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Caitlin Bartley and her mother, Beth Melton, stress the positives of living Friday at South Callaway High School. Photo by Mandi Steele.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Mokane — “Stilettos are not a disability,” Caitlin Bartley told high-schoolers Friday.
In Bartley’s own way — using informative material mixed in with a touch of humor — the 21-year-old college student gave South Callaway High School students a presentation on disabilities. A former bulldog herself, Bartley was asked to come back to the high school to share her experiences with students for Disability Awareness Month.
Caitlin Bartley speaks to South Callaway High School students Friday about understanding disabilities. Bartley has muscular dystrophy and shared some of her experiences with the high-schoolers for Disability Awareness Month.
Whizzing around in her hot pink electric wheelchair, Bartley informed the high-schoolers she has congenital muscular dystrophy. She told them her disability should not be used as an excuse to feel awkward around her. Instead, she encouraged students to be accepting and respectful to those with disabilities.
Throwing in some humor during her presentation, Bartley shared a story about how girls with heels tend to steal elevator space at her college. She is a sophomore at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, majoring in social work and psychology.
Comments
SSDAdvocate 1 year, 4 months ago
Caitlin Bartley has a message. And sending that message to students at her former high school is a great way to instill the value that people with disabilities are capable of great things at a young age. By spreading her message to these young people, they will forever think twice before they think that a person that may look or act different will not be able to perform as well as a 'normal' person. I'm sure she told the students about the disability benefits available to those people who meet the SSA's definition of 'disabled'. If you or a loved one is disabled, I would recommend utilizing the services of a specialized SSD/SSI advocate from Social Security Disability Help to help you with your case.
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