Welcome to my new blog! Before I go into specific details about living with my disability, I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Liz Hacker; I’m a junior. Since 2011, Thiensville has been home to me. When I’m not in school, you can either find me in my room listening to music and connecting with people through social media, namely YouTube or hanging out with family or friends. A camp in McNaughton, Wisconsin is my favorite vacation spot where I can get refreshed in nature.

While I do normal activities, the reality hits me, “ I still have a disability!” Cerebral Palsy…what’s that?! Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that damaged my brain at  birth. Despite of my disability, I am smart. Due to my disability, I have spastic movements that are involuntary.

Most people don’t see the equipment I use day to day to help me thrive. I have only felt the sensation of wearing shoes without something supporting my ankles because I wear orthotics. Orthotics are a custom-made brace that I wear so my feet have as much support as possible because they can bend in contorted ways.

Snap, pop , blub blub blub, these are the noises I’m accustomed to when I eat because I’m tube fed.  Being tube fed sometimes, is really frustrating when you are at a event that revolves around eating a meal.  I have what I call “my second belly button,” where I have a peg in my stomach for getting my nutrition. Someone connects a plastic tube to the peg then puts a large syringe in the plastic tube.

I spend most of my day with my best friend Rio…oh wait, Rio is my power chair! I got her on the day of the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Games.

I’ll be back next week for what a day is like at school for me!