My mother said I was always nosy. I guess there's no denying it, when you consider the fact, that I came two and a half months too early, weighing only two and a half pounds! I always tell people, the reason I came so early, was because I wanted to see what my dad looked like. I was born on the twelfth of February, in the year nineteen hundred and sixty-five, in Hamilton, Ontario, at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The doctor didn't give me much hope for survival. My dad was at work,when the doctor called and told him, "Your wife just had a baby. It probably won't live." At first, the doctor didn't even tell him, whether or not, I was a boy or a girl! After five weeks in an incubator, I was allowed to go home. By that time, I already weighed five pounds, and to top it all off, I was alive! So much for the doctor's theory!
I wasn't developing like a normal baby should, but my parents weren't too worried at the time. They thought I was stiff and slow, just because I had been born prematurely. It wasn't until I was eight months old, that I was taken to the specialist. He didn't want to explain to my parents what was wrong with me, at first. It was then that my dad got angry, and said, "We didn't come here for nothing. We came here to find out what's wrong with her." The specialist told my parents that I had Cerebral Palsy. In explaining what this entailed, the specialist said something to the effect of, "First of all, your daughter will never be able to walk, and secondly, she will never become a professor." The fact that I wasn't going to be one, didn't seem to bother mom and dad much. They were just glad to hear that I was going to live!
I started going for therapy, when I was nine months old. I had physiotherapy, at the Hamilton General Hospital, the St. Catharines General Hospital, and The Hotel Dieu Hospital, respectively. Later, when going to school, I also received Occupational Therapy, and SpeechTherapy as well. It wasn't long, before I was making up for not being able to walk, by talking up a storm! This still holds true today!
Some of the therapists that I had met, while they were working at the different hospitals, went along with those of us, who went to the new school, when it was finished being built. The Niagara Peninsula Crippled Children's Centre, opened its doors for the first time, in October of 1969. I started school, when I was just four years of age. I went there for seventeen years! I completed my education at the Centre, in June of 1986, at the age of twenty-one. I had a great time, while going there. This school was unique in that we didn't have grades, we had different levels. When I was taking Shakespeare for grade twelve english, I was also doing grades three to six math.
If I remember correctly, my first experience with camp was when I was eight years old. Besides going to the Easter Seals camp, called Lakewood, I also went on several camping trips with my parents as well. One summer, my family and I, went to North Bay to visit my aunt.
In July 1980, I was fifteen years of age, when I started going to "Anchor Camp", and here I am over thirty years old, and still going. Maybe one day, I'll be running the camp myself! In July 1995, we celebrated it's fifteenth anniversary! Wow!
It was with the help of my school, that I was able to go out into the workforce, for the first time. May 27, 1986, was my first day on the job. I worked at the Grimsby Museum, four afternoons a week, as a volunteer for three and a half years. I learned a lot about history while working at the museum. I might have still been there today, but my old typewriter seized up on me, so, that was the end of that job.
After I left my job in Grimsby, the Vocational Centre, in Stoney Creek evaluated me, and lo and behold, it was found out, that I was a lot smarter than my parents, or even I, first thought! I was sent to the March of Dimes, in Thorold for six weeks of job training, but all was in vain. They had nothing suitable for me. In February of 1989, I started working at the John Calvin School, in Smithville. I worked there for about five and a half years.
I come from a fairly large family, having four brothers, one sister,and several nieces and nephews. We have lots of fun when we're all together. I am now living in Orangeville with a friend. It didn't take long for me to feel at home here. It's the best thing I ever did!
In my opinion, the decision to persevere regardless of the circumstances, is indeed the right thing to do. The reason I believe this to be true, is because by persevering, I'll never know, when the opportunity might come up, to be able to help someone out. For this particular English assignment, I would like to use an article I was asked to write at work for the school's magazine. This is an article, which is all about the value of persevering! It is entitled: The First Five Years.
I started working at the John Calvin School in Smithville on February 13th, 1989. I worked here in the afternoons as a volunteer. My schedule varied from week to week, year to year. I used to work here from Tuesday to Friday; then, I worked here from Monday to Thursday. My Schedule then, changed to five afternoons a week and later I cam whenever I could. My main job back then, was processing the school's library books into a computer. I think of all the things I did while working in Smithville, I liked processing the library books the best!
Processing books was a lot of work, but I found it very relaxing! Since I've been working here, when it comes to the books, I think I've done everything I could possibly do with them! Other jobs included, sorting out different kind of beads, writing out some of the teachers' and\or students' work for them. This sometimes involved marking as well. Painting was messy, but I didn't mind. It was fun.
My time spent there wasn't all hard work, however I also enjoyed socializing, almost everyone does! It was easier to do this when the weather got warmer, because teachers and students spend more and more of their time outside. I, myself, join in on the fund whenever possible! I also wrote, "From the Heart of Someone Who is Physically Challenged", while working here. This particular article has become quite "famous" since its first publication!
Back in the "early days", I worked on the main floor. As you read this article, you will see that it hasn't always been this way. I haven't always brought my electric wheelchair either. The computer I was using at the time had to be carried, either from downstairs or upstairs. It all depended on who was using it. I was using my electric wheelchair then, so I worked on the main floor. It's easier to carry the computer up or down, than it is my electric wheelchair. So I stayed there, while someone else brought my work to me.
Being in my electric wheelchair, made it easy for me to get help whenever I needed it. There were two classrooms close enough to where I was working. I was also using a collapsible table. This table was put on blocks of paper, so that I could fit my wheelchair underneath it. I'm not always that good at parking. It usually didn't matter, as long as I could reach the computer and books I was fine.
One day after coming back from asking a question concerning the work I was doing, I went to park and as I did so, I accidentally hit one side of the table! To my horror, the blocks shifted and started tumbling and then, with a thud, the table collapsed! I was really scared! I called for help, no one heard me! I didn't know how I would manage it, but I would have to find someone myself! The table, having landed on top of me, I could just reach my controls with the tip of one of my fingers. I started moving slowly away, (at least, I tried to move away), but as I moved, the table moved with me! My heart jumped into my throat as I though, "Oh, no, the computer!" My dad would certainly have to buy a new one if that thing fell!
I shuddered to think of it, but as I helplessly watched the books slide off the table and onto the floor, I realized that having to buy another computer was becoming a very real possibility! There was nothing to do but move! I would worry about the computer later. Getting help was more important at the moment!
After what seemed like hours, I was free at last! Miraculously, the computer stayed put! I wouldn't have to worry about it any more! I went to bang on what was then the door to grade one classroom, but no response to my cries for help. I then turned my wheelchair around and used my horn instead! Upon hearing it, a voice from inside the room piped up, "fire!"
The door stayed closed for a little while longer. After waiting for a few seconds, I used my horn again, this time holding it down a little longer! It was finally opened by Miss (Linda) Jager only to find me waiting in the hall. Breathlessly, I told her what had happened and things were straightened out. She thought the noise had been someone's watch! Needless to say, I was much more careful after that!
Shortly, after that "exciting" incident, with the table, I was "off" for about six months. The staff of John Calvin School said, they "didn't have anywhere to put me", at least for the time being, anyway, (I think it was just because they didn't want to put up with any more excitement from me!) When I finally did come back to work, I was "demoted" down to the basement. Working down there also meant I would now have to use my manual wheelchair.
I was lifted up and downstairs by Tony Van Es and Adrian Zeldenrust, who were then grade eight students. It wasn't long before they knew what they were doing. Their job also included taking my coat off, putting it back on, taking me to and from the van and parking me! I hardly ever had to wait for them. They were waiting for me most of the time.
I soon could tell exactly how I was going to be handled, just by the mood they were in at that particular time. The "ride" was either rough or smooth! I didn't mind as it added a little more excitement to my day! Whether we were going fast or going slow, either way, they did a really good job of it! When Tony and Adrian wanted to skip class, they stayed with me as long as possible. On the other hand, when they had to play baseball, for instance, those guys were gone in no time flat! They only forgot me once! From time to time, either one, or both of them couldn't make it, but there was always someone else available to take their place. One such occasion, two girls came to take me downstairs. I briefly explained to them how this was supposed to be done, but, instead of grabbing the handlebars, one of the girls grabbed my headrest instead! I must say, the "ride" was very rocky. In fact, as we were going down, they lost control of my wheelchair and I hit my head on the stairs! Yes, you bet I had quite a headache after that, but don't worry; it didn't last for too long! My headrest didn't come all the way off, but it was loose! (These things are made to be taken on and off, but it shouldn't be done, when you're taking the person who has one on his or her wheelchair, down a flight of stairs, or up them for that matter!)
When I arrived at the school and was taken to my "office", I sometimes had to wait for my work, which I didn't mind doing, as long as it didn't have to be for long. I could always find something to occupy myself with. One day, while waiting, I decided to play some computer games. I didn't think I would have to wait that long. I was wrong. After what seemed like "ages", I decided I wasn't going to play games any longer. I wrote my minutes for band practice instead. There was nothing else I could do. I was in my manual wheelchair, so, I couldn't go anywhere, and I had to do something! Miss (Jane) Holtvluwer, who was my supervisor at the time, had forgotten all about me! When she finally did remember that I was there, she felt really bad about forgetting me. We had a good laugh about it afterwards, though.
While working down in the basement, I received two things, first of all, a table that didn't collapse, and secondly, a computer of my own, for use at the school. Having a computer here meant that it wouldn't have to be moved around. This one could stay in the area where I usually sat. Likewise, having a table that didn't collapse meant that I wouldn't have to worry about going through any more "excitement" of having table falling on top of me!
The following year, I worked in the basement again. This arrangement, however, didn't last for very long. One of the reasons, why it didn't work out, was because it was too cold where I was sitting. To remedy the situation, I was "promoted" back to the main floor! Moving back up also made it possible for me to use my "legs" once more! I wouldn't have to worry about being "stuck" anywhere, if I happened to be forgotten again! In closing, I'd like to say that it wasn't always easy, but, I really enjoyed working there!
