Category: Life With Laura
If, like me, you use a wheelchair on a regular basis, then you know that one of the hardest things to do is upgrade to a new chair.
I’ve had my current chair since my sophomore year in high school, eight years ago. I’ve also had a brand new chair sitting in my room, acting as a catch-all for clothes and junk for about three years. It isn’t something that I’m proud of.
Let’s talk life and death. Most specifically, the life and impending death of Terri Schiavo. Here are the facts, as I know them, and what I think about them.
Fifteen years ago, Terri Schiavo collapsed and her heart stopped, shutting off oxygen to her brain, leaving her severely and permanently brain damaged. Her husband filed a malpractice suit, which resulted in a one-million-plus dollar settlement. The suit was settled in 1992, approximately two years after Terri collapsed.
I recently came across a news story about the U.N. diplomats writing a treaty regarding the rights of the disabled. The focus of this particular story was the debate between diplomats about whether to ban the abortions of fetuses known to have some sort of disability.
If you haven’t read Wendy Shanker’s “The Fat Girl’s Guide to Life” yet, then get thee to a Barnes and Noble. I don’t care if you’re not a girl. It doesn’t matter if you’re not “fat”. This book holds some serious truths for everyone, whatever your size, shape or gender.
Recently, a woman emailed me seeking advice for her cousin. She had seen my articles in our local newspaper and thought I might be able to offer some assistance in his job search.
He is in his early thirties and has a law degree, but he works part-time bagging groceries. He also has cerebral palsy.
