Interview: Tylia Flores
Can you start by telling the readers a little about yourself?
My name is Tylia I’m a 23 -year old with spastic Cerebral Palsy a condition that causes me to be wheelchair bound. It mostly effects my left side of my body, but I never let my disability stop me from having a voice and expressing myself through writing. When I’m not writing I’m spending time with my mom, dad, and service dog and exploring the world through my eyes. I enjoy traveling to different places to get inspired to write more.
Your website, Stomping on Cerebral Palsy with Tylia, is dedicated to Cerebral Palsy awareness, correct? Can you tell me what inspired you to start the site?
What inspired me to start Stomping on Cerebral Palsy with Tylia, I wanted to bring awareness to my condition and what it’s like to have Cerebral Palsy in a society where its not really understood.
You also wrote a book? Can you tell us what the inspiration for that was?
I met my best friend Daniel when we were three years old at United Cerebral Palsy Preschool in New York and from the day we met each other we had a special bond. We were like brother and sister, he was always the friend that pushed me to be better. After I moved to Florida, we lost contact but we reconnect thanks to the old social media planform My Space. Shortly after reconnecting he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and passed away on October 19th 2010. I was at a loss for words and shocked at the idea of my best friend being gone. So I found my passion for writing and that’s how James Ticking Time Bomb came to be
What is something you have learned through running your site?
The one that I learned through running my site is that everyone isn’t going to agree with you and your message. But also, I have learned that whether good feedback or bad feedback your message is heard.
We are never really done growing up. What do you hope to do in the future?
My hope for the future is to publish a second book but also, I want society to have a better understanding of, Cerebral Palsy. So I plan to get more involved in advocacy for the Cerebral Palsy community.
“When life gets tough you just got to keep on stomping.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
A My love for writing. The stompers who believe in me and, last but not least, my family.
Do you have advice for girls growing up today?
My advice for girls growing up today is embrace who you are. Be proud of the way you are made because beauty is everywhere you turn.
Do you have any female figures that you look up to?
One of the females I look up to is my mom because she is so strong for what she has gone though in her life. She makes me proud to be her daughter. She had to adjust to having a child with special needs at a young age.
I also look up to Anne Frank because she was brave to write about her life during a difficult time to inspire others. I also look up to Jane Austen for having a voice in a time period where women weren’t allow to have a voice.
Why do you think it is important to tell our stories?
I think it’s important for us women to tell our stories because we all have a story to tell that could someday inspire others.
What is something in life that you are most proud of?
Publishing a book at sixteen
Just for fun:
Favorite Book:
A walk to remember by Nicholas Sparks
Favorite Band:
A my favorite genre of music is country my favorite song is ‘’Austin’ ’by Blake Shelton
Favorite Quote:
“I do not have a disability, I have a gift! Others may see it as a disability, but I see it as a challenge. This challenge is a gift because I have to become stronger to get around it, and smarter to figure out how to use it; others should be so lucky.” ― Shane E. Bryan
What is your life motto?
When life gets tough you just got to keep on stomping