Aaronverse

Hi there! I'm Aaron, and I have a disability called cerebral palsy. I'm a disability activist, an artist, alien (yup) and a kawaii person. 🌙👽この能力はない障害🌙👽 instagram: yung.tsukikurisutaru

[aaronverse]

Hi everyone. It’s Aaron. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for being absent from Aaronverse for so, so long. I’ve been sick in the hospital for six months and due to that, my hand movement was very limited. However, I’m able to type again with some difficulty. Be assured that I’m ready to pick up where I’ve left off from, and I’m ready to start blogging again!!!

[aaronverse]

Hi everyone.

On Tuesday, I read an article in the New York Times by Jim Dwyer about something that I actually talked about at my speech during Tumblr HQ- when people with disabilities are deprived of their needs.

46 year old, Banetta Grant appeared in court for stealing a bunch of gift cards from various stores around New York. She gets around in a wheelchair.

On a trip to court in 2013, Grant was held in a pen for many hours waiting to appear in front of the judge. There weren't any bathrooms big enough to fit her wheelchair in there nor grab bars to help her transfer from her wheelchair to the toilet.

She then requested that the officer escort her to the accessible bathrooms in the courthouse.

However, the officer denied her, and “Ms. Grant urinated on herself.”

I would like to make something very clear right now.

This goes for everyone no matter what.

NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE DENIED OF USING THE BATHROOM EVER. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DISABLED AND DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BY YOURSELF.

This is a violation of human rights, everyone!

It doesn't matter if you've committed crimes or not.

This is unacceptable, everyone.

This should get more attention.

No one should ever have their rights stolen away from like this.

NOT EVER.

Ugh, this stuff sickens me.

(Link: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/nyregion/courthouse-serves-justice-with-indignity.html?_r=0)

[aaronverse]

Hi guys and gals.

I don't know if any of you have been reading The New York Times or The Daily News, but who would've known that my Kickstarter project would've caused such chaos among adults.

If only adults could act kinder to each other- the world would be a better place.

Shout out to my occupational therapist Debra Fisher- I miss you and hope to see you back at school soon.

[aaronverse]

The Bias Felt Worldwide

Hi guys and gals!

I read this article in the New York Times today & I found it really interesting.

According to this article, 70 percent of Google's staff are men.

1. WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?!

2. ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE WHO WORK AT GOOGLE WHO HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES!?

3. ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE AT ALL WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO WORK ANYWHERE (besides at Frost Valley, my summer camp)?!

I know that I'm being facetious because of course there are people with physical disabilities who work, but this is absolutely crazy!

Now that I think about it, I've probably been to a couple hundred stores since I arrived in America, and I haven't seen any people with physical disabilities working anywhere.

My dad said the same thing!

THIS BOTHERS ME.

If I apply for a job somewhere when I'm older, will I have what's necessary for me to get the job done? Would bias stop me from getting this position?

Though, the weird thing is that most of these businesses and companies don't mean to be this way.

What's going on here is called unconscious bias, whereby you don't know when you're being biased towards a certain group of people in a situation.

Unfortunately, this happens just about everywhere, from waiting in lines, to getting on the bus, it even happens at my school!

People have unconscious biases.

At our school assemblies, we have these diversity workshops where kids in my school learn to be better friends to kids who have physical disabilities. Even though we attend these workshops, nothing much comes out of them.

I often leave there feeling just as isolated and lonely, as if I never attended the workshop.

This New York Times article informed me that Google recently held a diversity workshop teaching their nearly 49,000 employees how to be more accepting to new ideas in the workplace.

I wonder if these workshops work better than the ones that we have in my school?

Freada Kapor Klein is an entrepreneur who has studied workplace diversity and is the co-chairwoman of the Kapor Center for Social Impact.

In the article, she said, "I think it’s terrific that they’re doing this. But it’s going to be important that Google not just give a lecture about the science, but that there be active strategies on how to mitigate bias. A one-shot intervention against a lifetime of biased messages is unlikely to be successful.”

I fully agree with this. Accepting new things presented to people takes eons and supportive practice. It'll never be a one shot plan.

The New York Times explained this phenomenon as "hidden, reflexive preferences that shape most people's worldviews, and that can profoundly affect how welcoming and open a workplace is to different people and ideas."

Now, I'm sending a message out to Google's human resources group, PEOPLE OPERATIONS, with "staff scientists who are constantly analyzing the company's internal operations."

A researcher there named Brian Welle came up "with a 90-minute lecture targeted specifically at skeptical, scientifically minded "Google employees."

I have a challenge for Brian Welle and his team at Google: I respectfully ask them if they could please calculate how many employees at Google have physical disabilities.

LET'S FIND OUT!

(http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/technology/exposing-hidden-biases-at-google-to-improve-diversity.html?_r=0)

[aaronverse]

TRANSPORTATION BREAKTHROUGHS (Thank you, Mr. Moakley. You'll be missed deeply.)

Hey everyone!

So, almost all of us take the train to go to work, school, etc.

The subway is a part of our daily lives, a routine, to be exact.

But, now, let me explain why this blog post is called "Train Problems".

***************************************************************************************

The NYC trains are sure to have some malfunctions here and there, but it really affects people in wheelchairs.

My dad and I have had many situations in which the subway elevator breaks down and we have to take more than 3 buses to get home.This actually happened this summer.

You know how hot the subway platforms are in the summer.

If you've seen my wheelchair before, it's ALL black. Black takes in heat, so the fabric and rubber covering my wheelchair was blazing hot this summer. MY wheelchair's joystick is black. It was so uncomfortable driving my wheelchair!

One hot summer day, I put my finger in my mouth and put the spit on the hard plastic part and it sizzled. That's how hot my wheelchair was.

I was reading The New York Times and I found an obituary about Terence Moakley, a disability advocate who did a lot about what I'm writing about today.

Terence Moakley didn't like the fact that people in wheelchairs across the city had such difficulty getting from place to place.

As president of The Spinal Association in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mr. Moakley hired students to map out random street corners in the city that didn't have curb cuts and contacted city officials to make the curb cuts possible.

THAT'S AWESOME!

In the April of 2004, Mr. Moakley and 6 other people in wheelchairs demonstrated to able-bodied people how hard it is for them to get into taxis.

Ten years later, the Taxi & Limousine Commission decided to add 7,000 wheelchair accessible taxis into the NYC fleet. In the article, it said that this was one of the most significant acts of inclusion in the city since Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers.

This is fantastic and a momentous occasion, but why did this happen so late?

In my opinion, this should've happened so much earlier.

I can't imagine that it took ten years for this to happen.

This makes me really sad.

People with disabilities should've had this freedom a very long time ago.

Even though Mr. Moakley may have passed away, his mission and impact hasn't!

From now on, if the subway's not being built properly for people with disabilities, I'll call 311 or maybe even write letters like how Mr. Moakley did.

YOU GUYS SHOULD GET INVOLVED TOO!

Help this movement, guys and gals!

Together, we can make New York City an easier place for people with disabilities and yourselves alike to get around.

[aaronverse]

Aaron Philip, Frost Valley, Year 2, Henry Hird, PAC/Windsong

Day 1, Session 2

It all started as I wheeled myself off of the bus (there were no ramp problems this year, yay!!!)

I felt cleansed as the fresh mountain air worked its way into my polluted lungs from the city's undying smoke and dust particles. It was awesome.

This year, I was supposed to be in Hemlock, and I was really excited to know that this year I was going to be with people my own age (13). Though my hopes (before PAC-Windsong) were shut down as I rolled my wheelchair to the front of the cabin, which had a HUGE step in front of it!!  I then noticed that ALL of these cabins had a step, which meant that I couldn’t get in, which also meant, no Hemlock for Aaron. This kind of thing happens to me a lot, though. 

The staff members that came with me to the Hemlock cabins gave me two options of where to go for my time at camp- back to Wawayanda (where I was last year with the little kids) or Pac/Windsong, the oldest kids in camp.

My first instincts lead me to say, "Pac/Windsong."

I picked them originally because they were closer to my age group (SORT OF).

Great job, me! This (slowly) lead to one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I remember walking up the trail that lead to Quirk Lodge, the place I would be staying at for my time at camp (which was ironically RIGHT NEXT to Hyde/Watson, the lodge I stayed in last year!) I was freaking out as I rolled up the path. My wheelchair was running out of battery power, and I was worrying about living with teenagers, worrying about fitting in, and worrying if I was going to have a good time or not.

To be honest, most of the teenagers that I know outside of Frost Valley are anti-social, mean and they just ignore everyone and everything. Bitter. Very, very bitter (except for teenagers on tumblr, though. They're hilarious.) 

Therefore, I was expecting more of the same. As soon as I walked into the lodge, the first thing I thought of was, "THEY’RE SO TALL!"

I mean, they were playing sports, and there was SO MUCH NOISE! It was quite a sight to see. Someone walked up to me and said, "Hey! My name is ______. If you ever need anything, feel free to let me know."

Still 13, (used to be) terrified of teenagers and in a wheelchair, though.

I realized something.

Making friends is actually a really physical activity. Think about it! Handshakes, hugs, high fives, fist-bumps, you name it! PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

And, guess what?

I struggle to even stretch my arms out!

Oh, boy. :/

The village chief gathered everyone into the main room so we could introduce ourselves. By the time everyone was done introducing themselves, it was time for dinner. 

At dinner, I only got half a slice of pizza because it was at the middle of the table with an estimated 18 campers reaching for it. Then, when I finally got my hands on the pizza, it had no cheese on it, just sauce, and it was half of a slice. HALF!

(That very same night, I had a very vivid dream about a floating pizza box with warm, hot pizza in it, and when I tried to reach for it, all of the pizza INCLUDING THE BOX disintegrated.)

About an hour later, it was opening campfire. A huge storm front had moved into our region. I had to say, this was probably THE BIGGEST THUNDERSTORM I’VE EVER HEARD, SEEN AND EXPERIENCED. It was almost as if something heavy was dancing in the skies.

 All in all, I wasn't having that good of a first day. Bad pizza, struggling to adjust to living with teenagers, oh gosh.

And it got worse. 

It got worse because my wheelchair ran out of battery power. I remember being confined to the wall of the dining hall as my wheelchair was powering up near a power outlet,  and trying to figure out what to do. All I could do was just watch all the other campers have fun. 

UGH.

So, the first day ended pretty badly.

But, I knew something good would be coming soon.

It's Frost Valley, for goodness' sake!

Days 2 and 4 ( 4 actually could be 6 or 7 because of PAC/Windsong's hike), Session 2, PAC/Windsong

Day 2

This counted as the official first day of camp.

Day 1 counted as sort of a welcoming for everyone.

My wheelchair had full battery that day!

Every once in a while, I would go up to people and say "Hi!", but that's all I really did. I was new to this atmosphere, there was no one I knew from last year, so it was really hard to make friends and start conversations.

The entire day went on like this.

Though, I had something to look forward too. Devotion, or "Devo".

Day 5

It’s where your village/cabin comes together and either there’s a question that’s asked or an activity or a discussion that takes place and you answer it. Devotion can get personal (most of the time it does), and through that activity, you get to bond with the people around you and start friendships. Not just friendships. Best friendships.

I knew that Devotion would be coming soon. Therefore, all I had to do was wait a little bit longer.

I remember asking one of my counselors if we were going to have Devotion, or not.

1. He said yes!

2. It was going to be with Windsong, too!

(Windsong is PAC's FANTASTIC, BEAUTIFUL, HANDS DOWN GREAT sister village.)

3. It was "Cross The Line" Devotion (it was an activity in which you cross a line in the middle of a room if one of the counselors says an event or a trait that applies/applied to you.)

I felt this load come off of my mind and heart, It was great! FINALLY, DEVOTION!!! I had something to give me hope and to look forward to.

Over time, lunch and dinner passed (I got good food!!! 😊) It was then evening activity, and then, devotion.

For a moment, I had butterflies in my stomach. I actually still thought I wouldn't make friends, and when I did, it would be just a fleeting moment.

I was thinking, "Maybe, I'm wrong. Maybe, I'll just be alone, you know. I'm scared."

I was so wrong.

After Devotion, literally everyone in the room was crying and hugging each other because we realized that none of us are alone, and that all of us have our life's challenges.  It’s so beautiful to know that someone can relate to your struggle and that you have a shoulder to cry on.

That night, I learned something.

Life is strange and most of the time, you bond with people much more through pain than happiness. And through that pain, happiness comes.

Everything Up Until Vespers, Session 2

The day after CTL Devotion, people started talking to me!

Friendships bloomed between me and other people like sunflowers in the summer.

During this time, I learned and did SO much.

I actually took a gardening specialty (they said that you could eat some of the stuff in the garden. I immediately took that chance. 👍) and planted a heap of stuff. This class made me really happy because my wheelchair didn't get in the way of what I was doing. 

I took a flower crown making class, I took art class, I did a lot of stuff.

Though, there were times where I would just sit in the shade and relax because I couldn’t play the games that the other kids were playing because of my limited ability to physically move. Or it got too hot, and I needed to be in the shade. I normally just hung out with my counselors. I just did whatever I could. However (this happened during both sessions), some of the kids from PAC were kind enough to hang out with me during those times, unlike school, where I often find myself seated in a corner all by myself. The people whom sat down with me while I couldn’t play these games I now consider to be my best friends/closest friends at camp because they wanted to be with me. Which, I truly admire and treasure because that doesn’t happen to me very often. :) Actually, a lot of people in camp this year did that, to be honest. :)

Therefore, during this time period, I was just really happy and psyched to have made friends.

Vespers, Session 2

When you're in PAC/Windsong, you have a formal dinner (you dress up and eat), and after that, you have a special devotion called Vespers as a brother-sister village.

Vespers is where you stand in front of everyone, and you talk about how Frost Valley has affected you in your life.

I remember people saying, "Are you ready to cry at Vespers?", and I would ask why. I found out for myself.

Vespers really made me adore PAC/Windsong, and their strength.

I wasn’t proud of what I said, because it was so vague and not well thought out at all. All of the other kids went incredibly deep into how Frost Valley changed their lives. I can’t share with you guys what people said there, because  what’s said in devotion STAYS in devotion. I can only tell you what I said. Nothing but that. All I said was this-

"Hi everyone! This is my second year of Frost Valley, and this place makes me really happy. Thank you for making this a great year. I love all of you so much."

I felt so bad for not saying what I've been through. So, so bad.

I felt bad for not saying stuff about my disability, and how much pain it’s put me through for these 13 years.

I immediately knew what I wanted to talk about, and planned what I would say during Vespers, Session 3.

The Day Before The Last Day, Session 2

My main objective was to hang out with all of the people I could before the session ended.

Throughout Session 2, I made a ton of friends, despite the rocky start.

Now, I just needed to hang out with them before they left.

To achieve my goal, I spent a little bit of time with everyone. It was kind of like my wheelchair was transformed into a race car, racing from one person to another, yet still spending time with them.

The Last Day, Session 2

My face throughout the whole day: 😭😭😭

I wasn't the only person with that face, though. Just about everyone was crying. 

But at the same time, I was really satisfied.

I made friends!!! I did it. 

I made friends with most of these people.

I talked to these people, cried on their shoulders when I was really upset, shared so many laughs with them over the weirdest stuff (WEIRD STUFF), I did it.

😊

Holdover

Holdover is the period between 2 sessions. It lasts for 2 days, and it's SO MUCH FUN!

All you do is just chill, hang out with your friends and go back to your cabin.

It was really fun. We even had a movie night!

Though, there was something that happened.

The remainder of PAC/Windsong and I wanted to hang out on the porch one night.

However, my battery ran out, and I couldn’t go outside!!  I had to stay plugged into the wall of my cabin. :( One of the Holdover VC’S came into the cabin and told me that since I wasn’t there, she could’ve gone and told them to hold the event the next day.

I said that it would be cruel of me to ruin their fun just because I wasn’t there, and they should chill.

This happens to me quite often, anyways.

Therefore, I allowed them to continue talking to each other.

I just sat there and talked to my cabin counselor, though I just really wished I could've been outside with them.

   Day 1, Session 3

The remainder of Session 2 and I waited in the common room of the lodge for approximately an hour, waiting for the kids to start coming.

I remember parking myself in front of  the music speaker, listening to My Chemical Romance and Lorde.

I was so excited about meeting these other PAC members, because I heard such great things about them, such as how funny and nice they were. I was so psyched!

About 30 minutes later, the kids started coming.

I greeted all of them as they came in, one by one.

20 minutes later, the counselors got all of the kids in the common room.

We all introduced ourselves, and by the time that was over, it was time for dinner.

And after dinner, it was opening campfire.

After OC, we went back to the cabin (these kids are my best friends, but they became my friends later on. I'll explain all of that soon.)

I realized something as I was in my bed- I didn't make many new friends that day.

All there was between PAC and me was, "Hello, nice to meet you."

Just like Session 2.

I just kind of brushed it off as, "It's the first day, whatever."

  Day 2, Session 3

As the day passed by, it was the same result. "Hi."

There was no real conversation besides the other kids from Session 2.

In fact, some of the kids didn't even talk to me when I was saying "Hi!" to them.

That was when I knew something was going on.

Was I too young for them? Too happy? Too nice? I didn't get it.

Could it have possibly been me being the only kid in a wheelchair? 

The possibilities were endless.

Something just wasn't clicking together. I didn't know what to do. I needed to find a way to associate with these campers.

Also, they were going for their hike up The Catskills at lunch! Therefore, I had to wait 2 more days to make friends.

Though, CTL Devotion was going to happen soon! Like I did in Session 2, all I had to do is wait.

Day 5, Session 3

My brother and I were visited by my dad and Dr. Laurie, a professor from Mercy College. Yay!

They hung out with us for 3 hours, and we were discussing camp and life outside of camp, such as my dad's health (you know, because of my dad's heart attack), etc.

My dad made SO much progress while my brother and I were away at camp. He can cook again, he can clean, and he has his energy back!

It was so great and satisfying to see my dad up and running again. 

After my dad left, PAC returned from their hike.

However, Iife was still the same. NO ONE WAS TALKING TO ME NO MATTER HOW SOCIAL I WAS TRYING TO BE.

-_____________-

Soon after that, I learned that we were going to have a poetry slam. After you were done writing, you would read your poem to everyone.

My poem was more of an execution of my feelings.

I felt the need to let PAC know how I’d been feeling. It had been 5 days into Session 3 and all people have said to me was “Hi.” That’s not okay!

I actually felt really nervous presenting this to everyone. I mean, I wanted to show them how I felt but at the same time though, I didn't know how they would react. Would they be shocked? Mad? Would all of them stop talking to me all at once!?

I read my poem/rant.

After I was done, the counselors came up to me and basically said that if I need help with this stuff or if I need someone to talk to, I could come to them. I remember going to the fruit stand in the dining hall, and I got myself an apple. Yep, I got myself an apple! 😊 

Then, people (campers) started coming up to me and just started having conversations with me. Some of them even apologized for not really talking to me, and some of the people that actually did talk to me said that they hoped that they didn't hurt my feelings.

I realized how sweet PAC really is through that, and something else.

My actual favorite thing in the whole world- devotion!!!

After dinner, before CTL, we had a party to celebrate PAC/Windsong's successful hike up the Catskills.

THERE. WAS. ICE. CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could actually swear that I almost ate the styrofoam container!

Because of my sugar rush (yes, I still do have those), I joined everyone and everything I could find. Conversations, listening to rap battles, it was so much fun.

Then, it was finally time for CTL Devotion!!!!

Of course, I left a pool of tears on my tray. It was really, really nice, even though I continued crying.  And then, a bunch of people came to give me hugs. And, they were crying, too!

Devotion is a sad, but lovely thing, OK?

Like how The Fault In Our Stars could be your favorite thing, devotion is mine. 

  Everything Up Until Vespers

Hugs became a regular thing between my friends and me. Personally, I like hugs. I feel like high-fives and fist bumps are saying, "Eww... don't get your germs on me." HUGS DO NOT SPREAD GERMS, OKAY? 

We also had actual conversations, such as talking about 5 Seconds Of Summer (they're a band that I adore), anime and we even talked about tumblr! :)

I connected with PAC/Windsong so much since the poetry slam and CTL devotion.

For example, if I was sitting by myself because it was too hot or I couldn't play the game that they were playing, one of my friends would just come up to me and we would chill.

Every now and then, my wheelchair would get in the way of my social life, but that didn't change anything. I still had friends to be with.

If my wheelchair was charging somewhere, or if I was sitting by myself because of it, or even if I was sad about my disability because I couldn't do the stuff that other people can, either a counselor or a PAC camper would come to me and we would just talk it out.

In other words, PAC/Windsong are angels.

Vespers, Session 3

Remember how I said I would plan my speech for this Vespers during the Session 2 section of this post?

 I followed my heart, and said what I really wanted to say.

To be honest, I don't  feel comfortable telling you guys what I said but here's something: it was about my disability.

I got so much love for doing that. I mean, it was so beautiful to know that these people who aren't even in wheelchairs can relate to this and make me feel better.

I then realized what Vespers is all about: realizing the connections and bonds and trust Frost Valley has made between us all.

The Day Before The Last Day, Session 3

I spent the entire day crying and hugging people.

I was crying when I overheard the song that the counselors were going to play at closing campfire (even though it was from a TV show from Playhouse Disney), and I cried AT closing campfire, where PAC had to sing "Let Her Go" by Passenger.

I literally said that I'm not excepting high-fives or fist bumps because it was the day before camp ends, and that I only take hugs.

I remember having this period of self-reflection as I was in the common room (a lot of stuff happened there, ok!?)

While I was sitting by myself, I realized that these are the kindest, bravest, most accepting teenagers I've met so far in my life.

I realized that maybe I was the one that didn't open up because of the shock that all of my friends from the previous session left.

Then, it hit me that I did open up. 

I did by reading that rant at the poetry slam.

Because, I made friends!!!

It was then, at that exact moment, not even at that moment, but at Devotion, at Vespers, on Nintendo Day (it was a day where you dress up as a Nintendo character), when my wheelchair was charging, when PAC put up with my horrible singing as we would go to Hangout, that I knew that this group of people will always be my friends. 

  The Last Day of Camp

I couldn’t finish my breakfast- I was too sad. Seriously, though. Do you know when you can feel sadness in the pit of your stomach? That’s what happened to me.

I remember walking down the dining hall, and seeing one of my best friends from Hemlock (the kids in my age group). I immediately started crying, and he bear-hugged me.

He was crying, too.

After that happened, I got my flower pot from pottery, which broke immediately after I got it.

I then gave the shards to my friends as I saw them. So they can remember me. Then, I started crying even more.

After all of that, it was time for PAC/Windsong's official goodbye.

I cried so hard, all of my friends were crying, I received a gazillion (5+ minute) hugs, and I started hyperventilating as I had to say goodbye to one of my friends.

I hugged all of the staff members, and then it was time to wait for the Manhattan bus to come.

And that was my time at Frost Valley this year.

PAC/Windsong 2014, thank you so much.

Thank you for the flower crown making classes, the fun I had at the Olympix, the delicious ice cream before CTL devotion, hooplah, the hugs, the love, EVERYTHING.

Even though I'm only 13 and I have 2 more years at camp, it killed me to have to say goodbye to you guys.

Each and everyone of you are such fantastic, caring, lovely, beautiful people and coming to you guys was one of THE best chances I've ever taken.

Even though I'm in a wheelchair, you guys made it possible to block out that everyday isolation I normally feel outside of Frost Valley, and made me feel so happy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!

"And remember, there's only 1 Windsong and Pac!"

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[aaronverse]

hey aaron! it's claire!! I love your blog very kawaii bae <3

claireeeeeeeeeee oh my gahhhhhh

no, you're kawaii!

[aaronverse]

you inspire me everyday

No, you inspire me more. Thank you for your love and optimism. People like you keep me going.

[aaronverse]

YAAAAAAAAAAAS

Hey Aaron, Its me Jackson! I told you I would follow you, on Tumblr, remember the magic of frost Valley isn't the place itself its the memories we take and learn from it. Everyone in Frost Valley has to take those thoughts and memories and live life like every single one of those were yesterday and bring the spirit from it into everyday life. Do not be sad that you are no longer at camp, be happy that you have the ability to utilize what has happened to you at it and make more friends in more places everywhere. You were one of the most inspiring and amazing people I have ever met, spreading the joy and spirit of Frost Valley, and your own amazingness shouldn't be hard for you. Thank you for allowing me to meet you and hang out with you almost every day. Love you Buddy!

[aaronverse]

Guys, tomorrow I'm going to Frost Valley! This time, I'll be there from July 14th to August 8th! A month! I'm going to try my best to blog while I'm there. See you soon!

[aaronverse]

Before and after!

[aaronverse]

The Stuff That Happened In June

Saturday, June 28th, 2014 (the biggest hugs to everyone involved or/and supporting Pride Week and LGBT rights in general)

Hi guys and gals! I've been off of tumblr for an unacceptable amount of time. However, a major thing happened in my life recently.

In early June, one night, my father had a heart attack, and the next day he revealed to me that he had to undergo triple bypass surgery. It was one of the scariest experiences I've ever had, knowing that my father, one of the most important people in my life wasn't there. It was so unreal. However, tsunamis of support rained down on my little brother and me as more people heard about my father's situation. My brother and I stayed at 3 different households. The families that we stayed with gave us such care and hospitality that we felt like we were their own.

I actually had my art exhibit opening at The Children's Museum of The Arts in between the time that my father was having surgery. At the gallery showing, I saw my counselor from Frost Valley (whom I really missed), his sister, my kindergarten teachers, Dr. Laurette Olson of Mercy College, my best friend and a parent that my brother and I were soon going to stay with, because we couldn't stay by ourselves at our apartment in The Bronx.

The art exhibition was so unbelievably fun, yet I still missed my dad. He was really looking forward to seeing my work. I hated knowing that he couldn't be with us all.  

Through it all, I felt loved. Loved by the people I know and the people that I don't. Yet, either way, I just felt very, very loved. I have a wonderful community of people around me now.  Now, Aren and I are currently back home with our dad, who's recovering.

However, it's not the same as before whatsoever. My dad, my primary caretaker is... not my primary caretaker anymore.

Because of his heart surgery, my dad can't do the things that he used to do to help me. He can no longer lift me from my wheelchair to my bed, or get me in and out of the bathtub. Stuff like that. We had a routine, and now that routine is dead and gone.   

Now, I have personal aides/caretakers who take care of me. They're such lovely people, but now, it's scary to know that all my father can do... is direct us. Also, some of the amazing parents at my school raised  money to pay for these aides. What's going to happen when the money... runs out?

This is such a worrisome time for my family, friends and me.

I guess it's time for a brand new, crazy, wild adventure, everyone.

I'll be forever looking forward!

[aaronverse]

Sunday, April 20, 2014 (Happy Easter!)

Hi everyone!

I haven't written for a very, very long time. I'm sorry about that- with school and writing my book and drawing frames for my animation, it's been tremendously hard to find time.

Today, I'm writing to share something very special with you guys.

The Children's Museum of the Arts is featuring my artwork in their next gallery show, and I'm going to be the only adolescent in the show!

I cannot express how thankful and grateful I am for this marvelous opportunity.

I have been going to an inclusive weekend program at The Children's Museum of the Arts for about 2.5 years. Going to that inclusive group makes me feel such sheer happiness and joy.

CMA is a place where kids get the opportunity to make art, see art and build a network of new friends, or sometimes even get closer to them.

I know this because I have experienced this personally. 

Kids with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities in general don't normally have the right supports for creating art, don't get meaningful social opportunities, or get the chance to have a fun activity to do with  their siblings. 

However, CMA has broken the mold with the inclusive classes. These classes feed my friends and me with new learning and social opportunities and bonding moments. There hasn't been a class where I haven't seen a kid come out of the classroom smiling.

CMA gives children with physical disabilities a chance to express their talents, which make the disability fade away.

They truly embody, "This ability, not disability." 

I'm so proud that my art will be up on those walls, feeding and enriching kids and kids with physical disabilities alike with new art and the idea that even though we might look a bit different as we draw, we can achieve.

[aaronverse]

A Meeting with Lori Carlson-Hijuelos

Hi everyone. I'm sorry for being gone from Tumblr for so long. It's been eons! :(

Something very significant and special happened in my life a few days ago. Through some very nice people that I know, I met a very inspiring author and professor. The professor's name is Lori Carlson-Hijuelos. She teaches at Duke University. 

This past Friday, she came to meet with me and my occupational therapist.  It was super cold outside, and yet she came to my school despite the bad weather. Professor Carlson-Hijuelos recently lost her husband, the Pulitzer prize winning author Oscar Hijuelos. I was expecting her to still be in mourning, and she was.

But at the exact same time, she was extremely warm, pleasant and she even brought me sweets! Her knowledge on writing was most helpful.

She was just amazing, because of how expanded her knowledge on writing was, and how nice she was despite the difficult time she was going through.

 During the meeting, Professor Lori Carlson pulled out a copy of a book that her husband had written,"Dark Dude".

As she opened the book while she presented it to me, she pointed out the dedication that her husband had written to her.

This was such a special moment for me, because she was sharing a part of herself with me. This sort of boosted our friendship.

I started reading the book as soon as I got home that day. 

I love the book because of the intense realism it gives. I typically like to read fantasy and sci-fi books, but I was surprised by how much I enjoy it.

I really connected with Professor Lori Carlson. She seemed to understand what my life is like. We both experience the pain of loss, for Professor Carlson only lost her husband 4 months ago.

My loss has been with me for quite a while.

My loss is not being able to walk.

My loss is being in a wheelchair, and having cerebral palsy.

My loss is not being able to see my mom, who still resides in Antigua.

But, somehow, I try. I try smiling. I try being happy. 

And, eventually, trying slowly morphs into doing.

It's the doing that makes change, and helps people through trying times.

I thank you, Professor Carlson-Hijuelos for doing.... for coming to visit me, and for opening yourself up to me.

[aaronverse]

Dear Aaron,

I came across your tumblr after reading the New York Times article about you and let me say, you are an amazing individual! As a college student, one of my classes required me to write a paper on any illness/disease of my choice and wanting to learn more, I chose to write about cerebral palsy. While doing my research, I have invested my time in learning about your story and seeing how intelligent and inspirational you are. You make me realize that there is so much good in this world and I can't thank you enough for being so strong and devoted to doing what you love. I love to laugh, and seeing the video of you speaking to the employees of tumblr made me smile at your humorous and caring personality. I may only know you by the little that I've seen/read but I want you to know you are an gift to our world. Continue on with your dreams, I have every ounce of faith in you!

-Emily

___________________________________________________________________

Thank you Emily! Thank for doing a report on me, watching my speech at tumblr, everything! It's people like you that inspire me to blog. realassbitches

[aaronverse]

Developing TANDA

Hi guys and gals!!!

As you know by now, my Kickstarter project has been successfully funded! YAY!

It’s a fabulicious time for us.

If there’s been one thing that I’ve learned from managing my disability and going to school, it’s planning stuff.

That’s what I’m doing now! I’m making deadlines for myself, creating possible story lines/scenes, developing character traits and creating settings for them, as well.

Along with these, I’m slowly improving my writing and thinking.

I need to share this with you- When I was in 1st to 5th grade, I was very good in reading, but very disorganized in writing. My teachers and occupational therapists said that I used to come up with the most creative stuff, but I didn’t know how to put them in order.

A good example of me not being able to fully organize myself, is when I would write with a pencil, I would write in zig-zags instead of straight lines and also my story line would sometimes go off in many directions that didn't really have anything to do with what I was writing about! It was crazy.

Children without disabilities learn how to organize themselves by actively participating and listening to the stuff around them.

However, children with disabilities tend to have a really hard time doing these tasks, by getting distracted easily and sometimes, it’s just hard.

Simple things like knowing what to do first, second and third when setting up something are easier for typically developing kids to do than kids with physical disabilities, who don't have the ability to move smoothly, get an object, reach for it, grab it and then release it where they want to put it.

For example, some children with disabilities tend to respond to a question or comments slower than normal children do, in some cases.

Because they don't have this experience, their brain's wiring has yet to make those connections, and they don’t really know how to yet.

I was one of those children, guys and gals.

That’s when my teachers and occupational therapists and I decided to take action.

I practiced, and it took me eons, guys and gals.  EONS.

Although, I got better and better. Because of those eons, I’ve improved massively.  

Now, I’m very organized in my writing, and I now know how to meet deadlines! I actually know what to do, and I couldn’t be happier!!!

Guys and gals, I’m so excited about writing and planning TANDA!

It’s only the beginning, everyone!

[aaronverse]