time to walk believing that if I couuld walk, I could be more like other people. I knew one lady with cerebral palsy who spent years trying to walk and doing so caused her to develop emotional problems. I truly wanted to walk but after giving it a good try, I accepted that it wasn’t going to happen. From that point I began to explore pursuits and goals that I could take part in even if I was unable to walk. As long as someone focuses his thoughts on the fact that he can’t walk, he won’t be able to discover what he really can do from a wheelchair. Some people, who can’t walk, won’t break away from the idea of how limited wheelchairs make them.

It’s better if someone discovers early in life that he or she won’t ever walk because the person can start to learn what things he or she can do. When I was young, I asked the boys in the neighborhood to let me be the batboy. As the batboy, I was taking part in being involved with the other kids in the neighborhood. This also helped me later in life because it taught me to find ways that I could be part of things that came my way and enjoy them.

A person needs to discover that he or she can do meaningful things even though though they may be a wheelchair user. In my case, I learned that I could write. After high school I was wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life; I met a lady who offered to help me pursue my interest in writing, as it was something that I had always felt drawn toward. This was when my life long writing adventure began. Writing has brought me some challenges, but for the most part writing has given me much satisfaction and pleasure. Writing doesn’t require me to walk and I am becoming better at it as time goes on.

An individual who can’t walk can have a social life. Even though I’m in a wheelchair, I have a pretty active social life. Many evenings you can find me in the Tower District part of town having a soft drink. I have met several people there and when they see me we often have conversations about all kinds of things. It’s a very enjoyable way to pass the time and to get to know others.

Someone who can’t walk can go to college and obtain an education. Even if you don’t earn a degree, you can become a more well rounded person by attending college. At nearly sixty, I’m still going to school, learning things and always meeting interesting people there. Someone who can’t walk can also hold down a job. I worked as an editor for a newsletter both at Long Beach State and an independent living center in Southern California. I did very well in these jobs learning skills and meeting responsibilities. The fact that I couldn’t walk had very little to do with my ability to succeed in the work place.

Once someone believes in himself or herself, he or she can learn to do many things even though they can’t walk. Realizing this, a person will find numerous doors open to a happy and fulfilling life. Being the neighborhood batboy can teach you how to be involved with your surroundings even from a wheelchair. Learning that you can do something special, such as write, helps give you a better self-image and will help you to realize the contribution you can make to society. A person with a disability who attends school soon realizes he faces many of the same challenges as other students; similarly, the work place can be rewarding, even to someone who is unable to walk. Focus on what you can do rather than on what limitations you may have. The world is yours, even from a wheelchair.

Joe is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the ConnSENSEBulletin.

© 2006 ConnSENSE Bulletin