1). A neurological disability which
ignorant people believe means the same thing as
mentally retarded.
While it's true that people with severe cases of CP can have mental retardation, many people with milder cases of CP have average to above average intelligence. Additionally, because many people with mild hemiplegic (one sided) CP have visual/spatial processing and math and/or language
learning disabilities, IQ tests are often very inaccurate measures of a child with Hemiplegic CP's intelligence as they typically measure bilateral thinking patterns. People with spastic CP often have one very strong and dominant hemisphere in the undamaged side of the brain, and one weaker brain hemisphere. This results in one side or limb (s) of the body being weaker and lacking in the ability to accomplish fine motor skills. If the right side of the brain is affected, then the left side of the body will be affected, and if the left side of the brain is affected, the right side of the body will be weaker.
Despite having this disability, people with mild Spastic Hemiplegic
Cerebral Palsy often live normal, relatively independent lives. They can learn to drive (a bit slower than the average kid), get a good career, and be happy and successful people.
I used to be angry with God, and cry out to him why I was born with mild Hemiplegic Spastic
Cerebral Palsy; why I couldn't be like every other girl my age. Now, I realize that being "normal" often makes people more ignorant and thoughtless. They often take
the little things in life for granted and may make fun of those who are different from the norm. Really though, it's those who aren't born perfect that have the most creativity, passion, and
determination.