By Rajiv J. Root
People with disabilities have been struggling with their rights and freedom since there were many things that were inaccessible for the disabilities until President Bush Sr. established American Disabilities Act of 1990 on July 26, 1990. There are still some devices that are not accessible to people with disabilities such as cell phones. Many phone companies ignore people with disabilities because they are unhappy with their equal civil rights for example, employment. Many businesses discriminate people with disabilities because they can’t do anything that requires being “physically active”. My experiences of being physically disabled and profoundly deaf have motivated me to fight to be equal just like everybody so I can fight for myself.
I feel that I am qualified to be a delegate to the forum because I understand what is it like to have my disability and how it has the ability to prevent me from doing anything that I really want to do such as moving around (traveling on my own), play football, and build computers. I believe that the forum will provide me with an opportunity to make my life more equal and accommodate my disabilities. For example, in the summer, I always feel very lonely because I am stuck in front of the computer everyday. I would like to go out and experience various kinds of things like going out on my own, get used to other people, and be involved in activities outside school so I can feel equal, just like everyone. I feel very unhappy at times, because I can’t do anything such as drive a car, or go places to see friends. I usually only stay at home or go to school. My family has been busy taking care of me since I was adopted. I know they love me because of all the things they do for me. I think that 18 years old is a very important age for me because I should be having more freedom and to go out more often, but my disabilities make it tougher for me and I can’t always rely on my family. The forum will be a good start for me to meet people. I believe that it will make me feel good about being more independent and I don’t need to stay home all the time. I want to be able to do anything on my own while living with my disabilities.
When I was 12 years old, I was transferred to Fairfield Public Schools. I had to repeat 5th grade at McKinley Elementary School because my reading level was not good so the Fairfield Board of Education hired an aide that dramatically changed my life. Her name is Trudi Kelly and she knows sign language. When I graduated from McKinley Elementary School, she helped me to make transitions from private school to public school and she was willing to work hard with me since she understands what deafness is because she has a deaf son named Stephen. She also treated me as an adult and she respected my disabilities. When I started middle school, she made me very happy by introducing me to middle school students. Then, she taught them not to be afraid of me and my disabilities. In 8th grade, she scanned the entire US history book and English books to CDs so it was much easier for me to keep up with my studies. She was the first aide to make me very happy and help me become successful with my disabilities.
When I started my junior year, I thought it would be very hard for me because I didn’t think I would be able to graduate from high school. My disabilities prevented me from finishing homework until my headmaster, Mrs. Larsen, hired the male aide that is doing a very wonderful job. His name is Nicholas Signore and he was supposed to be a certificate teacher, but I am very lucky to have him until I graduate from high school. He always wants to learn anything new since he is from Italy. He is trying to learn sign language so he can communicate with me. I really appreciate what he is doing to help me and he is very funny and friendly. He also is willing to do anything that I am unable to do due to my disabilities. He respects my disabilities and sees me as a normal person. I really like him a lot and I wish that he could go to college with me because he is a very good aide.
My experiences as a person with disabilities are very tough because I am profoundly deaf and physically disabled. Deafness is the biggest problem for me because I have very limited speech due to Cerebral Palsy. It is very difficult for me to communicate with hearing people because they don’t have time to learn how to use sign language. I have a special device named LightWriter and I type the message then it speaks for me. I also use computers to communicate with people using instant messenger and e-mail. Recently, the government set up the IP-RELAY service for the disabled and now I have access to use it to make calls directly using the computer. It makes me happy because I have been struggling to find a way to make calls.
My physical disabilities are very frustrating for me because I can’t use cell phones nor drive a car. I use my toe on my left foot to use the computer and drive the wheelchair, too. I always wanted to have a cell phone with wireless Internet, but unfortunately, all cell phones have very small keys for my toe. I am trying to learn how to use my left hand so I might be able to use devices with it. My body does not work properly, but God blessed me with solid intelligence.
My experience as a person with disabilities is with orthodontics, my mother was unable to find an orthodontist for two years to put braces on my teeth because I had cerebral palsy. It was very hard for mom to get an orthodontist. Many doctors don’t want to work with people who have cerebral palsy and in wheelchairs and the doctors don’t want to be bothered.
My goal for the future after I graduate from high school is to go to the National Technical Institution for the Deaf college in NY. I am looking forward to learning more about computers and have fun with college students. There will be various kinds of things to do when I go to college and I will be very happy that I will be with other deaf people with whom I can communicate.
Independent living is also very important for me because I want to live my way. I want to go different places such as stores, movies, and restaurants with friends. However, I need somebody to assist me with independent living so I can get used to it.
Between college and career, I would like to teach quadriplegic people what they CAN do, not what they CAN’T do. They will also learn how to be more equal, especially in employment because they have been struggling to fight for themselves and businesses discriminate against them. Later in my life, I would like to help businesses understand disabilities so that they will be more willing to hire people with disabilities.
The most important thing for me is to experience independent living so I can go off to college and learn more about computers. Then, I will help people with disabilities so that they are capable of accomplishing meaningful work that they deserve to have.