*The genre piece is a fictional poem written by Zoe. Zoe is a 13 year old girl who was born with Cerebral Palsy, and has been unable to speak since birth. Her SLP, Ms. Lopez, asked her to write this to describe her life as she sees it.

I am silent and I am special.
I wonder what it would be like to speak.
I hear the imaginary sound of my voice.
I see my lips moving in vain; knowing that they are
incapable of forming a word.
I want to sing. I want to speak. I want to scream.
I am silent and I am special.

I pretend to talk on the phone; pretend to be a
cheering fan at football games.
I feel locked up in my silent prison.
I touch my tender lips, but what does it matter?
I worry that they will never be kissed.
I cry to ease the pain.
I am silent and I am special.

I understand nothing about the true joys of life.
I dream of living my life as a carefree teenage girl.
I try to make the best of what I've been given.
I hope. I pray. I hurt.
I am silent but I am special.