Hi! My name is Justin. I am 18 years old, and I was born with Cerebral Palsy. I have spasticity and dystonia, mostly on my left side. I was in a wheelchair for a while, so I understand that frustration of immobility. Still, I have never thought of myself as handicapped. I have had to find different ways of doing things. I think that what you are able to do depends a lot on what you set your mind to. I hope that my letter is encouraging to someone. I believe that the key to overcoming any type of disability is to set a goal, and then work toward it.
When I was very young, I decided I wanted to ride a two-wheeled bike. It took me until I was 14 years old because I had trouble with balance, but now I can do it really well, and I ride on mountain carriage paths in Maine and on hilly gravel roads by my house. I ride about 4-5 miles every day when it is nice.
I also wanted to be an ice hockey goalie. I needed to have surgery to straighten out my foot and make my heel cord longer. Before that I kind of fell over my own leg! First I learned how to roller blade inside my house hanging onto the furniture, then around the basement, soon graduating to my driveway, shooting a ball at a net. Next I learned how to ice skate taking one baby step at a time, hanging onto the edge around and around. I cut my fingers doing it. Then I learned how to play ice hockey. I started a weekly practice with some friends. We didn’t have a goalie, so my mom got me the goalie equipment, and I went to our local ice rink and just let everyone shoot pucks at me so I could get better. This year I joined a great hockey team and now I am the starting goalie! I have to Velcro my stick into my blocker pad, because my left hand doesn’t work that well, but I stop most of the pucks! It took me about four years to accomplish my goal.
I like sports a lot. I also play basketball, bowl and play one-handed golf. I take care of a 46-gallon saltwater reef tank. It took a lot of research and study to learn how to keep everything alive. I am furthering my studies by taking a course in marine biology. I help around the house by mowing our lawn, which is on a steep slope down to a lake. I think you need to stay active however you can, and if you really want to do something just find a way to do it! I am learning how to drive a car, and am working on getting my license by next summer. Parallel parking needs to be mastered.
I am planning to be a web designer. The photo of me in goalie gear was designed by me and is part of my home page. I am struggling with the details, because I am teaching Macromedia Flash MX Professional to myself. I know I can learn it, and I will keep at it until I do. Maybe I will take a college class in it. I also plan to hike up Mt. Ranier. I went part way up one of the trails this summer. The other photo was taken on the edge of the Grand Canyon. I hiked up to the rock I am sitting on. It was quite scary. It’s a long way down! As you can see, I wear a leg brace and have very limited use of my left hand.
I think people need to set goals and just do it! You can do whatever you know you can do. Have a great attitude, and face life with courage!
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