Originally posted August 9, 2011

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I am writing this in words I think my 8 year-old daughter would use if she was able to communicate like I can:

I have special needs because that is a label society has placed on me.  When people see me on walks in my wheelchair with my mom or dad they think that I have special needs.  When I drool all over myself for no particular reason people think I have special needs.  When I swing at people to get their attention because they don’t understand what I am saying they say I have behavior issues.  Do you ever get frustrated when you are trying to communicate with someone and they don’t understand what you say?

I am eight years old and I like to go on walks with my mom, dad and PCA (Personal Care Attendant).  I love playing Just Dance on the Wii with anyone who will play with me.  I love riding the bus to school with my friends and waving to mom when the bus leaves the curb (sometimes).  I like to give hugs and kisses to all my friends, teachers and relatives.  My brother and I like to wrestle with each other and I always win when I finally decide to start pulling on his hair.  If I could eat McDonald’s for every meal I would be in heaven, especially the hot fudge sundaes and fresh chocolate chip cookies.  I love having my mom read books to me while I sit on her lap.  I can play catch for hours.  I like to help my mom fold laundry and when one basket is done I always ask for more.

Like I said at the beginning I have special needs because that is a label society has placed on me.  It is a way to describe someone that does not look or act like a “normal” person.  What is normal anyway?  My dad is in his mid-thirties and is already bald, my brother is ten and is already over five feet tall, my mom is the most beautiful person in the world.  Are any of them “normal”?  The medical community says I have complex medical needs.  The school district says I have special needs so I am in special education.  Because of this my parents have to fight to get me in the normal classroom with my friends.

I am just an eight year old girl who likes to eat at McDonald’s and spend time with my family.  I don’t think I have “special” needs I think they are quite normal.