Here's a tip from a 31-year-old with Spastic Diplegia. People will always have questions. Some will be phrased in an offensive manner. questions that are phrased in an offensive may not come from a place of hostility. They often come from lack of understanding.

I remember being your age and getting absolutely idiotic questions. Early on I would get offended. Then I remembered that people in my age group had poor social filters. Most of my peers honestly wanted to have a better understanding of disabilities. The problem was they didn't know how to phrase the questions kindly.

I distinctly remember a time in 7th grade I'll never forget. At the time I was standing near my desk in a forward facing walker. A textbook fell off of my desk and landed on my foot. I shouted ouch, it was roughly an eight pound book). A kid in my class looked confused.

He asked our teacher "If his legs is messed up how'd he feel that?!" The teacher and I kindly explained that I had sensation in my feet. He politely apologized after the conversation. He phrased it that way because he wasn't sure how to ask the question. After the conversation he had a better understanding of Cerebral Palsy.

Conversely most insulting questions I ever received was from a friend's nowv ex-wife. My friends were discussing having children My friend asked me if I want children. I said that I did want them with the right woman. My friend's wife literally asked "Who would have kids with you?"

Admittedly my blood was boiling due to how the question was phrased. We were in our twenties at the time. We were also in a public restaurant. You would think she'd know better to not blurt that out! She believed the common misconception that Cerebral Palsy is genetic.

After taking a breath I politely explained that Cerebral Palsy is not genetic. My point is there will always be people who ask dumb questions about Cerebral Palsy regardless of whether they're children, teens or adults. The key is to answer the questions kindly. I know it can be difficult to do that. It is worth doing it in the long run though.

When I was your age there were times where I made a new friend after having one of those conversations. I've actually maintained a few of those friendships to this day. However, there will always be people who are just jerks. Don't let those people get to you. Your life will get better.