C.P. Wisdom

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This is one of many emails I receive from students and educators to share my view  about living as a person with a disability.

What do you talk about in your motivational speeches?

I mostly tell stories from my life, a lot of is related to living as a person with a disability but really they can relate to everyone. We all have challenges in life, but I want to show people there is always a way to get over them. If one way is not work try another, it is okay to ask for help. I also talk about find your passion in life, because they become asks of kindness that can change our world for the better. Even the smallest can change a life for the good.

How do you communicate in different ways?

The biggest one is my art, I do a lot of social media to keep up with disability topics and to put my thoughts out for people to think about. I really am not one to talk about my daily life on it, but put out a lot of my art and things that I feel passionate about. I feel like social media has open a new world of communication for the disabled community.

How has cerebral palsy affected your life? How do you express yourself?

Having CP is just about doing things differently, I can do what ever I want just with twist. It is a life style that chose me, it might take longer to do things but I get them done. If might take me twice as long to have a conversation in the end my thoughts may be valuable then others.

What is your belief about cerebral palsy?

I still feel that I do have CP, but it does not control me. It does present more challenges in life, but CP is just part of my personality and help lead me down the path I am taking in life. I have never asked why I have CP, or if there was a way to fixed it. Once I was visiting a school and a student asked me the magic pill question to take away my CP. I replied, I would not take it because having CP is only way of life I know. To take away my CP would be like dropping off to live on another planet

Cerebral Palsy Facts and Fun Stuff

Sept, 17,

VIA  World CP Day‏ @WorldCPDay
$US 20,000 prize pool. Nominations for the World Cerebral Palsy Day Awards 2018 are now open.  https://worldcpday.org/awards/  #worldcpday

Aug. 28,

Disability rights activist says people think she doesn’t have sex because she has cerebral palsy — and talks pregnancy and feeling confident in her own skin
https://firenewsfeed.com/news/1923949

April 20,

Why does it seem more accepted to use Botox to treat symptoms of Cerebral Palsy compare to Medical Marijuana?

A few years ago, it seemed to be a "trend" to treat spastic CP with Botox injections. To me, this was an insane concept, to go inject poison into ones body for a temporary fix.  There are some people that would make the same argument of using Medical Marijuana for the same purpose.

To me, they are the some, Botox just seems safer since it is legal and a doctor administrates it. These two drugs are not cures and it troubles me that most of these studies have been conducted on children and not adults. I would rather suck a weed pop, every now and then just relax, nothing is a "cure".



April 10,

Giving a Voice to Cerebral Palsy and Chronic Pain

What My Scars From Cerebral Palsy Surgeries Mean to Me

March 22,

Brain Stimulation May Benefit Kids With Cerebral Palsy, Study Finds

Stem Cell Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

Restoring Neurological Function Using Stem Cells

Not that I endorse, or would jump on the band wagon for this type of thing. I think it is more of a responsibility to keep myself informed of these things, especially as technology and medicine make advances. Also, the next generation of CPers may a different out look of dealing with there disability.

I do find it interesting that this group are using Stem Cells to "heal" the brain. If this is possible, this seems like a very long and expensive process. Just because the brain can be "reborn" does not mean it will automatically know how it should function?

I known I say, you are a student for life, but at what do you get off the tread mill to be comfortable in life?

Sophomore Year for ABC's Speechless

I am very happy to see J.J. and family back for season number 2, something that most shows have not done when a character with a disability is the focus.  This might be a show that you are more drawn to, because one can relate to the different characters.  I relate to J.J. because I have been through that experience, other people can relate to the parents and others might be in the shoes of Kenneth.

I have talk to friends that think the show should be more edgier I know Speechless is rolling a fine line. It is under the eye of many groups, the two big one is those with disabilities and those without.  something that may be gimp humor to us, could turn off a lot of people.

I would like to see this show keep its humor, because if I did not see the humor in life things would get very depressing for sure.  In Sophomore year of high school student start thinking about college and if they want to go out of their home state. I think issues as this should brought into the show. This would be more complex for J..J. due to his disability. A few weeks ago, I had the thought of what if, the Medicaid fight popped up in the show, it could affect the support they got in school and at home?  Although it would strike a chord with the disabled community, others could see it as not the right platform for the issue.

The Key to the show is to keep it topical, but funny in order to keep its appeal to the masses and that is a monumental task in these times.

The King Gimp Documentary Series (Repackage)

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The short documentary King Gimp follows the life of Dan Keplinger from age 13 until his graduation from college. This award-winning film documents the struggle of an individual with cerebral palsy entering the mainstream as well as the birth of an artist.

King Gimp began when University of Maryland film producers Susan Hadary and William Whiteford began filming for Beginning with Bong, an educational documentary video on the lives of six children of different ages and disabilities attending mainstream schools. Among them was Bong Delrosario, who later starred in the HBO Special Bong & Donnell, and a young spirited "Danny" Keplinger.

The film King Gimp documents Dan's joys and frustrations including the freedom granted by his first power wheelchair, his rebellion against using a computer-generated voice, his everyday strides for independence, and his most life altering discovery--art.

"Exhilarating but far from embarrassing…"-- New York Times

In 2000, King Gimp won the prestigious Oscar Award® for best short documentary from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. At the Oscar Awards event, Dan Keplinger was so excited he leapt from his wheelchair. "Most people thought I was having a seizure, but I was only jumping for joy," Dan later explained to reporters.

"Don’t wake up Dan Keplinger, because he’s not dreaming..."
-- USA Today

King Gimp has been broadcast on HBO and has received many other high profile awards and recognitions including a Peabody Award, National EMMY Nomination and The New York Festivals Media Disability Awareness Award.

This film is often used by schools, universities and disability organizations as an educational tool to teach disability awareness and inclusion. King Gimp is exclusively distributed by Video Press, as well as two follow-up programs: The King's Miracle and The King of Arts. (A school version of King Gimp is also available with adult-rated language removed.)
Source:

King Gimp: For Students

Special director's cut of King Gimp with adult-rated language removed and additional therapy footage. Closed captioned for the hearing impaired. Coming Soon 
Visit: Medschool Maryland Productions
Call to Order: 410-706-5497

King Gimp: Long Live the King

The King's Miracle: From the moment King Gimp wins an Oscar®, the miracle starts Dan on a new journey.

The King of Arts: Explore the richness of a virtual gallery of Dan’s paintings and hear his commentary on being a professional artist.
 People across the country have been inspired by Dan’s Success. Through his speaking engagements, audiences learn how the world as we know it has inherent obstacles that can be overachieved with perseverance, patience, determination and a winning, fighting spirit.

Screen the movie King Gimp and participate in an interactive question and answer ceremony about the movie, Dan’s personal life, and Dan’s career as a successful fine artist.