My name is Christa Dondero and I have several Disabilities.  I have mental illness, a plate and screws in right wrist and ankle and can not walk too far.  I'm in process on getting a  scooter or power wheelchair.
At the age 5 years old my parents found out I lost my hearing. I was interrupting the class and when I was in elementary school I was pick on in grade 6. The kids would make fun of me and knock the books out of my arm and try to trip me.  I several times I got detention.  Of course in the 1960's no one know anything about handicap child not even the school.
I went to high school is 19777 or 78 and I went to a public High school and had a deaf program in there.  They have interpreter to sign to the deaf in hearing class rooms.  They also have deaf classes too.  That when I started learning sign language.  My friend, Denise taught me the bad ones first.  I felt kind of confuse and lost where exactly I belong.  Wit the hearing or with the deaf.  I'm still trying to figure that out.  Denise and I had so much fun and was troublemaker too. 
     In 1990 I move to Arizona because of mine and my Dad's health issues.  I been living in Arizona for 23 years.  My Dad passed away in March 2008 and six months later my first hearing dog, Eddie passed away in September. I felt lonely and miss him dearly.  I found a church called Unity of Phoenix and love that church. People are friendly, and they accept all kind of people, straight, gay, handicap. I started to go to Disability Empowerment Center also.  There they have all kind of services like Spinal Cord Injury, Autism,  NAMI, Valley Center of the Deaf.  I currently taking Living Well with Disability.  It's a fun class and learning how to start small steps to reach your goals. I met so great people there.  Arizona Bridge of Independent Living have excellent social events, I recently went to ice cream social and ADA 23rd Anniversary.  Taught me ways to handles situations I was having. Have excellent Spot Fit and pool as well.
     My point is do not let anyone take your power away and aim to your goals. I'm working on several issues like boundaries, and Self Esteem, and Confidence. Never put people down because they are not "normal" people. I'm learning to accept my disabilities. I don't let people put me down. If you need some feedback I may be able to help you. All these years learning to defend myself and I love to help people.