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Kids come in all shapes and sizes, and disabilities don’t get in the way of having fun. Just ask Rebecca Cheatham, a 13-year-old who wears leg braces and back braces, and has been through three surgeries on her heart. She’s been playing basketball since second grade. "I can mostly do anything," Rebecca said. "Sometimes, I can’t do everything (other kids) do, but I can still try."Rebecca said she averages 10 points a game and can keep up with her three brothers. Just like every kid, kids with disabilities have abilities, too. Programs like Special Olympics, Holiday Camp and Stepping Stones in Monroe help people with disabilities explore their abilities.
Seventeen-year-old Josh Fiedler golfs with Special Olympics. Josh is cognitively impaired. A cognitive impairment means a person may not be able to learn as much or take care of themselves as well as other people their own age. But that doesn’t stop Josh from playing golf. He can drive the ball as far as 250 yards. He’s working on getting to 300. "I can do it better than other people," he said.
Rebecca’s and Josh’s abilities aren’t much of a "If something comes up and I haven’t done it, I might try it," she said.
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Special Kids, Incredible Abilities
- 8/10/2004
