8 Reasons Why Cerebral Palsy Is My Best Christmas Gift
With the holiday season approaching, I want to reflect on all the life experiences I’ve had because of my cerebral palsy and why I consider my cerebral palsy to be one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever received.
1. Cerebral palsy has allowed me to see the world from a unique perspective. From the people I meet to the way I move around, every day is a new adventure.
2. Cerebral palsy has allowed me to build friendships. If I didn’t have cerebral palsy, I wouldn’t have the great group of amazing friends I have met that are just like me.
3. Cerebral palsy has taught me strength. When I was younger, I faced many obstacles and challenges. Through those obstacles, I’ve learned the true meaning of strength.
4. Cerebral palsy has taught me to appreciate the little things that make me unique. For example, I have swan neck deformity — my finger is an unusual shape, and that’s OK!
5. Cerebral palsy has given me stories to tell. Being a young woman with cerebral palsy has given me life experiences which I hope to publish someday in the many books I plan to write.
6. Cerebral palsy has taught me that everyone is unique. I’ve learned that everyone has a different story, but that doesn’t mean we can’t come together.
7. Cerebral palsy has made my life fun. Every time I go somewhere, I always have an awesome adventure.
8. Cerebral palsy has given me something to thank God for. It’s no secret that cerebral palsy has given me the best life I could ever ask for, and I have to thank God, because I believe without Him guiding me through this journey, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today.
Although having a condition such as cerebral palsy can sometimes be difficult, I wouldn’t change it for the world. It has taught me so many things. It’s given me many opportunities. It has been one of the best Christmas gifts I have received.
Tylia L. Flores is a twenty-eight-year-old born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Despite her condition that affects her mobility, she does not allow it to affect her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world. In doing so, she hopes to help others with disabilities realize that they, too, have the potential to make their dreams come true. Tylia is not only an author. She’s a radio show personality and a disability activist. Tylia has written about disability-related topics for Yahoo Life, Your Tango, The Mighty, ReadUnwritten.com, Words Between Coasts Project, Wednesday, Spilwords, and Goble Thrive. Worth Living Among her other appearances are Disability on the Spectrum and Why I was Afraid of Sexuality. Previously, Tylia was nominated to Diversabilities list of the most influential Disability Impacts of 2022. Additionally, Tylia holds the position of chairman in the creative director role for the North American Association Of Cerebral Palsy Advocates. She serves as a mentor for the Disability EmpowHer Network as well. Tylia also works for Write It Up Publishing as a sensitivity reader focusing on disability representation. Tylia has also been involved in many movie press releases for Samuel Goldwyn Films Come as you are Piece of me which was the short film directed and written by award winning filmmaker Bruna Cabral as well as the film adaptation of the book Calvin can’t fly by Jenifer Burnes Tylia is also a keynote speaker at 2020’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness conference. She has also been a guest speaker at Northeastern State University Broken Arrow where she talks to college students about disability and inclusion in education. She has also been a guest speaker at Plantation Middle School, where she discussed inclusion and disability with classmates. Tylia is fully certified in Education for All: Disability, Diversity, and Inclusion through Cape Town University. She’s also certified in Understanding Diversity and Inclusion through Purdue University. She’s also certified in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Tylia hosts the Stomping On cerebral Palsy radio show with DJ Ty on Asheville FM with DJ Mouse during the Come On In the Kitchen segment once a month she also helps the staff behind the scenes, help bring awareness to disability awareness and inclusion within the radio broadcasting industry .
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