I have had TM for 18 yrs now. I went through both junior high and
high school with TM. I have been in a wheelchair since. I would
encourage you not to opt for #2 the dreaded "different kid". I never
participated or had a gym class and I believe I was seen as a
different kid. Talk to the gym teachers to either modify some of the
activities or allow your son to go at his own pace. The more he can
do with the other kids the more normal he will feel and show others
that life goes on after a disability.
One of the things I did do that gave me a sense of fitting in was to
keep score for all the volleyball games. I regret not doing more to
show others I was okay.
Good luck!
Paula Lazzeri
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From: jek160(AT)psu.edu[SMTP:jek160(AT)psu.edu]
Sent: Friday, September 05, 1997 3:18 AM
To: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com
Subject: boy with TM off to school
Hi guys,
Well, a new school year. To refresh your memory my son had TM at
thirteen months, made a good recovery and is now nine years old. He
went
off to fourth grade on Tuesday. So far, so good. In fact we stopped
the
ditropan this summer and he comes home with, like, maybe a bladder
drip or
two but that is all, no wet spots. The Ditropan did the trick when
we
needed it and I was glad for it's effectiveness but I am glad to be
medication free as well.
One of my concerns is phys ed class - how can a kid with mild spinal
cord
damage be on a "level playing field" with the other kids? As an adult
you
can avoid competitive physical stuff altogether and just concentrate
on
personal fitness, but in school you have to compete. And yet I do not
want
to push for "adaptive" phys ed, that would really call attention to
what is
a mild difference (except in gym!).
So which to choose
1) worst kid in the gym class - can't climb rope with left foot that
won't
grab, runs clumsy, etc...
or
2) get pulled out for adaptive phys ed and be noticed as the dreaded
"different kid".
I'd love to hear from the thirteen year old boy on the list (Scott?)
who
sounds so much like my son - they even have "foot drop" in the same
foot.
How do you cope with gym?
Sincerely,
Joyce Kreuter