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.
