Smiling with Cheryl

          This semester I have really enjoyed my "Interactions with Parents of Children with Special Needs" class. Throughout the semester we have completed fun activities and had many guest speakers. Not only have I learned a lot in class, but I have been greatly inspired by many of the individuals who have visited.
          Our most recent visitor was perhaps the most inspirational. Cheryl Poff is both deaf and blind and she has minimal abilities to move her fingers. Many people may become helpless in similar situations, but Cheryl maintained the best outlook possible!
          To begin with, Cheryl explained her eyesight to us. She had us put our pointer finger up in front of the center of our left eye and make a circle with our fingers to put in front of our right eye. This is how Cheryl sees the world. She pulled her fingers away from her face and explained that this is how she sees everyone - as a perfect 10! Try it and see for yourself!
          Cheryl also told us about many other accommodations she has made simply to get by day-to-day. She labels many of her things with foam letters, folds each denomination of money in a different way so she can find them easily, and even takes the bus, among other things. The simple things we take for granted are things that Cheryl has to think about and use exceptional problem solving skills to take care of every day.
          Cheryl made one comment, however, that really hit home with me. So often it can be difficult to keep a smile on your face when you are nervous or stressed. Yet Cheryl, who had a disease which generally causes people to lose their ability to smile, claimed that she loved to smile because she had worked so hard to make the muscles in her face work to do so.
          If nothing else this year, I will remember that I am working for and with people like Cheryl in my platform work, and for people who have not quite reached the same level of comfort with themselves. Throughout the year, I will be encouraged to smile - because some people can't, and some people have worked exceptionally hard so they can.
        So I challenge many of you - Smile with Cheryl every day; I know I will!