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ROBIN'S SPEECH
Hello!
For all of y'all that do not know me, my name is Robin Cheatwood and Lynn Robinette
is my mother. My mother had a dream. Just like Martin Luther King JR my mom's
dream was to see a world where all people have an equal opportunity to live in
a world with equality. Think about it. Most people on Earth can walk and move
about on their own willpower. If two people get into an argument it is easy for
one person if they get mad at the other to just walk away and head up a hill. But
what if they had to rollaway up that hill? Most people don't even realize how easy
they have it. Well, my mom had a dream, to make day to day life easier on
individuals with physical challenges; to remove barriers to living on their own.
She wants people with physical challenges to be treated equal to everyone else.
I am now 22 years old. When I was first diagnosed with the disability I carry I was
12 years old. The doctor asked my mom if she wanted to give me up for adoption. (My
mom will probably deny that, but I remember because I was in the room.) Instead of
giving me away, my mom instead never gave up on me. She is and was always there
for me. Although, I am wondering why she is giving me away now. I guess she
realizes that now it is time to launch me on my own. Thank you Mom for believing
in me, for not giving me away until the right time, and for teaching me how to
dream.
My Mon wants the best for me. She wanted me to be around other people because she
knows that I love to be around people. I thrive on being around others: living
with others, growing with others and learning from others. This is not an option,
I did not chose to thrive from others existence; it just my way of life. I like
to make people smile and laugh; I like to comfort people, as they need it,
mainly I like people! Mom knew that I would need a safe environment (those
that know me might tell you the only safe environment for me is a padded room).
I was in the bathroom at home once (the bathroom is not handicapped accessible)
and I was standing up, pulling my pants up and I fell on the floor. I hand
nothing to grab onto and my ft kept slipping. Four hours later I finally made
it; I got back in my chair. Then, when I told mom, she yelled at me for not
having a phone in my wheelchair that I could have grabbed and called someone
to help me. My mom also wanted to make my life easier. She thought, "I bet
there are more people that I could help while I help my daughter." My brother
also has a disability. Being a single mother of two is hard enough, both of the
children having disabilities is even harder. My mom is always concerned about
our safety.
I would like to say thank you to the many many people who have helped this
dream come true. My mother, who had this dream; all the way down to the
people who help keep this dream in the future. Even the smallest things
people can do to help will mean the world to me and others who have it just
a bit tougher. My good friend, Amber, told me that she feels bad because she
has not been able to help at the house because of her work. We have not even
been able to see one another lately. Yet, we went out this past Wednesday, I
hope she knows that meant so much to me. We went shopping for stuff for this
house. I am just like any young people moving into their own space and place.
I want to be away from my mom. Most young people cannot wait to turn 18. I
new I would be living at home with mom after I turned 18. I just did not
know that I would ever be able to live away from mom. This is every young
persons dream. It just took a while for this dream to come true for me.
Another friend, Ammie, has come a few times to help modify this house. I
would like to thank all of you who have come out and made this possible.
From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU so much!
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