My name is Brantley G.B. I have Cerebral Palsy, which is a neurological disability. I was deprived of oxygen at birth. When my brain sends a message to my body it gets mixed up like when you play the telephone game. Due to Cerebral Palsy I’m visionally impaired. My eyes move around, which makes it difficult for me to focus on small objects or fonts. I have a speech impediment as well. I have to be fed and assisted during transfers. I walked in a walker built out of PBC Pipe created by my dad from around age 3 until age 13, when I grew and lost many physical abilities. After this growth spurt I was left wheelchair bound. I soon got a Jazzy Quantum 1400 Power Wheelchair® in 2000, which provided me with independence. I’m still able to transfer with assistants. I just got a Pride Quatum 600® with tilt in August of 2005. I am now 23 years old. I’m a member of the South Carolina Library for the Blind and Handicap® and the RFB&D Library®. I get books on CD’, four sided tapes, and downloads, which can be played at high speeds in special tape and CD players. With these players I have read novels at 350 words per minute. I used a piece of equipment called Clarity CCTV Deskmate® throughout my high school career. I have to work harder to do every day activities. I graduated from high school in June of 2008 with a diploma, and a major in Business Technology. I’m in a Community College. I’m getting a degree to build and maintain websites. Voc Rehab took a Roller Plus Joystick® and added keyboard buttons to I to create a compact input device. They also got me a great Dynamount® Wheelchair Mount to attach my computer to my chair, which will open many doors for me in my career. Voc Rehab purchased Scientific Notebook®. I can now word process math problems on my computer, as well as graph and compute math work. I bought a DANE-ELEC Zpen®. Someone can write notes on regular paper. Then I can upload them to my computer where I can see them. I can also convert the notes to text. This joystick and electronic pen is amazing. After living in a group home for a year, I moved into an apartment with a disabled friend of mine. We have aids through UCP that come in and assist us. This is much more independent and respectful for the mature personal that I am. Many people assume if someone is physically disabled they’re mentally challenged as well; however, this is a huge mistake. Many disabled people have a lot to offer. We just require some help achieving. | 
