The thing about having a physical disability is that most people assume that I am incapable of doing many of the activities and tasks that they do. To be honest, I used to think that I would never be able to do much or accomplish anything. Developing a physical disability at the age of 15 was not exactly what I had in mind. My nerve disease is very rare. It’s called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, also known as CIDP. I feel extreme weakness in my body and feel tired most of the time. My hands do not work well. I can barely move my feet and my legs are not the best to walk on. After being diagnosed in high school, I tried not to let the disease affect me. I wanted to just be a “normal” kid. But in reality, enduring annoying treatments was definitely not normal. When I found out I had to wear leg braces for the rest of my life just to walk, I was a wreck. I didn’t think I would be able to amount to anything knowing I was “the chick with leg braces.” However, I was not going to let my disability define me any longer. Over the years I have worked toward gaining my strength back. Now that I am in stable condition and I look at my progress, I realize that I was and still am capable of doing many things that any “normal” function human can do. Despite having a disability, I have abilities.
I have the ability to dance. I cannot do the fancy leaps and turns like I used to be able to do but I can do a sassy walk in jazz and bust a move in hip-hop. My teachers at my home studio are more than accommodating and even impressed that I still continue to dance. Whatever moves are difficult for me, I have no problem modifying them in my leg braces.
I had the ability to go away to college. I was three hours away from home with a physical disability. Going home for treatments were a pain but it was totally worth it for the experience. I even joined a college dance club. However, I figured most students would not want the girl with leg braces in their dances. That was when I got inspired to choreograph beginner dances for the club to include all students of any background and disability. I had the ability to choreograph dances that many students loved. I was happy making dance friends through teaching, but was more happy when I became more accepted into other's dances as they saw that I could dance even with my disability. That was pretty cool.
I have the ability to work. The whole “We don’t discriminate against people with disabilities” stuff does not always come into play. After applying to numerous places and getting turned down with glances at my leg braces, I finally got a job as a cashier at a grocery store. To some, this may seem like just an ordinary thing. Getting this job though was a huge deal for me. I could finally put a job on my resume. Within a few years , I even became a sales associate at a clothing store. I currently work as host at a restaurant. Though I do limp a bit when I walk, I enjoy talking to guests as I walk them back to their tables. When asked by some why I limp, I have to go into the conversation of the whole leg brace thing. Usually the guests go “We didn’t even notice!” That’s my favorite. I am currently working for a great television company as well, something I never thought I could do with my disability. The cashier job was truly a foot-in-the-door.
I have the ability to not only help myself but help others. Before getting my disease, I was never one to donate to charities and such. Today, I have now raised over $2,500.00 to help those fight muscle diseases and push myself to walk for such diseases. I also took the time to volunteer at the disability center at my college, helping to assist students with their testing accommodations. I would do that again in a heartbeat.
I had the ability to do well in school. People were shocked to know how well I was doing in school. My disability motivated me to become a big school “nerd” because it distracted me from my disease. I ended up graduating with a 3.82 overall GPA from college. I also had the opportunity to present a speech to the graduating class of 2016 in front of the Communications and Journalism department because of my grades and presentation skills. Pretty neat for a girl with leg braces.
I have the ability to transform myself. I get tired a lot but I want to make my muscles stronger. I never thought I could lift any weights. Now I am down 65 pounds. The gym betters me not only physically but mentally. I can almost lift a 20 pound weight doing arm crunches, which is pretty good for me.
I have the ability to go out (within my needs). I will admit, having a disability did prevent me from going out many times at college. I am not one to get pushed on a swarming bus full of drunk college students when going downtown and it was hard to get offered a seat when I needed it. Not that I don't have a life though. I have friends come over and hang with me to watch movies and go out to eat. I'd rather do that than try and get into an overcrowded party anyways.
So, am I glad to have a physical disability? Hard to say. But what I will say is, you can do the things you want to do in your own way. Can I do exactly everything I want to do today? I am going to be realistic in my circumstances and say no. I most likely won’t be able to do tap dancing ever again in tap shoes with my poor toe movement. But I don’t mind doing the tap moves in my sneakers and leg braces. I have a physical disability yet I have the ability to dance. And work. And study. And work out. And go out. And go to the gym. Not everyone with a physical disability is incapable. Simply put, we are all capable in our own ways. I look forward to finding out more of the things I can do, and no one should underestimate me.