Guest Post: Disability Advocate from Spain Interns with UCP National Office

Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Claudia Tecglen, I am 22 and I have cerebral Palsy.

As you can imagine, life when you have a CP is not easy but I think that any life isn't without its challenges. Don't you agree?

Oh I have overlooked a minor detail about my life. I am from Spain.

I was born in Madrid in the mid-80's. When I was born, my mother felt that something was wrong. I couldn't crawl. I couldn't stand on my own. I couldn't do anything by myself.

Twenty years ago, the Spanish system was very different. Few doctors had knowledge about cerebral palsy so, as you can imagine, it was very difficult to find a proper diagnosis.

I was two-years old when I was diagnosed with CP. Every doctor, up to that point, couldn't properly identify my disability, which frustrated my parents greatly.

Fortunately, my parents had the economic resources that we needed so I could begin many early intervention therapies. My therapy regimen included daily rehabilitation, aquatic-therapy and nearly 20 surgeries throughout my life.

When I was five, I enrolled to study in a Jewish School. It is worth noting that I am Catholic, but Spanish state schools grouped all children with disabilities together for Special education classes and I would have been a part of that classification, having CP. In my case, my parents chose not to enroll me in a Spanish state-run school and chose a private Jewish School instead where I could study in an inclusive setting.

I was lucky because the director of the Jewish School had two nieces who had cerebral palsy as well. I believe the director empathized with my disability and through this connection, I was admitted to the school.

When I was 12, I started High School. Fortunately, today we can study in a state-run school in an inclusive setting with other able-bodied students mixed in with children with disabilities.

During my teenage years, everything was very difficult. I had many of surgeries and I felt isolated. In addition, the other girls dressed in skirts and I could not because of my disability. But I had to accept my situation. I have CP and I am different, but I am just as equal as anyone else.

Yes, everything was hard, but I also had a few true friends who helped me along the way.

In fact, I am very lucky to have very supportive parents, friends who spent time with me and my doctors who fought for and continue fighting on my behalf with all their might, in order to ensure my life is without limits.

One of the most important moments in my life was when I received my Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) pump therapy from Medtronic. This therapy changed my life and I became more independent as a result.

Because of the independence that I enjoy, I decided nearly two years ago, to start a project with the goal to create a Web site where people with disabilities, who speak Spanish, can find all the information that they need; a place for medical and community resources and a place to showcase all available therapies for people with disabilities. In Spain, even though the medical system is socialized, and run quite well, these resources aren't considered very important by its citizens and government. I hope to help shape the way people in Spain and those around the world think about disabilities and the importance people with disabilities bring to society.

When the proper information is at hand, a person with disabilities or their care givers can make the right decisions and choose the future that fits them...changing lives.

We live in an age of technology and geographic boundaries do not exist. We can and must use these tools to help improve the future for people with disabilities.

This summer, through my therapy experience and the help of the Medtronic Foundation, I have accepted an internship with UCP at the national office. I have achieved one of my dreams.

Working with UCP, I hope to learn as much as possible and to apply the best of both worlds, the American system and the Spanish system, to the association that I have already founded, Convives con Espasticidad, "Living with Spasticity." If we work together, in a very near future, around the world, it will be possible to live a life without limits, without borders.

I am lucky but I hope that my case becomes no longer an exception to the norm. All people with disabilities should have every opportunity that they dream of.

P.S. I wish to thank my doctors, parents, brothers, friends, all of the Spanish Associations that I belong to, and most of all, the people who believe in the project "Living with Spasticity," since the beginning. And of course, I wish to thank UCP and the Medtronic Foundation for their support. Without their help, this project would not be possible.

For more information about Claudia Tecglen, please contact Will Hull at (202) 973-7106.