Cerebral Palsy Archives - The Unchargeables

July 18, 2020July 7, 2020

How Watching ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ Got Me Through Depression

Warning: This article discusses mental illness and thoughts of self-harm.

Like many people, I’ve always enjoyed watching films. Films tell us a story about someone’s life and struggles and shows us how they were able to overcome those obstacles that they had to face. About a year and a half ago, I had gone through a rough patch in life where I didn’t know where to turn to. I was going through college and my first real break up, along with knowing that I was going to have to live with Cerebral palsy for the rest of my life.

I didn’t know where to turn to as nothing I did seemed to help me cope with the many different emotions that I was facing at the time. Then a friend recommended that I watch ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ which is about a high school freshman named Charlie who’s an aspiring writer who loved journaling about his everyday life but has a difficult time handling depression.

How Watching 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Got Me Through Life Changes

My connection with the main character:

From the minute I first saw Charlie on my screen I automatically connected with him and what he was going through as someone who was at that point in her life where everything felt very confusing. I had thought that I had everything figured out and I was now adapting to changes at the time that changed my outlook on life.

While watching ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ I felt as if I was Charlie in the movement, and he was speaking to me directly. I related to him as he was going through being the outcast of his fellow classmates because he was the one who was not ordinarily. This is just like myself since I have Cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair as my legs. So, I tend to be the outcast of society.

My connection with the main character of 'Perks of Being a Wallflower'

At times this could all be too much for me to handle. Watching ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ allowed me to be confident in my life and the person that I am, as well as the life story I have to tell.

How what this movie taught me applies to my life:

‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ reminds me that despite the bad chapters in my book I have to keep writing my life story no matter how bad the chapters are. It reminds me that it’s just one bad chapter, it’s not my whole life story. And just like Charlie overcame his obstacles and challenges of being an outcast with very little confidence, I am reminded that I’m not alone and I will overcome anything that comes my way.

How what 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' taught me applies to my life

Watching ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ also helps me forget about the lack of mobility I have on the left side of my body due to Cerebral palsy, which can lead me to feel suicidal at times and feel trapped within my own mind and body.

Watching this film takes away any negative thoughts I might have about myself and my abilities and helps me to continue living my life as a disabled woman with Cerebral palsy. I will be forever grateful for ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower’ and its message.

Tylia Flores is a 24-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world.

April 11, 2020April 5, 2020

Why We Need More Books Published That Talk About Disabilities

Like many people, I’ve enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember. Reading has always been a passion of mine and it was part of the reason why I decided at a young age to write a book. Throughout my years of being a bookworm, I have read many books that have inspired me to write more about my life experiences with Cerebral palsy; such as Mice of Men by John Steinbeck and Forrest Grump by Winston Groom.

These books have helped me cope with my Cerebral palsy throughout the most difficult times of my life. As an advocate and author, I strongly feel that we need more authors to write about people with different types of disabilities such as Cerebral palsy, Autism, Muscular dystrophy, and more. I truly think that if more authors start writing about disabilities and inclusion then it would help society have a better understanding of what life is like for someone with a disability.

How books that talk about disabilities have helped me:

More books like this will allow children with disabilities to have someone to look up to, even if it’s just a fictional character. For example, when I was in the 5th grade I was asked to read Howie Helps Himself in front of the whole student body to discuss the topic of students with disabilities. At the time, I was a little girl with buck teeth using a quickie wheelchair.

I stood out in mainstream classes like a sore thumb, and I wanted to fit in society as an 11-year old who loved Disney Channel, my Nintendo DS, and pop music, rather than for what people saw on the outside. After reading Howie Helps Himself to the student body I learned to be proud of the young little girl that I was at the time. I also learned to love myself despite the fact I had this health condition, Cerebral palsy, that I would have to live with forever.

How having more published books about disabilities will benefit society:

We need more awareness about disabilities in literature so that young children, teenagers, and even adults with disabilities don’t feel isolated from society. Having more discussion and literature that brings up the topic of self-identifying and acceptance when it comes to people with disabilities as well as the different types of disabilities that exist, could help reduce bullying in schools. This is because students would be more aware of people with disabilities and have a better understanding that would help them adapt to communicating with people in society that have disabilities.

That is why I chose this career path of being an author and an advocate, so that I could help people with disabilities through my literature and advocacy work. I continue to work on my writing and my advocacy so that people with disabilities don’t have to feel the loneliness that I felt earlier in my life.

March 30, 2020March 30, 2020

What Cerebral palsy awareness month means to me (March 2020)

March is Cerebral palsy awareness month, which is dedicated to the 17 million people diagnosed with Cerebral palsy around the world.

I first got diagnosed with Cerebral palsy at the age of 2 years old. Growing up with a condition like Cerebral palsy wasn’t the easiest task and I had many obstacles to face. But I overcame those and now I’m able to share how I’ve overcome the hurdles in my life. These are hurdles that I thought where huge at the time. I can now share my journey through my advocacy work and the stories that I’ve written.

Why Cerebral palsy awareness is important

Getting the chance to spread awareness for Cerebral palsy for a full month is awesome, though I celebrate Cerebral palsy Awareness 365 days a year. While every day is a great day to spread awareness, March is definitely a month that I look forward to because it gives me a chance to educate people more about my condition. I like to share my experiences about what it’s like to live in a world that you constantly have to adapt to, since not everything is accessible to you as a person with Cerebral palsy.

For example, sometimes when I go to store with my mom, we tend to get people who stare and point at me like I’m E.T.. It feels like I landed on earth and befriended a boy named Elliott. Meanwhile, I’m just an average 24-year-old that uses a wheelchair and has a passionate, creative mind that I tend to use for my stories that I have to tell. I’m not any different from anyone else and I just want to be accepted in society as I am and not as anything different. Cerebral palsy awareness month allows me to bring awareness to that.

Cerebral palsy Awareness month also gives me a chance to reflect on how far I’ve come in my life with Cerebral palsy. I get to look at all the milestones I’ve reached, as well the ones I will continue to reach as my journey with Cerebral palsy continues. I love to look back at the stories that have been written by me and the people I’ve been impacted by, such as many of my friends who are also advocating for Cerebral palsy awareness. We’re all in this together and nothing could break that bond between us all.

I’m not fighting for a cure, I’m fighting for awareness

Cerebral palsy is the most common childhood disability, yet I feel that there’s very little awareness about the condition in comparison to other disabilities (such as Autism). I’m constantly reminded of the lack of awareness as I wheel around in society and don’t see one touch of green in honor of Cerebral palsy awareness in March, instead of just for St. Patrick’s Day.

I'm not fighting for a cure for Cerebral palsy, I'm fighting for awareness

My advocacy is not about finding a cure for me, it’s about spreading awareness to the people that are unaware of Cerebral palsy and what it is truly like to live with this condition. People seem to think it goes away when your childhood is over, when really childhood is just the beginning of the difficult journey of living your life with Cerebral palsy. In my opinion adulthood is the hardest part because you have to navigate through life and it’s difficult, but having a month that brings awareness to this struggle is awesome.

About the Author:

February 22, 2020February 20, 2020

Dating with Cerebral Palsy (My Personal Experience)

One of the biggest misconceptions about people with disabilities is that we have no desire to date or have no understanding of what a relationship consists of. I can tell you first hand that this is false. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always dreamt about the day I will finally get married. I dream of having a ceremony in the smoky mountains of Tennessee, and getting to ride off afterwards in a red 1978 Ford Truck with my future husband.

What I’ve Learned About Dating with Cerebral Palsy

Dating has been one of the most difficult parts of my life. Ever since I hit puberty in middle school, I had an interest in dating and having a boyfriend, like many young 13-year-olds would be. However, I often had trouble with this because boys wouldn’t dare to give me the time of day. This was mainly because of my Cerebral palsy, they just didn’t want to deal with the judgement and stigmas related to dating someone like me, and I can’t blame them for thinking that way.

Love Yourself First

All of this taught me that the first step of meeting and getting to know someone is being in love with yourself first, while accepting your circumstances and your situation. Once you accomplish this, then you can meet someone who will look past your disability and love you for you. Loving yourself when you have a disability may not be the easiest task for some people, but it helps you to move forward when you’re single and want to put yourself out there into the dating scene as someone with a disability.

What I’ve Learned About Dating with Cerebral Palsy — Picture of the Author: Tylia Flores

If you don’t love yourself, how can you expect other people to gravitate towards you and want to get to know you? Self-confidence is magnetic. If you don’t love yourself and accept that you are who you are and acknowledge that you were made this way, then others may find it difficult to love and accept you as well.

It all starts with you and whether you are willing to try loving yourself, including the way your medical condition shapes you, as well as how you perceive your life as a person with a disability.

I’ve also learned that not everyone you have a romantic interest in is going to return those feelings, and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or the person that you are. You just have to accept their feelings and move on from it, while remembering that you’ll find to love you no matter what struggles you experience and what situation you’re in.

The importance of self love when dating with a disability

Dating May Be Hard, But It’s Worth It

All throughout my experience with dating with a disability, I’ve realized that while it isn’t an easy process, it is a worthwhile one. It is essential that no matter where you are in your journey, you take time out and learn to embrace yourself and your situation. In my case, I need to acknowledge my wheels, the adventures I get to go on because of my Cerebral palsy, and all the things that having Cerebral palsy has taught me over the years. I have learned a lot about myself during the experience of finding love with Cerebral palsy.

Although my life hasn’t been the easiest, I have learned that loving myself and my disability come first are foremost.

About the author:

January 22, 2020January 4, 2020

4 Tips for going to the bar with cerebral palsy

Well I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head, that didn’t hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn’t bad
So I had one more for dessert
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day – Sunday morning Johnny cash.

Like any normal 24-year old I enjoy going out to the bar and grabbing a beer every now and then but when you have a condition like cerebral palsy it makes going to a place like a bar very interesting. Because there are not many handicap assessable bars for people like me I make it work since I refused to not live my life because of my cerebral palsy.

So how do I navigate when going to a bar with Cerebral palsy – the first thing I look at my surroundings and try to find a comfortable spot without inconveniencing anybody. If I decide to go alone without my caregiver to give me a sense of independents to make the situation easier I do one simple thing socialize with people.

Honestly being sociable at a bar makes me less nervous about my disability and the things I can’t do because of the situation I am in as a young woman who has a condition but wants to feel just the same as everyone’s else in society.

4 tips for going to the bar

Tip 1: I would give to those heading to a bar with a disability like myself is bringing your cups or staws from home due to my uncontrollable spasms that come at any time have a hard time picking up the glass so to avoid any accidents I bring my own cups from home.

Tip 2: Always be aware of your surroundings and if you feel uncomfortable with someone or something speak out about it since not everyone has good intentions towards you and having cerebral palsy makes people think that they could easily take advantage of you because of your appearance.

Tip 3: Make sure before you head out the door to call a close family member or a friend to let them know which bar you’re going to be at just in case there’s an emergency and you can’t necessarily get in emergency and you can’t necessarily get an Uber or a lift right way they could come to the rescue

Tip 4: This is the most important tip of them all, be aware of your limitation when it comes to drinking although an able-bodied needs to do this we need to do this as your body reacts differently from others. For example, in my case, I can’t have too many shots of Jack Daniels because my body becomes inflamed for drinking too much and it could trigger my mild epilepsy if I’m not careful.

But ultimately you should go to a bar if you haven’t been to one and try it out for yourself you never know the people you will meet it may surprise you

About The Author

January 15, 2020January 5, 2020

Going to Movie Theatres with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy (My Personal Experiences)

My Experiences Going to Movie Theatres with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy

Like many people, I have always enjoyed going to the movies with my friends and family. My favorite types of movies to go see are comedies and films based on true stories. However, due to my Cerebral Palsy and my mild form of epilepsy, I also dread going to the movie theatre because of how it can affect both of these conditions.

When it comes to having spastic Cerebral Palsy, I tend not to do so well with loud noises and screaming since it makes me jump. The flashing lights and moving colors that are often on theatre screens are not good for people with epilepsy. As a result, whenever I go to the cinema I have to worry about what may happen if this movie has a scene where there is a lot of flashing lights or moving colors, or if it has loud noises that could make me jump and cause other movie go-ers to stare at me.

Dealing with self conciousness

Each of these disabilities impacts my life in different ways and sometimes it makes me very cautious about going out to certain places because of the responses that I get from the people around me. My body has a mind of its own, which can get out of control when it’s triggered by my epilepsy. It shakes and moves around and I have no idea what’s going on with my body. I don’t know if there will ever be a time where I can go to the theatres and be comfortable to enjoy the movie without a single worry on my mind.

Dealing with self-consciousness when going to the movies with epilepsy — Pictured above: Author, Tylia, at a movie theatre.

How movies could be made epilepsy friendly

It would be nice to be able to enjoy certain movies without having to be cautious about them having flashing lights or loud noises in them. This could be made possible if filmmakers would gain more awareness about epilepsy and other conditons, and how these conditions affect movie goers that enjoy movies but also have to worry about their epilepsy or other symptoms being triggered during the movie.

This would mean that people like myself could enjoy films and head out to the theatre more often without a single worry about their bodies or having to deal with the stress of not being able to enjoy the film because of their health. My combination of Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy together cause me to experience this stress every time I see a movie.

Until filmmakers make efforts to change this I will continue to go to the cinema and watch brand new movies because I refuse to miss out on things that everyone should be able to enjoy.

About the Author:

December 28, 2019January 4, 2020

The Hardest Part of New Year’s Eve (When You Live With Cerebral Palsy)

With 2020 soon approaching, I wanted to write about the hardest part of New Year’s eve when you have cerebral palsy.

For me, the hardest part of New years eve would always have to be my bad reaction when it comes to noise due to my spastic Cerebral Palsy I tend to have these movements when I hear loud noises such as Champagne bottle popping, people screaming, and loud music coming from a stereo.

I jump out of my wheelchair because my body becomes anxious and startled by what’s going on around me and it something that I’ve had trouble with my entire life. Especially with the way people react to my jumping, some people laugh some people stare and give me a dirty look and having to deal with that has lowered my self-esteem just a little bit over the years.

Being Reminded That I am Different

It is hard on me to go out on New Year’s eve because it’s the one night of the year that I’m reminded that I’m different and that I do have this condition.

And not everyone in society is going to expect it or see you as an average human, so that’s the hardest part about it but I try not to let it stop me from starting the New year with a smile.

It does get to a point where I’m just wondering if my body will ever be a ‘normal body’ where I won’t have to worry about this part of my body where I jump and people stare at me because they don’t know what else to do. It gets annoying being the constantly different one from most people for once I wish I wasn’t being stared at as if you’re an alien from outer space.

It gets annoying being the constantly different one from most people for once I wish I wasn't being stared at as if you're an alien from outer space.

Dealing with this issue is apart of Cerebral Palsy, but sometimes I wish that I didn’t have this body that I can’t control that way I could enjoy News Years Eve as everyone else does without having the constant worry of people judging me for my cerebral palsy and my body movements.

I truly hope that one day, I just could go out on New Years’ Eve and not worry about all these things that I worry about each year. I want to live a normal life where my body doesn’t act any way it wants to at any given point and time. But until then, I will continue to celebrate New Year’s the way I’ve always had throughout my whole life.

I will continue to celebrate New Year’s the way I’ve always had on wheels curious, with a bang.

November 30, 2019November 17, 2019

Why We Need to Talk About Disability Inclusiveness in Schools

There is currently an international movement for the inclusion of students with disabilities in education. ‘Mainstreaming’ occurs when a child with special needs and/or a disability is taught in general classes while learning from the regular curriculum while receiving additional assistance when needed.

I had always gone to mainstream public schools up until the tenth grade when my parents decided to home-school me. Throughout my years in mainstream schools, there were times where I was the only student in mainstream classes with cerebral palsy and chronic illness. While I had support such as an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), the importance of inclusive learning wasn’t a topic that was really discussed.

Disability Awareness as Part of the Curriculum:

It’s important that the inclusion of children with disabilities and chronic illnesses is discussed in mainstream schools because we need to educate students about the different types of disabilities and chronic illness. This way, able-bodied students can have an idea about what students with disabilities and chronic illnesses have to face. This could encourage them to help their fellow students to have an easier school day.

Teaching students about disabilities and chronic illnesses can encourage them to be more understanding of their fellow students

We should also be discussing the topic of Disability History in schools, while learning about disability advocates such as Ed Roberts, who was the first student in a wheelchair to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He used his platform to speak out about disability rights for all. There is so much history that could be taught to students that currently isn’t.

Disability Awareness In Children:

Some teachers have witnessed that the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream classes has led to greater patience and understanding from the other students towards people with disabilities. This patience then transfers to the wider community as the students continue to grow and communicate.

From experience, I know that every time I entered a new school year it would be like starting kindergarten because I would have to constantly answer questions from others about my disability. Sometimes kids in society can be very blunt and sometimes the way kids would ask me questions about my cerebral palsy would be rude. Though I know they didn’t know that they were being rude.

Educating students about disabilities could help prevent them from saying something rude to someone with a disability

This could be avoided if we had awareness in schools about the different types of disabilities they are and how one can differ from the other. For example, I find that spina bifida and cerebral palsy are two disabilities that get mixed up often. While they both can result in people using wheelchairs, they are two completely different disabilities.

Further education about people with disabilities shouldn’t end with students; Teachers should also receive more education about how to be inclusive towards students with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Adapting education to be inclusive

Along with having a curriculum featuring disability activism that is taught in all education levels, we should also have adaptive activities for people with disabilities to participate in throughout the school year. This could include certain events that bring awareness to people with disabilities like a disability awareness week.

Raising awareness regarding students with disabilities

This could give a voice to students with disabilities and allow the students that have a hard time fitting in due to their disability a platform to share their experiences. This could allow them to bring awareness to the obstacles they face as students who are in an environment that wasn’t made for them, and how they must adapt, which can be extremely difficult.

I strongly feel that we as a community need to start fighting for schools to teach students about disabilities and chronic illness because knowledge understanding is the key to living in a world where everyone can feel accepted.

About the author:

November 26, 2019December 10, 2019

6 Tips On How To Cope With The Holidays (When You Have Cerebral Palsy)

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means its that time of year where you get to together with family or friends. For someone like myself who has Cerebral Palsy this time of year can be a lot more challenging, as opposed to someone without a disability.

Although I enjoy getting together with my family during the holidays, It can be a difficult time for me. It can be overwhelming and cause feelings of being left out, which can make the holidays hard to deal with.

6 Tips To Get You Through The Holidays

I decided to write down and share the 6 tips that I use on how to cope with Cerebral Palsy during the holidays. These tips are by no means limited to someone with Cerebral Palsy, they may also be helpful to anyone who finds the holiday season hard to cope with

Try To Remain Positive During The Holidays

I understand that sometimes Cerebral Palsy, disability, and chronic illnesses can be a pain in the butt to deal with especially when you’ve been out socializing, visiting loved ones or doing activities that require you to move around more than you would normally. It can be exhausting, but you should try to have a positive attitude about your situation.

Spend Time With Friends

Sometimes having Cerebral palsy could make you feel lonely at times. It’s a good idea to spend time with friends that understand what you’re dealing with. I know from experience that hanging with my friends with Cerebral palsy helps me out a lot.

Have A Plan For When You Feel Overwhelmed

The holidays could be an anxious time for many with chronic illnesses and disabilities. I especially begin to feel anxious about the idea of having to go on a vacation to see family, disrupting the day to day routine. To attempt to minimise the disruption and the potential feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious I pack all the things that help me when I’m feeling anxious, like my favorite movies to keep me calm.

Express your emotions

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the holidays and your disability. Talk to your family or friends. Expressing what you are feeling, means that you could come up with a game plan to help get you through the holidays. You’re all in this together and maybe they’ll agree with you on certain things.

Try To Relax

Listening to your favorite type of music might help to relax your body. For me listening to country music has always been my go-to when it comes to coping with situations with my Cerebral palsy. Listening to Blake Shelton’s Christmas album to help me escape from reality and it also helps me relax my muscles form the possible triggers I might face.

Find Activities That Are Inclusive To All

Find activities that you can do that won’t cause you to feel left out! Believe it or not, there are many activities you can do with your friends and family that won’t cause you to feel left out. My favorite activities to do with my family is dancing to Spanish music and its something that I can do.

Although having Cerebral Palsy may not be easy, I’m thankful for the experiences that it has given me and it the best gift I could ever receive this holiday season.

About The Author

October 26, 2019October 24, 2019

Trick Or Treating With Cerebral Palsy (My Experience & Tips To Make It Fun)

Spooky season is fast approaching. With many of us trying to decide what/who we want to dress up as. Growing up with Cerebral Palsy never stopped me from taking part in the festivities. I want to share my experience with Halloween and share some advice for parents with children with Cerebral Palsy to help them feel comfortable with trick or treating.

My Trick Or Treating Experiences

Growing up with Cerebral Palsy made holidays extra fun especially Halloween because I was able to be creative with my costumes, when I was seven and I was in a body cast for six weeks due to hip dislocation surgery my mom painted my face and I was a zombie. Although I wasn’t able to go trick-or-treating that particular year my mother made it fun. Trick-or-treating with Cerebral Palsy was always fun for me especially since I made my wheelchair into my costume. The year I was in the cast I became a dead zombie wheelchair racer.

Ax a kid trick-or-treating was always fun & I made the best of the situation some people in the neighborhood would feel sorry for me because of my Cerebral palsy. Sometimes they would give me extra candy. As a little kid, I used to think that this is great! I would get an extra candy just because I was different from all the other kids in the neighborhood. Now that I’m an adult I hate that concept because I feel like every child should be treated the same when it comes to celebrating Halloween because we are just like everybody else in our unique way!

Tips For Trick Or Treating With Cerebral Palsy

Now I want to discuss the fun part of Halloween but also my least favorite part of Halloween as someone with Cerebral Palsy for those of you who weren’t familiar with the CP it affects part of the brain that can cause you to have involuntary jumping attacks. If something jumps out suddenly or if we hear scary music, a jumping attack could happen. This would happen to me a lot every Halloween so my advice to any parent preparing for Halloween with their Cerebral Palsy child always be patient when they have these attack because we can’t help it, the attacks comes naturally within our bodies so just be understanding and also try talking to your neighbors about your child’s condition. Which could help make Trick or Treating for your child less stressful and more enjoyable.

The second piece of advice I would give people with disabilities is trick or ticking can be fun, be creative with your child, let them use their imagination when it comes to being part of the activities. It really helps a child feel welcome into society and loved by the community. It will make them feel proud about having a disability and being unique it as well.

My third and last piece of advice I would give, is set a time to go out trick or treating. Many with Cerebral Palsy seem to have issues with anxiety and chronic pain. We can have issues with being outdoors for a long time & can get easily annoyed by making us feel uncomfortable. It is important that you have a set time for trick or treating so your child can be prepared before hand.

With that being said I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween