May 28, 2025 • 10 mins
Roger Basick and Marina Santee tell us about Cerebral Palsy and how to be more helpful and considerate to those who live with this condition.
https://spotlightenglish.com/uncategorized/i-am-not-drunk/
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https://spotlightenglish.com/uncategorized/i-am-not-drunk/
Download our app for Android at http://bit.ly/spotlight-android
Download our app for iOS at http://bit.ly/spotlight-apple
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotlightradio
Are you learning English? Are you looking for a way to practice your English? Listen to Spotlight to learn about people and places all around the world. You can learn English words, and even practice English by writing a comment.
Visit our website to follow along with the script: http://spotlightenglish.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Spotlight Advanced. I'm Roger Bassick.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And I'm Marina Sante. Spotslight uses a special English method
of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no
matter where in the world they live.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
He sinks into a wheelchair. His fingers are bent and strange.
No one can understand his speech. It sounds like he
is mumbling. He needs help wiping his face. His hands
and arms do not work properly. He looks frustrated and confused.
(00:48):
He seems helpless. Is he stupid? Is he mentally challenged? No,
he is not. He is intelligent. He makes good decisions.
He just has cerebral palsy.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Today's Spotslight is on cerebral palsy, or CP. We examine
what is involved in this condition. We explore incorrect views
about the mental abilities of people with CP. We discuss
false judgments about those with the disorder. We learn about
(01:25):
several people living amazing lives with CP.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Certain areas of the human brain control muscle movement. A
person may develop cerebral palsy when these areas do not
grow properly. Brain damage also causes cerebral palsy. These problems
usually happen during the child's development in the womb, or
during the process of childbirth. Sometimes it happens during the
(01:54):
first few years of a child's life. The brain damage
causes a child to learn something things more slowly. It
is harder for him to learn to roll over, crawl,
or walk. Cerebral Palsy might cause a child to use
one side of his body more than the other. He
may not be able to control his movements. His arms
(02:16):
could be softer or stiffer than normal.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
There is no cure for cerebral palsy. Certain operations and
medicine can sometimes help, but nothing completely heals it. Forty
to fifty percent of people with CP must use a wheelchair.
Some of these people can walk, but not for long distances.
(02:39):
One out of three people with CP cannot walk at all.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
People with CP have different needs. Some people need help
twenty four hours a day. They may need help even
at night. Their physical restrictions do not allow them to
care for themselves. Others must hire caregivers to help them
for certain hours a day. Some need much less help,
but help often costs a lot. The average lifetime cost
(03:11):
of care for someone with cerebral palsy is between one
and five million US dollars. In some countries, people with
CP qualify for government help, but often they must raise
extra money or they ask their families for help.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Forty percent of people with cerebral palsy have some sort
of mental problem. This problem could be troubled talking. It
may be a short attention span. Sometimes it is anxiety
or anger. It also may be a learning difficulty.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
These difficulties do not mean that a person with CP
is not smart. It just means that she needs help
and patience. It is important for caregivers or family members
who help people with CP not to try to think
for them. People with CP want their needs met. They
want their desires to be heard. They do not want
(04:09):
to be told what to do. They do not need
someone to control their lives. They just need help because
their bodies do not work under their complete control.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
For Richard Heron of Fort Worth, Texas, the worst part
of having cerebral palsy is feeling helpless. Richard was born
with cerebral palsy. Throughout his life, many people mistakenly thought
that he could not think for himself. His parents even
(04:41):
puts him in a mental hospital when he was young.
They thought he was mentally challenged.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
As an adult, Richard has caregivers work for him. His
caregivers operate a lift attached to a ceiling that pulls
them out of bed. The lift picks them up and
places him in a wheelchair. His caregivers help him get dressed,
They help him make phone calls and write emails. They
drive him to meetings. But the one thing they can
(05:10):
never do is speak for Richard. He is the boss.
When he speaks with someone else, the caregiver can only
help make his speech clear. Richard's speech is harder to
understand because of his CP. He even hangs a sign
on his wheelchair that reads, I am not drunk. Listeners
(05:32):
must be patient when he speaks.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Richard was once at a dentist's office to care for
his teeth. It was taking a long time for the
woman making appointments to understand Richard. His caregiver was not patient.
The caregiver finally told the caregiver finally told her to
make the appointments for next Thursday. This is not what
(05:59):
Richard's said or wanted. He was very upset. Together they
left the dentist's office.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Richard yelled at his caregiver in front of everyone. Am
I stupid? Richard screamed, of course you are not.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
His caregiver said, I was just trying to speed things up.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Richard stared at his caregiver for a moment. He wanted
to make sure he was listening. Then Richard said, I
decide when to speed up, I decide when to slow down.
I am the boss.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Richard has fired several caregivers for this type of mistake.
He takes it very seriously. His cerebral palsy limits many
of his physical abilities. He needs help with daily tasks
that others do not. The one area which he controls
is thinking and making decisions. When someone tries to think
(07:02):
and speak for him, he does not tolerate it. He
feels overlooked and insignificant. He feels like everyone assumes he
is not smart.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Richard earned his bachelor's degree in college. Then he earned
his master's degree. He became a Christian minister, He got
married and started a family. He is very smart and capable.
He just needs people to be patient with his slower
speaking skills.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Afea Kabir and Nila was born with cerebral palsy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Schools would not accept her because of her CP. Several
schools rejected her. They thought that other students could get
cerebral palsy from her, as if CP was an infectious disease.
(08:00):
The school finally accepted her. She attended in her wheelchair.
She worked hard, but communication was difficult.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Nilla said, I attended the school regularly, but I cannot
write and stand. Many times at school people cannot understand me.
I have a woman who writes for me, but often
she does not understand I have to spell out the words.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
When she was fourteen, Anila went to an international gathering
in Goa, India. The gathering was about disabilities. Two hundred
people from around the world attended. Aniela was the youngest
person there. Aniela impressed everyone with a ten minute speech.
In her speech, she.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Said, it is painful when I go to the market
and people stare I am not included in schools. I
have seen my mother cry so many times because of this.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Today, Annilla studies law at North South University. She fights
for the rights of disabled people. She gives speeches that
move others. Nila, like Richard and others with cerebral palsy,
has goals and courage. They have dreams. They just need
(09:27):
a little help reaching them. But most of all, they
need to be listened to. They need the world to see.
They need the world to see more than their wheelchairs.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Do you know anyone with cerebral palsy? Is there some
kind of challenge in your life that you are trying
to overcome? You can leave a comment on our website
at www dot Spotlight English dot com. You can also
find us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Blue Sky, and ex.
You can also get our programs delivered directly to your
(10:03):
and writer Apple device through our free official Spotlight English app.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The writer of this program was Peter Anderson. The producer
was mitchio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the
United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted
for this program and voiced by Spotslight. This program is
called I Am Not Drunk.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
We hope you can join us again for the next
Spotlight program. Goodbye,
Welcome to Spotlight Advanced. I'm Roger Bassick.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
And I'm Marina Sante. Spotslight uses a special English method
of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no
matter where in the world they live.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
He sinks into a wheelchair. His fingers are bent and strange.
No one can understand his speech. It sounds like he
is mumbling. He needs help wiping his face. His hands
and arms do not work properly. He looks frustrated and confused.
(00:48):
He seems helpless. Is he stupid? Is he mentally challenged? No,
he is not. He is intelligent. He makes good decisions.
He just has cerebral palsy.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Today's Spotslight is on cerebral palsy, or CP. We examine
what is involved in this condition. We explore incorrect views
about the mental abilities of people with CP. We discuss
false judgments about those with the disorder. We learn about
(01:25):
several people living amazing lives with CP.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Certain areas of the human brain control muscle movement. A
person may develop cerebral palsy when these areas do not
grow properly. Brain damage also causes cerebral palsy. These problems
usually happen during the child's development in the womb, or
during the process of childbirth. Sometimes it happens during the
(01:54):
first few years of a child's life. The brain damage
causes a child to learn something things more slowly. It
is harder for him to learn to roll over, crawl,
or walk. Cerebral Palsy might cause a child to use
one side of his body more than the other. He
may not be able to control his movements. His arms
(02:16):
could be softer or stiffer than normal.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
There is no cure for cerebral palsy. Certain operations and
medicine can sometimes help, but nothing completely heals it. Forty
to fifty percent of people with CP must use a wheelchair.
Some of these people can walk, but not for long distances.
(02:39):
One out of three people with CP cannot walk at all.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
People with CP have different needs. Some people need help
twenty four hours a day. They may need help even
at night. Their physical restrictions do not allow them to
care for themselves. Others must hire caregivers to help them
for certain hours a day. Some need much less help,
but help often costs a lot. The average lifetime cost
(03:11):
of care for someone with cerebral palsy is between one
and five million US dollars. In some countries, people with
CP qualify for government help, but often they must raise
extra money or they ask their families for help.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Forty percent of people with cerebral palsy have some sort
of mental problem. This problem could be troubled talking. It
may be a short attention span. Sometimes it is anxiety
or anger. It also may be a learning difficulty.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
These difficulties do not mean that a person with CP
is not smart. It just means that she needs help
and patience. It is important for caregivers or family members
who help people with CP not to try to think
for them. People with CP want their needs met. They
want their desires to be heard. They do not want
(04:09):
to be told what to do. They do not need
someone to control their lives. They just need help because
their bodies do not work under their complete control.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
For Richard Heron of Fort Worth, Texas, the worst part
of having cerebral palsy is feeling helpless. Richard was born
with cerebral palsy. Throughout his life, many people mistakenly thought
that he could not think for himself. His parents even
(04:41):
puts him in a mental hospital when he was young.
They thought he was mentally challenged.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
As an adult, Richard has caregivers work for him. His
caregivers operate a lift attached to a ceiling that pulls
them out of bed. The lift picks them up and
places him in a wheelchair. His caregivers help him get dressed,
They help him make phone calls and write emails. They
drive him to meetings. But the one thing they can
(05:10):
never do is speak for Richard. He is the boss.
When he speaks with someone else, the caregiver can only
help make his speech clear. Richard's speech is harder to
understand because of his CP. He even hangs a sign
on his wheelchair that reads, I am not drunk. Listeners
(05:32):
must be patient when he speaks.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Richard was once at a dentist's office to care for
his teeth. It was taking a long time for the
woman making appointments to understand Richard. His caregiver was not patient.
The caregiver finally told the caregiver finally told her to
make the appointments for next Thursday. This is not what
(05:59):
Richard's said or wanted. He was very upset. Together they
left the dentist's office.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Richard yelled at his caregiver in front of everyone. Am
I stupid? Richard screamed, of course you are not.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
His caregiver said, I was just trying to speed things up.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Richard stared at his caregiver for a moment. He wanted
to make sure he was listening. Then Richard said, I
decide when to speed up, I decide when to slow down.
I am the boss.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Richard has fired several caregivers for this type of mistake.
He takes it very seriously. His cerebral palsy limits many
of his physical abilities. He needs help with daily tasks
that others do not. The one area which he controls
is thinking and making decisions. When someone tries to think
(07:02):
and speak for him, he does not tolerate it. He
feels overlooked and insignificant. He feels like everyone assumes he
is not smart.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Richard earned his bachelor's degree in college. Then he earned
his master's degree. He became a Christian minister, He got
married and started a family. He is very smart and capable.
He just needs people to be patient with his slower
speaking skills.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Afea Kabir and Nila was born with cerebral palsy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Schools would not accept her because of her CP. Several
schools rejected her. They thought that other students could get
cerebral palsy from her, as if CP was an infectious disease.
(08:00):
The school finally accepted her. She attended in her wheelchair.
She worked hard, but communication was difficult.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Nilla said, I attended the school regularly, but I cannot
write and stand. Many times at school people cannot understand me.
I have a woman who writes for me, but often
she does not understand I have to spell out the words.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
When she was fourteen, Anila went to an international gathering
in Goa, India. The gathering was about disabilities. Two hundred
people from around the world attended. Aniela was the youngest
person there. Aniela impressed everyone with a ten minute speech.
In her speech, she.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Said, it is painful when I go to the market
and people stare I am not included in schools. I
have seen my mother cry so many times because of this.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Today, Annilla studies law at North South University. She fights
for the rights of disabled people. She gives speeches that
move others. Nila, like Richard and others with cerebral palsy,
has goals and courage. They have dreams. They just need
(09:27):
a little help reaching them. But most of all, they
need to be listened to. They need the world to see.
They need the world to see more than their wheelchairs.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Do you know anyone with cerebral palsy? Is there some
kind of challenge in your life that you are trying
to overcome? You can leave a comment on our website
at www dot Spotlight English dot com. You can also
find us on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Blue Sky, and ex.
You can also get our programs delivered directly to your
(10:03):
and writer Apple device through our free official Spotlight English app.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The writer of this program was Peter Anderson. The producer
was mitchio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the
United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted
for this program and voiced by Spotslight. This program is
called I Am Not Drunk.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
We hope you can join us again for the next
Spotlight program. Goodbye,
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