Preview audio:

storyj.mp/agujnzruurnk

“Hi my name is Melody Brooks. I am 10 years old and in fifth grade. I love movies, country music, and learning new words. I guess you could say I’m your average fifth grade girl.”

"The only difference is I have spastic bilateral quadriplegia, which is also known as cerebral palsy.”

“People often think that just because I was born this way that everything in me is messed up, including my brain. Well, let me tell you, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“Even though I can’t talk with my mouth or use my arms and legs like most people can, I’m still really smart”

“I have this really cool computer called a Medi-talker, which I named Elvira. With her help I can finally have a voice.”

“I want people to understand that I am not just a drooling blob in a chair. I am a person, and a smart one at that! Just because I was born with a disability that limits what I can do with my body DOES NOT mean my brain is limited too!!!"

“In school, I have been in room H-5 since kindergarten. My classmates and I have seen many teachers’ come and go. Some of them were good and others, well, no so good, and there is a HUGE difference between the good and the not so good"

“The not so good teachers seemed to just try to get through each day doing as little work as possible, but the good teachers found ways to connect with us that others may have overlooked.”

“Those good teachers did thing others had never thought of, such as giving me access to books on tape. I LOVE that!!! It goes right to the heart of my love for words.”

“It can be frustrating because teachers sometimes don’t give me a chance to show how much I know or what I can do. There have been some though that have gone the extra mile for me.”

“Some teachers have started to realize that they can’t just assume what kids can and can’t do. They have started to re evaluate the way they teach to give accommodations and modifications to their lessons in order for kids like me to participate more.”