My School Psychologist was wrong, too, Deborah!

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When have you surprised others by rising above the low expectations they had for you?

Name: Betty Alfred
Email: bettyalfred@aol.com
Date: 07 Apr 2000
Time: 07:24:11
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Story

Deborah's childhood history parallels mine in significant ways. We chose different paths in adulthood, but as I read her life story I felt a kinship -- a common bond.

Originally, I came here because of my physical disability, acquired in adulthood. But I have a life-long flirtation with a learning disability as well. Following a battery of tests, a school psychologist informed my Mother that he thought I was mildly retarded, or had Minimal Brain Dysfunction (the accepted term for attention deficit disorder at that time). He said that I would not be able to attend college, or perform in a management position. I'm sure he said other, equally useless things that day, but I can only recall these specific comments. I will never forget them. I was in the same room when he spoke with my Mother.

I dropped out of high school the following year. That is where my path diverged from Deborah's; she continued with her formal education (perhaps it was her high school counselor who was not college material). Shortly after my "diagnosis," a friend and I took the GED test. I only did this to offer moral support to him. He was scared of failing and decided not to follow through. "Come on, Jimmy," I said. "I'll take that test with you. We'll do it together, and you won't be alone."

What a good decision! I passed the test, and over a year ahead of the time I would have graduated from high school had I stayed. I didn't study, I didn't plan to take that test. I did pass it, however. I beat the system and the guy with a degree -- the school psychologist.

I enjoyed a successful career as a fire fighter/EMT, fire inspector, then occupational safety specialist. Silently, I dared that school psychologist to keep up with me on the fireground or at a medical emergency. Gone are the days when firefighters only put water on a fire. There is a little more to the game now. Without boring anyone with a surprise fire science class, suffice it to say that there is just a little more to the game.

I don't have the educational background in fire science that I had planned to have. On the other hand, I'm not ashamed of my two years in college. I'm not ashamed of my 3.5 grade point average and my oft-times full course load, maintained while working a 72 hour week.

Emergency medicine is more now than "scoop and haul." Victims are patients, and are stabilized prior to transport. I dare the mighty school psychologist to perform at the scene of a multiple car accident with multiple victims, multiple screamers, and multiple passers-by "wanna be's" getting in his way while insisting on helping.

Occupational Safety and Health specialists do more than yell at you for not wearing your hard hat (although we will kindly bring it to your attention). Again, I won't bore you with the details, but if you ever have time to do a little light reading, check out 29 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 1910. That was my safety bible. That's what I had to know. I defy anyone to tell me that I am mildly retarded.

Most of all, I would not be ashamed to be mildly retarded. I defy the school psychologist to be able to say that about himself. I claim that this was a simple misdiagnosis -- I am not making a proud statement. People who are developmentally disabled are not less. Furthermore, they are my "kin." They are part of the disability tribe -- my tribe -- my people.

Now that I am physically disabled, my life is dramatically changed. I must work around significant fatigue, pain, and wheelchair inaccessibility. I have a new career -- working and contributing as much as possible to help and see the Constitution and Bill of Rights apply where it has never applied until recent history: To the most vulnerable of our society.

I do not waste time. I enjoy life and have fun. I also recognize my responsibilities. That school psychologist has taken nothing from me.

When I read Deborah's story of success, I said "YES!" I was charged! For me, this parallel is a shining example of the tell-us-your-story.com motto: Finding What We Have in Common One Story at A Time.

forced femdom, sex with mother and son.

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Date: 28 Apr 2008
Time: 09:58:50
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