Does the power of storytelling have a limit?

It was once upon a time on a support group of people with cerebral palsy that I lead. I came up with a book of fables and the idea that we could read fables and discuss them. Very soon, my plan failed. No one understood the fables. Later I find out that people with cerebral palsy had no developed abstract thinking because of their diagnosis and that it was invariable. I said: "That is bullshit!"

So, I asked various experts about the abstract thinking problem and people with CP, but everyone confirmed to me what I already knew. Consequently, I had no choice but to prove my idea that brain plasticity is still beyond those theories.

I began to read and tell different stories in the group, sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneously, sometimes in the context of hypnosis, and sometimes with the sound of a piano. That way, I was learning which stories provoke reactions, discussions, and ideas.

Many changes have taken place, but the case of one member best describes the core of them.

As an adult, she went to school to learn to read and write, and after one day at school, she was able to retell the story for the first time. It was the story of Hansel and Gretel. Her version was like this: "Hansel and witch went into the forest. They ate the stepmother and threw Gretel along the way."

Two years later, when I forgot the notes about the story we were making on the group, the same member offered to help me remember.

She said: "We talked about the story of a boy who has problems at school and goes to a psychologist, so I thought a little about the story and concluded it would be good if he is gay. That is because we, the disabled people, who are victims of prejudice, often have our prejudices and need to learn to work on it. It would also be a good idea to go to a lousy psychologist first so that people learn that not all experts good, etc.

I believe that is enough :)

But while our (not mine, but our!) success in the group has become known, one crucial element is not recognized enough. Why did we have to deal with this problem at all? Isn't this example of the danger of the categories in which we put people based on their diagnoses, thus giving them the identities that they accept? How many parents didn't try to go beyond borders because some expert said to them there is no sense? How many children with disabilities have not tried something because they have implanted identity that they can't do or achieve that?
That is something to think about, and then there will be no stories like this.

P.S.
The stories that we wrote on the group will soon be published in the book.