Invisible problem very real
SOMETIMES Marius Gratwick is so physically exhausted he cannot walk to the end of his driveway, other days he completes this task easily.
The 25-year-old Manifold Heights man lives with ataxic cerebral palsy — a rare form of cerebral palsy that affects his gait, balance and speech.
But to many, Mr Gratwick’s disability is not readily identifiable — leading them to think he is lazy or simply not trying when he has trouble completing a seemingly simple task.
“My disability is a physical disability . . . but it is very much an invisible disability,” he said.
“If you were meeting me in an office or if you were looking at me on the street, there’s a very strong chance you wouldn’t be able to tell.”
Mr Gratwick lives independently with his wife in Manifold Heights.
He is completing an associate degree in history and arts, and hopes to one day complete further study.
“This is a problem a lot of people have with cerebral palsy or any other invisible physical disability,” Mr Gratwick said.
“People may expect you to look a certain way and expect you to be capable, and then when you may face certain challenges this can cause confusion.”
He has chosen to share his story today, the International Day of People with Disability, to raise awareness and understanding.
“I’d just like people to understand that a disability isn’t always going to be obvious,” Mr Gratwick said.