Disability

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  A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

• Dad Beats Cancer!

  DeafMom

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:41 pm

  We were standing at the edge of the pier, looking at the water that lapped over the brick wall in front of my parent’s house.   The lake water was at a record high and it threatened to creep into the crawlspace if it rose any higher.  Every day, Dad was climbing down the rickety crates that formed a makeshift staircase into the crawl space to check on the sump pump.  Some of the neighbor’s homes had water in them.  He was doing everything he could to keep the water from coming into the house. “It’s been a shitty summer,” my Dad murmured. He gazed at the…

• The American Sign Language Journey

  DeafMom

  21 Oct 2009 | 5:31 pm

  I’m sitting in a restaurant in Northbrook as I type this.  I have just dropped off my daughter at the International Center for Deafness and the Arts (ICODA) and I’m passing the time as she practices for the upcoming Peter Pan play.  Three, sometimes, four times a week, we make the one hour trek from our home to the tiny theatre where she joins a group of deaf and hard of hearing kids of all ages.  Each and every time, she’s so excited to go and hang with her friends. “Hey Mom, look at this neat ASL phrase I learned today!” she signs.  She’s picking up…

• Wordless Wednesday– It’s a Slam Dunk!

  DeafMom

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:26 am

  Wordless Wednesday:  It’s a slam dunk off the side of the boat! Bookmark me! More »

• Why I Love My Z-150 Made by Tandberg

  DeafMom

  6 Oct 2009 | 6:50 am

  Just a year ago, I was making phone calls mostly by text relay or a Captel phone and occasionally by webcam using video relay.  In January, I took a position as a Sales Manager for Zvrs and I was introduced to the Z-150 videophone which is made by Tandberg.  Tandberg is a world leader for videoconferencing and apparently Cisco feels the same way– they purchased Tandberg in a recent deal for three billion dollars. I think they got a great deal. My life took a huge change when the Z-150 came into my life.   I was introduced to single-line VCO:  when I make a phone call, I use my…

• Happy Birthday to my Homebirthed Kiddo

  DeafMom

  28 Sep 2009 | 6:08 am

  Twelve years ago, I homebirthed my youngest kiddo.  Happy Birthday, Steven! Happy Birthday to my Baby! Take This Pill and Have Your Baby in the Morning Bookmark me! More »

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  Disability News | PatriciaEBauer.com

• Columnist: ‘Hateful’ language can spur violence against disabled

  Patricia Bauer

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:14 pm

  ‘When did people with disabilities cease to matter in the battle against bigotry?’ Writing in the [UK] Independent, columnist Ian Birrell says society widely prohibits the use of “crude stereotyping” and “hateful words” when directed against other minority groups, yet accepts the same behavior when directed against those with disabilities. This duality, he argues, reinforces the exclusion [...]

• Woman shatters stereotypes about Down syndrome

  Patricia Bauer

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:09 pm

  From the [Howell, MI] Daily Press & Argus: Nineteen-year-old Abby Loy, who has Down syndrome, is a high school graduate and community college student, and has lobbied Congress. She has been touring her region in recent weeks to give oral presentations about Down syndrome to government and education groups, saying the disorder has not stopped her [...]

• Column: In celebration of hate crime law

  Patricia Bauer

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:51 pm

  From McClatchy-Tribune News Service in the Baltimore Sun: Kathi Wolfe, who identifies herself as a legally blind lesbian, says the president should be praised for signing the hate crime bill, which enlarges the definition of federal hate crimes to include those involving sexual orientation, gender or disability. Wolfe rejects claims that the law will inhibit free speech, [...]

• Hospice program assists parents with prenatal diagnoses

  Patricia Bauer

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:38 pm

  From the Grand Rapids [MI] Press: The Perinatal Care Program provided by Hospice of Michigan offers comfort and guidance to families coping with a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting condition. (At left, Jody Kyser and her daughter Chloe, who had Trisomy 18). The program is one of only four in the state that offers support to such [...]

• Opinion: Special ed underfunding causes inequitable treatment

  Patricia Bauer

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  From the Muskegon [MI] Chronicle: Public school superintendent Steve Cousins writes that special education is the largest underfunded mandate for Michigan school districts.  While Michigan works to provide special-education services to a wider range of people than any other state, lack of federal and state funding puts the burden on local districts and causes a pattern [...]

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  Disabled World News for Persons with Disabilities

• Meaning of Colored Jelly Bracelets

• RSS Feed Change from Disabled World

• Heritage Tours in India

• Healthy Feet for Children

• Pacemakers and iPods

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  ScienceDaily: Disability News

• Applause For The SmartHand: Human-machine Interface Is Essential Link In Groundbreaking Prosthetic Hand

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Professor Yosi Shacham-Diamand of Tel Aviv University's Department of Engineering, working with a team of European Union scientists, has successfully wired a state-of-the-art artificial hand to existing nerve endings in the stump of a severed arm. The device, called "SmartHand," resembles -- in function, sensitivity and appearance -- a real hand.

• Preventing Spinal Cord Damage Using A Vitamin B3 Precursor

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Substances naturally produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, according to researchers.

• More Action Is Needed To Support Millions Of Tinnitus Sufferers Worldwide, Review Finds

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

  One in seven people worldwide will suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) at some point. It is the most common injury arising from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and 75 pecent of 18 to 30 year-olds who go to nightclubs and concerts may experience temporary tinnitus. A research review (150 papers over 25 years) suggests that 94 percent of people are told nothing can be done. But help is at hand.

• What Part Do Relapses Play In Severe Disability For People With MS?

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have relapses within the first five years of onset appear to have more severe disability in the short term compared to people who do not have an early relapse, according to a new study. The study is one of the first to examine how MS relapses affect people during different time periods of the disease.

• Notion That Amputee Runners Gain Advantage From Protheses Further Disputed

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  A new study shows that amputees who use running-specific prosthetic legs have no performance advantage over counterparts who use their biological legs.

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  CRIN News Feed - Home - English

• ARGENTINA: Child benefits expanded to unemployed and informal workers

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:29 pm

  [BUENOS AIRES, 5 November 2009] - A new monthly family allowance of nearly 50 dollars per child that will be paid out as of December to parents who are unemployed or work in the informal economy in Argentina was heralded by experts as an extraordinary step forward in terms of social policy.

• PAKISTAN: Child rights conference and film festival - call for submissions

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:50 pm

  SPARC reel view festival will showcase documentaries, TV plays and video songs focused on children and child related issues, produced by individuals, NGOs INGOs and TV Channels. Send in your entries before 13 November in English and Urdu with subtitles. For details p

• CHINA: State to ban beating web addicts

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:38 pm

  [5 November 2009] - China's ministry of health has moved to ban the use of physical punishment to treat teenagers addicted to the web, according to draft guidelines. There are dozens of treatment centres offering to wean youths, mostly boys, from spending hours on the web. Many of the

• BRAZIL: Child prostitution rampant on Brazilian highways

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:46 pm

  At least 1,819 places on Brazilian highways have been identified by the police where minor girls and teens offer sex to truck drivers, says a new report.The report based on a police study added Tuesday that every 26.7 km stretch along these highways have spots where minors offer sex f

• AFRICA: Session 14 of the African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:43 pm

  The African Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child will hold its 14th Session from 16-19 November 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read the agenda and the

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  CRIN News Feed - Resources - News Home

• ARGENTINA: Child benefits expanded to unemployed and informal workers

  5 Nov 2009 | 10:29 pm

  [BUENOS AIRES, 5 November 2009] - A new monthly family allowance of nearly 50 dollars per child that will be paid out as of December to parents who are unemployed or work in the informal economy in Argentina was heralded by experts as an extraordinary step forward in terms of social policy.

• CHINA: State to ban beating web addicts

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:38 pm

  [5 November 2009] - China's ministry of health has moved to ban the use of physical punishment to treat teenagers addicted to the web, according to draft guidelines. There are dozens of treatment centres offering to wean youths, mostly boys, from spending hours on the web. Many of the

• BRAZIL: Child prostitution rampant on Brazilian highways

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:46 pm

  At least 1,819 places on Brazilian highways have been identified by the police where minor girls and teens offer sex to truck drivers, says a new report.The report based on a police study added Tuesday that every 26.7 km stretch along these highways have spots where minors offer sex f

• DRC: Sexual violence prevention and re-integration funding "falls through cracks"

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:29 pm

  [GOMA, 4 November 2009] - While medical and psychological care are being provided to survivors of sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where 7,000 women and girls have been raped this year alone, UN and aid workers on the ground say the funding response has been too narrow, le

• ITALY: School crucifixes 'barred'

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:50 pm

  The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy.It said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit, and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion.The case was brought

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  Do It Myself Blog - Glenda Watson Hyatt

• 5 Lessons in Embracing Life to Its Fullest

  Glenda

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:01 pm

  Forty-three years ago today, doctors weren’t sure I’d survive through the night, and then through the week, which just proves that they don’t always know everything! Yes, I am 43 today and am proud to say that aloud! (I’ve never understood why  some people keep their age a secret. What are they ashamed of?) I have earned every wrinkle, every bump and lump of cellulite, and every jiggly bit. And each one deserves to be fully celebrated (once I’m feeling better). What have I learned during this one hell of a journey? Here are a few lessons that readily come to mind: Delete the…

• Swine Flu Zaps My Bloggy Energy

  Glenda

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:50 pm

  Man, this swine flu has zapped my energy! i barely have energy to do anything and that is getting frustrating. My blog, my baby, requires consistent attention – something I love doing, for the most part – but even my creative juices have slowed down. I will return to sharing my journey from special ed classroom to university graduate and the next big milestone in “Love at First Sound Byte” (my next book title?) once I’m feeling better. For your reading pleasure, I’d like to leave you with three special memories from 2009: Close Encounter with Oprah Celebrating Women of…

• To Automate or Not to Automate Blogging Tasks: That’s the Question

  Glenda

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:04 pm

  Being a successful blogger means way more than being an engaging writer on a somewhat consistent basis. A successful blogger juggles many hats: writer, researcher, community-builder, web designer, techie, networker, marketer, statistician, and entrepreneur (if one desires to convert this all-consuming hobby into an income source) are the hats that most readily come to mind. Needless to say, a successful blogger always has something to do. For someone operating with only one thumb, the to-do list is never-ending! To take this blog the next level, which is still to be determine where exactly…

• Swine Flu and Successful Blog Posts: An Unlikely Combination

  Glenda

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:39 pm

  After feeling completely wiped and feverish with chills for a few days, then feeling liked I had been pushed in the stomach on Monday, with some unpleasantaries following, Tuesday morning found me in the emergency room. The diagnosis: I have symptoms “suggestive of the swine flu”. Perhaps I was “abusing the system”, given I wasn’t feeling too sick, yet, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I appreciate that doctors didn’t expect me to make it through my first night here on earth and that the last 43 years (next Wednesday!), I’m not ready to call it “quits” quite yet! I wanted…

• Dreams Do Come True – With a Little Help from Friends

  Glenda

  23 Oct 2009 | 7:44 pm

  One thing about being in a loving and supportive marriage is taking an interest and learning about one another’s hobbies and passions. One of Darrell’s interests is watching car racing, particularly NASCAR. Over the years I have learned way more about NASCAR racing than I ever thought I wanted to know. Sunday afternoons during the season typically finds Darrell watching the televised NASCAR race. I watch a few laps with him, ask a few pesky questions – Why was a caution called? What does [insert racing terminology] mean? How many more laps? – then I carry on folding cloths, cleaning…

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  med nauseum blog

• Is Thabo Mbeke Right? New Film on the Scanty Evidence that HIV Causes AIDS

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:54 am

  Though it's tempting to assume that House of Numbers film makers interviewed fringe conspiracy theorists to make the case that HIV does not cause AIDS, the experts in the film are actually high level government officials and virologists.The film has been playing at international film festivals, collecting award after award. Worth a watch.Discussion of film at Natural News.  Email subscribers, click the post title to view the short 2m45s trailer for the film.

• Woman Training for Half Marathon Gets Flu Shot, Becomes Disabled

  15 Oct 2009 | 9:36 am

  The woman in this video got a seasonal flu shot, came down with the flu ten days later, then was diagnosed with dystonia, a severe neurological disorder. She is very twitchy, can barely talk and has frequent seizures.Email subscribers, click through to see the worst of the flu shot.Remember, normalizing your blood level of Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is more protective than getting the flu shot. For more information on testing (new finger prick kits that are mailed to your home) and dosing, see the Vitamin D Council.

• Why "Herd Immunity" is Moot in Seasonal Flu or Swine Flu

  23 Sep 2009 | 9:30 am

  Recently, I posted an LA Times article to my Facebook page about parents who, due to safety concerns, will likely decline the Swine/H1N1 Flu vaccine for themselves and their children. When my Facebook friends posted their reactions to this article, safety concerns were ignored in favor of a slew of responses about striving for herd immunity. It seemed they had already done a risk-benefit calculation, reasoning if some were hurt by the vaccine, herd immunity was more important. (See bottom of article for a back-of-the-envelope analysis of risk-benefit.) But, what they didn't realize in these…

• It's Seasonal Flu Shot Season...but the Shot has Never Worked

  22 Sep 2009 | 3:50 pm

  Flu shot marketing season is approaching, so here is a now-annual post about why you should re-consider acting on the CDC's advice.By the way, if a doctor quotes a recent study showing flu shot efficacy (i.e that it works), then that result, assuming it is from a sound study, needs to be averaged in with the four dozen other studies that have been conducted on the flu shot. Together, those studies show that it doesn't actually work. When will policy catch up with the efficacy data? Dr. Tom Jefferson asks that question in the British Medical Journal. Below is the weight of the…

• Breast Cancer Prevention Strategies

  1 Sep 2009 | 11:04 am

  I've been wanting to write a post about breast cancer prevention, et voila, I happened upon this great write up about dietary and environmental contributors to breast cancer from 007 Breasts. They are unabashed about recommending "nipple twiddling" to produce oxytocin, so I already love their writers. So, go on. Read about everything from bras, to Vitamin D, to soy, to curcumin.At some point I'll write a companion piece about supplements that address results of a thermogram to reduce your risk of ever hearing the four dreaded words, "you have breast cancer." An easy diet and supplement plan…

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  Disaboom KaraSwims Blog

• The power of persistence in Rudy's quest to finish the Ironman triathlon

  Kara

  13 Oct 2009 | 8:57 pm

  Rudy Garcia-Tolson, 21, is a two-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist. I was honored to swim to swim on his team for the 2004 Games in Athens. His comeback swim to win the 200M Individual Medley gold medal was one of the most exciting races of the meet. Four years later, Rudy went to Bejing and successfully defended his medal. Since then, Rudy's set his sights on a new goal: Becoming the first bi-lateral amputee to complete the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii. The Kona Ironman is an extraordinarily grueling triathlon competition for anyone, but its especially challenging for someone with a…

• Service Dogs and Veterinarian Bills

  Kara

  7 Oct 2009 | 2:00 pm

  My husband and I are the proud and happy owners of two dogs, Bailey and Obie. I can't imagine our lives without them. They're cute, smart, loving, and expensive! Bailey and Obie are both members of the bulldog breed. Obie is a Frenchton (a French Bulldog and a Boston Terrier) and Bailey is a Bull Boss (an English bulldog and a Boston terrier). Bulldogs are known for their loyalty and strength, but not necessarily their health. Bailey is a trained service dog who can pull my wheelchair, pick up items, and turn on and off lights. She's enjoying a life of mostly retirement right now,…

• Illusions of Inclusion

  Kara

  5 Oct 2009 | 2:31 pm

  Today's post is the first of several intended to contribute to Disability Awareness Month.  I have mixed feelings about the dedication of months or days to oppressed members of our society. It's frightening to think that the thought, dialogue, and work would stop when these time frames elapse. That's my theoretical side. My practical side supports any and all positive steps towards awareness.  In the last few decades, society has made some gradual progress in its treatment of people with disabilities. This can be seen in the adoption of civil rights laws to protect and…

• 9/11 and Disability

  Kara

  11 Sep 2009 | 11:26 am

  Image by Storm Crypt via Flickr As the world remembers September 11, the question is circulating, "Where were you?" It's a question that my mother's generation answered about the assassination of JFK and a question that most in my generation will never be unable to answer. [Photo caption: The New York City skyline is shown with the Statue of Liberty overlooking the city.] Where was I? I was a Junior in college at Wright State University. It was the start of a new school year and I was involved in a flurry of student activities. Like New York, September 11 was a beautiful…

• How to pee standing up while sitting down

  Kara

  9 Sep 2009 | 10:27 pm

  Little did I know the topic of urination has recently sprouted up a fierce debate in the walking world. It all started with a little device called the "Go Girl". It retails for around $5 and promises to open the gates for women to enjoy the apparently innumerable joys of peeing from the upright position. The device looks like (and apparently has been confused for) a pink hat, but it's basically a funnel that improves a woman's ability to aim. [Photo caption: The Go Girl device is shown next to the portable container it arrives in to customers.] Seems reasonable. So…

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  Disaboom Beauty, Wheelchair Fashion and Dating - Tiffiny - C6 Quadriplegic Blog

• Glamorous British soap star unstopped by wheelchair

  Tiffiny

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

  I just discovered the existence of the fabulous Kelly-Marie Stewart on Google News this week. She’s Liverpool-born, 24 years old, has some of the best hair I’ve ever seen, and she stars in Britain’s (Channel 4) Hollyoaks, a popular soap opera. Oh, and she uses a wheelchair too.Diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system (which is usually acquired from an infection, a really bad one), and the leading cause of non-trauma related paralysis, Kelly-Marie lost her ability to walk 3 years ago. She first noticed it affecting her legs…

• “And the lame will walk again.” Can Geron’s stem cell study make it happen?

  Tiffiny

  29 Oct 2009 | 10:02 am

  Last August paralyzed people across the country, hoping to FINALLY see quantifiable progress in the field of spinal cord injury research (raises hand), had their hopes dashed - albeit temporarily - by the FDA. And the question, “Why?” “Why did the FDA stop megacorp Geron from beginning their highly anticipated human trials?” - which would have been the first ever FDA-approved human trials to use embryonic stem cells, is still a mystery; even 4 months after the fact.Did something horrible happen that only Geron and the FDA know about? I want to know goddamnit. A bit of background on…

• Wheelchair on Steroids: I give you the Tank Chair

  Tiffiny

  27 Oct 2009 | 11:19 am

  I’ve seen quite a few “look-at-me loud” disability inventions in my day, from the rockin’ Intimate Rider sex chair to the crazy Vertran standing wheelchair, but Brad Sodens’ Tank Chair, a non-wheelchair (for there’s not a single wheel to be found on the entire design), that equips triangular-shaped tracks to a cushioney seat, giving hardcore outdoors people the ability to make the wilderness their bitch, is crazy. And by “crazy” do I mean it’s good or bad…well to be honest, I can’t decide. I do love the story behind it: Brad designed it for his wife Liz, who was…

• Love elevators as much as me? Thank Elisha Otis

  Tiffiny

  24 Oct 2009 | 2:02 pm

  And to be fair, you could also thank Roman architect Vitruvius (if you read Vitruvius’ texts he notes that famed Greek mathematician/inventor, Archimedes, constructed his elevator-like design in 236 B.C.), but if you’re a full appreciator of the modern-day elevator like me, the one that allows wheelchair-users to maneuver through 21st century cities like everyone else, your thanks really belongs to Elisha Otis. It was Elisha Otis, who in 1852 invented the safety brake for elevators. A HUGE deal for the time (and really, still is). Up until 1852 various hydraulic-powered elevators had…

• Was using a taser twice on double amputee Gregory Williams really necessary?

  Tiffiny

  21 Oct 2009 | 12:00 pm

  I want to know because honestly (and this isn’t sarcasm), I can’t decide. If you watch this video you’ll see he was out of his wheelchair and plopped on the pavement outside his apartment when the incident occurred. Did I mention he has no legs? And probably more important to note, no prosthetics either? Anyways, check out the video of him recounting his experience and see what you think. The bitchy/cynical side of me thinks George Williams, 40 years old and from Merced, Cali, is lying about not trying to physically assault the cop (the video can be disputed as to what his true…

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  Athena, Ivan, and The Integral

• Random update crap

  athenivandx

  26 Oct 2009 | 9:58 am

  This post is basically to let readers know that we’re still around………other things have taken precedence over blogging for now. We have a friend over. She comforted Ivan the night before when he was very down and distraught saying that he had no direction. Last friday I had a kind of meltdown in front of my Differential Equations professor……..he said that he was tired and needed to wake up, I said……..”well, if you ride your bike across my neck, the sound will wake you up!” Thank goodness he’s not the type to freak out…..

• We Will Miss You, Senator Kennedy

  athenivandx

  27 Aug 2009 | 6:22 am

  On August 25th, 2009, at approximately 2am, America lost one of its greatest elder statesmen to brain cancer. Many people know this terrible day would come soon, but nobody really knew how much of a big deal it would be in the entire world.  Of course, I never knew him at all, I’d never even met the man. None of us in our system had. We’re mathematical, not political. And we’re not important enough to have met somebody like that….important isn’t the right word, but hey, we’re autistic, and we cannot always find the right words to express our thoughts…

• Back from vacation

  athenivandx

  25 Aug 2009 | 11:06 am

  This is just a short post to let readers know that we’re back. I’m not even sure we mentioned that we’d be away….there are lots of things Athena and I want to share about our trip…Ivan didn’t come out himself, as he doesn’t do family vacations. There are several reasons for that. He’ll explain later if he wants to, or if he wants me to help him with that I will. The long and short of it is that our family doesn’t know about our multiplicity.  School starts in less than a week……got to get prepared for that.  We’ll be…

• As yet untitled poem

  athenivandx

  31 Jul 2009 | 10:19 pm

  From Mathematica I hail I see the world from your mind’s veil I was born from the depths of your illustrious brain And I remain with you through joy and pain You brought me to life by the stroke of your pen So many hours you spent writing, holed up in your den You bestowed upon me such tender loving care As you nursed me out of your mind, fixed me up, and sent me off into the public square My triumphs are yours, and your ecstasy mine Together a new piece of the great Mathematica we will define Interested mathematicians are invited to submit possible titles for this poem.  Contextual…

• Please help this Autism Mom.

  athenivandx

  20 Jul 2009 | 2:03 pm

  Melissa, a mom to an autistic son, apparently lost her home, her cars, and her cat to a fire. She needs all the help she can get. Details are here. Donations can be sent to this blog. Look for a post titled “Autism mum needs help” or something like that.  Alternatively the owner of the blog, Kev, has a donation link on the main page of the blog.  Any contributions are greatly appreciated, and autistic advocates and allies who cross-post this story will be helping alot too.  The Integral Posted in advocacy, causes we support, current events, tragedy

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  Blisstree

• Will Texting Affect Childrens’ Spelling?

  Mary Emma Allen

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:00 pm

  As more and more people (children and adults) use text messaging as a means of communication via their cell phones, will we find that correct spelling becomes obsolete?  Image: sxc.hu Many young people use numbers and letters (4 instead of for, u for you) to speed up the process so they often don’t remember the correct spelling. Adults also have developed this trend, and I find myself (as a teacher, author and English minor) doing the same.  However, most adults have learned to correctly spell.  Many youngsters have not, so they begin to substitute the text spelling into their work…

• Waterbutts – Rain Barrel Butts!

  Jennifer Chait

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:19 pm

  So, earlier today I’m innocently looking for garden sheds, when I find this doozy of a product – the Waterbutt from ShackUp. Holy smokes. It may be a joke, or at least started out as one, but it actually looks like you can maybe find them and also it’s honestly a really fun idea. The Buttbutt is a rain barrel that can collect rain water from any standard drainpipe which is a good thing, since saving your rain water is smart. But man, to get this water you’ve got to tap into somewhere a little odd, as you can see in the image above. It even comes in three colors!

• A Potty Question: Using the Potty

  Eliza Ferree

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:20 pm

  This category is full of everything from getting kids ready for school to picking out those summer fun activities. So it shouldn’t surprize you that when someone emailed and asked me:IMG: Elizabeth Ferree My son is 3 years old and refusing use his potty chair. Any recommendations? My first question would be to ask if something has happened between said child and the toilet? I remember my 3 year old reacting the same way just after she learned to use her new potty, only it tried eating her. That’s what she said when she came running out of the bathroom holding her butt in her…

• More Reasons to Re-Think Buying a House

  Katelyn Thomas

  6 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pm

  Yesterday, I shared a few reasons to re-think buying a house. Today, I went to look at a few handyman specials and have a few more reasons to add to the list. And by the way…When they say handyman special? I think it is code for “This house should be condemned due to mold, structural and hazardous waste issues.” Wow. A scribbled sign on the door that says “Don’t drink the water.” After I read the sign, which the realtor pulled down because it was unauthorized, I took a closer look at the surrounding houses and saw that a lot of them had gallons of water lined up on their porches.

• Giveaway: Think Confident, Be Confident

  Cherie Burbach

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:42 pm

  I’m all for something that can lift us up. If a book or action can have us behave and think more positively, hey, why not? So that’s why I was particularly happy to read Think Confident, Be Confident by Leslie Sokol and Marci Fox. For those that have read “self help” books before, you’ll find more of the same motivating speech in this book. Where the book differs, however, is in a 4-step approach to conquering doubt. They take you through a series of steps (Label It, Question It, Rethink It, and Take Action.) While we sometimes know what it is we need to improve…

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  Rollercoaster Parenting

• Random Holiday Thoughts

  15 Oct 2009 | 7:27 pm

  I promised the boys a "Dutch sandwich" (aka nen boterham me hagelslag, or a sanbo with chocolate sprinkels) if they tidy up the house a bit. So, they are busy in the living room, and I have 5 minutes for some random thoughts.- School holidays are anything but holidays for mothers!- The weather has been crap, we've hardly been swimming.- I made a chook run, the one and only thing I managed to do these holidays- Tante Anita is in the country, and we had a nice two days together. The kids look forward to her coming back in two weeks and spend more time with her.- We had a lovely 5 days away in…

• Dust storm

  22 Sep 2009 | 8:11 pm

  This is the view that greeted us as we got up this morning:A dust storm had blown in red sand from Central Australia. The weather was perfectly calm (we were in the eye of the storm) and the sky blood red. As I drove the kids to school the wind picked up and the rest of the storm started blowing the dust away again. Sydney looks nearly normal again. It was eerily beautiful. Our house in the sand.View across the street towards Pat's house - which is bright white!

• Nintendo DS

  14 Sep 2009 | 3:33 am

  We have a Wii. Yet the boys, especially Possum, are intrigued by the Nintendo DS. Can you tell?Possum came home from school one afternoon and made this. His very own Nintendo DS, with shooting-down-spaceship game and all...I had a star chart for Beaver. Every time he made it through a Friday he got a sticker. And after 20 stickers, I promised him an Nintendo DS. Three weeks ago he finally made it. And promptly decided he didn't really want a DS, a notebook was just fine. And do you want to know why?He wanted to know how much a DS cost. He looked aghast when I told him. He decided there and…

• Me pway caw

  7 Sep 2009 | 3:24 am

  Playing with the cars. First, line them up; this way and that way... Then we park them, all the colours together. Then one car goes "boom"Then they all go "boom". Followed by a fit of the giggles...

• See? It's true!

  7 Sep 2009 | 3:10 am

  Just in case you didn't belive me, here is the proof: Possum on the top, Beaver on the bottom.

• 
  Rolling Around In My Head

• foot fetish .... no

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:10 pm

  I'm in love with elephant feet. Not kinky love, so the prudish amongst you (of which I think there are truly few) may read on without fear of some purient and tittilating confessional blog. Part of me are wondering how many of you know what elepheant feet are and how they are used. So please share.I encountered them a couple of nights ago when we checked into a hotel and found that the accessible room was lovely and large, its bathroom wonderfully organized with plenty of room for showering, sitting and shaving. But the bed, my goodness gracious me, it looked like it was made for someone of…

• A Story for Dave

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm

  "May I tell you what happened to me?"Throughout the day she had been a shy particpant. She never offered to come up to do a role play, but always did when asked. She had one of those smiles that was 'too ready', it made her look younger, less formitable, and like she was ready to laugh at herself before others had the chance to ... that, and of course, she was beautiful. I enjoyed to growing sense of confidence she had during the day, learning to claim the word 'no', learning to claim the space around her, learning that a smile is not always the best defense.When the day was over I was saying…

• Butterflies Are...

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:45 pm

  It was nice to see so many friendly faces. Amanda came running down the hall to greet me with a huge smile. We chatted excitedly. She's a lovely gentle woman who walks with accomplishment and pride in the life she has crafted for herself. She and the other Amanda, on of the group's facilitators, and I have known each other for a very long time.I was a little nervous because I'd done this workshop a lot and when I raised the concern that they'd all been through the abuse prevention workshop several times, I was told that many new people were attending and that the one's with more experience…

• Socks

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:12 pm

  He was with his Mom and Dad. I noticed him because as soon as I came out of the hallway, he let out a yelp. We had had to take the industrial lift to the second floor of a Tesco Extra because the only customer one had broken down. We wended our way through the back stage of Tesco where we met workers who hauled and lifted, moved and arranged, sorted and priced. It's a whole 'nother world back there, and a friendly one at that.After exiting the elevator we headed through some swinging doors, turned by a display of pink bras that were made for breasts of enormous proportions, and suddenly an…

• Hallways

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:10 pm

  Yesterday morning I was groggy from the deep shock that time changes are becoming to my system. I sat in my wheelchair in the hallway of a nice hotel waiting for Joe to bring out the footrests for the wheelchair. We were on our way to a lovely breakfast buffet which would begin a day off that we'd planned simply to adjust. A woman of about my age was vacuuming the hallway, her accent was warm with spices when she stopped to ask me if she could assist with the door at the end of the hallway. I thanked her and told her that I was waiting for my friend to bring the footrests. She smiled, nicely,…

• 
  Half Soled Boots

• They're in here.

  2 Nov 2009 | 12:44 am

  Spoiler Warning: this is a heavy review of an emotionally huge movie. I went to a movie the other day. I had high hopes for it, and was certainly prepared to have a good time.I didn't have a good time, though.I got punched in the gut. Where The Wild Things Are put a whammy on me.It got released on my birthday, and I thought we might take the kids to it after dinner. I checked parent previews and got the idea it wouldn't be appropriate - I asked a friend and she said this:Where the Wild Things Are is a dark and disturbing movie. I wished I hadn't seen it...the movie should carry a warning…

• Reinventing the wheel.

  30 Oct 2009 | 4:02 pm

  My cousin came to my door the other day with her favourite sweater in hand. "I was at a client's," she said, "and her cat chewed a hole in it."She was very specific - she wasn't asking me to fix it, she was asking me to show her how to fix it, but...this is a beginning knitter, never darned a stitch in her life, talking to me about a hole in her sweater. Just the thought of explaining exactly how to do it made me tired. I did try, but after a few minutes I said "Y'know what? leave it with me." I pulled it out this afternoon and examined it, reflecting with a frown that I don't think I have…

• Braids, buns.

  22 Oct 2009 | 12:25 pm

  I finally tried the Latvian braid from the Lizbeth Upitis book…it turned out pretty well. And doesn’t my breakfast look good?

• 18 Plus 18

  16 Oct 2009 | 8:35 am

  Today is International Day of Shan. Today I am thirty-six.I am going to have a great day. Schedule:1030 - Yarn sale at the LYS with my friend. I have a sweater bag of Jo Sharp Silk Road DK (50% off) in my cross hairs.1130 - Coffee (with chance of lunchy stuff), with said friend and my children.1300-1600 - Tea party/knitting frenzy with Mum.1730 - OUT for dinner! Amazing! I plan on jasmine rice with coconut madras. I will wear my new vest. Knitting pics later when the sun returns (April-May).1900 - Home for cake. CAKE, BY ALL THAT IS HOLY. I was going to make one, as usual, but Mr HSB walked…

• Three Day Road

  13 Oct 2009 | 2:42 pm

  I have this theory that a book cannot be published by Penguin and be bad. Some would disagree – I mentioned my theory to an older relative recently and he sighed about how nice it must be to be so naive, to have intact illusions. And he’s quite right…it is nice. Someday I might meet a bad Penguin, but that day hasn’t come yet, and in the meantime I am basking in the bliss of ignorance. I spent the last three days reading a most rewarding Penguin. Three Day Road is a story of two Cree boys (bush Cree, they clarify, not plains Cree) who join up to fight with the Canadians in World War…

• 
  Touched By an Alien: Life as I Know It

• IQ Tests and Exceptions to The Rule

  Laura Gilmour

  3 Nov 2009 | 12:46 pm

  For most individuals, intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests have relatively high predictive validity. Scores are also likely to remain consistent across the lifetime of individuals. However, as with medical tests, there are always patients that display exceptions to this general rule.At age 6, I displayed a 40 point discrepancy between my verbal and performance IQ on the WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). with my verbal IQ in the high average range and my performance IQ in the borderline range. When retested at age 12, my performance IQ was in the average range and my verbal IQ was…

• Asperger's + Illness = ?

  Laura Gilmour

  28 Oct 2009 | 3:21 pm

  When I get sick, I usually don't run a fever and I have a relatively high pain tolerance. The first signs that I'm coming down with something are usually dizziness and exaggerated sensory processing difficulties (often severe enough that I cannot tolerate crowds and public places), and agitation. I also often get chills and extreme exhaustion. In severe cases, I am not able to focus on any activity. I know from some of the literature I've read that illness detection and diagnosis is often more difficult for individuals on the autism spectrum. Parents should watch their children for changes…

• The Mind That Never Stops

  Laura Gilmour

  16 Oct 2009 | 10:46 pm

  Even though life is going well for me right now overall, there is always something to worry about. That is just a fact of living in an imperfect world. The problem with that and Asperger's is often my mind doesn't know how to let go and enjoy all the positive things around me. Obsessing about things that cannot be changed is a time waster and a good way to put yourself in a negative mood. What I try to do is when I find myself in a situation where I'm obsessing is ask if there is something I can do about it (e.g. help a person in need). However, if there is nothing I can do, I try to force…

• Water and Let Grow

  Laura Gilmour

  15 Oct 2009 | 6:16 pm

  Yesterday, I was reading a biography about a family raising a young boy with autism in the 1970s (entitled "Mixed Blessings.") Then, very little was known about autism. Some people told the family that the boy was "retarded" and recommended that he be "kept away from 'normal' children as it would frustrate him." Other people said exposure to other children with disabilities would harm him and that this little boy had the potential to be "normal." Overall, there was very few resources available to this family, even though the father was a well known actor in the television show, MASH. Even…

• To Label or Not

  Laura Gilmour

  6 Oct 2009 | 5:51 pm

  One of the major concerns with the DSM-IV TR is the lack of a clear distinction between normal variations in human behaviour and psychological disorders. According to the DSM, in order for something to be considered a psychiatric disorder, it must cause the affected individual clinically significant impairment. However, it is difficult to create an operational definition for clinically significant impairment. For instance, in the case of those who meet the DSM-IV criteria for Asperger's Disorder (AS), by definition, these individuals will have impairments in non-verbal communication. However,…

• 
  My Private Casbah

• For White Outsiders Who Are "OMG Offended" About That Justice of the Peace in Louisiana

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:32 pm

  My younger brother married a woman from a Cajun community in an unincorporated region of Louisiana called Des Allemands (the irony of a place with that name consisting almost entirely of Cajuns still amuses me). It's a very sparsely-populated area. Wikipedia says that, according to the 2000 Census, there are about 2,500 people who live in Des Allemands. It also says that 10.44% of the population (~261 people) identified themselves as African-American. That is not a lot of black people, folks!It shouldn't be much of a surprise to hear that it's not known for being especially welcoming towards…

• Never Mixed (Up) Enough

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:08 am

  Today, we found out that my brother and his girlfriend are having a baby. To make a long story short(er), my mom is quite upset about the fact that my brother is having a baby with a white woman. My family is a deep mix of several cultures on both sides. My mother thinks it was perfectly okay for them to date. She's had the two of them over for extended stays and invited the girlfriend back for more visits. However, she is really quite upset about this pregnancy. She doesn't like the fact that, of all her children, only one of us chose to co-parent with someone she'd consider non-white AND on…

• A Small Revelation

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:38 pm

  Today, I picked up my new eyeglasses. I really like the pair that I picked out. I think I look like a super sexy nerd. The German agrees. I can't find my camera, so I'll have to take a picture of them on tomorrow.Earlier this evening, I witnessed and participated in a conversation (on Twitter) involving a trans woman talking about the cis community's systemic hatred for trans women. It was going really well for a while. The woman, Nueva Voz, was talking about how lesbian organizations show their disdain for trans women. She pointed out how there are no lesbian organizations that are headed by…

• We're Moving!

  2 Nov 2009 | 1:20 am

  This blog hasn't been getting much use lately. To be honest, I just haven't had the energy to write entire posts. Right now, I have over a dozen half-written posts sitting in limbo because I forgot what I wanted to say or lost interest in the subject before I got around to completing them. At this point, all I can do is just pick up from where I am. Let's start with the big news.My partner and I are buying our first house! For years, we've dreamed about doing it and now we finally have the opportunity to make it a reality. The German had been researching the housing market in our city for…

• It's NaBloPoMo Again!

  1 Nov 2009 | 9:02 pm

  Okay, so today is the first day of NaBloPoMo and I'm already late posting this. I'm determined to do this, as long as God say the same and the tide don't rise. So, let's get this party started folks!

• 
  Sunny Dreamer -- We write to taste life twice...

• Relish the Oven

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  Was going to do the Labyrinth "Blast from the Past" yesterday, but remembered just in time that I was participating in the Blogblast for Peace that day. Was going to do it today, but the wind out there has been ssssooooo ferocious all day, it's been wreaking havoc on my Internet connection. And where I need access to YouTube for a certain video as part of the post, I think I better wait on it until the wind dies down and my connection's a bit more steady. So, I'm gonna share another holiday blitz poem I wrote last night.

• Witchy Woman

  25 Oct 2009 | 12:00 am

  Witchy Woman Raven hair and ruby lips Sparks fly from her fingertips Echoed voices in the night She's a restless spirit on an endless flight Woo hoo, Witchy Woman, see how High she flies Woo hoo, Witchy Woman, she got The moon in her eye

• Glamis Castle

  22 Oct 2009 | 12:00 am

  Hauntober 22, 2009 I thought I'd revisit the website Mysterious Britain and Ireland today. In searching for a legend about the Devil--in doing searches for posts this month, I've come to find that there are numerous folktales about the Devil himself and how he tries to trick mortals into giving up their souls to him...sometimes even succeeding--I came across a brief history about one of the most haunted castles in Scotland. Glamis Castle.

• 
  Blob

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-11-01

  dnw

  31 Oct 2009 | 8:53 am

  @McDawg Thanks mate. in reply to McDawg # RT @fang: Simon says he could drive his electric Tesla to from Adl to Melb for $17 'fuel' cost http://tr.im/DaAA [but that would be illegal] # #wave ing to @fang # Thinking of @fang and my wc … VIRGIN Mobile Wi-fi Modem (E6939) | Dick Smith http://is.gd/4FAs4 # @kentnewsome on the 20sec music barrier… crap this made me laugh. Newsome.Org http://is.gd/4GMoL # @SilkCharm You poked me first! in reply to SilkCharm # very late lunch at cafe on sturt st # Powered by Twitter Tools.

• Cars & Kfc

  dnw

  28 Oct 2009 | 12:16 am

  Cars & Kfc Originally uploaded by dnwallace

• Happiness

  dnw

  24 Oct 2009 | 6:05 pm

  I often hear people say they just want to be happy – I mean, DOH, who really wants to not be. I often say “happiness is a journey, not a destination”. I think this card from Postsecret blog is saying much the same thing. Dave em v p

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-25

  dnw

  24 Oct 2009 | 9:53 am

  @kerryank I'll drop a wheelchair on ya inworld. in reply to kerryank # @fang What link is that? Is there a direct link? in reply to fang # @fangif ya stuffin round with wave, might be interested in this :http://is.gd/4yOPo # @heyjudeonline waving politely and saying thanks… (because @fang says so) # @fang cant find tim berners-lee talk you referenced here http://tr.im/CQQL # @fang righto. clear as mud. no barriers to access there :/ in reply to fang # xkcd on geek contraception http://xkcd.com/649/ # Powered by Twitter Tools.

• 1st pool day

  dnw

  23 Oct 2009 | 10:02 pm

  1st pool day Originally uploaded by dnwallace First time this half of year the pool was used in a significant way. Water still cold..but guess that’s the point really.

• 
  brokenclay.org/journal

• It’s a Jeep Thing?

  Katja

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:58 pm

  Requested an “intermediate SUV”. Got a Jeep Wrangler, billed as a “full size, all terrain vehicle”, no extra charge (surprise!). Let’s see – way too high for (most) wheelchair users to get into, no way (that we could find) to adjust the side mirrors, made a constant whistling noise as the wind found its way through the fabric top into the vehicle, got terrible gas mileage – this was an upgrade how? You’re right – I don’t understand.

• Making a Serious Commitment

  Katja

  27 Oct 2009 | 2:38 pm

  I have taken the first step…writing a (really, really big) check. And soon, it will be here, my new obsession (only yellow – bright, screaming yellow): Pray for me.

• Exercising with MS

  Katja

  14 Oct 2009 | 9:49 am

  Here’s a good, basic, article from United Spinal: Exercising With Multiple Sclerosis: It’s Not Rocket Science One mistake that many people make when they start exercising regularly––whether it’s lifting weights, circuit training, or performing cardio––is focusing on what everyone else in the room is doing. Bad idea. Naturally, when you notice others at the gym lifting twice as much as you are, running twice as fast on the treadmill, or working out with a lot more intensity, it’s easy to feel a bit disheartened. The best course of action you can take, however, is to focus…

• Them and Us

  Katja

  14 Oct 2009 | 9:06 am

  A lot of people have caught on that they need to provide access for the disabled when they build something, but apparently access is only needed for Them. You know, Them. There’s Them, and then there’s Us. They might be disabled, but We aren’t, and never will be. Accessible restroom? Oh, no, because the restroom is only for employees, and none of our employees is disabled (or ever will be). Elevator to the second floor? Oh, no, because the public doesn’t need to go to the second floor, and nobody who works there is disabled (or ever will be). Access to the stage? Oh,…

• Going mainstream

  Katja

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:43 am

  It was great to see this letter in the Wall Street Journal’s “Me & My Car” column this morning: Q: I’m a wheelchair user and athlete and am looking to buy a used car that will have enough space to transport our sports equipment (racing wheelchair, hand cycle, regular bicycle and everyday wheelchair) and is lower to the ground (to make it easier for me to get in and out of it). Is there a sports wagon that has enough cargo space, or do you think we need to look to a sport-utility vehicle or minivan? —Minda Dentler, New York A: A minivan would be the easiest option…

• 
  Coral and Opal

• Eva Cassidy - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

  CoralandOpal

  23 Oct 2009 | 11:33 am

  Have a great weekend.

• "I Know What Marriage Is"

  CoralandOpal

  19 Oct 2009 | 11:06 am

  Mark McDougall and Kerry Robertson would like to spend the rest of their lives together. They live in Durfermline in the county of Fife in Scotland, and they are very much in love. If there are no objections, they would like to get married. Kerry is only 17 and Mark is much older at 25 - but they don't seem to care much about the age difference. My grandfather was 31 when he married my grandmother, who was only 18 at the time, and they stayed married for almost 60 years. Seven years is a big age difference to be sure - but not unheard of. So, if there are no objections, they would like to be…

• This Just In... WinZoom

  CoralandOpal

  12 Oct 2009 | 9:58 am

  The new technology keeps rolling in! Our latest purchase is WinZoom, a screen magnifier and screen reader in one. WinZoom offers magnification from 1.5 to 36 times the normal size, along with 8 different ways to zoom in on an area of the screen. The program offers the Color Enhancements option and font-smoothing to make all enlargements remain in clear focus. It is made by Clarity, a company out of Livermore, California, and it is available for any Ohioan with a disability for up to 30 days, cost free! For more information, please visit us at www.atohio.org.

• Terri Gibbs - Somebody's Knockin' (1981)

  CoralandOpal

  2 Oct 2009 | 3:36 pm

  Have a great weekend.

• This Just In... the "Key To Access"

  CoralandOpal

  2 Oct 2009 | 9:55 am

  New technology is coming in fast and furious! Our latest addition is called "Key to Access" from Premier Literacy. Key to Access is a portable mp3 player that comes pre-loaded with 10 accessibility software programs. Because the programs are contained on the mp3 player, they never need to be loaded onto your computer. This is a great pickup for our program, because it will allow us to send software out to Ohioans with disabilities, and let them try them on their computer, with no trademark issues. The programs on "Key To Access" include: 1. Universal Reader Plus - ideal for reading emails. 2.

• 
  Crip Chronicles

• Sez it All

  Reality Check Woman

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:19 pm

  see more Epic Fails

• New Undersecretary of Education

  Reality Check Woman

  8 Jul 2009 | 4:22 pm

  I received this press release from AHEAD today, about the confirmation of Martha Kanter as new Undersecretary of Education. As you will see, this is a very positive appointment for the disability community...."Martha Kanter will be sworn in today as the Undersecretary of Education. Most recently Kanter has served as Chancellor of the Foothill - De Anza Community College District in California. Earlier in her career she directed the disability services office at San Jose City College where she created the school’s first program for students with learning disabilities as the Director of…

• Sign the Petition!

  Reality Check Woman

  6 Apr 2009 | 12:14 pm

  I got a new email from AHEAD today -- I signed the petition, you should too:Good morning,As you may recall from the summary e-mail message we sent you last week, AHEAD is one of the founding organizations who have joined together in the Reading Rights Coalition.The Reading Rights Coalition is engaged in a campaign to obtain access for the blind and others with print disabilities to e-books available for Amazon’s new Kindle 2 e-book reader. The new reader, which Amazon is working to make fully accessible, has the ability to use text-to-speech to read these e-books aloud; but under pressure…

• Author's Guild -- Get a Clue

  Reality Check Woman

  30 Mar 2009 | 12:27 pm

  [If you want to write the Author's Guild and encourage them to rethink their position, their email address is: staff@authorsguild.org]Below I'm going to post a letter/newsrelease that I got from AHEAD today -- AHEAD is an organization for people who provide services to students at the post-secondary (i.e., college) level.Through a link on a friend's website, I became aware of the controversy about the e-text to "voice" function of the Kindle 2.0. Just a few points:This is not a separate recording, folks. This is software "reading" the e-text audibly. For people who are "print impaired" --…

• Scholarship Opportunity

  Reality Check Woman

  26 Feb 2009 | 12:17 pm

  I just heard about a scholarship opportunity for students still in high school, or those who are college undergraduates, from 1800Wheelchair.com. The 1800Wheelchair scholarship isn't limited to students with mobility impairments, but they say "preference will be given to students with mobility disabilities".Contrary to popular belief, there aren't a lot of scholarship opportunities for students with disabilities -- you should check it out.

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  Disability Studies, Temple U.

• November 5: Pierangelo Bertoli (1942-2002)

  Penny L. Richards

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:33 am

  [Visual description: color photograph of a man in a wheelchair, at a microphone, wearing a black jacket, gesturing with his right hand.]"....solo alla morte non c'é rimedio..."Italian singer-songwriter Pierangelo Bertoli was born on this date in 1942, in a working-class family in Modena. When he was four years old, he survived polio, and came to use a wheelchair. He taught himself to play

• Taking the Water Cure, Brattleboro VT, 1845

  Penny L. Richards

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:46 am

  New materials just cataloged at the Connecticut Historical Society Library include a journal from a mother/daughter trip to "take the cure" in Vermont:In 1845 Sarah Coit Day and her daughter Catherine traveled to the Brattleboro (Vermont) Water-Cure for treatment. Day kept a journal (Ms. 47047), writing about taking tepid baths, walking, the view of the Connecticut River, and other people who

• Save the Dates: Events at UCLA in February 2010

  Penny L. Richards

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  I just found out about this stuff on the Center for the Study of Women calendar website. I don't know anymore than I'm posting here, so you'll have to track after the details yourself. Try the website for The Body Symposium Series for starters. All events are free and open to the public, but as always for campus events, you should plan ahead for things like parking.Wednesday 17 FebruaryGlorya

• The Encyclopedia of American Disability History

  Penny L. Richards

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:48 am

  [Image description: Three volumes of the Encyclopedia of American Disability History, overlapping each other, on a table]Just realized I hadn't posted about this here yet--the Encyclopedia of American Disability History (Facts-on-File 2009) is now out, for real, in print. And it's heavy, too. If you're a longtime reader here, you may notice that several entries seem eerily familiar; that's

• Institute on Disabilities to move to new TempleU campus location

  Mike Dorn

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am

  .flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Gettis Student Center @ Temple, originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist. In case you haven't heard the news yet, the Institute on Disabilities will be moving in mid-November to a new location on the Temple University Campus. We

• 
  Down the MS Path

• Pain and MS, Yes, It Hurts

  Vicki

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:18 pm

  I wrote a series of articles for Health Central on Pain and MS, covering the types of pain and treatments. These are general, just to give you an idea. I am sure there are some pains as well as some treatments that have been left out. Please let me know! The best idea is to talk with your doctor about any pain and how to treat it. Here is the article series — Pain and MS Is MS painless? When I was first diagnosed with MS, it was common for the MS literature to refer to it as a painless disease. I was dealing with a new diagnosis of a disease I did not yet understand and was wondering what…

• Biking for MS

  Vicki

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:30 pm

  The National MS Society sponsors 100 bike events to raise funds for MS. All of the participating bikers have one destination — A World Free from MS! Sounds like a place I would like to go there one day. How about you? My friend, my college roommate many years ago, has a friend who was ready to bike, so she dedicated her ride to me. We met only online. Georgia sent these fabulous pictures of her with her New Orleans team on their ride. Unfortuneately, they were unable to complete the ride as scheduled because of Louisiana's famous weather. Too bad.They had fun and MS appreciates their…

• Health Central

  Vicki

  16 Sep 2009 | 3:28 am

  Health Central is a network that provides information about 40 or more specific diseases and conditions. The information includes blogs and personal stories by people actually living with or touched by those conditions.I write for the multiple sclerosis section. Each condition also has a section for questions -- any question -- answered by others who may have experience with the question topic.Browse the site, share your stories or ask a question. I'll see you there!

• MS Survey

  Vicki

  10 Sep 2009 | 3:36 am

  Do you want a voice in MS research? Here's a chance. Lisa Emrich of Brass and Ivory posted this yesterday and asked that we copy and post it. The link to the survey is included. It took me less than 10 minutes. There was no space specifically designated for comments, but I put them in the spaces provided for "other." Will they be read? I hope so.Here is Lisa's post:Share Your Thoughts on MS and Genetic Research!! HereEarlier today, I was contacted by Virginia Hughes who is a freelance science writer with a special interest in genomics and disease, specifically autism and schizophrenia.She is…

• Living with MS

  Vicki

  8 Sep 2009 | 2:50 pm

  I got this from Mike Deegan on Facebook. It takes only one minute and is a good illustration of life with MS.

• 
  Fred's Head from APH

• Leaders and Legends: Helen Adams Keller

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  Helen Adams KellerInducted 2002Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. At the age of 18 months she experienced a fever that left her deaf, blind and unable to speak. An extremely intelligent and sensitive child, by the age of seven she had invented over 60 different signs by which she could talk to her family. Because of this restricted communication her frustration and anger grew and were not relieved until Annie Sullivan, a 20 year old graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind, came to be her teacher. With her help Helen…

• Giggling Elmo Hot Tomato Game

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:29 am

  It's the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street. In this game, Elmo appears as a plush tomato that begins giggling when the child pushes its nose. Children from 3 years and up will also giggle as they pass the tomato back and forth as quickly as possible so they are not the one holding Elmo when he stops giggling. To add to the fun, 20 cards are included with letters, colors or categories on them to guide the players to calling out an item associated with the card and then passing Elmo on quickly so as not to be caught with him when he stops giggling. Elmo measures about 5 x 5" x 3.5" and uses 2…

• APH News: November 2009

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

  APH News Your monthly link to the latest information on the products, services, and training opportunities from the American Printing House for the Blind. November 2009 Exciting New APH Products Announced! Read on to learn about these new products - now available! APH Fall Harvest Sale Wilson Reading System Large Print Kit History in the Making: The Story of the American Printing House for the Blind: 1858-2008, Braille Edition HANDS ON Kit and Black Large Work-Play Tray Again Available APH Braille Book Corner APH's 141st Annual Meeting, "Keys to Success," Shares Values! At the…

• Use Email to Tweet and Interact with Twitter

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:21 am

  How many of your friends are on Twitter? Fred's Head certainly has a lot of people who choose to follow us and we're really excited about that! There are so many ways to use the Twitter service and quite a few are accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired. Let me share this one that uses email to send and receive tweets from your followers. Send email messages to tweetymail and it will interact with Twitter on your behalf. For example, send an email to tweet@tweetymail.com to post a tweet, or send an email to latest@tweetymail.com to get the latest tweets from your friends. You…

• Check the Properties with the Keyboard

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:36 am

  I love keyboard shortcuts. One can't ever have enough of them. You always look cool when you can tell someone how to do something without using the mouse! For example, instead of right-clicking and going to “properties” to get the details on a file or folder, try this: Hit Alt + Enter on a highlighted object to see its Properties, like file size, date created or last modified, and what program is associated with the file. If you must use the mouse, you can hold the Alt key down and double-click the item to see its properties.

• 
  lifekludger

• Pew Report: Social Isolation and New Technology

  dnw

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:58 pm

  Interesting things in this report (PDF) about the effects of technology on social isolation. (http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18–Social-Isolation-and-New-Technology.aspx) A lot of what it says I can attest to in my own experience, especially in relation to technology providing a platform and mechanism for "core discussion networks" to become more diverse.  This also sets off alarms in my head attesting to the underestimated importance of access to technology and access to social networks for people living with a disability. It also reinforces how we are being forced…

• You can’t have inclusion without openness

  dnw

  5 Sep 2009 | 5:47 pm

  You can’t have inclusion without openness. That may seem obvious to some. But it’s true power hit me like a ton of bricks when it popped into my head. More-so as I’ve been hung-up and writing on this openness thing for ages, on many levels, not being able to articulate the importance my gut was feeling about it. I was reading a post my friend JP Rangaswami wrote titled “When you see a fork in the road, take it“, where he was summarising the book by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser : Born Digital: Understanding the first generation of Digital Natives In one point…

• Light Activated Auto Blinds

  dnw

  3 Sep 2009 | 6:57 pm

  More DIY motorised blind mods from over on Instructables: Build A Motorized Window Blinds Controller For About $15.00 – More DIY How To Projects [hat tip Liz Henry of hackabilityblog]

• Story of ‘good will’ highlights Lifekludger concept – Santa Cruz Sentinel

  dnw

  1 Sep 2009 | 4:41 pm

  This story from the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows the power of connection and what can be achieved when a Maker (Jon Bjornstad, a Santa Cruz freelance computer programmer) is backed by a Giver (Roy and Ana Cook of Saratoga) to help a Liver (Karadole, a paralyzed woman who lives in Croatia) – with the end result being empowerment and enriched lives for everyone. Makers, Givers and Livers are key parrts of the Lifekludger eco-system. For more  see the Lifekludger wiki. [via Santa Cruz computer programmer spreads international good will - Santa Cruz Sentinel] [kudos to Sam on Facebook for…

• Pressure Sensitive Multitouch pads to come

  dnw

  30 Aug 2009 | 4:17 pm

  An article in Technology Review reveals development of pressure sensitive touch pads that could be used on future generation devices. Why is this Lifekludger newsworthy? Because the pads are reported to combine features of both kinds of existing touch pads. To me, this might mean some breaking down of the Touch Barrier and the seeming ubiquitous use of capacitive type touch pads on todays technology. At very least it could offer options, which is what accessibility is all about. This small piece I quote below, from the full article, I do so as it offers clues to how capacitive pads work and…

• 
  My Disability Blog

• What are ableism and disableism?

  Disability Blogger

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:50 pm

  Ableism is a newly coined word used to express discriminatory behaviors against the disabled. The term cropped up in the early 1980’s, when those with disabilities began showing up more often in social and political settings, demanding the same rights as those who are not disabled. Ableism is not only used to describe discriminatory behavior against the disabled, but used to describe people

• Nine things about Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Disability Blogger

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:47 pm

  1) Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is more common in women than in men. It is thought to affect women two to three times more often than men.2) The smaller joints, such as the ones in your feet and hands, are usually affected first during rheumatoid arthritis, but this can eventually spread to larger joints, tissues around the joints, and organs.3) There is no cure for RA, but treatments including

• If Social Security Disability sends you to a Consultative Medical Exam, will it be done by your own doctor?

  Disability Blogger

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:13 am

  I've heard this question voiced more than once. If Social Security sends you to a Consultative Medical Exam, will it be done by your own doctor? Answer: maybe...but probably not. Why? Part of it is probably because most doctors, and in most cases that includes your doctor, don't want to conduct consultative examinations for social security due to the low amount of compensation provided by SSA.

• Social Security Disability Video Hearings

  Disability Blogger

  31 Oct 2009 | 10:13 pm

  I've never cared for the idea of social security disability hearings done by video. If you're not familiar with the concept, it simply means what the phrase implies. You and your disability attorney or non-attorney claimant's representative are in one location and the administrative law judge, the individual who evaluates your claim at the hearing level and makes the decision as to whether or not

• Will Social Security Disability Pay For X-rays and a MRI to Evaluate My Case?

  Disability Blogger

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:38 pm

  The Social Security system does not pay for testing unless it is essential to make a Social Security disability or SSI determination. Most disability determinations are made with the evidence provided (by treating physicians and/or consultative examinations reports) without the benefit of x-rays or MRIs. But...if the disability examiner handling a particular case feels that x-rays are needed to

• 
  Meyrick Jones Racing

• New Venture - Innovative Fitness Port Moody!

  MJ

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:25 am

  The space you see above will soon be a part of the training floor of Innovative Fitness in Port Moody.If my post frequency has been down a little lately this is why....For those of you who may not know, I am opening an Innovative Fitness franchise with a partner out in Port Moody, BC.  (That's about 30mins from where I live.)We are scheduled to open on November 23rd, 2009....  which is right around the corner!This venture is a really exciting step for me - it signifies the first time in my life that "passion" and "career" can be uttered in the same breath.  I intend to write a more…

• This is SO cool!

  MJ

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:59 am

  Check this out.... I've watched it 3 or 4 times and it is SO AWESOME!Would love to know how long it took to get the crowd to be able to pull this off. The REALLY cool part kicks in at 1:35... but letting Oprah set the stage doesn't hurt ;)

• Happy Halloween!!

  MJ

  30 Oct 2009 | 10:12 pm

• Hallow's Eve Recap

  MJ

  27 Oct 2009 | 5:06 pm

  The Hallow's Eve 10km on Sunday was a lot of fun.It's been quite a while since I ran a race with over a dozen people I know so that made it different for sure. Here are some of the IF crew... many not pictured.I went into the race with no plan whatsoever other than to enjoy myself. I knew I wanted to check in on the group from lululemon and that I wanted to run with some of the IF folks for a bit but that I also wanted to run a few sections "for myself".So that's exactly what I did. At the start I ran with some friends from IF including my old coach (from a year or so ago) James. Then I…

• Cross Country Canada

  MJ

  24 Oct 2009 | 11:55 pm

  Found this video the other day... These fellas are getting ready to host (and hopefully beat down) the rest of the world in February.Although this video might be slightly over-the-top, there is some awesome footage of the training these guys put in... which is massive.You'll come away pumped for some Winter Olympic action...

• 
  Rolling Rains Report

• Prêmio Direitos Humanos - Edição 2009 (Portuguese)

  Scott Rains

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:04 pm

  No Brasil o movimento para um turismo inclusivo - um turismo para todos - tem base seguro no movimento dos direitos humanos e uma filosofia de desenvolvimento sano, responsavel, e aberto aos principios de geoturismo. Turismo inclusivo tem fims de extender a participação social de cidadão e turista com deficincia. A Brasileira que mais torce para esses direitos e em quem confio com meus projeitos e pesquisas é a RosangelaBerman Bieler. Por isso, e por causa duma vida de serviço a nossa comunidade desde um palco eficaz international, apoio a indicação de Rosangela Berman Bieler…

• Ready for World Cup 2010? Get your Safari on!

  Scott Rains

  7 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  While  you are in South Africa for FIFA 2010 you will probably want to make use of features like these that are popping up on official websites.  Go to:http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/FIFAWORLDCUP/There you will see a small logo on the right hand column which will take you to the local Association for the Physically Disabled. That page will detail the various support and advice that will be offered to visitors coming to Port Elizabeth.But what about before and after games? What to do?Epic Enabled has just published its itineraries for travel throughout South Africa: Kruger Park…

• Regulations To Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act, as Amended

  Scott Rains

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:36 am

  Comments sought by the US government until November 23:http://www.regulations.gov/sear/Regs/home.html#documentDetail%3FR%3D0900006480a29bc9

• MEAF Inclusion Champion Award 2009

  Scott Rains

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:19 pm

  The MEAF Inclusion Champion Award honors individuals who have made significant efforts to promote the full inclusion of youth with disabilities in society. The focus of the efforts may include, but is not limited to, helping to create a culture of inclusion within an organization or community or developing innovative strategies for inclusive programming in: school activities, after-school programs, community service, and leadership development. The Inclusion Champion is selected each year by a panel of experts in the field, and is presented during the Kids Included Together (KIT) annual…

• AccessAtLast Newsletter

  Scott Rains

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:35 pm

  Newsletter accessatlast newsletter - issue date: 06/Nov/2009   Most recent Last Minute Offers Casa Julia - Bookings Casa Julia Avg. Customer Rating: Prices Start From £400.00This beautiful accessible villa has a private enclosed garden, pool, and hot tub, just 5km from the coast. 2-bedroom self-catering villa with spiral stair to additional mezzanine bed-space overlooking lounge. Superb semi-rural location close to Almancil and local amenities. Easy access and quiet romantic seclusion for Honeymoon couples, families, elderly or disabled people. Underfloor heating. Wheelchair friendly…

• 
  Pipecleaner Dreams

• Social Services - Part 2

  Ashley's Mom

  6 Nov 2009 | 9:24 am

  I left the social services office with a very heavy heart. I knew from my years as a police officer that a lot, a whole lot, of bad stuff happens to children. In fact, seeing so much of that was one of the reasons I decided police work could not be a career for me. But seeing it again at the social services office had no less of an impact than when I was an officer.During the meeting with Corey’s social worker, she told me that the health department, just two buildings away, might have H1N1 shots available. My children have appointments this coming Monday for their shots, but I have not…

• Social Services - Part 1

  Ashley's Mom

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:06 am

  I had to do one of my least favorite things in the world this week – go to our county social services office. Since I am Corey’s legal guardian (he is Native American and his tribe will not agree to an adoption – although they don’t want him either), I have to check in with social services every six months. They like to know that Corey is doing well and that he is still in school (I have to produce his report card each time). Plus, he gets to keep his Medicaid if I make the appointments.The waiting room at the social services office is usually not a happy place. Many of the folks…

• Special Exposure Wednesday

  Ashley's Mom

  4 Nov 2009 | 9:15 am

  Our cats were thrilled as usual to see Halloween roll around again. Can't you tell from the looks on their faces? Say 'hello' to LobsterCat and ChickenCat!Be sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

• Hope For The Future

  Ashley's Mom

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:43 am

  The belief in the inner beauty of each and every human being is at the heart of L’Arche…and at the heart of being human… We do not discover who we are, we do not reach true humanness, in a solitary state; we discover it through mutual dependency, in weakness, in learning through belonging. -Jean Vanier, Becoming Human I believe my biggest fear in life is what is going to happen after my death – happen to Ashley. Ashley has made great strides in her short life. Doctors said she wouldn’t live – then said she wouldn’t walk – then said she would never communicate. From infancy,…

• Working Miracles with Sight and Hearing

  Ashley's Mom

  1 Nov 2009 | 4:43 pm

  As the parent of a deafblind child, I guess I should be angry that Abigail Breslin has been cast to play the role of Helen Keller in the Broadway show The Miracle Worker. At least that is what the group, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, is telling me. AIA wants a deafblind actress cast in the role, saying that a deaf or blind actress would be able to imbue the role of Helen with her experience.But isn't that what actresses do? Ms. Breslin is an accomplished actress. I would expect that she would thoroughly research her role, and I believe would do a fine job of portraying Helen Keller. In…

• 
  SSD Disability

• Why Will A Social Security Disability Application Get Denied?

  Dnews

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am

  There are basically two types of disability application denials: technical and medical. If a disability application is denied for technical reasons, the application will never be sent for a medical determination. Technical denials include lack of insured status denials, performance of SGA denials, and res judicata denials. The first type 1. Lack of insured status denial- A disability denial that

• When You Apply For Disability Do You Get It From The Day You Were Disabled Or The Day You Apply?

  Dnews

  29 Oct 2009 | 12:56 pm

  From the standpoint of the social security administration, disability is synonymous with the inability to engage in work activity; in other words, an individual's state of disability begins when they become unable to perform substantial gainful work activity due to the effects of a disabling condition or conditions. However, and this can be confusing for applicants, this does not necessarily mean

• If I get disability benefits, will my family or kids get benefits?

  Dnews

  27 Oct 2009 | 11:37 am

  If I get disability benefits, will my family or kids get benefits?. Well, FMAX or family max, is all the money that is payable on an individual's record. From the FMAX amount, the disabled individual must be paid their benefit (PIA). The remainder, if there is, any will be divided amongst their dependents.The most a dependent beneficiary can be paid is one half of the disabled individual's PIA.

• Can You Apply For Disability If You Used To Get Disability But Went Back To Work?

  Dnews

  24 Oct 2009 | 7:20 am

  Social Security disability is available to an individual even if they have received disability benefits in the past. Many individuals receive disability benefits more than one time in their life, especially if they suffer from some chronic medical and/or mental condition (s).Contrary to what many mistakenly believe, Social Security disability benefits do not replace an individual’s total income,

• What Happens If You Apply For Disability And All You Have IS Old Medical Records?

  Dnews

  21 Oct 2009 | 8:08 am

  If you only have old medical source records when you apply for disability, Social Security will still request the old records. Social Security prefers to have at least twelve months of records to establish a longitudinal medical history for your physical and/or mental impairment (s); however, current medical treatment records (medical records that are no more than ninety days old) are also needed

• 
  DISABILITY NEWS - Google News

• Commentary: Poverty and disability greatly correlated, new study shows - McClatchy Washington Bureau

  Google Inc.

  Commentary: Poverty and disability greatly correlated, new study showsMcClatchy Washington BureauHard economic times are even harder when you have a disability. But poverty and disability don't have to be Attorney Disability Insurance LLC Launches Website for Attorneys and Law StudentsPR-USA.net (press release)What Does Disability Insurance For Health Care Entail?Your Online Insurance Newsall 3 news articles »

• Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing ... - SYS-CON Media (press release)

  Google Inc.

  Justice Department Resolves Lawsuit Alleging Disability-Based Housing SYS-CON Media (press release)"The Fair Housing Act requires equal access to housing for persons with disabilities," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Justice Department settles discrimination lawsuitHouston ChronicleJustice Department Obtains $131500 in Discrimination Settlement With Earthtimes (press release)all 23 news articles »

• Disability documentary premiered - Milford Mercury

  Google Inc.

  Disability documentary premieredMilford MercuryA film made by young people with disabilities was premiered at the Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest recently. A group from the Action for Children Hawthorns

• Educating every child: Personal experience with disability - Northfield News (subscription)

  Google Inc.

  Educating every child: Personal experience with disabilityNorthfield News (subscription)My mother had had no early prognosis, so his disability was a shock to our family. My grandmother, visibly distraught, broke the news to me and my younger

• Poverty and disability greatly correlated, new study shows - Baltimore Sun

  Google Inc.

  The InquisitrPoverty and disability greatly correlated, new study showsBaltimore SunHard economic times are even harder when you have a disability. But poverty and disability don't have to be synonymous if we design our policies well. People With Disabilities In UK Twice As Likely To Live In PovertyDisability ScoopPoverty and Discrimination on the Rise for Disabled People: Leonard Cheshire SYS-CON Media (press release)Charity says 9% of disabled people have been victims of hate crimeguardian.co.ukCrewe Chronicle -DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) -AHNall 23 news…

• 
  How to be an Inspiration

• Less Pain And Wheelchairs

  Quick Sketch

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

  Those of you who follow such things will be glad to know that I will soon be able to resume my life of adventuring. My rafting trip up the river Amazon to train piranhas in dental hygiene techniques will proceed as planned now that my back is so much better. Dr Toosy popped in to check it wasn't osteoporosis and that it is actually getting better. (It wasn't and it is.) I have been been able to cut back on the pain-killers and have started teaching our goldfish to brush regularly. Rations on my anticipated adventure have been sorted. My team will be eating the tins of baked beans that had…

• A Pain In The Back

  Quick Sketch

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:23 am

  This is my first post for a week. There is a reason. I've hurt my back.My expedition to climb K2 in a wheelchair was going well until I had to traverse a ledge that required swinging on a rope some 30 feet across a vertical drop of 400 feet. Suddenly the 3 year old son of one of the Sherpas kicked his red ball over the edge and ran to follow it. As the child began to tumble I had a spilt second to adjust the settings on my whiz-bang new wheelchair to rescue mode and change the direction of my swing. I plucked the child out of mid-air and kicked the ball back to safety. But as I handed the boy…

• Not Just Any Cake

  Quick Sketch

  27 Oct 2009 | 1:23 pm

  During our foray to the pub on Friday (see last post), Bob and I made a tentative arrangement to go to the cinema this Monday. I remembered this on Monday morning and checked with Polly that this would okay and that she hadn't organized anything exciting, like the weekly food shop, and would need the car. Rather to my surprise she was delighted that I was going out and assured me she could manage, briefly, in my absence. Just as I was checking the listings and choosing between Saw VI and Zombieland she added that the boys would enjoy a trip out with their dad as well. I tried to explain that…

• In A Glass Box

  Quick Sketch

  24 Oct 2009 | 12:09 pm

  Last night Polly, the light of my life, had been invited to perform a couple of pieces at a local arts centre as part of an evening of monologues called A Moment To Mutter. Being a thoroughly supportive husband, and appreciative of the high quality of cake served at this establishment, I agreed to accompany my beloved to the show. And since we hadn't organised a babysitter we gave the boys a late pass and took them with us. We even remembered, at the last minute, to cancel the carers. The Lantern Arts Centre is located within part of the building that is the monolithic Raynes Park Methodist…

• A Matter Of Faith

  Quick Sketch

  22 Oct 2009 | 8:02 am

  As a consequence of going Israeli dancing last weekend Polly and I found ourselves addressing the congregation of Holy Trinity, Wallington, this Sunday. We had been chatting to Stephen, the vicar, between expositions on dance in Leviticus, and had inadvertently reminded him of our existence. He asked us if we would be prepared to be interviewed during the service about our faith. Polly said yes, totally ignoring the little strangling noises issuing from me and the frantic shaking of my head that was going on behind the vicar's back. With malicious glee she committed us. Only later did she…

• 
  Low Visionary

• Web Standards again – part two

  Robyn

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:55 pm

  The revised web standards for government became mandatory on October 31st. They are based on the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. While I haven’t noticed a wild flurry of new sites being launched there are some intrepid souls out there attempting to make public sector web sites the best they can be. And since social media are on the standards agenda this is for them, and for anyone who thinks web standards are dead boring and serious. Meanwhile there are still a few unconverted folks out there. One response we recently got at AccEase was “Our website steering group has…

• Web standards again

  Robyn

  21 Oct 2009 | 6:41 pm

  I have been a long standing member of the web standards working group. This is a group of Government web people and me as the resident advocate for disabled web users through DPA. We have worked on developing and reviewing the New Zealand Government web standards. The group has not met for a while but we have been resurrected so to speak. We will be working on thorny issues like the use of social networks, and, yes you have guessed the dreaded pdfs! Watch this space…

• Time out down south and across the Tasman

  Robyn

  12 Oct 2009 | 5:24 pm

  I have been a bit slack about my blog lately, partly because I have been away without access to email. A lot seems to have happened in the last few weeks. My time been particularly taken up with family. Towards the end of September I spent time with my mother, returning to my rural roots in Canterbury. I took the guided tour around my brother’s new state-of-the-art dairy operation on land that would be as dry as a bone were it not for irrigation. It seemed so strange that I had to pinch myself to make sure this was really true and not a cold-induced hallucination. I wondered what our father…

• Demand plain English

  Robyn

  16 Sep 2009 | 9:36 pm

  Here’s our chance to challenge gobbledygook. From 14th to the 18th September we can really focus on making our voices heard for plain English. On Friday the Plain English Awards will be announced. Now and any time you should ask questions if a document, email or web site content is hard to understand. Ask for a plain English version. For those who create information think of your reader rather than yourself or your colleagues Think before you write. Who will read this? Check before you send Try reading aloud what you have written Use short straightforward sentences Use clear everyday…

• Language does matter

  Robyn

  6 Sep 2009 | 9:20 pm

  I was saddened and felt smacked around the ears to hear Auckland lawyer Jeremy Bioletti use disability terms as a form of abuse today. He said on Radio NZ news at three o’clock “you would have to be deaf dumb and blind not to…” What he meant was that you would have to be really stupid. Why didn’t he just say that? Deaf and blind people aren’t any more stupid than anyone else. What makes it worse is that Deaf people can’t respond to abuse on radio. It was even more unfortunate that he used the term in relation to the real and important human rights issue of human trafficking. He…

• 
  Bionic Ear Blog

• United Nations Enable Factsheet on Persons with Disabilities

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:27 pm

  “Around 10 per cent of the world’s population, or 650 million people, live with a disability. They are the world’s largest minority.” - UN Enable Facesheet [Link: Laura Carlson] Isn’t that reason enough to make accommodations? Caption videos? Do voice overs? Design accessible web sites? What more do you need? 10 percent of the WORLD. Imagine how many customers and visitors that could mean for a business, organization or web site. I heard a story from a colleague. A friend of his has been out of work for a long time and he’s struggling to find a new job (I…

• The Miracle Worker Revival Comes to Broadway

  31 Oct 2009 | 5:28 am

  We know The Miracle Worker is a wonderful play about Helen Keller. We’ve come a long way since the 1962 movie starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke. Deaf actors have landed more roles even several were the stars of their own shows. (Marlee Matlin starred Reasonable Doubts in and Deanna Bray in Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye.) So, Broadway is welcoming a revival of The Miracle Worker. Who did the producers tap to play Helen Keller? Don’t bother trying to recall every teen actor who is deaf, blind or both. Instead, they went with Abigail Breslin of Little Miss Sunshine. Can you guess what…

• Index of Captioned Videos

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:59 am

  If you’re like me, you search for captioned video on a per site basis. For example, you use Hulu’s cc only caption feature, Google Video’s show captioned videos only feature and YouTube’s “closed captioned” type feature. Even these search tools are not perfect. For example, I added subtitles to all of my YouTube videos, but they don’t show up on YouTube’s caption search. Why? Because I didn’t upload a separate file with captions. They were already in there when I uploaded it. I have no way (that I know of) to identify the video as…

• Signs for Countries around the World

  16 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm

  From Deafnetwork.com Do you get tired of fingerspelling country names? Have you ever searched online for country name-signs but can’t find what you’re looking for? Problem solved! Check out www.aslresource.net This website serves as a resource for those seeking to learn the signs for various countries around the world. A list of references is included to give credibility to the signs shown on the website and to acknowledge regional differences. When possible, both the American Sign Language sign and the indigenous sign are posted as well as the sign for some of the larger cities…

• Closed-Captioned Movie Trailers

  7 Oct 2009 | 5:19 am

  After seeing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it got me thinking there has to be a place online to view many subtitled trailers in one place. Within a few minutes, I found http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/. CaptionFish has subtitled trailers for the current releases, but I wanted to find them all in one place without trying to change locations especially since some may not be in theaters yet. The trailers at Harry Potter weren’t captioned (no surprise there), but they aroused my curiosity about the movies (9, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are and 2012).

• 
  ATMac

• Weekend Round-Up: MacSpeech, MacHeist, Taking Control, and more

  Ricky Buchanan

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:51 am

  ATMac LogoHere’s this weekend’s bunch of news snippets, although I suppose they’re technically a day early: There’s a new release of MacSpeech Dictate available. It’s primarily a bug-fix release, with the addition of a preference control for document caching that should make it easier to do voice editing of documents in MS Word and TextEdit. MacHeist is known for giving away software and selling cheap software bundles. Right now their “NanoHeist” is open and you can pick up licenses for six software products for free! Dash on over to MacHeist and sign…

• Switch Users’ Introduction To OS X

  Ricky Buchanan

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:23 pm

  Marie-France Bru taught mathematics when she was able to, but has now been paralysed by ALS. She uses SwitchXS to access her computer with a single switch and I’ve written previously about her tutorials for her Ultra-Efficient Writing Method for switch users. This method is also helpful for other users such as those using on-screen keyboards or text expansion. Marie-France has been busy again and written a full tutorial for introducing switch users to Mac OS X. Here’s her own description: This method is meant for persons with severe motor disabilities, having no head, or finger…

• Make Your iPhone A Personal Library

  Guest Post

  1 Nov 2009 | 5:21 am

  This entry is part 4 of 3 in the series EBook ResourcesGuest post by Julie-Ann Amos. Anyone who has browsed iPhone apps know that the iPhone can do just about anything. Now it can even be your own personal, portable library. You can use your iPhone to carry around massive amounts of information without having to carry around all those books. The next question is apparent. How can this be done? Wattpad Wattpad is the definitive way to carry around your own personal library. While carrying even a few books in their traditional form can quickly become cumbersome, Wattpad offers you more than…

• Dictate News: Bluetooth, Mouse Control, and Discounts

  Ricky Buchanan

  19 Oct 2009 | 10:03 pm

  This entry is part 19 of 19 in the series Speech-to-Text CompilationTwo of the biggest requests since MacSpeech Dictate has been released have been the ability to dictate with a Bluetooth headset, and to have voice control of the mouse. Today I’m pleased to bring you news of both! Bluetooth The MacSpeech team have now authorised - and are selling - the Calisto Bluetooth Headset for use with all versions of Dictate. This headset comes with its own Bluetooth dongle, pre-paired so you can use it immediately. I am unsure if this means you can’t use your Mac’s internal Bluetooth…

• iPhone Voice Commands Cheat Sheet

  Ricky Buchanan

  17 Oct 2009 | 9:16 pm

  The iPhone doesn’t have a lot of voice control commands, but like most computer programs it’s very picky about you getting the wording just right. I’ve compiled all the English voice control commands into a printable document that will fold neatly in half and fit in your iPhone pouch so it’s handy while you’re still learning the commands. I have a complete list of all the iPhone Voice Commands and their functions. This list is briefer and doesn’t have explanations for those commands where the function is obvious - it just lists the command name to jog your…

• 
  Disability Scoop

• Employment Drought Continues For People With Disabilities

  Michelle Diament

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:50 am

  An increasing number of people with disabilities were unemployed in October, the Labor Department said Friday.

• Survey: Employers Remain Hesitant To Hire People With Disabilities

  Michelle Diament

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:54 am

  Anxiety about having to fire an underperforming employee with a disability is the number one reason employers shy away from such hires.

• Bally’s Fitness Cons Man With Disabilities Into Membership, Family Says

  Shaun Heasley

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  A man with developmental disabilities was duped into a gym membership when representatives of Bally's Total Fitness showed up at his door.

• People With Disabilities In UK Twice As Likely To Live In Poverty

  Michelle Diament

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:29 am

  Discrimination and poverty are increasing problems for people with disabilities in the United Kingdom, an annual survey finds.

• Principals Want More Special Education Teachers, Consistency In IDEA

  Shaun Heasley

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:03 am

  Lawmakers should work to establish consistency in the implementation of services when Congress meets next year to reauthorize the IDEA, a group of educators says.

• 
  Colorado Social Security Law

• When does Social Security review cases for premature babies?

  Tomasz Stasiuk

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Social Security may approve Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to children with a low birth weight (regardless or whether the child is premature). According to the Social Security regulations, these cases are often reviewed by the child’s first birthday. When we will conduct a continuing disability review. … we will start a continuing disability review … By your first birthday, if you are a child whose low birth weight was a contributing factor material to our determination that you were disabled; i.e., whether we would have found you disabled if we had not…

• Premature and low birth weight babies may qualify for Social Security disability benefits

  Tomasz Stasiuk

  3 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Under Social Security regulations low birth weight babies may qualify for Social Security disability (Supplemental Security Income – SSI) benefits. It is important to note that Social Security does not specifically consider whether the child is premature or not. Social Security considers the birth weight of the child: “Low birth weight” is defined as a birth weight under 1,200 grams (2 pounds 10 ounces) or under 2,000 grams and small for gestational age. Social Security does provide SSI disability benefits to certain low birth weight infants, whether or not they are…

• Can Social Security immediately pay disability benefits to children?

  Tomasz Stasiuk

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:00 am

  Yes. Under some circumstances, Social Security can immediately start Social Security disability benefits, and continue to pay benefits for up to six months, while the state agency component of Social Security makes a formal decision of whether the child is disabled. These are called “Presumptive Disability” cases. Basically, Social Security is saying that the child is probably disabled, and as such will pay benefits, while it reviews the case to confirm the presumed disability. Here are the conditions that may qualify: HIV infection; Total blindness; Total deafness; Cerebral…

• Do powerchairs cost as much as cars?

  Tomasz Stasiuk

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:00 am

  Mark E. Smith’s great blog Wheelchairjunkie.com, has a great article about powerchairs — a topic which combines two issues I am passionate about: disabilities and technology. I have seen some amazing powerchairs, from a super speedy model with an Herman Miller Aeron chair, running circles around people at Sam’s club, to a Dean Kamen Segway filled with a small bench (!) at Whole Foods letting the rider sit much higher that in a traditional chair, aiding in shopping and interacting with people at a common height. It is exciting seeing the developments in this area. These…

• Are Social Security disability benefits taxable?

  Tomasz Stasiuk

  22 Oct 2009 | 6:00 am

  People often ask, “Do I have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits?” Here is the answer directly from Social Security: Some people who get Social Security will have to pay taxes on their benefits. Less than one-third of our current beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits. You will have to pay federal taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an “individual” and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income that is more than $32,000. For more information,…

• 
  Community Options, Inc.

• Return to the Stage

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:57 pm

  Andre Solomon-Glover a long time resident of Manhattan, had developed an international career singing a wide repertoire ranging from the roots of American song to opera, from Broadway to ground-breaking contemporary works. Mr. Solomon-Glover, whom critics have called “a remarkably communicative performer,” has made solo appearances in major halls throughout the United States and Europe; he has performed with the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others.In 2002, however, he suffered a stroke that resulted in a Traumatic Brain Injury. Since his stroke, Andre has…

• Contours -WNTI 91.9

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:02 pm

  Please click on the link below to listen to Robert Stack's interview on the Contours Radio Program on WNTI 91.9 FM:http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wnti/arts.mediaplayer?STATION_NAME=national&MEDIA_ID=867354&MEDIA_EXTENSION=wma&MODULE=arts&ext=.wma

• Transition or Ground Hog Day

  23 Oct 2009 | 8:01 am

  Please read an opinion editorial written by Robert Stack, President and CEO entitled, "Transition or Ground Hog Day"http://blog.nj.com/njv_publicblog/2009/10/transition_or_ground_hog_day.html#_logout

• Meet the Leaders - Robert Stack

  15 Oct 2009 | 8:30 am

  Please click on the following link to watch Robert Stack, President and CEO of Community Options on Cablevision's Meet the Leaders Program:http://www.comop.org/movies/movie_MeetLeaders.html

• Star Ledger - Just Add Water

  12 Oct 2009 | 8:10 pm

  Please read our article in print on October 13, 2009 in the Star Ledger about our newest business, Just Add Water!http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2009/10/just_add_water_in_hillsborough.html

• 
  Disability Blog

• Angina Pectoris and Receiving Social Security Disability

  admin

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:19 am

  When you say the word, “angina” most people immediately think of pain in the chest.  They think of pain related to the heart. Angina, however, can refer to other parts of your body. There are also other types of angina that are not directly related to your heart. However, when you say the word most people think of chest pain and the heart. The angina related to your heart is angina pectoris, or most commonly referred to just as angina. Angina is a Latin word that refers to a painful constriction or tightness somewhere in your body. Angina pectoris is pain in your chest that results from…

• Angina and Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

  admin

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Angina relates to a painful tightness or constriction somewhere in your body. Even though angina is usually spoken of in connection with the heart, it can refer to other parts of your body, also. In fact, there are several types of angina. Some of these are: Ludwig’s angina – This is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection of the tissues of the floor of your mouth. Prinzmetal’s angina – It is a syndrome that generally consists of cardiac chest pain while a person is at rest. This takes place in cycles. Vincent’s angina – This is also referred to as trench…

• Lupus and Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

  admin

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:12 am

  Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. The inflammation caused by lupus may affect many of your different body systems. This includes your joints, kidneys, heart, skin, lungs and blood cells. Women are more at risk for getting lupus than men, though it is not clear why. There are four types of lupus that exist: Systemic lupus erythematosus Discoid lupus erythematosus Drug-induced lupus erythematosus Neonatal lupus. The most serious and common form of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus is a disease where…

• AIDS-Related Lymphoma and Disability

  admin

  23 Oct 2009 | 12:10 pm

  Your lymph system is composed of thin tubes that branch, like blood vessels, into all parts of your body. These lymph vessels carry lymph. Lymph is a colorless, watery fluid that contains white blood cells that are called lymphocytes. Along this network of vessels are groups of little, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of these lymph nodes store and make infection-fighting cells. AIDS-related lymphoma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells develop in the lymph system of patients who have AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is caused by the human…

• Receiving Social Security Disability For Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease

  admin

  21 Oct 2009 | 8:13 am

  Undifferentiated connective tissue disease is a condition which affects your muscles and body organs in a number of ways. It is a disorder that has not yet developed to a point where doctors can easily identify the disease. Undifferentiated connective tissue disease describes people who have certain laboratory markers and clinical characteristics that suggest a systemic autoimmune disorder or connective tissue disease. However, these patients lack sufficient features for a well-defined connective tissue disease like lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis. It is similar to mixed connective…

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  Social Security Disability Blog

• SSA’s Disability Case Backlog Reduced for First Time in a Decade

  Jonathan C. Ginsberg

  30 Oct 2009 | 12:59 pm

  When I talk about the disability claims process, one of the most important things I can do for folks needing help during this difficult time is to make sure they know what to expect.  This is especially true when it comes to the amount of time it could take from initial filing to a favorable decision. When Georgia Congressman John Lewis set reduction of SSA’s disability case backlog as one of his top priorities, the Atlanta North processing time for claims was the worst in the country at 828 days, and in Atlanta proper it was 750 days.  He noted that “people are waiting years for…

• The WRONG Answers to the Question: "Why Can't You Work"

  Jonathan Ginsberg

  4 Oct 2009 | 6:42 pm

  As I have discussed extensively on this blog and on my web sites, the ultimate question in any Social Security disability case boils down to this – would you be able to perform reliably a simple, entry-level job 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? This question concerns itself with your capacity to perform work or work-like activities.  Other factors like the job prospects in your town, your transportation issues, etc. are not relevant.  As I tell my clients – imagine that a chaueffer driven limo will pick you up each morning and take you home each night – can you reliably…

• Understanding How Social Security Classifies Your Past Work

  Jonathan Ginsberg

  29 Sep 2009 | 3:33 pm

  Like many federal bureaucracies, Social Security has developed its own language for describing many of the concepts that underlie a disability evaluation.  Since disability considers your capacity to work by looking at both your past work and about other jobs, a description of your past work is an important part of your case evaluation.   You should try to become familiar with some of these terms prior to your hearing. At Social Security hearings, judges often call vocational witnesses to classify your past relevant work.   Generally Social Security is concerned with your past relevant…

• Heart Disease Case Study Posted

  Jonathan Ginsberg

  26 Sep 2009 | 8:12 pm

  I invite you to visit my Georgia Social Security disability web site to read my latest heart disease disability case study report about a case I tried last week on behalf of a client with a longstanding cardiac disease complicated by decreased kidney function and diabetes.  Like many of the cardiac disease cases that I try, there were three viable theories of disability that could apply: (1) a listing argument; (2) a functional capacity argument and (3) a grid rule argument. I presented all three to our judge, and the judge decided to approve based on….(you'll have to read the…

• Can an Alcoholic Ever Qualify for Disability?

  Jonathan Ginsberg

  17 Sep 2009 | 3:16 pm

  A number of years ago, Congress passed a number of changes to the Social Security disability laws that made disability claimants ineligible for benefits if alcohol or drug abuse was a material contributing factor to their disability.   As a result, most claimant's lawyers are very reluctant to accept as clients individuals who are active alcoholics or whose doctors discuss in medical records abuse of narcotic medications. Are there any circumstances when an alcoholic or drug abuser might still qualify for disability? You may be surprised to learn that the answer to this question is…

• 
  Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Blog

• "Tort Reform" Is a Desperate Distraction From Health Care Debate

  Bob Kraft

  7 Nov 2009 | 2:46 am

  This article was written for the Huffington Post by Anthony Tarricone, president of the American Association for Justice. Here are excerpts: Those opposed to real health care reform are flailing to come up with real, alternative solutions to our current crisis. With all the talk of death panels, government takeovers, and rationing of care, now tort reform has been thrown into the mix. Yet it will do practically nothing to lower health care costs, and certainly will not fix our broken health care system. However, it will most definitely hurt patients injured through no fault of their own.

• Friday Fun

  Bob Kraft

  6 Nov 2009 | 3:29 am

  I was sick recently and my wife thought this short video illustrated the situation perfectly.

• Arthritis, Social Security Disability, and Supporting a Good Cause

  Bob Kraft

  5 Nov 2009 | 2:47 am

  A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from arthritis. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience the following symptoms: joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. The course of prescribed treatment can include medications, physical therapy, and surgery. Not all individuals who have been diagnosed with arthritis will be found disabled under Social Security rules. One source of information we recommend for people with arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation. This is a non-profit organization with a Web site full of information and resources for those…

• Omnicare Will Settle Kickback Cases for $98,000,000

  Bob Kraft

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:40 am

  CBS Evening News (11/3, story 9, 1:40, Smith) reported, "As members of Congress debate healthcare reform, most would agree there needs to be a crackdown on cheating. Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian reports now on a staggering fraud settlement involving healthcare giant Omnicare." CBS (Keteyian) added that "Omnicare agreed to pay nearly $100 million to settle a series of complaints with the Justice Department for paying and receiving kickbacks." The Wall Street Journal reports that Omnicare was accused of paying kickbacks to nursing homes to encourage…

• Increasing Risk, Hurting Patients — Malpractice Caps

  Bob Kraft

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:41 am

  Forbes Magazine has an interesting article about medical malpractice lawsuit caps, and how that idea is bad for patients. The article is written by Shirley Svorny, a professor of economics at California State University, Northridge, and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute. Here are excerpts: A new Congressional Budget Office report estimates that a set of tort reform measures--including caps on awards for non-economic and punitive damages--would have lowered total national health care spending in 2009 by $11 billion, largely by reducing so-called defensive medicine. Damage caps, though,…

• 
  Finding My Way

• Mad Pride, Medication & Emotional Support Animals

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:29 am

  It all started at the very end of my shrink appointment Tuesday. I'm going to come right out in the open and admit that I've been having serious compliance issues with my meds for a very long time now. So she says (in a non threatening way, completely in passing) "Maybe I should threaten to not treat you. It seemed to work the last time." To which I said "What if I went all mad pride and had a strong philosophical belief against taking meds?" Also, I disagree with her in that although it did work it was very temporarily. I left it at that as I was walking out the door. But I didn't end the…

• Wordless Wednesday

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  A picture from the protest and some linkage to more pressFrom WAMU, the local NPR news radio Locally-Founded Autism Group Protests DC Walk for AutismFrom The Hilltop, Howard University's Student Newspaper Autistic Plea Less Pity

• LGBT Long Term Care Survey

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:15 pm

  Haven't looked at it at all, just passing along from FRIDA.Dear Colleague:The National Senior Citizens Law Center, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), are working together to raise awareness of the issues facing older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") and live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. We hope to identify areas where policy changes will improve care, and…

• A Blast From the Past Article

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:39 pm

  I was looking for this exact picture for my postcard and I googled and it was still online here even after over 8.5 years since it was written. The article was written for a local newspaper. I was in MEL from Sept 2001-June 2003 (10th-12th grade) and was interviewed for the article. I think that little bit of hair you can see furthest away is my hair! I owe all my success in disability advocacy/activism to this program and Judy Webster. Oh, and Robert [that's him in the picture along with Jill & Mawadda. I think Carla is the half a face & Keith is the other bit of hair] got in trouble…

• What Does Disability Mean to YOU?

  1 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  VSA Arts wants to know for their collaborative art project!Collaborative art project - What is Disability? What’s the Art Project? Join people from around the world and send in a postcard documenting your interpretation of disability. All languages accepted. Print the postcard template and create a visual representation of your experiences, impressions, and perceptions. We’re taking a creative approach to investigate how many different ways people will interpret the same word. The deadline for receipt of postcards is February 5, 2010. Who Should Participate? You! We’re looking for…

• 
  abledbody

• Disaboom Launches New Website

  admin

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Disaboom.com, a site that’s chock-full of disability news and information, has just relaunched its website — and it’s a beauty. The Denver-based company worked with hundreds of people with disabilities — termed “power users” — to come up with the revamp. For starters, Disaboom stripped out its user-generated content and blogs that tended to overshadow [...]

• Skyrocketing Unemployment Leads to Higher Disability Claims

  admin

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Stock-market watchers, here’s an economic nugget for you: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities has reached 16.1 percent — its highest rate since January — compared to 9.3 percent for people with no disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s third-quarter report. And one-third of disabled workers had been jobless for 27 weeks [...]

• A Dollar Bill Reader That’s Easy on Your Wallet

  admin

  21 Oct 2009 | 8:58 am

  By Suzanne Robitaille If you have trouble seeing whether you’re paying for your lunch with a $20 or a $50 bill, there’s a new banknote identifier on the market. iBill is a banknote identifier from Orbit Research that’s designed for the blind and the visually impaired. The device costs $99, which is less expensive than [...]

• When a Tele-Marketer Fails to Accommodate

  admin

  14 Oct 2009 | 11:38 am

  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a Dallas-area tele-marketing firm for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by firing an employee with multiple sclerosis, according to the Dallas Business Journal. The suit, filed last week in federal district court in Dallas, alleges that Mannatech, Inc. engaged in “unlawful employment practices” by firing the worker, [...]

• VA May Relax Rules on Stress Disability Claims

  admin

  14 Oct 2009 | 10:51 am

  The Veterans Affairs Department has proposed reducing the paperwork required for veterans to show that their experience in combat caused post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Under the new rules, even just the fear of hostile action would be sufficient, as long as a VA psychologist or psychiatrist agreed, according to the Associated Press. The VA says [...]

• 
  All Access Blogging

• Accessibility For Bloggers: Starting From Where They Are

  Skye

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:12 pm

  Another fairly stream of consciousness post, sorry folks. Writing this stuff out is helping me think through it, but I promise not to take offense if you unsubscribe. In November I plan to get back to actual content, but for the next few days, it's my blog and I need to use it to think! I've been thinking a lot lately about why creating accessibility outreach materials targeted at bloggers needs to be different than all the great materials that are out there about web accessibility in general. I definitely don't want to be duplicating effort. Bloggers come in a wide variety of skill levels,…

• Confession: this is not a blog

  Skye

  15 Oct 2009 | 10:07 am

  Allright, y'all, time to confess. When I started this blog, it was not because I wanted to blog about accessibility. There are lots of accessibility blogs. There are lots of GREAT accessibility blogs. Being read by people who already care about accessibility. What I really want is to reach out to the bloggers who don't already care about accessibility. To do that, though, I felt like I needed to get all my information organized. If I was going to say "hey, you need to make your blog accessible!" then I should be prepared to tell them how, including instructions for their blogging platform.

• Your Top Tips For Making Your Blog More Accessible?

  Skye

  18 Jul 2009 | 8:25 am

  On Wednesday I am off to the BlogHer conference in Chicago, and once again I am honored to be presenting on accessibility and blogging. I get the feeling that most of the people reading this blog are accessibility geeks, so I ask you, what are the key items I should be sharing with my fellow bloggers? My session is flagged as appropriate for beginners, which is going to include some people who don't even know what HTML means, but I assume I'll also have some folks with some code knowledge wander in. So far I've tried to take the best of the two previous presentations I've done, and the areas…

• Your Page Title Matters More Than You Think

  Skye

  14 Jul 2009 | 8:20 am

  Every page on your blog, whether it's the home page, the individual post page, or an archives page, has what's called a title element. Depending on how your blog is set up, this information probably displays at the top of the browser, and in the tab where you have that page open if your browser does tabbed browsing. As someone who often has a lot of tabs open at once, I really appreciate being able to see which tab is which because of the page titles. To make your blog more accessible, though, are there any special considerations for what should be in the title? I've blogged before about how…

• What CAPTCHAs mean to people who can't get through them

  Skye

  1 Jun 2009 | 6:45 am

  CAPTCHAs, for those who don't know, are those squiggly letters you have to type in to prove you're a human and not a spammer. They're often used in signup processes on websites, and when you're trying to comment on blogs. Often the response to people who can't manage a CAPTCHA, including some people with learning disabilities as well as those with visual impairments, is that they should just get a friend to help them. I was cleaning out my web bookmarks on accessibility a while ago and came across this gem from Nickie of Nickie's Nook, in a post from a couple of years ago called Accessible…

• 
  abledbody

• Disaboom Launches New Website

  admin

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Disaboom.com, a site that’s chock-full of disability news and information, has just relaunched its website — and it’s a beauty. The Denver-based company worked with hundreds of people with disabilities — termed “power users” — to come up with the revamp. For starters, Disaboom stripped out its user-generated content and blogs that tended to overshadow [...]

• Skyrocketing Unemployment Leads to Higher Disability Claims

  admin

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Stock-market watchers, here’s an economic nugget for you: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities has reached 16.1 percent — its highest rate since January — compared to 9.3 percent for people with no disabilities, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s third-quarter report. And one-third of disabled workers had been jobless for 27 weeks [...]

• A Dollar Bill Reader That’s Easy on Your Wallet

  admin

  21 Oct 2009 | 8:58 am

  By Suzanne Robitaille If you have trouble seeing whether you’re paying for your lunch with a $20 or a $50 bill, there’s a new banknote identifier on the market. iBill is a banknote identifier from Orbit Research that’s designed for the blind and the visually impaired. The device costs $99, which is less expensive than [...]

• When a Tele-Marketer Fails to Accommodate

  admin

  14 Oct 2009 | 11:38 am

  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a Dallas-area tele-marketing firm for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by firing an employee with multiple sclerosis, according to the Dallas Business Journal. The suit, filed last week in federal district court in Dallas, alleges that Mannatech, Inc. engaged in “unlawful employment practices” by firing the worker, [...]

• VA May Relax Rules on Stress Disability Claims

  admin

  14 Oct 2009 | 10:51 am

  The Veterans Affairs Department has proposed reducing the paperwork required for veterans to show that their experience in combat caused post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Under the new rules, even just the fear of hostile action would be sufficient, as long as a VA psychologist or psychiatrist agreed, according to the Associated Press. The VA says [...]

• 
  Social Security Blog

• Review Your Social Security Statement

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:57 pm

  "Social Security is going to run out in the next twenty years." "Social Security is the biggest ponzi scheme ever created." "Social Security is something no one needs to think about since it doesn't really affect us."Chances are, most of you have heard of at least one of these statements in your lifetime. In fact, you probably agree with at least some of those overly broad statements. Regardless of what any of your views are, one thing is clear, whether you like it or not 6.2% of every paycheck you receive while working will go directly into the OASDI program. Over time, the amount that is…

• Having A Disability On Halloween

  1 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  Any way you look at it, Halloween is one of the most exciting days of the year for a child. Children become heroes and villains, princes and princesses, or any other thing or person that they desire. They then run amok, visiting numerous houses seeking what almost all kids desire, candy. Regardless of one's race, sex, or religion Halloween is a day that every child looks forward to. For this reason, it is imperative that everyone is included on this special day, which can sometimes feel difficult if your child has some form of a disability.Yesterday, I read a very useful article on this…

• Best October Social Security Disability Blogs

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:23 am

  For the very first Best Social Security Disability Blogs of the month, there was a lot of competition in the month of October to make it to the Top 6. There were several new blogs created this month and lots of new faces in the world of legal blogging. My favorite October blogs were:Addison's Disease and Social Security Disability -Dallas lawyer Bob Kraft on the firm's P.I.S.S.D. BlogHow Does Social Security Figure Out What You Should Pay Your Disability Attorney -Tim Moore on My Disability BlogOnset Date Language For Medical Source Statements -Maine lawyer Gordon Gates on Social Security…

• Clarification on the Ticket to Work program

  25 Oct 2009 | 8:57 am

  I have received several email inquiries and online informational requests from people who have read my "Don't Forget Your Ticket To Work" article at http://www.articlealley.com/article_1110367_18.html requesting help obtaining meaningful and fulfilling employment. Due to some confusion, I wanted to clarify some key points about the Ticket to Work program.1.The Ticket to Work program is voluntary, you are not required to participate in the program.2.In order to be eligible for the program, you have to ALREADY be receiving Social Security disability benefits. In other words, if you are…

• Most Against Another $250 Payment to Seniors-US News

  21 Oct 2009 | 1:06 pm

  Last Wednesday, President Barack Obama urged Congress to approve $250 cash payments to over 50 million seniors. The push by the President is in part an attempt to make up for the failure to increase Social Security in 2010.In a speech backing the proposal, President Obama stated, "Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by the recession. This additional assistance will be especially important in the coming months, as countless seniors and others have seen their retirement accounts and home values decline as a result of the economic crisis."-Yahoo!