Don’t Always Do What the Doctor Says; Do What I Do

Advice to the parents of disabled children

“Don’t always listen to what the doctor tells you about your child’s disability.” The words of John W. Quinn are bound to rankle more than a few in the medical profession but John W. Quinn of Tucson, Arizona probably knows a great deal more than most doctors about disabilities. Certainly about how to confront life with a disability.

John Quinn was born with cerebral palsy which affected his body and his cerebellum, but not his attitude. His parents saw that he was prepared to meet life head on even though standard medical advice, which many parents unquestioningly accept, was to walk the slow walk.  His father, unlike many parents, prepared him to meet life running. And he did, and his Uncle Sam was the beneficiary. Quinn, much to the disbelief of his peers, those who knew of his disability and some medical practitioners, carved out a 20 year military career in the U.S. Navy while keeping his cerebral palsy a secret. He rose to the high rank of senior chief petty officer, performed above the norm, and was awarded numerous citations. Now retired, Quinn is ready to reach out to those parents with children who have a disability.

“Often parents of disabled children deal with many in the medical profession who tell them ‘This is what the future holds for your child. He will never be able to drive a car, raise a family or walk unassisted and so on,” says Quinn,“ What many doctors tell parents is nothing more than an endless list of nay-saying bromides. The parents take it to be true (isn’t the doctor always right} and raise the child accordingly,”

When John Quinn retired from serving his country, and the US Navy, life summoned him to serve his fellow man and woman. He wrote a book “Someone Like Me: An Untimely Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy” directed at those with disabilities, encouraging them to challenge life as he is doing. Retired from the navy, Quinn is taking the next step, he is inviting parents of children with a disability to visit him at his website. Not to buy his book, that would be OK of course, but to fire away with questions that Quinn says will help dispel the negativity that is so often prevalent in homes of the disabled, and replace it with hope and positivism.

Published on behalf of John W. Quinn
Quinn is certain he can lend some good advice to anxious parents of disabled children. He knows what his parents did for him and knows what other parents can do for their children. They can start by contacting him at his website johnwquinn.com. All questions will be answered.

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