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Online home for Zachary Fenell, author, public speaker, and all around cerebral palsy advocate!
Awkward moments, everyone encounters them. For people with cerebral palsy that remains especially true. Walking differently or using a mobility device seems to attract the awkwardness. Strangers make oddball remarks or behave peculiarly. Those while awkward moments, I do not plan to focus on today. Instead I wish to address another kind. This post will…
Training for a half marathon (13.1 miles) requires much hard work. Effort that proves worthwhile. Rewarding even! Personally, one such reward came surprisingly via a Team IBB sponsorship. IBB stands for I’ve been burned. Honestly, I never envisioned the term “sponsored athlete” describing me. Heck, for a very long time “athlete” remained a stretch. Specifics…
Cerebral palsy can easily leave you feeling like an outsider. When talking about staying fit though, we in the CP community possess company. Others with physical disabilities encounter similar sentiments. Short people pardon the pun go overlooked. Bigger individuals may feel self-conscious. Such emotions make pursuing an active lifestyle intimidating. Trust me, I know the…
Living with cerebral palsy you will face moments where anger bests your more sensible side. I bet each individual with CP can recall at least one such memory. Maybe accessibility issues prevented you from going to a party. Or, you encounter a stranger who made extremely unfair assumptions about you. Those assumptions may cause said…
Understand you belong. No matter your cerebral palsy, you belong! Unfortunately, your own self-talk could try to convince you differently. Today’s post aims to equip you to overcome said negativity. By the end you will not need me saying “You belong.” Instead you will stand tall as possible, ready to declare “I BELONG!” Trust me,…
Dare to expand your physical limitations, but stay safe while doing so. Admittedly, these two concepts seem at odds with each other. Within your physical limits comes inherit safety. Trying to expand those limits leaves you vulnerable. Especially when you must add in cerebral palsy! Just contemplate what expanding physical limitations entail. You push yourself…
Wednesday, July 20th, 2016 people across the web celebrated friendship using the hashtag “#FriendshipIs.” National Inclusion Project promoted the “friendship is” initiative. As explained in-part on their website, “Making friends is often the fastest way for a child to be included. With friends, we have a companion who is there with us to play, grow…
Sisters or brothers bond uniquely. Indeed siblings share an extraordinary relationship. You may not always get along. Yet when needed, you come together. Varying factors shape each sisters or brothers bond. A cerebral palsy diagnosis proves one possible factor. Does the extra attention CP demand create jealously? Might doctor appointments or therapy sessions cause scheduling…
*Links to Amazon’s sales page for Pedifix’s Visco-GEL Toe Spacers (my preferred solution for overlapping toes), are a part of the Amazon affiliate program. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Overlapping toes I recall dealing with forever. Okay, forever sounds dramatic. Yet I cannot say I am exaggerating. I battled the issue…
“I made it.” You can read those words different ways. One perspective relieves. Relief you survived an ordeal. Alternatively the words can represent a rally cry. Victory remains yours! You triumphed. You thrived. The latter stands the appropriate way to perceive Juana M. Ortiz’s memoir title, I Made It. For Ortiz she triumphed in multiple…