CEDAR FALLS - In the University of Northern Iowa pool, Tim McCue is just like all the other Speedo-wearing swimmers.

But take him out of the chlorine and his differences become apparent.

McCue was born with cerebral palsy, which has left him with minimal use of his legs. Water resistance allows him more mobility, and swimming laps strengthens his upper body. His daily morning routine consists of 1,000 meters of freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.

"As much as my disability dictates what I can and can't do, my perspective plays an even bigger role in how the disability impacts me," McCue said.

McCue's determination and positive attitude are more impressive than his two-hour swim routine.

Warm and dry in a gray University of Northern Iowa sweatshirt, the freshman wheels around the UNI student union in his motorized Quantum Blast 850, smiling at those he passes.

McCue, an Iowa City native, attributes his athleticism and rosy outlook to his upbringing. As a 5-year-old he stopped and sat on a street corner, complaining he didn't want to walk anymore. Refusing to let her son be discouraged, his mother just continued walking. McCue realized he would be left behind if he didn't stand up.

"That story encapsulates that my parents were very aware of my disability, but only sympathetic when they needed to be," he said. "They never let my disability be an excuse not to do something."

Chris Denison, the assistant director of wellness and recreation services at UNI, saw evidence of McCue's determination when he first met him in the fall. After touring the facility, McCue told Denison he would be swimming five times a week, and wouldn't need the assistance of staff or the pool lift.

"That really surprised me. At that point I knew he was going to be a hard charger," Denison said.

Until moving to Cedar Falls, McCue used a walker to get around most of the time, he explained, adjusting his retro tortoiseshell glasses. Though the chair makes him readily mobile, he feels most independent using his walker.

To keep his leg muscles conditioned, he schedules walking into his day. Sometimes he'll walk up and down the hallway, or put his books in the basket of his walker and go to the library.

"It's been drilled into my brain ever since physical therapy when I was 3 that if there's somewhere I can walk to, I should walk," McCue said.

"When I'm in the chair, people make more assumptions about what I can or can't do," he added. "The bottom line is that I want to be as involved as possible in what I'm doing, and take as much from life as I can, whatever transport that requires."

Cerebral palsy affects people in a variety of ways. McCue's cerebral palsy is on the mild side. His fine motor skills suffer - he needs a scribe to fill in his Scantron bubbles, his speech is slowed slightly, his swimming strokes are somewhat awkward.

McCue already has turned to the Office of Disability Services for advice on accessibility and academics. Jane Slykhuis, coordinator of disability services at UNI, said McCue is evidence that students with disabilities can be just capable as students without.

"I think it's a matter of respecting how we may have different ways of accomplishing the same goals," Slykhuis said. "Individuals with disabilities can do the same things, they might just do it differently."

This is true for McCue. He takes his own notes for classes. He learned to ski when he was 7. In high school he participated in the speech team, drama club and various leadership activities. He writes for the Northern Iowan and hopes to be a journalist.

McCue also competes in wheelchair track and field.

His competitive nature compels him to seek out challenges, both in sports and in life. For him, leaving home to go to college is a tremendous challenge, one he meets head on.

"I'm happy, but I think I need to be. There are so many things in my life that will be difficult," McCue said. "If I woke up with the attitude that I can't do this, I'd never leave my dorm room. You can't be productive and negative."