Working with Charles

Every week I have to go into the fitness clinic at SDSU and work with Charles. The fitness clinic is a place where people who have disabilities can work with SDSU students and improve their physical fitness levels. My client is a 16 year old boy who have Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and mental retardation. I was quite nervous working with him for the first time for a few reasons. First, I have only seen people with disabilities as I am going to class or to a store. I have not had the opportunity to start a friendship with a disabled person. Secondly, starting an exercise program is hard enough, but starting one for a person who is wheelchair bound can be intimidating. I am very glad to have met Charles because he opened my eyes to a world that I ignored. I have enjoyed working with him for the entire semester & I may come back to State once in a while to visit him and make sure he is doing well.