Embracing Differences 1

8/2/2019 Embracing Differences 1

1/4

Shirisma Shavers

Embracing Differences

Most people learn the art of stair climbing by the age of two. They require twoseemingly simple movements of the foot, either going up or down. A small amount ofmuscle to step down. A little more to step up. Second nature when people come in front

of them.

Milligan College is a small, hilly campus in Northeast Tennessee that requires atleast 50 moderately steep steps to get to class each way. For 23-year-old Melody Barton,

a senior at Milligan, stairs are mental and physical roadblocks and every step requires

intense processing.

Most people dont know what its like to stand at the top or bottom of a staircaseand say My brain has no idea how to do the movement to go up or down it. she

lamented.

For Melody going down a step requires mental counting. Five steps mean pickingher feet up five times. Then she must start over again with the next set of steps. This

helps her brain to process the image, adjust her depth perception and alternate her feet.

Steps have become easier for Melody over her five years at college, as shes

worked out a system that keeps her stable. Even then, she still avoids staircases withoversize decorative railings like a plague and most of the curbs around her campus.

Melody was first diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) at the age of 11, even thoughshe had the disability since birth. She had a premature birth due to the death of her twin

sister in the womb. She developed CP from brain damage before, during or after her

birth. CP affects the muscles of her body and makes them limp, weak, and tense. With

her CP came other problems visual, language, and hearing processing issues, as well asscoliosis of the spine.

Melody wanted schools that were accessible in every way for her disability, but

more than that she wanted school that she felt God called her to. Melody and her momhad a hard time finding Milligan for a campus visit and two hours into the search were on

the verge of giving up. Finally her mother exclaimed, Well if we cant find this college

we must assume that God doesnt want you here!Five minutes before their appointment they found her college home, and four

months later Melody moved into her dorm. She carried the baggage that would make her

dorm like home, as well as baggage from her complicated past.

Melodys first 10 years on earth werent easy. She suffered not only from her

disability, but also from abuse of every kind from the hands of her father, who was laterdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Her father in his schizophrenic state was paranoid of

doctors and took her out of her treatment. Eventually, Melodys mother took them awayfrom her fathers abuse and ran away to a shelter when Melody was 10 years old.


2/4

Shirisma Shavers

I couldnt dress myself, feed myself, and shower until I was around 11 after I had

gotten out of the house with my dad. She recalled.At the shelter Melody was able to receive adequate medical care for her disability

and therapy for the abuse. Then began her journey through naive public schools,

prejudiced special education teachers, and hopeless doctors.

Melodys complicated first years forced her to do a lot of her social learningthrough the advice of therapist and experience. Experience, that was awkward to say the

least. Her main focus was being like everyone else. She thought she was the only person

who was different, the only one who had to work to be the same.

The more that they think you are like them the better it appears that they do notstare and wonder as much, She quavered. It stops the awkwardness. I wanted sameness

because I felt very different, I felt that people were afraid of me, but at he same time I

was afraid of them

People continually stereotyped Melody, especially the teachers she thought were

there to help her and treat her like everyone else.

People think people disabilities dont have much of a future or things to offer the

world. Things they subconsciously think come out and their subtle prejudices likeYou cant do this!

You should do this because yourebetter at this than that.Things that suggest that because of their [people with disabilities] issues they dont haveabilities that are God-given and arent capable of giving things to the world

Not only were her teachers giving her a hard time, but also her doctors. They gaveher a list ofthings she would Never be able to do which Melody renamed The List of

CantDos. These discouraging answers to her life depressed Melody. They made her

feel inadequate, unneeded, and hopeless, until she says God began creating miracles in

her life. She moved from severe CP to moderate over a few years, which allowed her tobecome more independent and much more confident in her abilities.

I cant is a stupid phrase, Melody declared. Doctors and people in special

education have always had a list of Cant dos. I have surpassed all of those. Apparently

God thinks I can when they say I cant, that keeps me goingCollege is where Melody says she has thrived. She feels that the students and

professors alike have a genuine love for her that is in actions, more than words. Her

professors provided support and understanding that she believed wouldnt be available atanother school. They have adjusted their schedules, prayed for her, and encouraged her

growth emotionally and physically. Melody is also refreshed by the students, who instead

of staring and being fearful of her difference, ask questions that display genuine concern.

Forthe longest time I felt like I lived in a box because people believed all people

with CP are the same, She frowned. I feel here I have learned more about who I am in

Christ. I have discovered through working through a lot of issues here emotionally,

physically, and academically, that I am a human being who has value and self worth.That I have something to offer the world because God has called me for his good work

and purpose.

Stairs arent Melodys only problem; she isnt able to go to most of the main buildings at her campus as well. Most of the buildings at Milligan including the library,

chapel, and all of the dorm rooms were built long before the 1990 Disabilities Act.


3/4

Shirisma Shavers

Melody understands that the structure of the campus cant be changed, but happily

informs me of her wishes.

I would like an elevator in the library, I usually avoid it unless I am forced to useit for an assignment, She confessed. Also many important places like the chapel stage

dont have stairs, graduation should be interesting.

Tony Jones, director of disabilities services at Milligan, hopes to betteraccommodate Melody and other students in the near future and encourages students to

speak up. Jones couldnt talk about the details, but Milligan strives for creative way to

accommodate students, recently lowering the platform for a graduation in a wheel chairin 2011.

Instead of letting her physical inabilities negatively affect her, Melody has made

her inabilities positive. She has learned that there are certain things she cant do

physically, but everyone has something that they cant do. Melody has embraced her

differences and wants everyone else to do the same.

Dont stare, but ask questions, thats better than staring. she explained. She says

staring has kept people ignorant and gives them room to create stereotypes without

knowing the true person. She wants everyone to be looked at as people, no matter if youare different in skin color, disability, political view, or religion.

Every person has a different abilities and not everyone can do the same thing

because to say that someone cant or cannot do something isnt true. God has givenpeople different gifts and talents to change the world. Its your job as a human being to

nurture and guide people to develop their talents and gifts that God has for them. People

cant figure out who they are on their own, but in community and solitary reflection,

Melody will graduate with a bachelor in English in 2013 and is hoping to gain a

Master of Arts in Special Education to help children with physical, mental, or behavior

issues.

Not everyone will be an Olympic gymnasts, she says with a smile.Everyone

has differences, with greater or less abilities than one another. Thats what makes them

unique.


4/4

Shirisma Shavers

Documents

Embracing Differences 1