Benjamin Baker in the top picture as the Easter Seal Poster Child of 1954 in California with a spokeswoman for the Easter Seal Society. This photo was taken in San Francisco in 1954 when Ben was 6 years
The newspaper photo is in our Turlock Journal with an article and picture about the special swim lesson class especially for the handicapped. The next photo is a school picture of Ben when he went to John C Fremont school in Merced California where they had a special class for handicapped children. See the crutches under his arms in this picture. My mother had worked very intensly with Ben to learn to walk with crutches and braces on his legs.
My brother, Ben, was always good natured. Notice his smile and the happy nature he projects in this picture. He was very friendly and loved greeting everyone enthusiastically. He never complained or spoke negetively about anything or anyone. Ben was the best example to me of many great characteristics and qualities. He was meticules, neat and tidy. He never left messes or anything out of order anywhere he went. He had numerous excentricities that could try ones patience that were a result of his handicap. He repeated motions several times rather than once. For example, if he rolled his wheel chair through a doorway he wheeled it in and out several times, tapping his hands on the doorway repeatedly before the motion was completed. There were many oddities of this nature we just accepted and patiently waited as he went through the motions needed to complete his task. When he sat for a length of time or got a little anxious he moved his arms and head in a constant rolling motion as if to make up for the lack of use of his legs in walking and running. I have often wondered if anyone else in the world had a loved one with spina bifida or any other handicap that had these same type of behaviors.
Unlike some siblings, rather than being ashamed of Ben, I was proud of Ben. I felt he was a very special person and I was lucky to have him for my brother. He loved people and animals and he dealt with his life and situation with such bravery and strength. I was never ashamed when we went in public with him even when we were children because he was my brother and I loved him alot. I thought he was the greatest brother anybody could ever have. I was angry when sometimes as children other children would stand and stare at him as Ben stood in his crutches and braces.
Ben loved cars and he read all the car publications. He knew all about all the cars throughout the years as he memorized every detail he read in those magazines. His memory was a phenomina. He could remember names, dates, events, and addresses from almost his whole life. He could recall the day of the week, date, month and year of events.
Next time I will continue with the life story.
I invite others to share thier experience with their handicapped siblings.
My brother, Ben, was always good natured. Notice his smile and the happy nature he projects in this picture. He was very friendly and loved greeting everyone enthusiastically. He never complained or spoke negetively about anything or anyone. Ben was the best example to me of many great characteristics and qualities. He was meticules, neat and tidy. He never left messes or anything out of order anywhere he went. He had numerous excentricities that could try ones patience that were a result of his handicap. He repeated motions several times rather than once. For example, if he rolled his wheel chair through a doorway he wheeled it in and out several times, tapping his hands on the doorway repeatedly before the motion was completed. There were many oddities of this nature we just accepted and patiently waited as he went through the motions needed to complete his task. When he sat for a length of time or got a little anxious he moved his arms and head in a constant rolling motion as if to make up for the lack of use of his legs in walking and running. I have often wondered if anyone else in the world had a loved one with spina bifida or any other handicap that had these same type of behaviors.
Unlike some siblings, rather than being ashamed of Ben, I was proud of Ben. I felt he was a very special person and I was lucky to have him for my brother. He loved people and animals and he dealt with his life and situation with such bravery and strength. I was never ashamed when we went in public with him even when we were children because he was my brother and I loved him alot. I thought he was the greatest brother anybody could ever have. I was angry when sometimes as children other children would stand and stare at him as Ben stood in his crutches and braces.
Ben loved cars and he read all the car publications. He knew all about all the cars throughout the years as he memorized every detail he read in those magazines. His memory was a phenomina. He could remember names, dates, events, and addresses from almost his whole life. He could recall the day of the week, date, month and year of events.
Next time I will continue with the life story.
I invite others to share thier experience with their handicapped siblings.
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