Finals week

This is my final blog post of the semester which is kind of bittersweet if you ask me. I really have enjoyed talking about my trials and tribulations this semester. Between my wife and my struggles this blog has been very cathartic for me. It has taught me that there are other people out there that struggle as well. I also like the fact that I am able to write about my disability and feel empowered by that. Today is better than yesterday because I know my pain will only get better as time goes by.

This semester I have learned how to manage my gastroparesis by watching what I eat and when I decide to eat swell. I always start the day with my most balanced meal and that works for me. Some people may not be able to do that but I have to in order to keep myself healthy on a daily basis. The bottom line is that it is my job to do what I have to do to keep myself healthy and no one is going to do it for me. I have to do all of this on my own.

Finally, this semester I have learned to believe in myself on a daily basis and to trust my body mentally and physically. I have learned to trust in my mind and body and not ignore it. Sometimes you forget how tough that you are on a daily basis and this semester made me stronger as a person and a man. The only thing that I am able to control is my attitude and I continue to remind myself of that daily. I hope to continue to get stronger each semester until I graduate from UF.

Challenge accepted: Mullen promises 'relentless effort'

This article means a lot to me because I love the University of Florida. Why does this article pertain to my disability blog? Well if you read my last post I have spent some time with AD Scott Stricklin. I have also written about my difficulty in finding a job, well I hope to land an internship with the UAA. They are very proactive with disability rights and I hope under coach Mullen that I will be afforded the opportunity to join the administration. Also, on a personal note I am in the photo behind the coaches wide in the paper and online. This article hopefully will mean that Florida football icon the rise.

Challenge accepted: Mullen promises 'relentless effort'

Mullen, 45, knows what he's getting into, having been the offensive coordinator at UF for four years under Urban Meyer. He understands Florida. He understands the job and the demands that come with it. As it turns out, Dan Mullen has been Gator a lot longer than anybody knew.

My thoughts as I look towards the future

My favorite month of this year so far is November because it is finally starting to cool off in Florida. Being in a black wheelchair daily in Florida can be miserable six months out of the year. I am extremely grateful that I am able to roll outside now and not immediately start sweating daily. This month also is my favorite because this is the start of the holiday season and with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up I realize how grateful I am to be able to live another year.

This year has been a big challenge for me both physically and mentally. I have had to do with my gastroparesis diagnosis and my wife's own health issues as well. This year has taught me to be grateful for the little things and not to sweat the small stuff. As I look forward into heading into the next year I see myself becoming healthier mentally and physically. I am also looking forward to spending time with my family this holiday season. It is always reassuring knowing that people have your back and care about you.

My job is to be the best me that I can be on a daily basis. That means that I need to be better at monitoring the food that I put in my body on a daily basis. This is my time to take back my health and to be a better version of myself. I also need to keep my mind focusing on the positive things in my life and not the negative thoughts. The power of positive thinking is something that I truly believe in on a daily basis, but I can absolutely do a better job of following my own advice. I look forward to ending this semester on a high note by doing my best on every single assignment.

Medical Equipment Snapchat Story

I apologize for the video orientation and the subject of the video. My wife is ill and this was all I could do with one hand.

Busy week of blogging: my day with Scott Stricklin

This week I will be blogging a ton as I catch up on my blog from the past couple of weeks. I have been getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend time with the UF athletic director Mr. Scott Stricklin. He taught me about what his job entails on game day. UF won the football game 36-7 against the University of Alabama Birmingham.

The Gators were able to snap a five game losing streak against UAB and were able to provide joy for the 80,000 plus fans in the stadium. It was an incredible opportunity to be able to spend time with AD Stricklin and pick his brain about athletics. 17 of the 21 athletic teams at UF are ranked or will be rand in the top 25 this season. The standard of excellence in athletics is extremely high. As long as Mr. Stricklin is at the helm I expect Florida Athletics to run like a finely tuned machine.

Sitting with him for a significant amount of time in his office makes you realize how calm, thoughtful, deliberate, and creative he is. Mr. Stricklin takes shaking hands with boosters and makes it just as important as shaking hands with his head coach. His personality is what makes his warmth allow you to feel like you are the only one important to him in that moment. This trait seems extremely rare in people who yield great power. Scott Stricklin is the exception to that rule and shows fans, students, and coaches alike just how much they mean to him and the university.

My House putting up the tree

Ayla and I talk employment

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a fairly lengthy blog about my struggle to find employment while being a young disabled man with a ton of experience. Today, I sat down with my wife as I prepared to meet with my job coach next week and she explained what it feels like to her. This is my wife in her own words talking about what it is like trying to get a job for someone who is full on disabled.



The companies want us to settle on something and go for an entry level position which is very offensive to the both of us. I have already had an internship for six years without getting paid. I am so happy to have her along for the ride of our ives together.

Disabled Living: Hunter and Ayla's Short Story

Disabled employment articles

These are Two very important articles on the search for jobs for disabled individuals a daily basis. This article specifically is about what a bank in Austria is trying to do by hiring more disabled citizens at their company. They talk about it being a win win situation.

However, back home in Massachusetts jobs seem to be a lot harder to come by. As jobs rates increase, it has become harder for people with disabilities to get jobs all across the country. This truly relates to my blog and irks me to my core. I encourage everyone to read and realize the necessity for people with disabilities to receive a chance to bee employed.

My search for employment.

When I sit here and look at my life from a deeper perspective, I see that so many people question or challenge why I want to work. I don't just want to work to prove people wrong, I want to work for myself and make money to earn a better life for myself and my family. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that was made by a disability activist group in the 70's that said "We want to boldly go where everyone else has gone before." That really hits home for me, I just want an opportunity to work just like every other person before me has gotten.

Most people ask me why I wouldn't just want to stay home all day and watch TV. The answer is because I want more for myself and my family than just living off of my disability my entire life. I recognize that I may not be able to work full time seven days a week, but I won't know until I try, so far, I have not been given the same opportunities as other people my age. I have had plenty of interning and volunteering experience, but when it comes to seeking gainful employment companies turn the other way.

Once I interviewed with high level media companies over the phone they loved my resume, until they saw a photo or video of me in my wheelchair. The phone would stop ringing and I would call back to find out that the position had already been filled. Once this becomes a major pattern you start to realize what is truly happening out there. The bottom line is to these large media conglomerates I am a liability not an asset.

In order to be an asset, I have to own my cerebral palsy and be open with it. The truth is a company is going to have to take a risk to hire me one day. As I am finishing up my degree, I am realizing the overt harsh realities of the world. I will not allow myself to be a liability as I finish up my bachelor’s collegiate career. I will be the asset that I know I can be with my cerebral palsy on a daily basis. My experiences in life have not only shaped the man that I am, they will continue to shape the man that I become.

I will continue to fight like hell to highlight my abilities and show the world what I am capable of I also encourage each and every one of you to do the exact same thing. Do your best to find yourself and crash through the glass ceiling that is consuming your life. In today's society, we should highlight what we are all capable of as a people. Do not let anyone stand in the way of your best self!

I am about to live tweet on a cerebral palsy lecture for #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

Cerebral Palsy is an unbrella term for a group of disorders that affect a persons ability to move #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

CP is a neurodevelopemental disease which means something happens to the brain during development #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

CP doesn't have to always happen in birth, sometimes there is a ginetic mutation that causes it to develop #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

CP is classified by the type of muscle movements that result from the brain injury. Types of cp are spastic... #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

Dyskinetic, and Ataxic CP which is caused by damage to the cerebellum and abnormal movements and problems eating #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

People with CP go to physical therapy to treat CP however, there is no cure #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

CP can affect speech, communication, sleep and eating as well as swallowing along with vision problems #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

Other symptoms include pain from moving, walking and everyday life can easily be affected #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

CP is permanent therefore there is no cure but treatments include surgery to allow muscles to relax to help pain! #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

That's all for now if you want to learn more check out this video https://t.co/HJg2G2a0go #disabilityawarenessmonth

— Hunter Turner (@HunterTurnerUF) October 17, 2017

Challenges can make you a better person

I woke up today thinking that I would give an update on my health, but I really want to talk about my attitude. I am so grateful that I get to wake up everyday and pursue my dream of going to college and bettering myself on a daily basis. I used to be against hard work and not pushing myself until I realized that I am my own obstacle. Once in a while I go through the day moping around, but I always catch myself before I get to down and remind myself what lies ahead in my life.

I have to keep working to be a better person daily otherwise I will strive for nothing and that is no help at all. I realize now that I am a better person when I put my best foot forward on a daily basis. I have been job searching lately but I am quickly realizing that finishing school may be my best option before I even think about getting a job. The happiest I get is right after I complete a long assignment for class or for fun talking sports.

I am learning daily that my disability can be my ability and that I can make my own path. I have to show people what I am capable of and I am finally confident enough in myself to do so. Our country is so polarized that I hope people are able to focus on what really matters, allowing people with disabilities the same ability to apply for jobs.

I am looking forward to graduating to show the world not only what I am capable of, but what others with disabilities are truly capable of. We want to be able to show our abilities not our disabilities to employers and the rest of the world. It is time we get that opportunity and I want to be the champion of this cause. An opportunity is all we ask and we will show the world that challenges can make you a better person.

Life can be so many things

Today, I woke up to the realization that I had homework and got that done and then realized I had until Sunday to file taxes for my wife. Two things that most people don't necessarily look forward to. On top of that, my cat decided to pee on my wheelchair cushion over night, so my wife had to wash it before I could do anything. Busy days like this leave me burning the candle at both ends. However, I love that because I don't think of my pain until the end of the day.

Days like today also remind me why I married my wife she is my warrior and fights for the both of us daily. It's crazy being married to me on a daily basis. I think that's probably what goes through her head on a daily basis. We work so hard each day battling our own ailments that most people don't get to see around our house and out in the world. She showed me her strength and courage as she always does by taking care of me on a daily basis. Our lives can be a challenge but we battle on together.

I will never forget how hard she works daily and whether dealing with health insurance companies, medicaid, or anything else that comes down the pipe we handle it together. The cp battle continues daily and I still am battling changes in my medication and I can't do it without her. Productivity was strong for me today and I am proud of the fact that we were able to get a lot done.

I am looking forward to dealing with my gastroparesis in the coming weeks and it is still bothering me daily. I can't wait to go to the doctor and get my stomach checked out and hopefully get on medication of some sort. We will see what happens in the coming days as of now, I know my stomach hangs on to 65 percent of the food I eat on a daily basis. That's all I have for now and I will be posting later this week on a different topic related to cp and gastroparesis.

Disabled advocates arrested for standing up for all of us!

Disability Rights Advocates Gear Up For Next Health Care Battle

Disability rights advocates from New York say they and others are starting to make progress in their efforts to change the national conversation around health care. Over 20 Rochester-area residents were among the 101 people arrested for disrupting a Senate health care hearing in Washington on Monday.

This article is extremely important to me because it truly is a striking image. Arresting disabled citizens is not only a hard thing to do, but I can attest to how diffucult it is to move for certain individuals with disabilities. Some of us have stationary spines do to rods or spasticity. The reason they did this is because they believe in the rights of all of us, to have access to Medicaid and basic health necessities. This is life or death for us, I challenge you all not to just let this go and not to forget what these politicians are trying to do. This is our life and we depend on these services for survival, please don't forget us or what we stand for.

Instagram life story

This is the story of what my wife and I go through on a daily basis. Our lives are difficult yet we preserve everyday. Even if it is a horrible day with pain or doctors appointments we manage. These pictures tell our story a unique one that is truly only ours.

This is a day in the life of someone with CP! It starts with pills and getting into my lift.The wheelchair represents my legs as I depend on it everyday. These are my means of survival... #disabled #disabilityrights #perserverance

A post shared by hunterturner91 (@hunterturner91) on Oct 2, 2017 at 7:52pm PDT

New Beginnings: September 21, 2017

Image credit belongs to Top10homeremedies.com

In my opinion, living with cerebral palsy can be more difficult than people understand. Yes, it is cool to not have to walk up twenty flights of stairs a day. However, no one talks about some of the complications that go into living with cp. The main one that I am living with currently is called gastroparesis. The reason that I decided to label this post new beginnings is because I am working my way through learning how to live with this stomach ailment.

Today marks a new chapter in my life as I prepare to battle this pesky disease on a daily basis. Basically, my stomach does not digest the food that I eat fast enough and this can cause stomach pain and illness. So, I have been studying different diets trying to find the right one for my body to handle. The basic principle of the diet is low fiber and low fat which sounds opposite of what I was taught as a kid.

I am taking back control of what goes into my body and I want to inspire others to do the same. This post is therapeutic for me as I continue on my journey with cp and gastroparesis. One of the causes of this disease is the medication that I take on a daily basis to fight my spasticity due to cerebral palsy. Some of these medications are known to slow digestion in the body and cause more harm than good.

Our goal is to find the root cause of the problem and eliminate it from my daily medication pack. This is the next chapter of my life. I will keep everyone updated as these medication changes cause temporary pain for long term relief. Today is day one of a long road ahead to a happier healthier me. This blog is going to help me get to where I need my body and mind to be. I am writing through the pain right now, but you never know tomorrow could bring a little relief to my body and mind.    

Hunter Turner: My Life with cerebral Palsy introduction 2017

In order to start this blog, I have to start at the beginning. I was born on September 5th, 1991, I was born in Gainesville, Florida at UF Health (formerly Shands) I like to say that I was born to be a Gator.  I was also born at 25 weeks with my eyes still fused shut I laid in the NICU for weeks. As my parents would later find out, I had cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen to my brain at birth.

The doctors told my parents I would never walk, talk, see, hear or do anything that children normally do. So, they told my parents they should consider pulling the plug because I wouldn't have a high quality of life. Thankfully, my parents didn't listen to them and although I am in a wheelchair, I can do pretty much anything anyone else can with a computer. I can talk and thank the Lord because I want to do radio and television for a living because I talk so much.

I am blind in one eye but that hasn't stopped from attending the University of Florida as a Telecommunications major. This blog will take you through the trials and tribulations that I have been through in the past along with the present. I will also take you through the triumphs of my past and present.  l want this blog to be about cerebral palsy awareness and my hope is that I can help those people have a better understanding of what it's like to live with cp. Also, if I can help anyone living with or struggling with it that would be great as well. Here is a link to my documentary I made a long time ago and it is called. Hunter's Story.

This is my second time taking this course as I had to medically withdrawal the first time. This blog will be personal and raw as I deal with cerebral palsy on a daily basis. The reason I had to withdrawal from this course the first time is because of my osteoarthritis and gastroparesis a condition which affects the body's digestion system especially in people with cp. However, if you take one thing from me it's to never give up on a goal or a dream. I look forward to having a great semester with you all.