I was born with spina bifida/hydrocephalus. I grew up in a school of 300 children, only two of whom had disabilities in mainstream classrooms, one being myself.
There was also no disability representation to be seen in any medium. I was once asked, “When was the first time you realized you were different?” It was when I started elementary school, and I quickly learned I was not like the other children physically and mentally.
I was bullied in elementary school for having to wear AFOs as a walking aid as well as for being “slow” to learn in class. We were taught that when you are being bullied by a peer, you are to tell an administrative person (i.e., teachers, principal, school employee).
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