CCSS

R.1, R.3, R.4, R.6, R.7, W.2, SL.1, L.4, L.6

Welcome to My World

Faith, 18, wanted other teens to understand what it’s like to have a disability. So she made a movie about her life.  

Jamal Lawson Photography

In Front of the Camera
Faith loves modeling adaptive clothing.

    In a lot of ways, I’m just like you. I like doing my makeup, riding my bike, and making TikToks with friends. I love school, and my favorite subject is science. Someday, I want to get married and have a family. 

    But when people look at me, they don’t see the things that truly make me who I am. They see my disability. I was born with cerebral palsy, or CP. That’s a medical condition that can cause problems with moving and speaking. 

    For me, CP means that I use a walker or a wheelchair to get around. I have trouble using my hands and controlling my muscles. I also have issues with my vision. 

    That might sound hard to you. But I’ve never known any other way of living. I can do pretty much everything you can. I just need a little help. 

    In a lot of ways, I’m just like you. I like doing my makeup, riding my bike, and making TikToks with friends. I love school. My favorite subject is science. Someday, I want to get married and have a family.

    But when people look at me, they don’t see the things that truly make me who I am. They see my disability. I was born with cerebral palsy, or CP. That’s a medical condition that can cause problems with moving and speaking.

    For me, CP means that I use a walker or a wheelchair to get around. I have trouble using my hands and controlling my muscles. I also have issues with my vision.

    That might sound hard to you. But I’m used to it. I can do pretty much everything you can. I just need a little help.

    In many ways, I’m just like you. I enjoy doing my makeup, riding my bike, and making TikToks with friends. I love school, and my favorite subject is science. Someday, I want to get married and have a family. 

    But when people look at me, they don’t see the things that truly make me who I am. They see my disability. I was born with cerebral palsy (CP), a medical condition that can cause problems with moving and speaking.

    For me, CP means that I use a walker or a wheelchair to get around. I have trouble using my hands and controlling my muscles, and I have issues with my vision.

    That might sound difficult to you, but I’ve never known any other way of living. I can do pretty much everything you can—I just need a little help.

Courtesy of BYkids

Watch Faith’s World! 
This 27-minute documentary will give you an inside look at Faith’s family, friends, and more.

Feeling Different

    I first noticed that I was different when I was around 8 years old. At a birthday party, I had to watch my friends play outside. They were running up and down stairs. I couldn’t join them with my walker. 

    I was so angry and sad to be left out. At that moment, my life felt unfair. I wondered, Why do I have to have CP?

    But I don’t think that way anymore. I’ve accepted that my life is different.

    In fact, my disability has given me exciting opportunities that other people haven’t had. I try to focus on that instead.

    I first noticed that I was different when I was around 8 years old. I was at a party. My friends were running up and down stairs. I couldn’t join them with my walker.

    I was angry and sad. It felt unfair. I wondered, Why do I have to have CP?

    But I don’t think that way now. It's OK that my life is different. I've accepted it.

    In fact, my disability has given me opportunities that other people haven’t had. I try to focus on that.

    I first noticed that I was different when I was around 8 years old. At a birthday party, I had to watch my friends play outside. They were running up and down stairs, and I couldn’t join them with my walker.

    Being left out was disappointing and frustrating. At that moment, my life felt unfair. I wondered, Why do I have to have CP?

    But I don’t think that way anymore. I’ve accepted that my life is different.

    In fact, my disability has given me exciting opportunities that other people haven’t had. I try to focus on that instead.

On the Runway

    When I was 14, I was invited to model clothes for Runway of Dreams. It’s an organization that brings attention to the need for adaptive apparel. That’s clothing that helps disabled people be more independent. 

    How does adaptive apparel help? Adaptive shirts might have Velcro for people who have a hard time with buttons. Adaptive pants might have extra room for people who wear braces on their legs. 

    A few years ago, I even got to go to New York Fashion Week and walk the runway in adaptive apparel. It felt amazing! It was my chance to show the world that people with disabilities deserve clothing they can put on themselves.

    When I was 14, I was invited to model clothes for Runway of Dreams. It’s a group that brings attention to the need for adaptive apparel. That’s clothing that helps disabled people be more independent.

    How does adaptive apparel help? The shirts might have Velcro for people who have a hard time with buttons. The pants might have extra room for people who wear braces on their legs.

    A few years ago, I got to go to New York Fashion Week and walk the runway in adaptive apparel. It felt great! I helped show the world that people with disabilities deserve clothes they can put on themselves.

    When I was 14, I was invited to model clothing for Runway of Dreams, an organization that brings attention to the need for adaptive apparel. Adaptive apparel is clothing that allows disabled people to be more independent.

    How does adaptive apparel help? Adaptive shirts might have Velcro for people who have difficulty with buttons, and adaptive pants might have extra room for people who wear braces on their legs.

    A few years ago, I even got to go to New York Fashion Week and walk the runway in adaptive apparel. It was incredibly satisfying to help spread the message that people with disabilities deserve clothing they can put on themselves.

Courtesy of family (1); Courtesy of BYkids (2, 3)

1. Young Faith loved cheerleading.
2. Faith walks at New York Fashion Week.
3. Faith talks with her parents in the movie.

My Story, My Way

    A few years ago, my work with Runway of Dreams led me to another exciting opportunity. One day, a documentary filmmaker called my parents. They said they wanted to make a documentary about a kid with a disability—and that kid was me! Not only did I get to star in it, but I also got to direct it. 

    What does it mean to direct a movie? Basically, I got to decide what we would film. My favorite part was yelling “Action!” at the start of each scene. 

    For a few days, I had the documentary crew follow me in my regular life. We filmed at home, at school, and at the office where I do physical therapy. We interviewed my family members. And we taped me talking to a few of my friends who also have CP.

    That scene with my friends is my favorite in the whole movie. It was important to me to show how each person with CP has their own challenges and successes. There are millions of people with disabilities in the world, and we’re not all the same. Each of us has our own story to tell.

    A few years ago, I got another great opportunity. A documentary filmmaker called my parents. They said they wanted to make a documentary about a kid with a disability. That kid was me! I got to star in the movie. I got to direct it too.

    What does it mean to direct a movie? Basically, I decided what we would film. My favorite part was yelling “Action!” at the start of each scene.

    For a few days, the film crew followed me in my regular life. We filmed at home, at school, and at the office where I do physical therapy. We interviewed my family. And we taped me talking to a few of my friends who also have CP.

    That scene with my friends is my favorite. I wanted to show how each person with CP has their own challenges and successes. There are millions of people with disabilities in the world, and we’re not all the same. Each of us has our own story.

    A few years ago, my work with Runway of Dreams led me to another exciting opportunity. One day, a documentary filmmaker called my parents. They said they wanted to make a documentary about a kid with a disability—and that kid was me! Not only did I get to star in it, but I also got to direct it.

    What does it mean to direct a movie? Basically, I got to decide what we would film. My favorite part was yelling “Action!” at the beginning of each scene.

    For a few days, I had the documentary crew follow me in my everyday life. We filmed at home, at school, and at the office where I do physical therapy. We interviewed my family members, and we taped me talking to a few of my friends who also have CP.

    That scene with my friends is my favorite in the whole movie. It was important to me to show how each person with CP has their own challenges and successes. There are millions of people with disabilities in the world, and we aren't all the same. Each of us has our own story
to tell.

My Message

Courtesy of BYkids

Behind the Camera  
Faith’s mentor, Joyce (right), taught her how to direct a documentary. 

    My documentary, Faith’s World, has been shown on TV. It has been shared in classrooms. And it was even shown at the Richmond International Film Festival. I was so proud to win the Rising Star Award!

    But the biggest reward was getting to tell my own story. It was so empowering. As a person with a disability, people often speak for me. They don’t expect me to be able to communicate. I loved having total control over how people see my world. 

    My film, Faith’s World, has been shown on TV. It has been shared in classrooms. It was even shown at the Richmond International Film Festival. I was so proud to win the Rising Star Award!

    But the biggest reward was getting to tell my own story. It was so empowering. People often speak for me. Because of my disability, they don’t expect me to be able to communicate. I loved having control over how people see my world. 

    My documentary, Faith’s World, has been shown on television and shared in classrooms—and it was even shown at the Richmond International Film Festival. I was so proud to win the Rising Star Award!

    But the greatest reward was getting to tell my own story. It was so empowering. People often speak for me, because they don’t expect a person with a disability to be able to communicate. I loved having total control over how people see my world. 

ACTIVITY: 
Cause and Effect

You’ve just read “Welcome to My World.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

You’ve just read “Welcome to My World.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

You’ve just read “Welcome to My World.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

Tip: A cause is what makes something happen. An effect is what happens as a result.

Tip: A cause is what makes something happen. An effect is what happens as a result.

Tip: A cause is what makes something happen. An effect is what happens as a result.

What to do: Fill in the missing causes and effects below by writing your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

What to do: Fill in the missing causes and effects below by writing your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

What to do: Fill in the missing causes and effects below by writing your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Cause: Why did something happen?

Effect: What happened?

Cause: Why did something happen?

Effect: What happened?

Cause: Why did something happen?

Effect: What happened?

Cause: Faith was born with cerebral palsy.

Effect:

Hint: What special devices does Faith use to get around?

Cause: Faith was born with cerebral palsy.

Effect:

Hint: What special devices does Faith use to get around?

Cause: Faith was born with cerebral palsy.

Effect:

Hint: What special devices does Faith use to get around?

Cause:

Hint: When did Faith first realize she was different from other people?

Effect: Faith felt angry and sad about being left out.

Cause:

Hint: When did Faith first realize she was different from other people?

Effect: Faith felt angry and sad about being left out.

Cause:

Hint: When did Faith first realize she was different from other people?

Effect: Faith felt angry and sad about being left out.

Cause:  At age 14, Faith was invited to model clothing for Runway of Dreams.

Effect

Hint: What message did Faith help to spread?

Cause:  At age 14, Faith was invited to model clothing for Runway of Dreams.

Effect

Hint: What message did Faith help to spread?

Cause:  At age 14, Faith was invited to model clothing for Runway of Dreams.

Effect

Hint: What message did Faith help to spread?

Cause: 

Hint: What exciting project did Faith work on a few years ago?

Effect: Faith found a way to show her world to others . . . and she won an award!

Cause: 

Hint: What exciting project did Faith work on a few years ago?

Effect: Faith found a way to show her world to others . . . and she won an award!

Cause: 

Hint: What exciting project did Faith work on a few years ago?

Effect: Faith found a way to show her world to others . . . and she won an award!

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