Smyrna times., 1954-06-10
CEREBRAL PALSY VICTIM
TO RECEIVE DIPLOMA HERE
Patricia Weis, First Home
bound Student in State to
Complete School Courses
"DREAM COME TRUE"
By Evelyn Webb

1Here Will De thirty girls III Tie
graduating class at the Smyrna
High School but none on the stage
awaiting their diploma will feel
such a sense of achievement as
Patricia Weis, seated in her one
arm drive wheel chair, the first
in the state to receive all of her
high school education at home. Pat
is eighteen years old, victim of
cerebral palsy from birth who has
a speech defect but is mentally
very keen, according to her teach
er, Mrs. William S. Taber, of Dover.
All of her work is done on type
writer with one finger of her left
hand. She has received her educa-
ton through the assistance of the
program for homebound children
of the State Department of Public
Instruction, under the direction of
John S. Charlton, director of child
development and guidance. Miss
Virgie Bauer, guidance councillor
at the Smyrna School, has acted
as coordinator with Mrs. Taber.
Story OF Her Life
Pat has typed a thirteen-page
story of her life and she speaks
through the written word of her
graduation. II can hardly believe
that the big day is finally getting
closer. Last year I received my
class ring, which wear proudly.
This year / received my class pin,
class cap, and school pennant. I
have been measured for my cap
and gown. All in all, being a senior
is my big dream come true"
Among the subjects she has pass
ed are four years of English; two
of Spanish, one of French; history,
business arithmetic, junior busi-
ness training, chemistry, for which
the experiments were done in her
mothers kitchen; economic geo.
graphy, and civics. Pat is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs Ralph
Weis, who live at Taylor's Bridge,
and she has four-year old broth
er. The type of cerebral palsy with
which she is afflicted affects the
arms, legs, neck, and breathing
muscles, causing trouble in con-
trolling her movements.
Moved To TayIor's Bridge
Following years of treatment at
various hospitals, Pat and her
family moved to their present
home, located across the road from
! the one-room school at Taylor's
Bridge. She had one year in a pri-
vate school, and attended the Tay-
lor's Bridge School in the fourth,
fifth, and sixth grades. Since then
she has been taught through the
homebound program, with Mrs.
Taber her instructor for all of her
high school work, which she COM
pleted in three and one-half years.
She pays tribute to her mother in
her story. Mrs. Weis has helped
her daughter with homework, the
same as for normal child. The
family maintains a small general
store at the site of their home, and
the father works at Dravo, Wilm-
ington. Despite her serious handi-
cap Pat enjoys life, and one of
her hobbies is collecting records.
She also likes to read, to go to
movies and dances, and collect pic
lures of her favorite movie and
singing stars, the normal pursuits
of teenage girls.
Grateful To Mother
In her story of what it means to
be cerebral palsy patient she
reveals her strength of character
when she writes: I'm about to
write the story of my life, not be-
cause I want pity or sympathy
from those who might read it, but
because there are SO many people
who don't understand cerebral
palsy. I might be writing much
sadder story if it were not for my
wonderful family and friends.
There is one person to whom I'm
most grateful, and that person is
my mother" Her story is inter
spersed with visits to many hospi-
tails in Philadelphia, Baltimore,
and New York, but these accounts
Continued on Page Eight