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My name is Whitney Weldon, I'm a sophomore in the college. I'm from New Jersey. Going
to declare tomorrow sociology and I'm going to minor in Women and Gender Studies.
...don't want to answer any of these questions, that's totally fine, we don't have to. Kick 'em at me.
Ok I was diagnosed when I was eight year old, so I was in second grade. I had a fully normal
childhood up until then, and then I was diagnosed on my two-week spring break with a rare genetic
disorder that turns all my muscles over time into bone. And there's only 700 people around
the world that has this disease. It depends on the person also like each person has different
symptoms. I'm fortunate that I can still walk. Using a wheelchair is just a safer way for
me to get around and to get around faster. And within the first ten years of me being
diagnosed, a gene was found that was a huge success and then ten years to the day that
I was diagnosed they publicly came out with the knowledge of having a future medicine
enabling to stop the progression of the bone from growing on top of the muscle. And clinical
trials are supposed to start hopefully in the fall of 2013 and the next step would be
to be able to remove the extra bone and to be able to hopefully move again an average
person but that obviously takes time so hopefully, looking forward to the next five years because
in the past 10 there has been a lot of progress. And with the amount of publicity rare disease
have had in the past year I'm really hopeful that there will be cure some point. Maybe
not in my lifetime but in the future.
I love it here. I've never been in a wheelchair until I went - came to Georgetown. For me,
the hardest transition was first semester freshman year. I think many people look at
disabilities with people who are in manual wheelchairs and who can use their arms and
can touch the buttons near the doors. and I unfortunately am unable to reach out of
my wheelchair to touch the buttons. and although georgetown doesn't really fund the disability
program or program even if there is one at Georgetown, I was fortunate enough that my
dad was able to provide these clickers which all disabled students get for their dorm,
but my dad donated a sum of money so that I could have access to each of the rooms and
buildings independently. and that was the thing that really changed my life around here,
was that I didn't have to rely on anyone anymore.
I think it's unfortunate that Georgetown isn't yet a place that doesn't necessarily accept
disabilities but as a broader term it has to be more opened up to different directions
because a lot of those disabled people who went here and still do use manuals, and they
have different issues than I do, which is understandable. But coming from a person who
can walk and uses this, I definitely recommend using electronic wheelchairs. I mean, it saves
so much energy, and I know for me if I walk a lot I really run out of energy. And I'm
sure other individuals who use manuals run out of a lot of energy using their arms all
day. And it's very dangerous using the ramps and I know that in a couple years with the
new development they are doing on campus, they are making it more accessible for people
with manual wheelchairs for the ramps. But I definitely think there are other aspects
that need to be looked into in order to provide a safer community for all individuals not
just people in wheelchairs with crack in the pavement and those pillars that are always
moved out of the way when they're not like - I know a lot of people don't look when they're
walking because I could have run into a 150+ people who are texting or who just aren't
paying attention. And I find that really annoying. And especially when people use the ramp that
goes up to the Reiss from Red Square. I mean, I understand people are lazy, I'm lazy myself,
but if I'm there, I get really annoyed because it's like, there are stairs. And if I could
use the stair I would use them in a minute. But I can't and I actually said something
to a lady the other day, I don't believe she goes to Georgetown. And I said, "Excuse me.
You're not supposed to be using these." and she didn't give a crap at all and just continued
on with her day. I just think that everyone at Georgetown respects everyone else. And
I think that it's unfortunate that people use the ramp when it's not necessarily needed
in their case. For me, I think if someone has a voice, and they want to be heard, then
that's the first step in the right direction. Like for me, even when I'm out on M street,
you just need to tell them what you need and hopefully they'll be able to listen and do
something about it. And if not, just keep reinforcing it and keep trying to get other
people - other faculty members to help you improve on the situation. Because I found
that going directly to the issue of the other people involved, really helps. And they are
more than willing to help you in any way possible which is great. I just think that if you let
it just push it under the rug, it's not going to get done. And I definitely over the years
have known if I want otget something done I have to say something because if not, no
one is going to notice.
I don't mind asking people for help, which was a big issue that I did have when I was
younger. And I think asking for help is the number one thing because it goes a long way
if you ask for help. You'll get where you want. And I've definitely, over the past year
and a half, you think of the random people you just ask to open the door, or if your
clicker isn't working, they'd be more than willing to help. Or like to carry you up stairs,
they'd be more than willing to like, I really find that the students at Georgetown are very
accepting and I'm lucky enough that I'm outgoing, so I don't mind meeting new friends. I definitely
think if I wasn't as outgoing, I think my Georgetown experience would be much different,
and maybe not as fulfilling. But as of now, I'm like so happy here. And I'm really looking
forward to the next two and a half years. I just find that people will go out of their
way to make me included just because they want to. And I was the person who I feel - don't
want - I don't really - I don't know - I don't like - I always feel bad if they have to change
their plans. But they're more than willing, and over time I've been able to accept the
fact that they're more willing to hang out with me no matter what location if it's upstairs
downstairs outside, which is great. I think people with disabilities put in a lot of work
at the beginning of the day to even get up in the morning and achieve things but I want
to be - I don't want to be looked at as someone with a disability I want to be looked at as
someone who can achieve something and get somewhere in my life because that's what i
want to do with my life, I want to be someone. I just don't want to be in the background.
And I think for me accepting the fact that i do need help in special areas is the first
step of me growing as a person and becoming an independent lady and achieving my like,
future goals.
I accept the fact that I do have a disability because I've had it now for over around thirteen
years and I don't really like to separate myself from that type. I don't want to be
labeled as someone who is disabled because I think there's a misconception and I really
think everyone judges someone about like, on the outside. And I think that for me, I
don't want to be judged that way, and that's not who I am. And I think a lot of it is being
defined by your wheelchair, and that's not what I want to be. I don't want to be defined
by my wheelchair. Because if I could, I'd get out of this wheelchair in a minute. But
I know for my safety and for improving my life without any other accidents and flareups
which fuse my bones, I think I'm helping myself. And I think that if people don't want to be
friends with me, that's their loss because - you're awesome - I mean, I have the best
time and I have the greatest friends and I don't think people would think that people
in wheelchairs like, I have like, there are so many people who I count on here, just who
love me as much as probably they do their other friends. I think that's like the biggest
joy in my life, is that knowing that not defining someone by their wheelchair really opens someone's
perspective. And I think after awhile, they don't look at you as if you're in a wheelchair
as though you're just like them. And I think that puts a lot of confidence in me because
it shows that I am like everyone else, I just may do things either differently or slower,
or faster. But I think that's the biggest thing, is I don't think anyone should be defined
by what they look like on the outside. Because there's a lot about a person when you get
to know them and I've even found that people that aren't in wheelchairs who walk, who look
normal, that sometimes hey they're not normal, but you like them anyway. I just look at it
like if someone doesn't want to be my friend, that's their loss. I have so many great, great
people here, old and young, who want to be around me, as much as they possibly can, and
that's the only way I can look at it because life's too short to worry about the people
who don't like you. As I'm getting to know more people, I don't think they really look
at me anymore as someone in a wheelchair and that's the perspective i want from other people,
because I don't want someone to be friend with me because they feel bad for me. Because
I'll feel bad for them instead because I just don't think - I'm not - I don't want to be
pitied. Like, I can do everything that anyone else does. Maybe in a different way and nothing
stops me, no rain, no snow. Even the cross guard lady on O and Potomac who I do not like
said to me the other day, "Wow girl, you do go everywhere, even when it's snowing." Nothing
does stop me. I can't let my limitations control my life because I'll get nowhere, and hopefully
one day I'll be somewhere where I can advocate for people who aren't as lucky and who don't
- and who are shy to represent who they are just because of their physical disability.
And you know, that's just something that everybody has to look into and look into achieving and
hopefully I can one day help those individuals exceed their expectations because I definitely
think that I have surprised my parents that I have made it so far in my life to be in
college by myself. And not need them anymore. And I like that, you can do things, I can
do things by myself. I don't have to rely on them anymore. I think that's the greatest
feeling. I can actually be who you want to be without letting anyone stop you.