Normal Fifth Grader

how different she is on the inside. Another example is when Melody started grade 5 and

In the video “Inclusion, belonging, and the disability revolution” (TEDTalks, 2014), speaker Jennie Fenton opens with describing situations where people with disabilities are segregated and excluded from their communities, sent to live together away from society, or even treated as lesser humans. She then proceeds to introduce her family, including her six-year-old daughter that was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Jennie admits to previously having negative or frightened thoughts about having a child with a disability, but with her “seven realizations,” she learned that her daughter was merely on a different path than others, but that no one should ever feel broken or not a whole person (TEDTalks, 2014). After she explains that there are roughly one billion people with a disability throughout the world, Jennie states that she believes in possibility over disability. If a person’s

One of the challenges of growing up is loneliness. As a small child living in Brooklyn Francie had no friends her age, the kids in her neighborhood that would have been candidates for friends either found her too quiet or shunned her for being different. "So

Even though Nicolette tries to remain strong and continue to not label herself disabled, however there are times she can not help but admit she has a hearing problem. Nicolette states, “When I lived alone, I felt helpless because I couldn’t hear alarm clocks, vulnerable because I couldn’t hear the front door open and frightened because I wouldn’t hear a burglar until it was too late.” She did not want to be labeled disabled because she was more than just a person with a hearing problem. Another quote that displayed self doubt is when Nicolette explains, “For the first time, I felt unequal, disadvantaged and disabled[...] I knew that I had lost something: not just my hearing, but my independence and my sense of wholeness.”

The 5th grade is really easy if you just follow these steps. You will survive you have to be calm,nice,do not talk back,be quiet,and the big one no fidget spinners of stuff like that.

The moment she got trampled under the stomps and shoves of others, one could identify what she’d been feeling like previously - a witness to her own inconvenience. This incident not only exemplifies but also symbolizes the burden she feels having been born handicapped, unable to provide assistance or gain to the world. These feelings Adahs has for her life are later rebutted by her longstanding dreams of attending medical school and improving science. By achieving her academic potential, she finally recognized herself as an important asset to the world- no longer being seen as handicapped, physically or mentally.

In the book The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, the main character Jessica is trying to adjust to a new life without one of her legs. Another character, Rosa, helps her through this while facing a disability of her own. Rosa was born with cerebral palsy. Even though some people don’t take the time to really get to know her, she has some great qualities that should make people want to. In the book, Rosa gets those close to her to see her real self instead of just seeing her as the girl in the wheelchair that has trouble talking. She manages this through using some of her best qualities: her friendliness, joy in helping others, and optimism.

Charlie Gordon a 32-year-old man with an IQ of 70. Not the smartest man ever don't you think? But everything has changed. Charlie is enrolled in a clinical trial that involves a surgery to block the enzymes from his brain that are making him dumb. Charlie is an oblivious, ignorant man who works at a bakery and earns only 11 dollars a week, before the surgery.

Vanessa Brenes is currently a student at Salem Church Middle School and is in eighth grade. She is 14 years old and lives with her parents and two sisters in Richmond, Virginia. She has a dog who’s named Lexi, she is a beagle who loves to play. Vanessa is in all honors classes and is excited about transitioning into high school. One of her favorite subjects in school is Algebra I and Civics and Economics. She has applied to a specialty center and is hoping to get accepted. She also loves to go to starbucks, loves to shop until she drops and enjoys being around her close friends and family! Although she hasn’t written any books and isn’t famous, yet, she is sarcastic and so much fun to have around.

In Sharon Draper’s novel, Out of My Mind, the main character Melody Brooks suffers from spastic bilateral quadriplegia, also known as cerebral palsy. Although she is unable to do anything that requires physical activity, she defies all stereotypes and qualifies for her school’s Whiz Kidz team. For example, the text states, “‘When Melody Brooks took that little practice quiz with us last week, I thought it was a lucky accident that she did so well. But yesterday Melody blew us all away. She got every single question right’” (Draper 190). This explains that everyone, including the teacher, judged Melody by her looks and never thought that she would be capable of making it onto the team. Ignoring everyone’s negative thoughts, Melody was able to

They judged her because she sat in a wheelchair , because she had to be taken to the bathroom and had to be wiped , and also because she couldn't communicate. The kids in her class and in the school barely talked to her and even looked at her , they thought she was gross and ugly. They think that she doesn't deserve to have an opportunity in school as well. Everyone around Melody has to learn to tolerate Melody because of her disorder, but some people don't want to. Melody tries and wants to be a normal person , but the haters around her don't let her.

Disabilities within the characters of “The Life You Save May be Your Own” by Flanner O’Connor

Melody Brooks was born with cerebral palsy. Her parents have done all they can to help her live a normal life, but life is often frustrating for Melody because she cannot speak or communicate her wishes. In fact, Melody was even diagnosed as profoundly retarded when she was five. Despite this, Melody's mother enrolled her in public school to give her the opportunities she needed to succeed.

Growing up Melody was never really given the chance to be social because of her disability, her parents always protected her. Melody’s only socially interacted are with

As the girl continues on to grow up she is continually facing challenges with her confidence and thus affecting her emotionally and physically. For instance, one of the line states that “ she went to