Mega popular show The Walking Dead occurs in a world much like the one you and I live in. Actually perchance I understand correctly, there remains one distinct difference. Zombie culture never existed in Rick Grimes’ universe. That explains why the show’s characters experienced such difficulty adjusting to the zombie apocalypse. Plus the term “zombie”’s absence.
Say you and I agree to the above premise. Missing zombie culture stands the sole variance between real life and The Walking Dead. Continuing to read indicates agreement.
Alright! Terms seem set. Now I must ask. What happened to the cerebral palsy community in The Walking Dead realm? Yes, previously The Walking Dead featured characters with disabilities. All however became disabled during the zombie apocalypse. I am asking about cerebral palsy, a neurological disability typically acquired at birth.
Originally I explored said theme back in 2014. In a video titled “Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse with Cerebral Palsy” I discussed additional challenges CP would create in surviving. Ideas expandable upon based off aired The Walking Dead episodes.
One’s Strongest Asset
Initially you may laugh at the thought people with CP lasting in the zombie apocalypse. Yet I imagine individuals like John W. Quinn and Stephen J. Wampler surviving. The two represent those in the CP community physically capable. Nevertheless I too envision less physically capable members in the CP community surviving. Many thanks to a strength nourished by cerebral palsy, profound familial love.
Just consider Rick Grimes’ motivation behind his actions throughout The Walking Dead. The love for his children drives him. Even in situations where everything looks hopeless. For example, recall the confrontation in season four episode 16 “A” between the Claimers and Rick, Carl, and Michonne. Once the Claimers threatened Carl’s wellbeing, Rick rose to his most dangerous.
I expect parents to kids with cerebral palsy handling the zombie apocalypse similarly. Heck, growing up in our law abiding society I felt my parents overprotective. Talk about an asset for when the dead overwhelm civilization!
The Family Who Stays Together…
Okay, aligned with loved ones members in the CP community live to witness the zombie apocalypse. Where art thy, though? The Walking Dead in seven seasons introduced the viewer to several locations. Woodbury, Alexandria, Hilltop, and new locations keep emerging! Although, not in one can you spot someone with cerebral palsy. So again I ask. Where art thy?
Remember not every survivor belongs to a community. I theorize the living CP population inhabited places familiar to them. Similar to Tara’s situation before The Governor discovered her in season four, episode six “Live Bait.”
Think! The survival strategy makes sense. Mobility will prove a concern. Bunkering down somewhere reduces risks. Priority then turns to collecting supplies.
Inventory Time
Supply runs equates to grocery shopping in the zombie apocalypse. Well, except trucks stopped delivering goods to stores. Therefore supplies dwindle fast. Troubling, especially if you rely on medications daily! An issue I actually raised in my previously referenced Youtube video. A topic fittingly enough The Walking Dead eventually addressed in season six, episode six “Always Accountable.”
Daryl Dixon encounters Dwight, Sherry, and Tina running away from the Saviors. Tina’s need for medication played into their decision to flee. Depending on the medication, your choices vary. I believe Tina needed insulin. Forgoing the medication stood no option.
Meanwhile I enjoy more alternatives. I take baclofen to loosen my muscles. Nonetheless I can live without. Whatever your options, the first step entails inventory. Determine how much you possess. Next strategize the best way to ration the medication. Perhaps you lower dosages in effort to make your supply last longer. Additionally you send your supply runner to pharmacies, hoping to replenish your stash.
Cerebral Palsy Community in The Walking Dead
Wow! The preceding paragraph quickly transformed into a zombie apocalypse 101. Relax. I am not really planning for the zombie apocalypse. Rather I figured speculating on the CP population’s whereabouts in The Walking Dead offered a fun creative thinking exercise. I hope you found the read entertaining.
To recap, I suggested people with cerebral palsy manage to get by in The Walking Dead universe. In-part I contribute the survival to alliances with loved ones. These groups probably transformed familiar places into home, comparable to Tara when The Governor meets her. Prolong survival connects to rationing medications appropriately.
Please feel free to join me on this creative thinking exercise. Contemplate my thoughts and branch off with your own. Does what I share sound reasonable to you? Obviously I mean reasonable in context a world amidst a fictional zombie apocalypse. Maybe I overlooked a key factor. Let me know. Leave a comment below.
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I admit I am one of the few who have never seen a Walking Dead episode or even a trailer. However, I do know quite a few fans who loves the series. Survival is probably the ultimate human hmm… reaction to anything, whether it is dealing with a zombie or sailing around Cape Horn in the middle of a winter storm.
(Had to bust a rhyme to finish that line.)
You do make a good point on taking inventory. I’m reminded of the true story about the sailor who was lost at sea for 60+ days in his book, Adrift. When his boat when down, he bailed out into a life raft, salvaged what he could, and took inventory of everything, figured out what he could use to survive until rescue was possible.
And medicine is an essential survival need…. or is it an ingredient? For example, something simple as aspirin which can be derived from a plant, or pencilin which can be derived from a mold. Some of the most basic medicine should be part of any inventory…. then for those who need more complex medicine…. well, I guess when you have zombies chasing you, we will have to find a way to produce an endless supply of baclofen. That does lead to the next point you brought up regarding families.
This is where I am reminded of the prehistoric days when humans migrated across the earth to other areas. And somehow, they survived and civilizations rose and fell from these simple acts of humanity. After all, whether a member of the caravan of humans trekking across hostile countryside had a permanent disability or even a temporary disability, the whole caravan is affected and must work together to achieve the end goal.
Great job on the captioning by the way. Loved seeing the dog barks and cane rattles. That’s exactly what I mean by quality captioning. Keep them coming.
I love how you connect the science fiction of a zombie apocalypse to real life scenarios Mark. Interestingly in the show sound plays an important role. On many occasions characters set up a perimeter with cans and string. When they hear rattling, they know zombies are close. How could such a detection method be made accessible to the deaf community? This I wonder! Plus thanks for the compliments on the captions. I figure if I am going to add captioning, I might as well do it right!
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