MovieChat Forums > Door to Door (2002) Discussion > The thing about people with cerebral pal...

The thing about people with cerebral palsy is that...

posted 16 years ago by blackhawkswincup2010
4 replies | jump to latest

too many people are willing to treat them as retarded or mentally disabled. When I went to college, there was a guy like Bill, but who was much more handicapped. His speech was very difficult to understand, and he could not feed himself. People treated him like he was two years old, and talked down to him accordingly. He was the one who had infinite patience with those around him. This good man had an accounting degree, and he was condescended to to the nth degree.
I tried to treat him like anyone else, and he expressed his appreciation, but I always had a hard time understanding him.

[–] texasturkey 16 years ago

Too many people are ignorant about diversity and disabilities. The government should make it mandatory high school or college graduation requirement: Diversity 101 or Special Needs 101.

[–] PenTheater 16 years ago

well nobody told me that, I had no idea that CP was that way, but like you say, nobody said anything,
You could certainly see how that assumption would be made.
but anyway I just saw a trailer for a new movie coming out that deals with this very subject, a college man and his friend, it looked like it was going to be really good and very enlightening. BUT
I don't remember the name, when I find it I will come back and post it here.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

I guess I never did find out what movie.

Ephemeron.

[–] benbo-3 7 years ago

I worked with some1 with CP - in fact Bill Macy's speech pattern was eerily reminiscent of him. The guy was a computer programmer, and seeing how we were all adults no1 made fun of him to his face, but some did behind his back. I was only 22 & didn't know how to deal with him - I tried my best to be kind while simultaneously conveying that I was trying my best to treat him just like every1 else. I have to admit I'm pissed that I couldn't have been better to him. We had a company softball team and he showed up - every1 freaked out because he could barely raise his arm to throw & didn't walk right. We let him play but it was so awkward - I'm sure for him as well. I only wish it would have been when I was more confident as a grown man than a 22-year-old kid on his 1st job desperate to fit in. All of us could've been a lot better to Alan, & I only hope I was good to him > offended him.