Pretty for a Crippled Girl

Book Synopsis

Instead, Teri Siri grew up with her twin, Traci, and her older sister Tami, attended school, and went on to live a full active life as an independent woman of independent means who lives life on her own terms. She achieved financial independence through challenging work. In addition, she has had a love life filled with good sex, heartbreak, marriage, divorce, and now, a long-term meaningful partnership that includes long motorcycle trips. Teri has traveled internationally multiple times, skydived, bungy jumped, sailed, and successfully tried just about anything she was told she couldn't do because of her physical limitations. If someone told Teri she couldn't achieve something, she would prove them wrong.

In addition to describing her full productive life, Teri writes about the tremendous prejudice she has faced as a person with a physical disability. She describes the constant oblivious comments, jokes, questions, and downright hurtful things people have said and done because she has CP. Thus, the title of her memoir: Many people have said directly to Teri she was "pretty for a crippled girl." They've also said this behind her back but within earshot.

Teri doesn't tell these stories as a victim or a whiner, but rather as someone who wants the world to understand the constant barrage of demeaning and dismissive comments that people with disabilities face on a daily basis. One of Teri's favorite words is "fuck." She embraces this word in all its grammatical forms and in all the places and circumstances where Teri sees fuck as the most appropriate expression of her sentiments in the moment.

Her memoir is a testament to what an individual can accomplish despite naysayers' discouragement and dismissive societal stereotypes that dehumanize people with physical disabilities. Once you read Teri's account, you will find insight into what it might be like for a person facing the challenges of a physical disability. This is the real deal, a firsthand account beyond medical descriptions or assumptions. If you face physical or emotional challenges, you will find camaraderie, kinship, with someone who knows what it's like.

Teri's memoir is an excellent read for anyone facing the challenges of a disability, whether physical or otherwise. This is an important read for family members, medical professionals, and the world at large.