The William W. Picard Inspire For
Life Foundation
- This Foundation is under
- the umbrella of the
- National Heritage Foundation
Let me tell you a little about myself.
Students' questions (grades K, 1, 2)
I hope viewing the question and answer section will help students better understand that I am a person with feelings, goals and dreams just like all of you. I look different, but just like people who have different skin color, we all have feelings. Who knows Barney? Why do we like Barney? He is kind and courteous to everybody. He is purple and no one seems to care. Why? Is it because everyone is different? But still we are all the same inside.
All in all, if I didn't have a positive attitude and if I didn't have parents, a sister and good friends that are willing to do anything they can to help me, I would never be where I am today! Remember that everyone is different but we are all the same inside! These are some questions that other students have asked me, and the answers that I wrote on my computer.
Can you sing with that thing?
- Yes
Why can’t you talk?
- My disability is called Cerebral Palsy, which means I have a hard time getting my muscles to do what I want them to do all of the time. That is why I have a hard time talking, but my sister and my friends know what I am saying.
When someone is not around how do you get stuff?
- I try to get it with my hands or my feet. If I can get it with my feet, I can lift it up on a couch and then reach down to get it with my hands. It took a lot of years of practice.
Can you move your legs, arms, or hands?
- Yes, it is just hard to control exactly what I want to do.
Could you talk when you were a kid?
- No, I was about was the same as I am now.
How do you go to the bathroom in your wheelchair?
- I get out of my wheelchair and get into my walker. My walker allows me to stand up. I don’t have very good balance, but I have a lot of strength in my legs.
Could they tell when you were born that there was something wrong?
- Yes, when I was born I was not breathing, so the doctors knew there was a problem.
Can you pat a dog or pick up a cat?
- I have had cats and dogs all my life. My dog comes up to me and licks my face and I can pat him. My cats climb up in my lap when I’m sitting on the couch and I can pat them too. I can’t pick them up though.
Can you play basketball?
- I like to play Nintendo and computer games, but I can’t play basketball. One thing I love to do is go to all of the home Women’s Basketball games at college.
How do you get in the shower or bathtub?
- I don’t take baths; I take showers. I use a special chair that is made for the shower. I just get out of my wheelchair into my walker, and then get into the shower chair.
How do you get dishes out of the cupboard?
- My helpers do that for me.
How do you get in and out of bed?
- I can get out of bed if I have to. I lift myself into the walker, but I usually have helpers in the morning to get me up.
How do you stand up?
- I have great strength in my legs, and my walker just helps me to balance.
How do you get a date if you can't talk?
- Good question. I usually know the person well enough so they can understand my speech and I just ask them.
Who dresses you?
- I can get dressed by myself but it takes longer so my helpers in the morning help me to finish getting dressed.
How do you put your socks on?
- My helpers in the morning help me to put my socks on as well.
How do you turn on the faucet and wash your hands?
- Sometimes I can reach the faucet and I can do it myself, or my helpers do it for me.
How do you eat?
- I eat a lot! I need help eating.
Do you have any kids?
- Not yet.
How can you drive a car?
- I could drive a car with a joystick, but I think that’s a little scary, so I’ve never tried it. I get helpers to drive me places.
How do you blow your nose?
- I blow my nose just like you, but someone just holds the tissue for me.
How do you flush a toilet?
- Usually I can reach the flush, so I do it myself.
Do you have any pets?
- Not right now, but I have had lots of pets through the years.
Does it hurt?
- No, cerebral palsy doesn’t hurt. It affects my muscles and my speech.
Why do you use a walker sometimes?
- I use my walker anytime I need to stand up, like going to bed, getting out of bed, and into the shower, or going to the bathroom.
How do you write?
- I type what I need to write on my talking keyboard, and it says what I write out loud.
Can you go fishing?
- I used to fish a lot with my grandpa.
How do you type on your computer?
- I type on my talking keyboard and it goes to my computer.
Do you have to carry your computer around with you?
- No, my computer is at home. My talking keyboard goes everywhere with me.
How come you can't feed yourself?
- I cannot control my muscles well enough to hold the silverware, so I get help from my helpers.
Can you go downstairs?
- I can go downstairs in elevators.
How do you turn on the TV?
- I can turn on the TV with the remote.
Who cooks for you?
- I tell my helpers what I want to eat, and how to make it the way I like it.
Can you swim? Or play sports?
- I used to play lots of kickball in my garage, and on the playgrounds. I bowl and play mini golf sometimes. I use an inner tube to swim.
How do you drink water?
- My helpers hold a small cup for me with a towel under my chin in case we spill some.
How do you brush your teeth?
- I brush my teeth just like you, but my helpers do it for me.
Why are your arms and hands like that? Folded over each other.
- My hands and arms are folded over like this, because of my cerebral palsy.
Can you walk?
- I can walk with the help of my walker. I have great strength in my legs to push myself around, but the walker helps me to balance.
How do you turn pages in a book?
- I can turn pages with my thumb.
Can you hold a book?
- No.
Do you do housework?
- My helpers do the housework for me, or my roommates help me out with the work.
Do you live alone?
- I share an apartment with my sister. I used to live in a house with eight other college students.
Can you ride a bike?
- No, I can’t ride a bike, because I don’t have enough balance.
How do you dance?
- I can dance in my walker.
How do you comb your hair?
- My helpers help me to comb my hair in the morning.