Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!wtm
From: ncas@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (Clifford A. Stevens, Jr)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: You
Summary: I sympathize!
Message-ID: <10703@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 17 Mar 90 04:37:35 GMT
References: <10617@bunker.UUCP>
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Reply-To: ncas@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (Clifford A. Stevens, Jr)
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Index Number: 7205

I missed the parent article, where evidently a man complained about
the cognitive effects of his injury, but I caught the followup where
it was said that the man should appreciate what he still does have, 
stop complaining, and straighten-up and fly right!  

Well, you know not of what you speak!  I've had a head injury, am both
physically and cognitively affected, and let me assure you, even when
I was in my wheelchair, I considered the cognitive affects to be by far
more significant!  I mean, I was a *SUPERSTAR* at Bell Labs, after 25
years of being "smarter than your average bear" (all thru school), but
not after the injury!  They couldn't even find any kind of technical 
position for me so I'm being forced to disbility retirement!

It's kinda like saying, "So what if he's in a chair, he can still think and
plan!  He should stop b*tchin', it could be worse! And maybe that's why 
noone likes him!".  Now we wouldn't let anyone say that for physical
problems, but it's OK, to say it for cognitive problems!  And haven't you
ever heard of people being uncomortable around handicapped survivors?

I'm amazed I have to say this, is this your first time reading this group?
I hope it is, or my attempts at education have completely failed!

It's not supposed to work like this, typing a long emotional letter is
supposed to purge you of anger, but I must really be good at rousing
emotions because I'm now *REALLY* mad.  This is a common abuse, "Oh, he's
walking, so he's OK!"  But this is why the National Head Injury Foundation
calls Closed Head Injuries the "Unseen Epidemic".  Because you don't even 
have to be unconcious for a head injury to have cognitive affects!  I
figure I'm *LUCKY*, there's no way someone could hear me speak and not
know I've been cognitively affected (I sound like I'm retarded.).
------------
Give me a break, I'm brain damaged!
	Cliff Stevens	MT1E228  att!cbnewsj!ncas  (201)957-3902
(I don't log in very often, so followup articles expire, so email is best!)