My grandmother has a very interesting past and has had a very interesting life. My grandmother was born completely deaf and received a hearing implant, called a cochlear implant, in her teens.
Her story starts much earlier than that though. When she was two years old, she was leaning against a window screen on a second story window. Keep in mind this was 1942 and many security precautions hadn't been taken yet. The screen failed and my grandmother fell the two stories down to a concrete sidewalk. Despite it being a miracle that she survived at all, she suffered brain trauma that left her severely mentally handicapped for many years. Many of the symptoms and side effects that my grandmother suffers include brain damage, slowed development, 6th grade education due to an inability to keep up with curriculum, the mentality of a fourteen year old, and comprehension issues. Despite all of this, she's still a kind, loving, understanding, and happy person. She can find happiness in everything, she laughs at everything and she loves everyone.
Below are 10 misconceptions and daily phrases about family members who are high-functioning humans with mental handicaps.
1. Yes, she's independent.
She knows how to cook, she knows how to communicate her pain, she knows how to shop and how to speak to people that she knows. There are many things that she cannot do but she is able to live by herself with some help.
2. She understands you. Most of the time.
Unless you're talking about a complex concept; such as taxes, driving or filling out government forms, she understands you. She understands more than you think and she's definitely eavesdropping on you.
3. No, you don't have to scream so she can understand you.
My grandmother reads lips AND knows sign language. You could whisper and she would know what you said. So, no, you don't have to scream all the time.
4. Yes, she had children. Naturally. Like most other people.
She got married and had a long fifty year marriage to my grandfather and brought three children into the world as a result. So, yes, she was a very capable and amazing mother.
5. No, she doesn't need your help.
Many people like to offer to help her in stores and I'm here to ask that you don't. She gets so nervous when someone she doesn't know comes around and she is always polite but it embarrasses her.
6. No, she isn't a burden to us.
She's currently living with us. Yes, that adds a few more chores to our daily lives, but we love having her hear with us and she'll never be a burden to us.
7. She can hear more than you think.
Despite her implant, she eavesdrops more than anyone else I know.
8. Yes, she loves to watch TV.
Despite her hearing issues, she loves to watch TV and has seen pretty much every movie in existence. She also adores soap operas, especially The Young and The Restless.
9. Her memory is extraordinary.
She remembers everyone's birthday and death date, to the year. Sometimes we ask her questions about people and she can immediately remember their birthdays without any prodding. She remembers everyone's names and often has to
10. She's a loving woman, to everyone.
Racism and Homophobia are unfounded with her. She thinks every woman is pretty and she thinks every man is a cutie. People who are funny on TV she calls "crazy" and she genuinely doesn't see the bad in people.
There are many misconceptions about mentally handicapped people. With all the negativity in the media, I want to introduce you to my grandmother and hope that she will help you see the positivity in these people too.
