By L.E. CAMPENELLA
The Patriot Ledger

SCITUATE — James Breen plays basketball, baseball and soccer. That may not seem remarkable for a 16-year-old, except that Breen has cerebral palsy. He has been in a wheelchair most of his life. He has had to battle weak muscles and thin limbs to do what “normal” teens do, and that includes going to school and playing sports.

Soon, he hopes, it will also include driving a car.

“I have problems, but other people have their own problems,” he said.

His mother, Anne, isn’t so sure about the driving, but she knows her son.

“Ever since he was small he has had it in his head that he can do anything,” she said.

James was born premature and developed cerebral palsy because of a lack of oxygen to his brain.

Anne said she had to become a pseudo-lawyer, an advocate and a special education researcher to make sure her son gets the services he needs. James has had 16 surgeries for a multitude of health problems.

He said he is lucky. He is more mobile and cognitive than some others with special needs. He loves school and plays sports with other wheelchair-bound athletes.

He is an honors student in a school system that is progressive when it comes to special education. An aide take notes for him during class, and he uses special software at home to do his homework.

Entering high school -- was a relief for James.

He spent three years at Gates Middle School, struggling to get to classes because the elevator was often broken.

He was unwilling to be carried, so he painstakingly climbed one stair at a time to the second floor, often missing the first part of class.

“I missed out on some education,” he said.

He blames no one, and his mother said school officials did what they could to schedule his classes on the first floor.

“I’ve been telling them about it since Jamey was in sixth grade,” Anne said. “It’s still not working.”

GARY HIGGINS/The Patriot Ledger

James Breen of Scituate enjoys playing basketball, soccer and baseball.