A little bit about me!
People always want to know why I am the way
I am. Sometimes I think they are talking
about my Physical disability and sometimes I know they are talking about my
other Abilities. My name is Jenna and I
was born 28 years ago to a very happy mom and dad who had great dreams for
me. Six months later I developed a rare
disease that left me with cerebral palsy and a quadriplegic.
So why aren’t I living a quiet life hiding
from the world that doesn’t understand me?
Why aren’t I allowing people’s attitudes to keep me down? I was lucky to have a mother who demanded
that my life would be as exciting and normal and difficult as my siblings. She taught me how to speak, how to use my
words to bring people to me and to advocate for myself. My family always made sure that I was fully
included in our daily lives and they would forego special events if it was not
accessible for me also. And in that way
I became confident and strong as a young capable woman.
I was a Girl Guide who earned her Canada
Cord (the highest honour), sang in choirs, and even belonged to a baseball
team. I camped, and wheeled in parades,
and I helped raise money for accessible playgrounds. I advocated even as a child by talking to
reporters and having my picture and story told in newspapers and T.V. I had a job with the Children’s Commission
developing and then doing the marketing for a magazine.
I attended school for 13 years and was
integrated into most classrooms, but because of my cognitive disability I could
not graduate with a dogwood, but graduate, I did with my classmates. After high school I audited classes in Social
Work at the University of Victoria for five years. I held two part time jobs there as a library
assistant and library resource person. I
have spoken to many groups that include principals of schools, government
officials, future teachers and care workers.
I have taught classes at colleges and universities.
There are those that look at me and see a
woman who speaks with a funny accent, who can’t walk, who uses a power wheelchair. They might see someone who isn’t their
definition of cool, or pretty, or smart.
I say that they are blind. They
haven’t bothered to see what I offer the world.
I
have insight that most people will never develop, I have developed a sense of intuition
and have learned to be street savvy. I
know how to market myself and those charities that I support. I work with computers, and other electronic
media. And most of all having been
challenged in the way that I have over the years, and learned to overcome using
those challenges I have created opportunities for learning, developing meaningful relationships and sharing laughter
with those that I love. These skills
make me a valuable employee and co-worker.
So the question I pose here is “Why don’t I have a job?”
