Around Valentine’s Day I tend to think more about my journey with cerebral palsy and the lessons it has taught me, which have ultimately led me to fall in love with it.
Here are some of the reasons why I love having cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy makes me beautiful.
From my windswept legs that curve, to the way my swan neck deformity makes my finger in the shape of a swan, to my scars that makes me beautiful in every way.
Cerebral palsy has given me a different perspective of the world.
I have always loved to travel and see the unbelievable sights that places have to offer, but when it comes to having cerebral palsy I have always got to see these sights from a unique perspective.
Cerebral palsy has taught me true strength.
I have faced many challenges and obstacles with cerebral palsy that I never thought I would be able to overcome, but I did with strength and abilities.
Cerebral palsy has allowed me to meet some of the greatest groups of friends.
If it weren’t for my cerebral palsy and the way my life has headed, I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends who have helped me cope with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy has taught me that love does come in many different forms.
When it comes to being on the journey to finding love, cerebral palsy has shown me that love comes in many different forms and it’s a beautiful thing.
Cerebral palsy has given me a story to tell.
Going out in society with cerebral palsy has always given me a story to tell. When people ask me how did I end up in a wheelchair, I could educate them on what it is like to have cerebral palsy and also teach others what they could do to make society better, bring more awareness to acceptance and inclusion.
Cerebral palsy has given me motivation.
Having cerebral palsy has always given me the motivation I need to be a better advocate, author, radio show personality but mostly a better person.
Truly, having cerebral palsy has been quite the journey full of many ups and downs but, I’m extremely thankful for it and the many lessons it has taught me about life and embracing it. And that’s why I will always be in love with my cerebral palsy — today, tomorrow and every day.
Photo submitted by contributor.
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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