Disability

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  • Surgeons restore some hand function to quadriplegic patient

    ScienceDaily: Disability News
    15 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    Surgeons have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still “talk” to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury.

  • JORDAN: Abuse at children's care homes uncovered

    CRIN News Feed - Home - English
    16 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
     [15 May 2012] - A BBC Arabic investigation has uncovered cases where children have been seriously injured in Jordan's private care homes for the mentally disabled. Nasar Sharmain trusted the al-Helal Centre in Amman with his 15-year-old son Ahmad. But on a surprise visi

  • JORDAN: Abuse at children's care homes uncovered

    CRIN News Feed - Resources - News Home
    16 May 2012 | 1:41 pm
     [15 May 2012] - A BBC Arabic investigation has uncovered cases where children have been seriously injured in Jordan's private care homes for the mentally disabled. Nasar Sharmain trusted the al-Helal Centre in Amman with his 15-year-old son Ahmad. But on a surprise visi

  • INDIA: Child bride annuls marriage

    CRIN News Feed - For Children
    26 Apr 2012 | 6:18 am
    The couple was married at ages one and three, but the bride was not informed until she was 18.

  • Happy Sweet 16, My Faith

    Do It Myself Blog - Glenda Watson Hyatt
    Glenda
    15 May 2012 | 2:57 pm
    Sixteen years ago today, my aunt placed a tiny 5-6 week old (exact birth date unknown) brown tabby kitten on my lap. There she stayed. I wasn’t sure she could walk the first couple of days. Faith and I have been inseparable ever since. She was still such a young kitty that she tried, repeatedly, nursing from my neck. She still does on occasion. (Do cats have bad dreams and need comforting?) There’s nothing like being awakened by a kitty claw in the jugular vein and being smothered in kitty kisses. Faith is equally content curled up behind my knees. (Not my most photogenic side…oh…
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    ScienceDaily: Disability News

  • Surgeons restore some hand function to quadriplegic patient

    15 May 2012 | 9:45 am
    Surgeons have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still “talk” to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury.

  • Scientists discover clues to muscle stem cell functions

    15 May 2012 | 6:03 am
    Scientists have identified how skeletal muscle stem cells respond to muscle injury and may be stimulated to improve muscle repair in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe inherited disease of muscle that causes weakness, disability and, ultimately, heart and respiratory failure.

  • Tiny solar-panel-like cells help restore sight to the blind

    13 May 2012 | 1:46 pm
    Using tiny solar-panel-like cells surgically placed underneath the retina, scientists have devised a system that may someday restore sight to people who have lost vision because of certain types of degenerative eye diseases.

  • Gene therapy for hearing loss: Potential and limitations

    11 May 2012 | 11:23 am
    Regenerating sensory hair cells could form the basis for treating age- or trauma-related hearing loss. One way to do this could be with gene therapy that drives new sensory hair cells to grow. Researchers have shown that introducing a gene called Atoh1 into the cochleae of young mice can induce the formation of extra sensory hair cells.

  • Helping Hands reaches out to patients with cerebral palsy

    10 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    A student-made invention, Dino-Might, was designed to help children with cerebral palsy restore strength and flexibility to their hands and wrists.
 
 
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    Do It Myself Blog - Glenda Watson Hyatt

  • Happy Sweet 16, My Faith

    Glenda
    15 May 2012 | 2:57 pm
    Sixteen years ago today, my aunt placed a tiny 5-6 week old (exact birth date unknown) brown tabby kitten on my lap. There she stayed. I wasn’t sure she could walk the first couple of days. Faith and I have been inseparable ever since. She was still such a young kitty that she tried, repeatedly, nursing from my neck. She still does on occasion. (Do cats have bad dreams and need comforting?) There’s nothing like being awakened by a kitty claw in the jugular vein and being smothered in kitty kisses. Faith is equally content curled up behind my knees. (Not my most photogenic side…oh…

  • Wordless Wednesday

    Glenda
    9 May 2012 | 12:57 pm
    If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a cafe mocha. Thanks kindly.

  • Reclaiming My Weekends: Another 4-Hour Workday Perk

    Glenda
    2 May 2012 | 9:25 pm
    For the last few years i have recorded my site stats on Saturdays; the one time each week when I checked my stats and wrote them down. Why I chose Saturday i do not know. But, turning on my computer to complete that task, I typically ended up doing other things on there and ended up frittering away more of my Saturday than I had intended. I do not recall an extended period of time since elementary school (before homework began) when I had my weekends totally off, guilt free. This past weekend I chose to change that; I chose to reclaim my weekends. Saturday I checked out our annual Party for…

  • The Last Bunny Standing: A Doomed Victim or A Feisty Survivor?

    Glenda
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:36 pm
    Once upon a time there were three adorable Golden Bunnies, happy and carefree. Sadly, one day a big monster came and devoured every tasty, chocolate-y morsel of two of the bunnies. All that remained was their two collars with gold bells… You are the last remaining Golden Bunny. What do you do? Do you concede to the same doomed fate? Do you learn from the past tragedy and focus on being a survivor? Or do you discover a third option? Share in the comments below. If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a cafe mocha. Thanks kindly.

  • Photo Wheel Outtakes: The Shots Not Typically Shared

    Glenda
    11 Apr 2012 | 8:56 pm
    On beautiful days Darrell and I grab our respective cameras and head out somewhere we can easily get to. These photo wheels have become an outside activity we are able to enjoy together. I frequently share a day’s best photos in a post, like the Easter bouquet a few days ago. What I don’t share are the umpteen shots that don’t make the cut because of my shaky cerebral palsy and my not-quite-perfected camera mount. That is, not until now…perhaps there is beauty hidden somewhere in the outtakes… Then I get the one I was aiming for…or almost, which only means I still have something…
 
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    Blisstree » LIVE

  • Mattresses Might Improve Your Sleep; They’ll Probably Ruin Your Sex Life

    Deborah Dunham
    16 May 2012 | 11:20 am
    Which would you rather have: good sleep or good sex? This is the dilemma that many couples are facing when it comes time to buy a new mattress. It seems that sales of those super-plush mattresses are on the rise, and with good reason–we sleep better on them. But, according to a recent Barron’s report, they also have a serious downside–bad sex. New York sex therapist Sari Eckler explained it best to Barron’s: There’s a lack of resistance for the knees and feet. And whoever is on the bottom is sinking into the bed. Or, as an owner of one of these plush mattresses…

  • Weight Watchers’ Weigh-Ins Need To Stop

    Deborah Dunham
    16 May 2012 | 9:04 am
    I recently attended a local Weight Watchers meeting to speak about an upcoming charity walk/bike ride. Much to my surprise, when I walked in, the receptionist at the front table asked if I “needed to be weighed.” No, I don’t “need” to be weighed, I told her. No one “needs” to be weighed. To me, weighing people in public is just offensive and humiliating. And it goes against everything I believe in about how to get people healthy. I get that Weight Watchers is all about helping people lose weight. Really, I do. But I don’t believe in scales. As a…

  • Afternoon Links: 50 Awesome Pre- And Post-Workout Snacks

    Blisstree Staff
    15 May 2012 | 3:30 pm
    • Fuel your body with these yummy snacks for both before and after your workout (Greatist) • Achieve the perfect lunge with this tutorial (HuffPost Healthy Living) • What’s the favorite clothing line for athletic celebs? Hint: it’s not lululemon (Well & Good) • True or false: the best facial cleansers really sold on drugstore shelves (Vital Juice) • Yes, it’s true–you really do eat more junk food in the wee hours (Grist) • These common running ailments can sideline your workouts–learn more about them to keep yourself healthy (FitSugar) Post from:…

  • FDA Pushes Back New Sunscreen Guidelines (So Consumers Will Be Protected…Next Winter)

    Briana Rognlin
    15 May 2012 | 2:59 pm
    Last summer, the FDA gave sunscreen manufacturers a new set of sunscreen label guidelines—which included updates to better protect consumers—but last week, they announced that they’d pushed back the deadline another six months. So labels should be more accurate by…next winter. The new label requirements would require a standardized test for products labelled “broad spectrum,” to indicate that they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. They would also bar companies from using the terms “sweat-proof” and “waterproof” (to dispell…

  • Afternoon Links: Stop Side-Stitches Once And For All

    Blisstree Staff
    14 May 2012 | 3:00 pm
    • Plenty of runners are plagued by side-stitches–here’s how to banish them forever (Runner’s World) • Looking to cut back on your carb intake? Here are 15 fresh ideas for how to go bread-free (FitSugar) • Being eaten up by allergies might mean more than sneezing and wheezing–seasonal allergies could lead to weight gain (Women’s Health) • We know you’re busy, so here are four 4-minute workouts to squeeze in (FitBottomed Girls) • Do vitamins and supplements actually work? HuffPo is on the case (HuffPost Healthy Living) • Prepare food like…
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    Rolling Around In My Head

  • No One's Tone

    15 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    "Are you all right big fella?""Is your ride downstairs?""Do you need someone to wait with you?"Hear those words with that kind of over-dramatic pity said loud enough for everyone to hear KINDNESS. When people are speaking with me but performing for other, I go quite cold inside. I know what's going on, those speaking to me, at the elevator door, have assumed that I have an intellectual disability - or perhaps - they are simply using a generic 'them' voice.I assured them, nicely, that I did indeed have a ride downstairs and that I was capable of getting there on my own. They looked startled at…

  • ACTION!

    14 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I was strangely nervous as I rolled through the door. There, sitting waiting, were three 13 year old girls and a hand held camera. They were at Vita doing a short documentary, as part of a school project, on the bullying and teasing of people with intellectual disabilities. We've made it a policy, and want it to be part of our culture, to say 'yes' to these kinds of projects. As such we've worked with a variety of students doing research for post graduate degrees over the years. This, though, was different. These were three school kids and a hand held camera, wildly intimidating I have to…

  • Book Club Announcement

    14 May 2012 | 6:05 am
    The date has been set for the next book club. We're doing Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens ... which is a bit of a big book to tackle but I'm assured - by Joe who keeps stopping to read parts to me - that it's worth the time. There are several ways to participate:1) read the book and comment in the comment section here.2) read the book and write a review in your own blog and put the link in the comment section.3) read the book with a group of friends - discuss the 'disability' content summarize your discussion on your blog or in the comment section.So the date???June 30today's blog follows

  • Spring Has Sprung

    13 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    The ritual has begun.Spring, I now declare, is here. I don't care what the calender says. I don't care what they announce on television. Spring is here.I  know this because right now, as I type this, Joe is out on the balcony gardening. He's just got home from Canadian Tire where he's picked up:potting soiltwo beefsteak tomato plantsone habanero plantone sweet banana pepper plantone pot of basilmarigolds, to plant amongst to keep the bugs awayHe does this when his inner clock strikes 'spring' ... thus I know it's spring. I bought him gardening gloves a few years back but he doesn't use…

  • A Moment on Mother's Day

    13 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    We were having a delightful day. We went and picked up a street vendor veggie dog, ate it in the park and then strolled towards home. We went through George Hislop parkette and found the tree dedicated to Ron Shearer. It is Mother's Day after all and we felt, as very young gay men, very much parented by George and Ron, and as part of that exquisitely MOTHERED by Ron. It just felt right.I had spoken to my own mother, both yesterday and today, the flowers and chocolate had arrived nicely, though the card didn't make it in time. So we'd done the day the way I think it was intended to be…
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    Half Soled Boots

  • Who's better? I'M better!

    14 May 2012 | 11:21 pm
    And by "better" I mean "cured".  Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments! You were very comforting.Here's what I learned from this experience, dear readers:do not self-diagnose using the internet.Due to all the weird symptoms, and with the help of Google, I had decided I had trigeminal nerve damage and that the rest of my life was ruined. I would be doomed to swallow prescription pain killers for the next fifty years and, if I was lucky, I could save up enough money from bake sales and contract knitting, that I could go to a special clinic in the US and have ground-breaking…

  • Trigemin-oh-no

    12 May 2012 | 4:30 pm
    It's a sign of how anxious and upset I am, not to mention how much pain I am in, that I am even mentioning this to you at all.I had some dental work done in November, and ever since then my face has been hurting.Yes, for six months.Displaced pain that covered all bases from my front tooth to my back, and from my eyelid to my ear, made me suspect that my nerve, never pleased with dental work, had finally frapped out. I delusionally hoped it would get better...for SIX MONTHS.Went to the dentist last week and was told I had an abscess forming for the last SIX MONTHS, and that I must be awfully…

  • My Yesterday

    10 May 2012 | 11:28 am
    The last few days we have enjoyed intermittent - very intermittent - sunshine. It's not enough to really warm things up, and the hailstorms punctuating the afternoon kept the air downright chilly, but it's enough to make me think there's hope yet.I bought this pulsatilla plant several years ago - five, maybe? - and would love to find more one day. I haven't seen any for sale since, though I haven't looked too hard. I kept thinking it might spread, or self-seed, or something. (It hasn't.)School is nearly finished for the year. We have two weeks or so left. The lightning-swift passage…

  • How long does it take to learn to drive a horse?

    7 May 2012 | 11:19 am
    Cancer rates in Amish communities are 40% less than in the mainstream. That is a HUGE difference.

  • Dear Mute Button

    30 Apr 2012 | 8:57 pm
    Will you marry me? Only you can stop this rich loudmouth chick from yelling at me every time I'm trying to watch "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives".   So, yeah - I love you - thanks for everything - keep up the good work. Shannon + Mute 2-getha 4-evah
 
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    Touched By an Alien: Life as I Know It

  • The B(ee)

    Laura Gilmour
    2 May 2012 | 3:13 am
    “But the bee was the biggest problem of all, so the teacher sent him to Dr. Owl for testing. Dr. Owl said that the bee's wings were just too small for flying and besides they were in the wrong place. But the bee never saw Dr. Owl's report, so he just went ahead and flew anyway.” Imagine a highly verbal four-year-old who struggles to draw pictures and copies letters upside down and backwards. A child who experts predict will have trouble learning to read due to symbol recognition, who will likely never do high school math, who will never even read a thermometer. Imagine that child a little…

  • The Way of the Dinosaurs

    Laura Gilmour
    31 Mar 2012 | 2:44 am
    I have officially retired my 8-year-old handwriting. Recently, even in math courses, drawing the equations and symbols were becoming too complex for me. Most of my time working on statistics assignments was spent trying to copy symbols. I am now using Mathtype and it is taking me about a quarter of the time to complete assignments. I have been using computer for notes and for all other subjects except math courses since starting university. I have an accommodation to write essays on computer. Until this term, it had been easier to think out math with pencil and eraser though.Mathtype is an…

  • 7-Up

    Laura Gilmour
    6 Mar 2012 | 3:39 pm
    Note: This was a class assignment that I thought would be useful info for this blog.Me at 7 I turned seven years old in September 1992. I lived in the small town of Antigonish Nova Scotia with my parents, my grandmother, and my dog, Dylan. My grandmother took care of my five year old brother and me every day after school while my parents worked and always had an afterschool snack for us. It was usually blueberry muffins. At seven, I loved swimming and still do today. My family had an in ground pool in the back yard and I spent as much time as possible there in the summer. I also enjoyed…

  • Virtual Reality for Reality

    Laura Gilmour
    6 Mar 2012 | 3:32 pm
    Besides being involved in academic pursuits, I have been exploring the world of Second Life to try and get some practice in non-academic social situations in a safe environment. No, I’m not doing online dating or going to creepy places in world. I’m living in a family neighbourhood, raising virtual children, and participating in community roleplay.Roleplay comes natural to me, due to my aptitude for creative writing. I have a knack for parent and child characters due to my previous writing experience. My job in the game is working at a virtual daycare and directing the children to conduct…

  • Dealing with the Dragons: Parents vrs. Schools

    Laura Gilmour
    26 Dec 2011 | 9:12 am
    Recently, I have had the privilege of talking to many parents of children either on the autism spectrum or with similar disabilities. One of the common themes that is coming up in conversation is lack of agreement of service plans between parents and schools. For instance, a school may not provide what a parent believes to be a necessary service for their child, or they may suggest services or interpretations of a child’s behaviour that are perceived by the parents to be ridiculous.My family also struggled with the issue with me either being seen as a smart child who was misbehaving and not…
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    My Private Casbah

  • Republican Prescient Vision of Earth = Dune

    14 May 2012 | 3:41 pm
    Sometimes I think that Republicans want to turn Earth into this galaxy's version of Dune. They could, they'd issue las-guns to all of the 2nd Amendment freaks and privatize all water sources, until the planet is sucked dry and almost all life as we know it has been destroyed. I'm afraid the Golden Path no longer exists.

  • To White LGBTQIA Folks Complaining About Homophobia in "The Black Church"

    12 May 2012 | 5:11 pm
    Actually, it's white church leaders who make up the majority of those complaining and threatening the President. You're just choosing to focus on the minority, which is convenient and predictable scapegoating. You're justified in not being impressed by them, just as I am justified in not being impressed by you.It's so typical to see people avoid actually making real changes by ignoring those who are truly oppressing LGBTQIA folks. Instead, you participate in the marginalization of LGBTQIA folks like me. Sadly, there are many, many white LGBTQIA folks who would rather try to shift blame to…

  • 9 May 2012 | 10:19 pm

    9 May 2012 | 10:19 pm
    My husband is 6'4" and an ex high school football player. I was a single mom with a 3 year old, when we met. I thought my daughter would be scared stiff at such an imposing figure. Instead, she just adored him. My nieces and nephews have always loved for him to hold them, too. He swings them around and tosses them in the air and catches them with that upper body strength that most women don't possess. I still feel jealous that I'm considered absolutely boring compared to him. He never had a child of his own, but he knew how to make kids feel comfortable. It was just instinctive for him. He's…

  • Is This Cat Zimmerman Serious?

    20 Apr 2012 | 12:43 am
    Trayvon Martin: Parents Reject Zimmerman's Request for Private MeetingZimmerman is used to being able to weasel out of trouble. This fool has faced domestic violence charges and a felony charge for assaulting A POLICE OFFICER! I'm related to all kinds of politicians. I've seen folks in my family talk their way out of traffic tickets by making a call or passing a police officer their auntie/uncle/cousin's business card. I've seen one of my cousins have a DUI magically transform into "driving without a seat-belt" violation.But never in my life have I ever heard of someone assaulting a police…

  • What it Means to Vote for Mitt Romney

    16 Apr 2012 | 4:24 pm
    The first and fourth one would pretty much ensure that I'd die in less than a year. I wish this was just hyperbole, but it isn't. I hope voters understand these issues and take them seriously to get out and vote against this con artist, Romney. I'm just going to say a little of my situation for those who don't know anyone who will be directly affected by these two issues.Insurance companies automatically dismiss me. They're not going to take on someone who has two major (often fatal) medical conditions. Medicare is the only thing keeping me alive. I'm in the middle of a health crisis right…
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    Sunny Dreamer -- We write to taste life twice...

  • Sunday Top Ten: Top Ten Pet Peeves of Mine

    6 May 2012 | 12:00 am
    Top Ten Pet Peeves of Mine I've participated in B.A.D.D. for several years now, and this is the first time I've been really late in posting, or had no inspiration for it. I've racked my brain for a topic ahead of time, but nothing really jumped out at me. So I'm going to go with a post I've already been working on and hope the brief mentions of disablism will suffice as an appropriate post. I know this is a simple meme, but it's one that's required a bit of thought over several days time. One reason is the fact I needed to think this post through. It's been a long time in coming, and I mean a…

  • MARCH and No Time For Writing

    19 Mar 2012 | 12:00 am
    Gah! I can't believe this! I've been itching to update for the last two weeks, but because I finally got my laptop, a Toshiba Satellite--my first one ever!--I've been driven by the need to get it set up the way I need/want it, complete with my files from my old computer and my own wireless network: "sassysunshine," and a wireless mouse.

  • Rainbow Crow

    10 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am
    I wish I had more ummph today, but after what this week has brought me, I'm lucky I'm posting today at all. I'm really tired, but I'm trying to stick to my goal of blogging everyday this week, from Sunday the 5th to Sunday the 12th. I'm afraid all I'm up for posting today is a Native American myth I found over at S.E. Schlosser's site. I found it in her "Winter Tales" section. Rainbow Crow (Lenni Lenape Tribe) retold by S. E. Schlosser It was so cold. Snow fell constantly, and ice formed over all the waters. The animals had never seen snow before. At first, it was a novelty, something to play…
 
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    Blob

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-05-13

    dnw
    13 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    My week on twitter: 1 new followers, 3 mentions. Via: http://t.co/Y5KaZESZ # Finally got around to doing fresh install of Lion. Nice n swish. Now to reinstall. Trying the new Messages beta. http://t.co/DYDCaHEQ # Oh shoot. Missed it! RT @amandalandz: wow….now watching The Price Is Right # @amandalandz oooo pretties! in reply to amandalandz # @TashStoodley Ha! No you didn't. in reply to TashStoodley # @amandalandz https://t.co/XZ0vOrlh .. and they use the has tag #qanda .. there's no U in reply to amandalandz # @abcnews: "Good morning .." Morning there… gimme…

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-05-06

    dnw
    6 May 2012 | 6:53 am
    My week on twitter: 4 retweets received, 3 new followers, 4 mentions. Via: http://t.co/Y5KaZESZ # Bummed I can't be at the #ndisrally in #adelaide … too short staffed @ work. Following on twitter. # @myen Script Junkie | Web Accessibility and WAI-ARIA Primer http://t.co/ZMkFjsFe # Government to fund disability insurance scheme http://t.co/Rtw6DMEq @abcnews #ndis #disability # RT @stoweboyd: 67% polled say work-related soc-networks play significant role in business http://t.co/ekj9k2oh 56% say … @myen #yam # Klouchebag score for @fang: 60, or 'facepalm central'.

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-04-29

    dnw
    29 Apr 2012 | 6:53 am
    #ndis rally next week in #adelaide … #disbility http://t.co/iBFvTFUt # My week on twitter: 1 retweets received, 1 mentions. Via: http://t.co/Y5KaZESZ # Interview with #brucecockburn on The DREW MARSHALL Show – Canada's Most Listened to Spiritual Talk Show http://t.co/qhpx3TnS FTW # Packed train home. C'mon Adelaide Metro stick another carriage on at peak hours you nongs # “Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” http://t.co/pWSBNta9 # Management Secrets: Core Beliefs of Great Bosses | http://t.co/uR2o8wCU…

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-04-22

    dnw
    22 Apr 2012 | 6:53 am
    Something on creativity for your Mon morn John Cleese on the 5 Factors to Make Your Life More Creative | Brain Pickings http://t.co/bgOG41vg # My week on twitter: 3 retweets received, 1 new followers, 2 mentions. Via: http://t.co/Y5KaZESZ # Good Wednesday Twitter # OMG I think the Readability extension for Chrome just made sense… because my eyes are old # @_adriankh Not bad for Hump Day.. in reply to _adriankh # Reading: Stop Blabbing About Innovation And Start Actually Doing It | Fast Company http://t.co/wvFLTyRG # Network socially that's not electronic? Get outta here! : 5 New…

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-04-15

    dnw
    15 Apr 2012 | 6:53 am
    My week on twitter: 5 new followers, 2 mentions. Via: http://t.co/Y5KaZESZ # Somehow this makes me cringe… 'Virtual Photo Walks on Google+ Allow the Disabled to Explore the World' http://t.co/BCwizTiz #disability # @kirkib Check out number 3 re C : Three careers that will dominate social media (and it’s not what you think) http://t.co/2Sa9fJS8 # #qanda Personally I'd rather watch Father Bob Maquire go up against Dawkins # How Social Media Is Changing Disaster Response http://t.co/v4f1I0Gw #yam # Reading: 6 Habits of True Strategic Thinkers | LinkedIn…
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    brokenclay.org/journal

  • Jessica Galli Explains Wheelchair Racing

    Katja
    14 May 2012 | 9:53 pm
    A nice introduction to wheelchair racing from Paralympian Jessica Galli:

  • Packing Light: Four Days in Phoenix

    Katja
    22 Apr 2012 | 11:34 am
    Packing for a four day trip to Phoenix. Two travel days, two days of meetings. Day time temps will be 95-102, night time temps in the low 60s, and the temperature indoors may be in the high 60s. On the plane: Green tunic, leggings, ankle boots, jacket, scarf. This green scarf is a very stretchy lightweight knit that is almost as large as a pashmina when stretched out, so it can pinch hit as a small blanket. Day 1 of meetings: The same tunic, a black stretchy pencil skirt, flats. Day 2 of meetings: Black tank top, cropped turquoise sweater (the heaviest thing I am taking), scarf, same skirt,…

  • Adjustments

    Katja
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:16 pm
    My brain is having trouble adjusting to this whole walking thing. Thursday night we went to a friend’s clarinet recital in Denver. We found the place, we parked, we walked up to the door. The concert was being held in a small art gallery, with one large step into the building and then a full flight of stairs up to the gallery. I started hyperventilating, and then I realized that I could just walk up the steps. I’ve got a couple of short trips coming up, and thinking through the logistics, I realized that I need a smallish cross-body shoulder bag, like a messenger bag (I hate…

  • Wheelchair Racing and the Fear of Falling

    Katja
    30 Mar 2012 | 4:10 pm
    Here we are at the beginning of the racing season. The weather has warmed up, and it’s time to hit the road and get some training in. I’ve been hunting for an event or two to do before the Bolder Boulder 10K on Memorial Day. Sadly, a lot of the 5K, 10K and half marathon events in the Boulder area are on dirt; the dirt trails around the Boulder Reservoir and Coot Lake are very popular for running races. The racing wheelchair just doesn’t do well on dirt and gravel; it’s like trying to ride a high performance racing bike on that kind of surface. I thought the Horsetooth…

  • Wheelchair on Safari

    Katja
    7 Mar 2012 | 11:13 am
    Check out Into the Wild with Epic Enabled South African Safaris from Disabled World.
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    Fashion Blog - Style, Beauty, and Fashion Trends

  • Elegant Pashmina Collections from Spencer’s Pashmina

    Reviews
    19 Apr 2012 | 8:40 pm
    Pashmina, once a staple clothing material from South Asia, now has reached high status in global fashion. This Himalayan goat-wool is a popular fabric to make scarves, shawls, and sweaters. Its softness and rich cultural background make it sits in special place of fashion lovers’ wardrobes everywhere. Spencer’s Pashmina (Spencerpashmina.com) has been selling various Pashmina products since

  • Playing Casino Online

    Reviews
    29 Mar 2012 | 8:28 pm
    Do you love playing casino? Traditionally, to play casino you have to meet directly with other player or gambler. You can still get the feel of the game, feel the adrenalin rush like James Bond in Casino Royale. Or you usually playing casino only when you in other state or abroad, like Las Vegas, Macau in Asia, and Monte Carlo in Monaco.  Why don’t you try a new excitement, try to play casino

  • Best Tips For Buying New Boots

    Reviews
    5 Mar 2012 | 6:07 am
    Finding a set of boots that are attractive as well as being comfortable is not an easy challenge, and for those people looking for designer boots then there are a number of things to consider. Nobody wants to be seen in a pair of boots that are outdated or simply look strange, so it is important to consider how you will look in those boots, rather than just choosing the most attractive boots.The

  • Tips to Measure Your Bra Size - Bra fitting

    Reviews
    2 Mar 2012 | 5:56 am
    If you're unable to get to a bra shop for a bra fitting, don't let that stop you from figuring out your bra size. You won't believe it till you're wearing the proper size but a good fitting bra will make you look thinner, feel more confident and will improve your breast heath. Here are the steps to a better you!Have a seamstress' measuring tape handy. This will allow you to measure the

  • Tips to Buying Jewelry For Your Loved Ones

    Reviews
    20 Feb 2012 | 5:51 am
    What can you get out of jewelry?Would you be able to choose quality jewelry by yourself at this time? Are you aware of the different types of jewelry that are available?The advice provided in the below article should be able to give you more of an understanding about the complexities of jewelry. For example, you can learn how to enhance your appearance with jewelry, how to clean jewelry, how to
 
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    Disability Studies, Temple U.

  • how i got into this

    Mike Dorn
    13 May 2012 | 11:36 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; } language, originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist. In the early 1990s while a graduate student at Penn State in the beginning stages of conducting research on and with the local disability community, I discovered The Disability

  • BADD 2012: History is still happening

    Penny L. Richards
    2 May 2012 | 7:49 am
    A day late--I was hoping something would go up on DSTU yesterday, but as it hasn't, I'll write this, rather than missing a year of BADD.  To read our past six, more punctual entries, see 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.  The official list of contributions for BADD 2012 is growing at the Goldfish's blog, and you can follow the @BADDtweets account on Twitter for updates. A few years ago, I

  • BADD 2012 is upon us!

    Penny L. Richards
    29 Apr 2012 | 10:22 am
    The logo for Blogging Against Disablism Day BADD It's year 7 for Blogging Against Disablism Day, and The Goldfish has all the details for getting involved on 1 May.  Also follow BADDTweets on Twitter for developments.  DSTU will try to have something for our seventh entry in the annual event--stay tuned about that.  But go on over and have a look at who else will be contributing!  The posts

  • postnuclear and silicon subjectivities

    Mike Dorn
    6 Apr 2012 | 8:51 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; } licensed to kill_being and well-being, originally uploaded by Edu-Tourist. I am currently in the middle of writing a proposal-writing (bookshelf). The project concerns best practices in consumer health librarianship

  • Dilyn y Fflam

    Penny L. Richards
    3 Apr 2012 | 8:55 am
    We will have come of age when the media criticise our performances and are negative about us in the same way as they are for other sportspeople rather than constantly praising us as being ‘brave’. Paralympians are achievers who do not necessarily wish to be portrayed constantly as ‘overcoming adversity’.” --Dame Tanni Grey-ThompsonThis quote (and one of Dame Tanni's racing chairs) is part of
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    Fred's Head from APH

  • APH’s TOAD KIT and The Blue Light Special

    9 May 2012 | 4:25 pm
    by Kristie Smith, M.Ed, CTVI “If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue.” Paul Gaugin (French Post-Impressionist Painter) OK K-Mart shoppers, APH offers the best, and I mean the best blue light special for children who have cortical vision impairment (CVI). The little blue light comes in the TOAD Kit from APH, and like the big black blanket, its benefits are quietly tucked away in the bottom of the brilliant TOAD Kit. Take the black blanket, add a 9 volt battery to the unpretentious wired object, a piece of black cloth and “poof” you have a book full of activities using only two…

  • The Tadpole Kit is a Swimming Success for Children with CVI Part 2

    9 May 2012 | 4:04 pm
    by Kristie Smith, M.Ed, CTVI Sweet are the uses of adversity; Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head”- William Shakespeare Recently, I wrote about how excited I was to be one of the first teachers to see the TADPOLE Kit for infants and toddlers who have a visual impairment. As I said in Part 1, the kit is amazing and helps educators to see what is truly being seen or not seen, understood or not by the little one. I was also excited when I took the kit to a daycare to assess one of my toddlers who lost her vision through Shaken Baby Syndrome. Although…

  • The Tadpole Kit is a Swimming Success for Children with CVI Part 1

    9 May 2012 | 3:45 pm
    by Kristie Smith, M.Ed, CTVI "Theories fade. The frog lives on."- Jean Rostand A few months ago I wrote a blog about an incredible assessment and activity kit that I use frequently, "The TOAD Kit". I discussed wearing my black apron from the kit, using Billy Bird and my bright yellow pompom to entice my students with Cortical Vision Impairment (CVI) to visually attend to their world. Imagine my excitement when I was chosen to give my thoughts on a version of the TOAD Kit that is designed for little ones. The TADPOLE Kit is especially designed for infants/toddlers who struggle with CVI and…

  • The Problem with Printing

    9 May 2012 | 3:12 pm
    by Donna J. Jodhan For those of us who do not have enough vision to see whether or not there is printed text on a page, here are some daily challenges that we face as blind people. We need to ensure that when we print a page, it does contain text. When the page comes out of the printer, there is no way to tell if the page does indeed contain text or if it is blank. So for me, I use my scanner to help me out. I scan the page and then I use my access software to tell me what is going on. I can hear what is on the page through voice output. However, there is more for me to be concerned about. I…

  • The World of Blind Parents

    9 May 2012 | 3:06 pm
    by Donna J. Jodhan At the best of times, it is often difficult and/or interesting for parents as they strive to ensure that their kids are brought up to be good contributors to society and all round good Human Beings. All parents want the best for their kids. The best lives for them and a future full of promise. This is a much easier process for sighted parents as opposed to blind parents. For blind parents, there are additional challenges to face. One of the biggest challenges is attitude and another is to find ways to protect their independence. I myself am not a blind parent but I have…
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    My Disability Blog

  • Receiving SSI Disability and having Marital Income

    Disability Blogger
    27 Apr 2012 | 8:20 am
    I was recently mailed a question about a couple in which the husband was receiving disability benefits. The wife had taken a job and, as a result, his disability benefits had been stopped. The reporter asked me how often this happens. He also asked me if what they were considering was logical: divorce to remedy the situation. This is what I wrote back: "If the gentleman was receiving title II

  • Filing for Disability is not easy -- contrary to the opinions of some

    Disability Blogger
    15 Apr 2012 | 4:29 pm
    Someone recently made a comment on the facebook page for SSDRC.com (Social Security Disability Resource Center) and the individual's statement seemed to imply the opinion that the majority of claimants are filing simply to milk the system. As a former disability examiner, I find this a bit naive, quite a bit uninformed, and if I were a person that had been forced to leave my job due to one or

  • Can you get Disability through the Department of Social Services or Department of Human Services?

    Disability Blogger
    4 Apr 2012 | 7:21 am
    This question was recently submitted so I am addressing it here. I am a former disability examiner for the social security administration's DDS, or disability determination services. This meant that I worked--in a case processing unit that also included a medical expert and a Ph.D.- level psychological consultant--on both SSI and Social Security Disability claims (for those who have not filed and

  • Are Older Medical Records Useful for a Disability Claim? You bet

    Disability Blogger
    3 Feb 2012 | 3:08 pm
    I recently made a post to the facebook page for SSDRC.com which discussed the value of having social security view your older medical records. Someone made the following comment--"Geee thats funny they told me i couldent use older records". The tone of the comment, combined with the fact that person was unable to spell the word "couldn't" told me all I needed to know. Just the same, I responded

  • Social Security and Medical Record Information

    Disability Blogger
    11 Jan 2012 | 8:31 am
    Social Security Disability and SSI disability decisions have two fundamental aspects to them. For adult claims, they are both medical and vocational in nature. That is to say, they are based on the information obtained from a person's history of medical treatment, as well as their history of work activity (in the case of minor child applications for SSI disability, replace work activity with
 
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    Rolling Rains Report

  • Disability Inclusive Research Collaboration Conference, 13-14 June, University of Sydney

    Scott Rains
    16 May 2012 | 11:18 pm
    Disability Inclusive Research Collaboration Conference (DIRCC), Research Rights: Disability Inclusion Change, 13-14 June at the University of Sydney. The conference is being organised by a group which includes organisations of and for people with disability, and universities and their research centres.A series of workshops will be run across the two days where participants will hear how people with disability have been actively engaged in planning, doing research and disseminating findings. All workshops will be interactive and aimed at participants learning about specific research strategies…

  • On the Principles of Universal Design from GUDC 2010

    Scott Rains
    15 May 2012 | 11:05 pm
    The following is an excerpt from a 2010 article of the  Global Universal Design Commission, Inc. (GUDC):Universal design increases usability, safety, health and social participation through the design and operation of environments, products and systems in response to the diversity of people and abilities. It is a way of thinking that can be applied in any design activity, business practice, program or service involving interaction of people with the physical, social or virtual worlds.The Principles of Universal Design have been used to define the concept of universal…

  • A Short Historical Essay II - Universal Design

    Scott Rains
    14 May 2012 | 3:58 pm
    An Italian patriot mght tell you  that if you trace most good ideas to their roots some brilliant Italian has probably already written about it.Vitruvius wrote about architecture. Michelangelo drew the Vitruvian Man as a summary so he didn't have to carry around all those heavy books. Ron Mace invented Universal Design to remind Vitruvius and Michelangelo that some of us read books while sitting down. In fact, that American architect Ron Mace noted, some of us read the world from that position. Ron too was a tetraplegic.When you realize that someone accessible to you is the source of…

  • Universal Design and the ICF

    Scott Rains
    13 May 2012 | 1:06 pm
    Universal Design and the ICF

  • 'Get It Together' by Rick Miner

    Scott Rains
    12 May 2012 | 12:50 pm
    A note from Rick Miner: 'Get It Together' was Produced, Directed and Edited by Rick Miner. This real life documentary went on to win multipule national and international awards. 'Get It Together' gave Rick the priviledge in 1976 of becoming a voting member in the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences. This film is a remarkable true story of a disabled young man who became a recreational therapist in the rehab center where he recovered from an auto accident that paralized him from the waist down. Jeff Minnebraker started the era of wheel chair sports, building his own wheel chairs,…
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    Leaving Treadmarkz Across the Universe

  • New Reality Series “Push Girls” About Paraplegic Women To Premiere on Sundance Channel

    treadmarkz
    14 May 2012 | 5:43 pm
    by Treadmarkz Just dropping by to note a series on premiering on June 4th on Sundance Channel called “Push Girls”. It is a series which will follow four paraplegic women in the Hollywood area. The series intends to show how these ladies can be ambitious, outspoken, dynamic, and…believe it or not…sexy even! See the link [...]

  • Why Donations to the Spina Bifida Association Between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Will Be Particularly Fruitful

    treadmarkz
    10 May 2012 | 7:04 pm
    by Treadmarkz The World Congress on Spina Bifida Research met on March 14, and attendees vowed to match all donations to the Spina Bifida Association between May 13 and June 17. Everything you donate during that time will be doubled. More inspiring information on what was done at this historic meeting can be found at: [...]

  • Still Messin’ With Walkies….Why Not?

    treadmarkz
    3 May 2012 | 10:48 pm
    by Treadmarkz Before I tell this story, I think that though it probably goes without saying, it would be prudent of me to note that not everybody with a disability has a sense of humor about it. So if you are a walkie and you know someone disabled, my advice would be just to really [...]

  • Wow! Joan Rivers Actually Knows A Bit About Spina Bifida! Hmm…

    treadmarkz
    27 Apr 2012 | 10:14 pm
    by Treadmarkz Joan Rivers was the first female to (guest) host the Tonight Show. She has been very influential in comedy for the last couple of generations. I give her a lot of credit for that. She could have been the female equivalent of George Carlin. But I don’t currently see her as such, when [...]

  • The Inevitability of UTIs for Paraplegics

    treadmarkz
    25 Apr 2012 | 3:00 pm
    by Treadmarkz I saw my doctor the other day for an infection and we reviewed my history of UTIs. I tend to get them about once a year. He told me that this is actually quite a good track record considering I use intermittent catheters. Most patients in wheelchairs that he sees tend to get [...]
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    Pipecleaner Dreams

  • Special Exposure Wednesday

    Ashley's Mom
    16 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Ronnie is now playing wheelchair lacrosse. I don't know much about the game except for the fact that it is ok to hit other players with your stick. Exactly what a mother needs to watch...

  • Prom

    Ashley's Mom
    15 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    It's prom season, and I'm feeling a little sad about that. In just one year, Ashley will be of age and in the correct school grade to attend prom. But unless things change, she probably won't be going.Ashley's school is very nice. The teachers and staff do their best to make every student, regardless of their level of ability, feel welcome and part of the student body. There is a group called Circle of Friends that brings together regular education students and special education students for many activities and events. I would probably classify this particular school as the most inclusive…

  • 14 May 2012 | 5:00 am

    Ashley's Mom
    14 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    I enjoyed another great Mother's Day on Sunday! Actually, the entire weekend was great!On Saturday the kids and I went fake shopping. That's where we go and try on things that we have no intention of buying. This time we went to Target. Ashley was resplendent in hats, scarves and sunglasses. Ronnie was every bit the ferocious avenger!On Sunday, I got phone calls from Jessica and Corey, and Ronnie, Chip and Ashley took me to a baseball game. Our team won and I ate a corn dog! Life is good!

  • No Mother's Day

    Ashley's Mom
    11 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  • Brilliant

    Ashley's Mom
    10 May 2012 | 5:00 am
 
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    DISABILITY NEWS - Google News

  • Enabling Disability Fraud - Business Insider

    Google Inc.
    16 May 2012 | 5:53 am
    kypost.comEnabling Disability FraudBusiness InsiderWe were inspired by Climateer Investing's summary of the econoblogosphere's ongoing analysis of the increasing level of disability fraud in the US, where hundreds of thousands of people would appear to be ending up after their extended unemployment Report: Denial of Social Security Benefits Perpetuates HomelessnessMarketWatch (press release)Another Disability Judge Placed on LeaveWall Street JournalSocial Security Disability Benefits for Those With Mental IllnessDigitalJournal.com (press release)Albany Times Union -Democratic…

  • Hockey doubt on disability funds - The Age

    Google Inc.
    16 May 2012 | 8:57 am
    The AgeHockey doubt on disability fundsThe AgeSHADOW treasurer Joe Hockey has cast doubt on the funding for the proposed national disability insurance scheme under a Coalition government. While saying he supports the multibillion-dollar scheme, Mr Hockey said he would not ''make promises I can't Hockey pours scorn on 'unfunded' disability planThe AustralianHockey won't give false hope on NDISABC OnlineSwan attacks Hockey over NDIS commentBusiness SpectatorHerald Sunall 79 news articles »

  • Madigan, Equip for Equality join 16-year-old Fenwick student in lawsuit ... - The Rock River Times

    Google Inc.
    16 May 2012 | 1:16 pm
    Madigan, Equip for Equality join 16-year-old Fenwick student in lawsuit The Rock River TimesMadigan filed the lawsuit jointly with Equip for Equality, a federally mandated legal advocacy organization for people with disabilities in Illinois, and which represents Mary Kate Callahan, a 16-year-old junior at Fenwick Catholic High School in Oak and more »

  • Puppets teach Sycamore students about disabilities - Dekalb Daily Chronicle

    Google Inc.
    16 May 2012 | 5:45 am
    Puppets teach Sycamore students about disabilitiesDekalb Daily ChronicleThat lesson of tolerance and friendship was witnessed Tuesday by fourth-graders at Southeast Elementary School who watched the puppets explain that disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome are no reason to treat people badly.

  • Americans Lack Understanding, Concern for Disabilities' Effects - AdvisorOne

    Google Inc.
    16 May 2012 | 8:55 am
    Americans Lack Understanding, Concern for Disabilities' EffectsAdvisorOneBy Danielle Andrus, AdvisorOne Despite the risks posed by disability in retirement, many Americans don't understand their chances of becoming disabled, a report released May 8 by the American College found. The vast majority of Americans don't realize
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    Low Visionary: accessible information, communication and engagement, disability rights, web accessibility

  • Introducing Web Accessibility

    Robyn
    8 May 2012 | 9:00 pm
    Around 20% of people can’t access the information on your web site, and the other 80% could be having a much better experience. Today is the first Global Accessibility Awareness Day. There is also a Facebook page. Making sure your web site adheres to international standards (WCAG) and national  standards (NZ government) is a good start but won’t necessarily give you a truly accessible web site. Having an inclusive mindset towards accessibility and your users will also help. Try a few simple things and take a little time to experience what a lack of accessibility means. Unplug your mouse,…

  • Dismantling disableism – Three powerful tools

    Robyn
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:15 pm
    This is my contribution to Blogging Against Disableism Day. There is no doubt that there is a lot of it about. Disableism diminishes both the disabled person and the perpetrator. It is a clumsy made up word to describe something particularly unlovely so it is appropriate that it is an ugly word. Disableism diminishes both the disabled person - and the perpetrator. Wikipedia describes “disableism,” or “ableism” as it also calls it as “a form of discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities.”  I am not going to describe it any further, in case I descend into…

  • Disaster and disability: Seven preparation points

    Robyn
    23 Apr 2012 | 5:28 am
    Natural disasters are always inclusive. Often the response is not. It was clear from the Christchurch earthquakes that disability support providers, particularly small local rather than national providers, have the same difficulties as other organisations and businesses when there is a major disaster. Access to premises and records, the availability of staff and so on are among them. People may not have access to their regular assistance. So disaster preparedness for the general population must take account of the needs of disabled people, and not silo them off into a separate process, or…

  • Health literacy for grown-ups

    Robyn
    15 Apr 2012 | 2:40 pm
    The other day my chiropractor recommended the Straighten Up New Zealand (SUNZ) programme. When I told him I could only find the kids’ version on the leaflet stand he explained that the kids’ version was the best as it was easier to understand. A pragmatic decision to use material designed for kids might just about be OK, if the adults’ version doesn’t work, but I feel patronised using something designed for children. Not the best way to engage my participation. I wondered why the original material was developed without understanding the audience or testing the draft. Perhaps the…

  • The e-reader versus the “real” book

    Robyn
    25 Mar 2012 | 6:52 pm
    This month is New Zealand Book Month. A comparison between the supposedly beleaguered book and the upstart e-reader and e-books seemed like a good topic for a post. I love books. I have hundreds of them. And that is part of the problem. I am fast running out of space for them on my shelves. Almost every house I have ever lived in very soon needed more bookshelves. So when a friend let me try out her e-book reader I could see the advantages once I found it would be accessible for me. My experience is of the Kobo. I haven’t tried any others, but many of the advantages and disadvantages will…
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    ATMac

  • iPad Keyguard Review

    Ricky Buchanan
    3 May 2012 | 7:49 am
    Over at the Uncommon Sense blog, there’s a great new review from Dana about one of the keyguards by LaseredPics. Their daughter Maya uses the app Speak For Yourself on an iPad with an iAdapter case, and this is the second LaseredPics keyguard she’s tried. Dana records this key guard really makes a huge positive difference to Maya’s AAC use: This keyguard was an instant game-changer. [...] With the keyguard in place, she has to reach for a word very deliberately. Accidental hits were all but instantly eliminated. As you can see in the video below, there was a bit of a…

  • AppleVis Provides Resources for Blind Apple Users

    Ricky Buchanan
    19 Apr 2012 | 9:00 pm
    AppleVis is a website by and for blind and vision-impaired users of Apple devices, primarily iOS device users but including some resources for Mac OS X users. The focus is on VoiceOver users but there are some resources for other blind users who use zooming to access devices too. A community-powered website for blind and vision-impaired users of Apple devices. Seek and share information on the accessibility of apps developed for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and the Mac. Read and share guides, tutorials and tips to help VoiceOver users get the most from their Apple devices. AppleVis is a site…

  • How to use your Mac without a mouse

    Ricky Buchanan
    14 Apr 2012 | 8:32 pm
    Becoming a mouse-avoiding keyboard junkie is a learnable skill; it requires practice and memorization—especially muscle memory. Everyone knows a few keyboard shortcuts (like Command-P for print, or Command-Q for quit). Mastering more, along with other efficient ways to control your Mac without reaching for the mouse, will help you get your work done faster, leaving more time for Angry Birds. This MacWorld article is aimed at able-bodied people who prefer to use the keyboard mostly, instead of the mouse, because it’s quicker … but of course this means it applies well to…

  • Speech-to-Text: Dictation software for Mac OS X

    Ricky Buchanan
    12 Apr 2012 | 2:51 am
    Speech-to-text software, sometimes known as dictation software, is something that lets you talk to the computer in some form and have the computer react appropriately to what you are saying. This is totally different to text-to-speech software, which is software can read out text already in the computer. Command and Control Software There are two types of speech-to-text software available. One type is called “command and control” and it lets you speak commands to your computer to control it; hence the name. For example, a command that the computer understands might be, “go…

  • My Computer Won’t Stop Talking!

    Ricky Buchanan
    7 Apr 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Quite often on Apple’s Universal Access forums there are questions from users who have found that their computer’s suddenly started talking to them, and putting a black box around whatever they’re working on. Here’s what the black box looks like in the Finder when I have the “User Guides And Information” folder highlighted: What’s happened here is that the user has accidentally triggered VoiceOver by pressing command-F5. You can turn it off again by pressing command-F5, which works as a toggle. Note that if you have a MacBook you might have to also…
 
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    Disability Scoop

  • Millions On Tap For Disability Housing

    Shaun Heasley
    15 May 2012 | 11:16 pm
    The federal government plans to send an additional $85 million to states to provide rental assistance for people with disabilities living on extremely modest incomes.

  • States Look To End ‘Wrongful Birth’ Suits

    Shaun Heasley
    15 May 2012 | 1:20 pm
    With a number of parents turning to the courts to sue after unexpectedly giving birth to a child with a disability, several states are considering legislation to ban "wrongful birth" suits.

  • In Bid To Cope, Man With Asperger’s Offers Free Hugs

    Shaun Heasley
    15 May 2012 | 12:44 pm
    Social skills don't come naturally to Christopher Webster who has Asperger's syndrome, but offering free hugs to strangers is helping the San Antonio man come out of his shell.

  • In First, Feds Issue Advice On Restraint And Seclusion

    Michelle Diament
    15 May 2012 | 11:42 am
    The U.S. Department of Education weighed in on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools Tuesday with a 45-page resource document, but stopped short of issuing formal guidance to educators.

  • Path To Adulthood Rocky For Most With Autism, Study Finds

    Michelle Diament
    13 May 2012 | 11:42 pm
    Transition is proving especially difficult for those with autism as compared to other disabilities, with most on the spectrum struggling to move into the workforce or additional schooling.
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    Disability Tips

  • Request your Social Security Statement online!

    Tomasz Stasiuk
    3 May 2012 | 11:43 pm
    Your Social Security Statement is an important tool in applying for Social Security disability benefit. The statement provides a year by year listing of your earnings and an estimate of your retirement and disability benefits. Social Security used to mail the statement annually, about three months before your birthday. As of 2011, Social Security no longer mails out the Social Security Statement, except to workers 60 or over who are not yet receiving benefits. However as of May 1, 2012, you can request a statement online. If you are not able to confirm your identity via the Social Security…

  • Limitation forms for Social Security disability cases

    Tomasz Stasiuk
    19 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    Getting a Residual Functional Capacity is the single most important step in a Social Security disability case. These RFCs go by a lot of different names: Medical Source Statement, Medical Opinion, Narrative. However, Residual Functional Capacity simply means what you can still do despite your disabilities and impairments. Put another way, your RFC is what you can do considering your workplace limitations. Since Social Security disability cases focus on your ability to work, your RFC is a critical part of your Social Security disability case. So, how do I develop my workplace limitations and…

  • St Baldrick’s Children’s Cancer Research Fundraiser

    Tomasz Stasiuk
    12 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    The annual St. Baldrick’s day head shave to raise money for children’s cancer research was a total blast at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub in downtown Colorado Springs. The upper floor was packed wall to wall with shavees, friends, families, supporters and well wishers. The event raised over $42,000 towards children’s cancer research. And I got to go from this … to this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji27n-oJjow

  • Parent misusing child’s Social Security benefits?

    Tomasz Stasiuk
    5 Mar 2012 | 6:00 am
    The responsibilities of a Social Security payee have come up a lot in the comments recently: I don’t live with my parents for 3 years but they get my disability check. They don’t give me any or pay any to the place I live. What if parent is receiving benefits for a child not living with her and keeping the money for herself. Social Security has good information about payee responsibilities, written in nice clear language. Concerning how a parent can use a child’s Social Security (survivor’s or disability) benefits: First, you must make sure the beneficiary’s…

  • Social Security’s phone number in Colorado Springs

    Tomasz Stasiuk
    28 Feb 2012 | 2:49 pm
    If you need to call the Colorado Springs Social Security office by phone, it can be difficult to find the correct telephone number. Our office receives a number of calls a day because the numbers currently pulled up by Google have been disconnected! Social Security is transitioning to new phone system and the search engines have not caught up yet. Well don’t worry, here are the numbers to call for the Colorado Springs Social Security office: (888) 880-0688 TTY (719) 597-2770. If you need a different Social Security office, SSA has a webpage for finding your local Social Security…
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    Disability Blog

  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Getting Benefits

    Disability Advocate
    15 May 2012 | 10:12 am
    Your thoracic outlet is an area that is located at the top of your rib cage. It lies between your chest and your neck. Bodily structures that include your trachea, esophagus and blood vessels and nerves that go to your neck and arm region run through your thoracic outlet. Your thoracic outlet contains a network of nerves that goes to your arms (brachial plexus), clavicle (collar bone), the arteries that are under your collar bone (subclavian artery) that provide blood to your arms and your first rib. Thoracic outlet syndrome refers to a group of conditions that occur when your nerves or blood…

  • Functional Amnesia

    Aaron Kruse
    11 Apr 2012 | 10:02 am
    There are times when you may like to escape reality by watching a good movie or reading an exciting book. However, dissociative disorder is a broad term that is used for a kind of mental illness that is characterized by escaping reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy. The word dissociation means the act of separating or the state of being separated. In psychiatry or psychology, dissociation refers to a mental response that diverts your consciousness away from traumatic or painful associations. Simply put, dissociation is a way in which you escape painful associations of reality.

  • Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Disability

    Disability Advocate
    4 Apr 2012 | 12:32 pm
    Inflammation of your skin is the simple definition of what dermatitis is. It is well to remember, however, that while the definition of dermatitis may be simple, the term is used for a wide range of conditions. Contact dermatitis is one of the many types of this disorder. Contact dermatitis is an irritation of your skin or a localized rash that results from contact with, a reaction to or exposure to irritants or allergens. Contact dermatitis is characterized by a red, itchy rash. While contact dermatitis is not life-threatening or contagious, it can be extremely unpleasant, irritating and…

  • Benefits for the Metabolic Forbes Disease

    Disability Advocate
    30 Mar 2012 | 11:13 am
    Forbes disease is a form of glycogen storage disease. This means that Forbes disease is an autosomal recessive metabolic disease. It is an inborn error of metabolism. Forbes disease is evidenced by a deficiency in glycogen debranching enzymes. Forbes disease is a genetically linked metabolic disease that has to do with the enzymes regulating glycogen metabolism. This is similar to the other glycogen storage diseases. These enzymes play a part in the synthesis or processing of glycogen breakdown inside of your ahaha muscles, liver and other cell types. Each one of the steps in the process of…

  • You Could Get Benefits for Malignant Melanoma

    Disability Advocate
    28 Mar 2012 | 9:50 am
    Your skin is the organ that provides an outer protective covering for your body. Would you be surprised to know that your skin is the largest organ in your entire body? Your skin is made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue. Your skin is what guards and protects your bones and muscles, internal organs and underlying ligaments. Your skin also has a vital role to play in keeping your body safe from pathogens (infectious agents) and excessive water loss. Skin cancer is cancer that originates in the cells of your skin. A vast majority of the time, skin cancer is the abnormal proliferation…
 
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    Personal Injury and Social Security Disability Blog

  • Stricter Seat Belt Laws Get Teens to Buckle Up

    Bob Kraft
    16 May 2012 | 5:57 am
    A report published last month by the American Journal of Public Health and reported on in HealthDay provides some good news for parents. Stricter seat belt usage laws do seem to have an influence on teenagers. The bottom line is that in states where police are allowed to stop cars for no other reason than because the drivers are not wearing seat belts, teenage drivers and passengers are more likely to buckle up than in states without such laws. These laws are referred to as primary-enforcement seat belt laws. In sates with secondary-enforcement laws seat belt usage was lower. The study also…

  • CDC Report: Accidental Deaths Among U.S. Children Are Declining

    Bob Kraft
    15 May 2012 | 5:08 am
    A new report on accidental deaths among U.S. children received extensive coverage, mostly from online sources. Most sources portrayed the findings as a step in the right direction, but also emphasized the fact that deaths among this population due to some factors, like prescription drug abuse, are on the rise. USA Today reported, "The number of children and teens who die from any kind of accidents has dropped nearly 30% from 2000 to 2009, mostly because of a decline in traffic deaths, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." However, the gains are…

  • Overturning Health Care Act Will Freeze Medicare, White House Warns

    Bob Kraft
    15 May 2012 | 5:02 am
    The Affordable Care Act, frequently referred to as ObamaCare, is pending before the Supreme Court of the United States as to whether the law is constitutional. The American people are closely divided when asked whether they approve of the law, but when asked about specific provisions of the law, such as the closing of the prescription coverage gap, called the doughnut hole, and no-charge preventive services, such as an annual wellness physical, a large majority supports the separate pieces of the law. The Obama administration recently issued a warning about the adverse effects on Medicare if…

  • FDA Issues Safety Warning for Fentanyl Patches

    Bob Kraft
    14 May 2012 | 5:07 am
    CNN's "The Chart" blog reports, "The US Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer advisory Thursday, reminding parents, caregivers, and medical personnel of the deadly consequences posed to children from accidental contact with, or ingestion of fentanyl patches, which are marketed under the brand name Duragesic." The agency warning says "there have been 26 incidents of accidental fentanyl exposure since 1997, resulting in ten deaths and 12 cases requiring hospitalization. Most of the cases involved children." In a written statement, Douglas…

  • Friday Fun

    Bob Kraft
    11 May 2012 | 4:35 am
    This optical illusion has been around a while, but I still think it's one of the best. Stare at the red dot on the woman's nose for about 30 seconds, then look at a blank surface such as a wall or ceiling, and blink rapidly. You'll see the "negative" become a color photograph!
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    Finding My Way: Journey of an Uppity Intellectual Activist Crip

  • Triggers

    12 May 2012 | 3:31 pm
    Thursday I participated in market research. I watched some TV commercials for a website that hasn't yet been launched, and answered questions about them. It was just one hour, and I was compensated with a $100 visa gift card. Easiest $100 I ever made!They said to turn your phones off. I put mine on vibrate. When we were just about wrapping up, someone's phone went off.They said to turn your phones off! I thought Then I thoughtMaybe her ride is here.Then I thoughtMaybe that's an alarm.Then I thoughtShit! I never took my meds today! and immdeiately reached for my keys to get them...

  • On Privilege Part 3 I think

    6 May 2012 | 10:05 pm
    I wanted to write about this 2 weeks ago, and am getting to it on the eve of a much needed massage appt. I said in an earlier post that I probably wouldn't write about the national action, but I guess in a sense I am. National actions are generally painful for a lot of people. I can't speak for other disabilities, but with CP, a chronic pain condition, being out all day with limited positioning options for days at a time in unpredictable weather can increase spasticity to the point of being near tears.I stayed in a room with 2 other people with CP and a PA. I of course was in some pain, but…

  • "It isn't visitable"

    30 Apr 2012 | 9:46 pm
    I've been trying to get online to write this for a few days. On Thurs I came back from my 6th ADAPT National Action in DC (which I'm pretty sure I won't write about, so here are the official action reports) dropped my stuff off in my living room, and left again. I had 2 appointments and somehow managed to time things perfectly. My 2nd appointment was with my new art therapist, which might have been a mistake, because anyone who has ever been to a national action knows it's impossible to focus your brain on anything else over the next few days, other then how much we kicked ass (non-violently…

  • Access and Hypocrisy

    20 Apr 2012 | 12:52 am
    I feel like I must preface this post by reminding readers that I am a die hard ADAPTer. My commitment flows through my veins 24/7, even if my constant depression and other issues make it almost impossible for other people to see it. However, two things happened over the course of a little over a week that I feel have questioned my credibility. Right now I'm up not able to sleep because of a few things, one of which is that I'm trying to reconcile the values I've developed as an ADAPTer with the positions I'm putting myself into.The first thing that happened was that over the winter I decided…

  • I Can't Believe He Came Here Like That

    16 Apr 2012 | 8:48 pm
    Today I had the pleasure of making an unplanned trip to Wegmans. Have I ever said how much I like grocery shopping? Well Wegmans is at the top of my list. If you know me and know my eating habits of the last 6+ months, you wouldn't have been surprised to see me buying 6 Green Giant veggie boxes. People always ask me if I need help when I'm reaching for frozen food, being that most of the time the angles that they are placed into the cases make me have to shift around a lot in order to reach them. I only stand up as a last resort, sometimes passing on something that is too high up, as I'd have…
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    Illinois Social Security Disability Blog

  • My Doctor Wrote A Letter Supporting My Disability, Why Was I Denied Disability Benefits?

    15 May 2012 | 6:28 pm
    I received the following question today: "My doctor wrote a letter supporting my disability, why was I denied disability benefits?"This is actually a very common question and happens quite often.  At the beginning levels of the Social Security disability benefits process, Disability Determinations Services (DDS) is charged with developing a claim.  A trained medical examiner will at some point review a file and determine whether in his or her expert opinion the claimant should be entitled to disability benefits.  While DDS should give the most weight to the treating…

  • Hiring A Disability Attorney For Your Hearing

    7 May 2012 | 7:50 am
    "Do you think it is important whether I obtain a disability lawyer to help me with my disability benefits claim? I asked Social Security and they seem to think I do not need anybody to help me with my case."I received the following question the other day and wanted to give a brief response. The short answer is YES. The overwhelming majority of claims are denied. Hiring a Social Security disability attorney can in many cases significantly improve your chances of winning. Social Security's regulations of vast and complex. Sometimes it may seem as though the government simply does not want to…

  • NOSSCR Conference 2012

    5 May 2012 | 2:22 pm
    I attended the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) conference in Philadelphia this past week (picture above of me speaking). It was a great experience and wonderful to again see so many attorneys so dedicated to helping people suffering from different disabilities. I wanted to thank the NOSSCR board for putting together such an informative and well-structured conference. I also want to let my readers know that if you really put the effort in and do your due diligence, there are a number of people out there willing to help fight through all of the…

  • Social Security Disability Insurance Report

    23 Apr 2012 | 5:04 pm
    "Investor's Business Daily" published an article on April 20th, 2012 entitled, "Disabled America: 5.4 Million Join Social Security Disability Insurance Rolls Under Obama." The article discusses the disability benefits program and its massive growth in recent years. As a disability attorney, I thought it pertinent to share this article with you. Whether your applying for Social Security disability benefits, a disability lawyer, or would just enjoy a good read, feel free to comment or respond to the article which can be found at:…

  • Question And Answer Disability Benefits

    14 Apr 2012 | 7:11 pm
    "I had a disability hearing last week and the judge asked me all sorts of questions about what I do at home and around my house. What does this have to do with me getting disability benefits?"I received the question above a few days ago. When the Social Security Administration schedules a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, he or she must determine whether the claimant is capable of working. To do this, it is common for the judge to ask questions to shed light on a claimant's limitations. Can you cook, clean, or do laundry? In other words, is the claimant capable of…
 
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    Wheelchair Pride

  • Festo's ExoHand: Exoskeleton Hand For People With Hand Disabilities

    Wheelchair Pride
    16 May 2012 | 6:34 am
    A German company Festo has developed an Exoskeleton which can supplement hand movement for people with disabilities. What is exciting about this exoskeleton hand, as you can see from this video is that Festo is working on thought control: It seems to me that this could be a breakthrough for people with amputated limbs as well. I hope to learn more about this exciting development and if so,

  • Exoskeleton User Completes London Marathon

    Wheelchair Pride
    10 May 2012 | 10:11 am
    The Wheelchair Pride Blog has been quiet for a while. Much too long. But I have some news to report that I just can not resist reporting here. Claire Lomas, a UK wheelchair user has become the first person to complete the London Marathon in an Exoskeleton. I am proud of Claire's determination. Why? It took her 16 days to complete the marathon, but that did not stop her. You can see more about her

  • The Best Reacher Grabber For Wheelchair Users

    Wheelchair Pride
    3 Nov 2011 | 1:38 pm
    Many wheelchair users like to carry a grabber or reacher with them. If you are looking for a grabber reacher that is portable and can go in your wheelchair backpack, look into the TeleStick Reacher. Watch this video of a wheelchair user and his thoughts about the telestick:This video will tell you more about the features of this remarkable reacher:For more information visit the TeleStick Website

  • eLegs Exoskeleton Manufacturer Changes Name

    Wheelchair Pride
    24 Oct 2011 | 3:37 am
    Berkeley Bionics, the manufacturer of the exoskeleton for wheelchair users eLEGS has announced that they are changing their name to "Ekso Bionics".The name change makes sense. The name Berkeley Bionics reflected more about the place where the product was developed. The name Ekso Bionics is more about the product itself. Slightly more puzzling is the fact that, along with changing the name of the

  • Sunday, 9 October: Heidelberg Wheelchair Marathon

    Wheelchair Pride
    28 Sep 2011 | 10:42 am
    The countdown is on! Only a few days, then in Heidelberg the 11th International wheelchair marathon will start. Already 450 athletes Athletes have registered for this event - find out more about the German Wheelchair Marathon taking place on Sunday, 9 October in Heidelberg Germany.
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    HEALING THROUGH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

  • Got Shadow?

    Cathy
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Did anyone ever get to a morning without going through some shadows? Part of why I have some success negotiating this path marked “MS” (I say success because my attitude and general state of being has remained remarkably free of vitriol which is a common and understandable side effect of chronic illness) Is that I insist on having an interesting life. I have MS on my plate at the moment and it is she I turn to (not having to turn very far) to be curious about. The religion of ‘woundology’ as I call it is seductive indeed. We can find members at every corner willing to…

  • Admiration and Loneliness

    Cathy
    8 May 2012 | 10:21 am
    ceramic, 7 x 2″ _______________ This week I am participating in an intensive taught by my yoga/Qigong instructor. People from far away places have made their way to Santa Fe to take part in this event; Italy, Portland, OR, Taos, NM. Sixty of us are tied together by one thing in particular: we desire some quality, some knowledge, some way of being in the world that we experience another person (our teacher) embodying. Loneliness is built into admiration. I might feel someone else may be familiar with a quality or piece of the puzzle which, if I had access to it would help me add a…

  • Are You Bitter?

    Cathy
    7 May 2012 | 9:39 am
    detail of painting on textile _____________________________ In the past few days I have covered some ground, I tell you. I get up in the morning and strap on my AFO brace and then comes the bionic knee brace over that. I grab my walker to head to the loo. The dog walking which comes later is more of a roll as I unplug my wheelchair and grab some treats. I open the front door and untangle myself from the leash cord of a bouncing dog. I swear. I apologize. I roll over to the plywood ramp enabling me to make the shift in level between the flagstone and deep gravel. I cringe at the ramp’s…

  • Possibility

    Cathy
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:40 am
    ceramic, steel 14″h x 4″w 1995 _____________________________________ This time of year I just have to talk about dirt. I learned about the earth from my grandmother who fussed about in her garden; Privately, contentedly, Hunched and bent to the ground. She tended her roses Far better than her children. She heaped silent appreciation toward fragrant lilacs And blue-red raspberries Never caring a whit about the state of her fingernails. We worked together, she and I. Turning the dark, worm- laden soil; Ever impressed that after the impossibly long and stultifying winter Nature…

  • Nothing To Do…

    Cathy
    24 Apr 2012 | 5:33 pm
    detail of painting __________________ Funny, watching this some part of me remembers: . . .
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    Freedom Disability

  • Social Security Adds 52 Conditions to Compassionate Allowance List

    Freedom Disability
    3 May 2012 | 8:10 am
    The Social Security Administration (SSA) has added 52 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowance initiative designed to fast-track disability benefits to the most severely ill.The total number of conditions that qualify for compassionate allowance now stands at 165, with more conditions likely to be added in the future. 52 Newest Compassionate Allowance Conditions The newest [...] ....This is a preview. To see the full article on FreedomDisability.com, click the title above.

  • Use Over the Counter Pain Relievers with Caution

    Freedom Disability
    26 Apr 2012 | 11:42 am
    When you get a headache, what do you take for it? More than likely it’s an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Either one of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) will usually do the trick – giving you fast relief. But did you know that taking them too often could be harmful? [...] ....This is a preview. To see the full article on FreedomDisability.com, click the title above.

  • Yoga Therapy for People with Disabling Chronic Health Conditions

    Freedom Disability
    9 Apr 2012 | 3:42 pm
    Did you know that Medicare and some health insurance plans cover yoga therapy for people with disabling health conditions? Research has found that yoga helps people change poor lifestyle habits that have led to some of the most common – and costly – chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancers, arthritis, obesity, back [...] ....This is a preview. To see the full article on FreedomDisability.com, click the title above.

  • Freedom Disability Reviews 2012

    Stephanie
    27 Mar 2012 | 9:24 am
    Customer testimonials say it best! No one speaks to the quality and value of our services better than our customers. Read or listen to these reviews below… In Their Own Words… LETTER ABOVE: “Dear Kim, as promised as per our phone conversation Friday am, here is your payment for services I promised to send. Again, [...] ....This is a preview. To see the full article on FreedomDisability.com, click the title above.

  • People with Disabilities Face Challenges with 13% Unemployment and Hurdles in Applying for Social Security Disability

    Freedom Disability
    19 Mar 2012 | 3:03 pm
    Trending now – more jobs available for job seekers. This is good news for the 12.8 million Americans currently out of work. But for the long-term unemployed who suffer poor health, the news may not make much of a difference.  Competing for Jobs Even though the latest jobs report from the Department of Labor is [...] ....This is a preview. To see the full article on FreedomDisability.com, click the title above.
 
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    The ROHO Community

  • Dan Buchanan, International Airshow Performer, Mentor, ROHO User

    The ROHO Group
    9 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Guest blog post by Bob Vogel Dan Buchanan. Photo courtesy of Dan Buchanan. Friends and mentors are priceless. In 1985, while still coming to grips with my spinal cord injury in the rehab hospital, a fellow hang-glider pilot named, Dan Buchanan, who is also a T8 complete para came to visit me. Dan’s visit helped me a great deal, mainly because in between dolling out tidbits of SCI survival wisdom he kept looking out the window. Within a short period of time he said “Man, the weather is looking really good for flying, so I gotta go. I’ll catch you later.” This was the perfect thing to…

  • Save $10 Today Only!

    The ROHO Group
    5 May 2012 | 6:00 am
    Save $10 Today Only! Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by saving $10 off your entire purchase at The ROHO Store. Save on specialty cushions, cushion covers and more! Use the code MAY05. Offer valid only on 5/5/12 until midnight US CST. What are you waiting for? Start shopping now!

  • Job Openings

    The ROHO Group
    3 May 2012 | 7:00 am
      The ROHO Group has 4 positions available. They are: Domestic Marketing Intern Consumer Insights Research Strategy Intern (Marketing Research Intern) Senior Director of IT Independent Manufacturing Sales Representative, Europe — AIRHAWK   Internships The ROHO Group has openings for 2 paid summer internships. They are: Domestic Marketing Intern Consumer Insights Research Strategy Intern (Marketing Research Intern) The internships are part-time positions that average 32–34 hours per week and pays $10/hr (or higher for specialized positions.) The internships typically last 8-12…

  • Protected: VA Price Change List

    The ROHO Group
    26 Apr 2012 | 1:48 pm
    This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password:

  • ADA Drive-By Lawsuits — Enforcement or Extortion?

    The ROHO Group
    25 Apr 2012 | 6:00 am
    Guest blog post by Bob Vogel A handful of lawyers and people with disabilities are using well intentioned ADA (The Americans With Disabilities Act) accessibility laws in several states including California and Florida to rake in huge amounts of cash by filing hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of ADA-access lawsuits. In these states it is not uncommon to read about a single person filing more than two dozen ADA-access lawsuits a week, articles often refer to these lawyers as frequent filers. Why are ADA-access lawsuits so common in California and Florida? Federal ADA access law says…
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    Need Project blog

  • Nostalgic

    14 May 2012 | 10:40 pm
    Perhaps it’s because my oldest just got home from his second year at college. Perhaps it’s because last week my middle son turned seventeen. That I can hardly believe. Or maybe it’s because this week is Mother’s Day. Whatever the reason, I’m feeling quite nostalgic. The other day I was remembering when the kids were young. Back then, they thought I was smart. (Those days are gone.) My children used to look at me as more than an ATM. They thought I was funny. Ok, so my jokes are only funny to young children, but I once made milk come out of my son’s nose.

  • Admit It: You’re Gonna Screw Up!

    14 Apr 2012 | 11:22 pm
    And you know what? That’s OK! Maybe not to the extent that my wife did, but I had dreams of how my growing family would be. I knew how life was supposed to go – and just as importantly – how it shouldn’t. I would do many things differently from my own dad. Not that I didn’t have a lot of respect for him, but whether we had good dads or not, we always imagine we are going to be better. We have plans and dreams for how we’re going to structure our new lives, how we’re going to both teach and have fun with our kids. But then it struck me: because of…

  • Four Dollars and 50 cents

    14 Mar 2012 | 9:12 pm
    I Googled “how much are we worth,” and this answer was the second result. This value was obtained by pricing out all the chemicals in our bodies and coming up with a sum total. From a chemical standpoint, (65% oxygen, 18% carbon, and so on all the way down to traces of zinc, copper, and aluminum,) $4.50 is the price tag put on a human being.  The article said that our skin was the most valuable at $3.50, but they were only basing that on the price of cowhide. Of course, this estimate is based only on a chemical perspective, and I’m sure we’ve heard stories on the…

  • I’m no Mechanic

    14 Feb 2012 | 11:09 pm
    I have a twelve-year-old truck. I don’t drive it every day because it is a huge, diesel-guzzling monster with a 36-gallon gas tank; it hurts just to fill up. We use it for camping, getting animal feed, and, as anyone who’s owned a truck surely knows, to help friends and relatives move. It is long paid for, so I don’t want to replace it or get something else. When it breaks down like it did last month, however, it is so expensive to fix that it really can break the bank. The auto mechanic gave me a price, then called twice more to tell me the truck needed some more things…

  • Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

    15 Jan 2012 | 12:22 am
    I love the movie Forrest Gump. It has some parts I believe they could have left out, but for the most part I really enjoy it. Of course, the movie is a fun way of retelling modern history. They did an amazing job of integrating sixty years of America’s past into a two-hour film. Not only do they weave historical fact seamlessly into the story, but I think you get a sense of what people on all sides of the events were feeling about what was happening. The other reason I love this movie is the character of Forrest himself. The actor Tom Hanks does an amazing job playing a simple man; not…
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    Disabled Lifts

  • Acorn Stair Lifts – The Feature Packed Safe and Durable Chairlifts for Buildings

    Wayne
    28 Apr 2012 | 7:58 am
    By: Daniel Brash The purpose of a stair lift is to transport people across different floors in a building without clambering the stairs. This becomes a necessity for people who have any difficulty in climbing stairs due to any disability, old age, or any other debility such as lower back pains and knee-joint problems. Acorn stairlift is a well known brand that designs the lifts taking safety measures into consideration so that anyone using them is safe from any kind of injury during their use. These lifts are built on walls or staircases so as to provide easy mobility to the residents. There…

  • Acorn Stair Lift – How Does It Rate?

    Wayne
    28 Apr 2012 | 5:52 am
    By: Robin OBrien The Acorn Superglide 120 is the number one selling stair lift on the market. But is the number of home stair lifts sold by the company due to hype and slick marketing, or does Acorn sell in large numbers because it’s the best? Safety should be the buyer’s first concern when looking for a stair chair lift. It should be a mobility aid and not a health and safety hazard. Also, you need to determine what features it should have to best serve your requirements. The price of the it should be your last concern. Acorn models come fitted with many safety features as…

  • Acorn Stair Lifts

    Wayne
    28 Apr 2012 | 4:57 am
    By: Ricky Lee A stair lift is a device that can help people who are either disabled or elderly to go up and down the stairs in their own homes. There are plenty of different companies who now build stair lifts including Acorn Stair Lifts and each model that they produce will be able to cater to a person’s specific needs and requirements. Most types of chair lifts you see today have been specifically designed for use within the home, but there are some which a person can use for outdoors as well. Certainly by having some form of stair lift in their home a disabled or elderly person will…

  • What You Should Consider When Buying a Riser Recliner Chair

    Wayne
    4 Apr 2012 | 11:38 am
    By: Nevin Anderson Ii Should you suffer from arthritis, circulation problems as well as lower back pain and spend a large amount of your time in a chair, then you may have discovered that you find it hard to get into and out of that chair. Should this be the case then you really should look at a riser recliner chair to relieve your suffering. However, you could be thinking that this kind of pricey purchase is a thing that you really need to consider long and hard. You will want to be sure you are getting good value as well as getting all of the functions you’d like to have, and at a…

  • What To Look For When Buying A Bathlift

    Wayne
    4 Apr 2012 | 11:27 am
    By: Debra Ferrel Many disabled or injured people are because of their injuries and limitations unable to take a bath without assistance. Although an alternative would be to take a shower instead, many still have a strong desire to go back to their old routine of taking a relaxing bath in their own tub. Buying a bathtub lift or disabled bath lift may be a great solution to return one to their old bathing habits. Disabled bath lifts have been around for years however seem to get overlooked. Most people in this type of situation gravitate towards purchasing a tub bench or transfer bench and…
 
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    Handicapped Equipment

  • Basins Designed For The Disabled

    admin
    13 May 2012 | 11:49 pm
    Maintaining good hygiene can uplift anyone’s morale especially when they are having a bad day. Having the ability to care for oneself or allowing others to have an easier time when caring for you will make good hygiene, simple and quick. Wash basins placed in the right areas for the disabled can do just that. [...]

  • Fingerless Wheelchair Gloves – Do You Need Them?

    admin
    7 May 2012 | 12:11 am
    There is a wide variety of fingerless wheelchair gloves which can make for extremely comfortable wear. Most fingerless gloves come with a high degree of customization and one can choose from padded palms, different kinds of material, with or without knuckle holes and so on for maximum comfort and grip. Benefits of Fingerless Wheelchair Gloves [...]

  • Telephones For People With Hearing Problems

    admin
    23 Apr 2012 | 10:59 pm
    As the population ages, it is becoming increasingly important for telephones to be able to accommodate those with certain disabilities. Of the five total senses, hearing is one of the most common to be negatively affected by the aging process among senior citizens. Hearing problems can make communication impossible and unsafe for those who live alone. [...]

  • Spill Proof Cups

    admin
    19 Apr 2012 | 2:08 am
    Many persons with physical disabilities have difficulty with daily activities such as eating and drinking. Many neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause hand tremors or weak grasp and therefore make an affected person likely to spill food and beverages. Clothing protectors such as aprons or bibs treated with stain-resistant sprays are helpful, as [...]

  • Grooming For People With Disabilities

    admin
    8 Apr 2012 | 1:34 am
    Having the ability to groom oneself is often taken for granted especially for those who have been doing it for a while. However, if you are disabled, you may struggle with upper body tasks such as brushing your teeth, applying hand lotion or holding a hairbrush. If you have a disability that involves your feet [...]
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    Wheelchair Accessibility Blog and Disability News

  • Cerebral Palsy in Rabbits Reversed with Nanotechnology

    Guest Author
    16 May 2012 | 10:50 am
    There are a number of different factors known to cause cerebral palsy. These include genetic mutations, infection, fetal stroke, and complications during delivery. A new study has identified a way of curing cerebral palsy caused by maternal inflammation and infection, by delivering a medication directly to the brain. Researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Perinatology Research Branch of the National Institutes of Health used rabbits to test a new treatment using N-acetyl-L-cysteine or NAC, an anti-inflammatory sometimes used for people who overdose on…

  • Woman with Disabilities Sues Johnny Depp over Concert Assault

    Roseanne
    15 May 2012 | 10:20 am
    Johnny Depp is well known for his preference of being left alone in public, but a recent lawsuit aimed at the actor accuses his security team of taking things too far. The plaintiff in the case is a University of California-Irvine medical professor who walks with a cane for assistance due to her disabilities from spondyloarthritis (vertebral inflammation) and fibromyalgia (widespread pain and joint stiffness). According to court documents, the plaintiff was attending a recent Iggy and the Stooges concert at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. When she tried to return to her seat in the…

  • Stem Cell GABA Neurons May Aid in Huntington’s Disease Cure

    Roseanne
    14 May 2012 | 2:28 pm
    Over 30,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by uncontrollable muscle spasms. This debilitating congenital neurological disorder has no treatment, and over time takes away muscle coordination and cognitive abilities of the patient. However, new stem cell research using stem cells may give hope to those with the disease. The cause of Huntington’s disease can be found in GABA neuron cells, which produce a chemical neurotransmitter responsible for the communication network in the brain that coordinates movement. In…

  • Tablets, iPads Revolutionize Education for Special Needs Kids

    Roseanne
    11 May 2012 | 8:39 am
    In the two years since the debut of the iPad, schools have found how beneficial the new technology can be to children with special needs and students with learning disabilities. A student with autism can let his teacher know that he is hungry and what he would like for lunch. Touch screen apps can help kids with fine motor difficulties, while eBooks let students read at their individual reading levels without worry of ridicule from classmates. Many schools across the country are purchasing iPads for their students with special needs and learning disabilities, and are finding that students are…

  • Students Design and Construct a Desk for a Girl with Cerebral Palsy

    Roseanne
    8 May 2012 | 10:58 am
    A request for help from the mother of a girl with cerebral palsy has led to a group effort by students in an area of Alabama recently devastated by storms. A few months ago Joann Wells stopped by the Tuscaloosa Center for Technology to see if they could build her daughter a desk that would be comfortable for her to use while doing homework. Construction and graphic design students got the opportunity to put their skills to good use, designing and building the special desk for 13-year-old Yasmine Williams. In doing so, they have learned how to help rebuild Tuscaloosa, which was damaged by…
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    Amblyopia Kids | Adventures in Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

  • Amblyopia Adventures - Kadydid Designs

    1 May 2012 | 10:57 am
    I want to encourage the readers here at Amblyopiakids.com to hop on over to Kadydid Designs and read her series aptly titled Adventures in Amblyopia. Adventures in Amblyopia Part 1 Adventures in Amblyopia Part 2 Adventures in Amblyopia Part 3 Adventures in Amblyopia Part 4 Adventures in Amblyopia Part 5

  • Our Second Opinion Dr. Visit

    30 Apr 2012 | 1:05 pm
    When they told us Belle needed patching again, I wanted to cover all my bases. Its the two words that pop up again and again when your child has a vision "problem" such as amblyopia or lazy eye. I've read it, I've heard it.. Patching alone is not enough.. She needs: Vision Therapy. I've read Jillian's Story and Fixing my Gaze and I absolutely was not against trying Vision Therapy with Belle. And so, to hear that we needed to patch again - I just wanted there to be "something else" that I could do to know that I've tried everything.  At the urging of Jillian's mom, Robin and others in the…

  • We get by with a little help from our friends - Decorated Patches

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:26 pm
    So, at this point it is so back to basics for us with trying everything and anything to get Belle to wear her patches.  I asked some of Belle's friends - especially older children to whom she looks up to - to make her some decorated patches. These are some fun ones that Mikayla, her hockey buddy made for her! These colorful  patches are the adhesive patches from Krafty Patches - a brand of patches that is fully occlusive and also non-irritating to wear. To learn more about Krafty Eye Patches you can visit our review of them here:…

  • NJ Devils Patch from Framehuggers

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:17 pm
    As I've shared, Belle has been VERY upset about having to patch again.  So much that she went though her "patch stash" and cleaned out and decided that many of her old patches were too babyish for her now that she is a big 7 year old.  I reached out to Camille Workman at Framehuggers who has been a lifesaver in the past with her cloth patches that are NO-PEEK aka Belle-Proof.  She made 2 new patches for Belle, just what the big girl wanted. Here's her first one that she has been rocking during the NHL Stanley Cup playoff games. Belle gets excited about wearing her Devils patch…

  • Continued Struggles with Patching

    30 Apr 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Belle continues to be super combatant about patching. She is really mad about it and is extremely vocal about how she feels. It has been a month of her giving us a real hard time and making those 4 hours of each day the most miserable of her and everyone around her.  Very stressful.  Her 2 hours at school are going well and occasionally she even gets an extra half hour in at school leaving us just 2 hours after school or dinner and before bed.   Then we just have to deal with the longer 4 hour stretch on the weekends. Belle tries to get us to break it up and then get so…
 
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    TheCripClassified

  • Keep Inspiring to Believe in the Beauty of Your Dreams

    Claire theCP Chic
    14 May 2012 | 11:21 am
    For the first 40 years of my life I’ve shied away from being labeled inspirational. Something just clicked this morning, if the world would like to worship me, then I should just own up to it and accept my faith. I have decided that as my crown is being designed, I should write my speech to my followers, accepting my inspiring position in life. So here goes. Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears. Despite my cerebral palsy, I was the only one of my siblings and cousins to graduate from college. Oops, not so true. But wouldn’t that truly be a kick-ass inspirational opening line? Reality is…

  • Everyone has a Doppelganger, Wish Mine was Hanging in a Museum

    Claire theCP Chic
    11 May 2012 | 10:23 am
    I am a firm believer in letting people see what they see. Ya know like The Virgin Mary’s outline that sometimes appear everywhere including but not limited to: window’s reflections, on chimneys, water spills, and my favorite, on burnt toast. I can’t see it. I do try with an open mind. I stare and stare at passing clouds but 95% of the time all I see is great puffs of cotton, and the other 5% of the time, it’s usually something obscure. Although it is with great joy that a few weeks ago I spotted a dragon in my grits. I’m very serious. I took it as a sign of good luck, after all it…

  • 41-Year-Old Seeks To Defunk Myths About Disabilities

    Claire theCP Chic
    9 May 2012 | 12:32 pm
    I thought it might be fun to research some of the myths going around about us folks with disabilities. I found an excellent article about this at www.easterseals.com and took my favorite five. Here they are: Myth 1: We are heroic. Myth 2: We are sickly. Myth 3: We are more comfortable with “our own kind.” Myth 4: It is all right for “norms” to park in accessible parking spaces, if only for a few minutes. And myth 5: We want a lot of help. Let’s dissect each of these myths. Myth #1 – I am Wonderwoman. Truthfully I’d loved to be because that magic lasso was cool. I could…
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    Enabled Kids

  • High School Students Get Health Report Card

    Natan
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:39 am
    Students are at the highest risk of developing life-threatening diseases in their near future. They have reduced the amount of time they are active and have shown increased tendencies towards poor eating habits and diets. This has caused great concern for a high school in New Brunswick which is developing a health report card for students in order to keep them on the right track in and after high school. To read more about this, click the link below. http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/01/09/health-report-cards-high-school.html

  • Junk food and ADHD

    Natan
    16 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood mental conditions in today’s society. Said to be triggered by chemical imbalances in the brain, the origins of this condition are still largely unknown. However, since the 1970s scientists have suspected that symptoms can worsen due to many factors, including unwanted ingredients found in processed foods. As a result, it is important to be cautious about what we are feeding our children and to start introducing healthier alternatives that they can carry with them into adulthood. Making the…

  • Don’t like milk? Here are some other sources of calcium

    Natan
    4 Apr 2012 | 12:44 pm
    A child’s development relies tremendously on a healthy and nutritious diet. To have good health, you need to have an excellent balance of all the essential vitamins and minerals. As one of these elements, calcium is an important factor in the development of growing bones and teeth. For this reason, today’s article will look at calcium and Vitamin D, its importance, the effects of pasteurization, and alternative sources of calcium you can try. So what is calcium? Calcium is a mineral used for various functions such as building strong bones during childhood and the adolescent stages,…

  • Traveling with your child with special needs

    Natan
    22 Mar 2012 | 2:05 pm
    Traveling can be a great opportunity to learn about and experience new things together with your child. When the process goes smoothly, it is also a good way to develop closer ties among family and friends. However, this process can also be challenging, especially when traveling with a child that has special needs. Many of the patients and families I treat from overseas have experienced issues with arranging transportation, finding the right food and booking the right accommodations. All of these items need to be arranged well in advance in order for the whole process to run smoothly. As a…

  • Part Three: Ten Commandments For Educators Who Teach Kids on the Autism Spectrum

    Mari
    19 Mar 2012 | 10:00 am
    1 ) Thou shall not perceive me as a diagnosis.  It is not true that once you have worked with an autistic child,  you have worked with them all. There are many different degrees of autism–hence the meaning of the term, “Autism Spectrum.” We have distinct personalities and talents, just like you. We may present ourselves as nonverbal, verbal, have advanced expressive vocabularies, receptive vocabularies, be aggressive, shy, funny, or ambulatory. We may have mobility issues, be extremely social or shy, or have gifted IQs, or low IQs. Spend time getting to know me. You may…
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    About.com Learning Disabilities

  • Allergies and Learning Disorders in Children

    13 May 2012 | 7:38 am
    Everyone knows that air pollution causes respiratory problems in children and adults. Problems like asthma, COPD, and a susceptibility to respiratory infections. But did you also know that air pollution can contribute to allergies? No, I'm not just talking about sneeze attacks, but actual food, skin, and other childhood allergies that seem to be so prevalent in our culture.  Learn more about allergies and their impact on learning disorders in children in this guest article by Kate Croston.

  • Disability Round-Up

    13 May 2012 | 7:29 am
    Is the end of Social Security Disability near? Check out Charlotte Gerber's research on the future of the SSI Disability program and find out. Terry Mauro shares a parent's painful testimony of a victim being penalized for a bully's behavior. Keath Low shares information on symptoms of ADD in women. Learn more about reading instruction in special education programs from Jerry Webster. Depression Guide Nancy Schimelphening shares information on how newer antidepressants may be safer for individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

  • Sleep Disorders and Your Child

    5 May 2012 | 8:05 am
    Does your child with learning disabilities have sleeping problems? If so you're not alone. Many children with learning disabilities who also have sensory integration problems also have difficulty with sleep. This is especially true if your child is on the autism spectrum. Sleep problems involve difficulty going to sleep, waking up during the night, and difficulty getting up in the morning because of sleep problems in the night. Here are some tips that can help.

  • Disability Round-Up

    5 May 2012 | 5:34 am
    This week Charlotte Gerber shares information on disabling lupus as well as June scholarship deadlines and bullying and the disabled teen. Keath Low gives answers on executive functioning and helpful study tips for college students with ADD. Jerry Webster shares special education horror stories of an autistic child bullied by a teacher and horror stories from the bus. Learn more about learning disabilities, learning disability testing, and dyslexia.

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

    27 Apr 2012 | 2:35 pm
    Autism spectrum disorder refers to one of several developmental disabilities that are caused by neurological problems. These disabilities are also sometimes referred to as pervasive developmental disorders. These disorders affect an individual's thinking ability, ability to communicate, and ability to interact appropriately with others. These disorders include five types of diagnoses including autism,Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified, Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. Learn more about autism spectrum disorders.
 
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    multiple sclerosis athlete

  • MS Inspiration: For Mother’s with Multiple Sclerosis

    msathlete
    11 May 2012 | 11:54 pm
    Sometimes I think the greatest gift anyone with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can receive is love; including mothers with MS. I don’t have children, but if I did, I would want my child to be like James Leff. A few weeks ago a colleague told me about a young man (James) who was planning to cycle [...]

  • Multiple Sclerosis in the Raw – a natural state of being

    msathlete
    26 Apr 2012 | 2:18 am
    Health is not valued til sickness comes. - Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732 I find myself thinking a lot these days. Thinking about Multiple Sclerosis and if I am doing the right things to manage my disease. Not just manage it to the point of being “ok,” – I want to be more than that. I [...]

  • MS Overload: poor planning leads to an MS attack

    msathlete
    20 Feb 2012 | 12:46 am
    Sometimes I am my own worst enemy. I like to believe that I am just like everyone else out there and I that it’s ok to behave as though I don’t have Multiple Sclerosis. This past weekend I was reminded that ignoring the ways of my disease is not a smart idea. On February 12 [...]

  • MS and Exercise: a letter to the Editor of the Vancouver Sun

    msathlete
    3 Feb 2012 | 1:48 am
    Thank you for your article on Katherine Louma-Gardiner’s approach to fighting MS. You are helping dispel the myth that people with Multiple Sclerosis should not exercise. In fact, for many of us, exercise is part of how we manage our disease. There are a number of us who have been successfully using fitness to minimize [...]

  • MS Predictability: Am I sick or having an MS attack?

    msathlete
    29 Jan 2012 | 6:35 pm
    The more I study my body’s response to the world around me the more predictable I find my Multiple Sclerosis. This month has been a wee bit challenging. In preparation for a 10k solo and a 34k relay swim this summer I upped my training adding 6k swims on Saturday and 4 morning 3k swims [...]
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    Support for Special Needs

  • On when to share the diagnosis of the daughter we’re adopting

    Shannon Dingle
    16 May 2012 | 9:44 am
    When I’m talking to my new neighbors about my older daughter, I don’t feel the need to mention “she has blond hair” or “her eyes are blue.” When they meet my willowy and spirited five year old, they’ll see those things. That’s why I don’t initially share that Zoe Amanda has cerebral palsy. They won’t be able to see it right away, like they can see the white blond hair or soft blue eyes of our other daughter, but like Jocelyn’s descriptors, Zoe’s diagnosis is simply an attribute. It’s not who she is. I used to blurt…

  • Tips for Families New to the Medical Vortex

    Julia Roberts
    15 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    It’s overwhelming when you have a child diagnosed with something. For me, I just lived in a fog. At least three months. I don’t remember how we performed the day to day functions for our family. But we did. I wish the transition to having a special needs child was easier. Here’s what I’ve learned is helpful to know. It’s my “I Wish I Had Known List.” 1.       It gets easier – the idea of raising a child with special needs (special needs being an umbrella to medical challenges). There’s no time frame on when it will feel normal. But it will. It’ll feel your…

  • The End of an Experiment

    Robert Rummel-Hudson
    14 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Back in the summer of 2005, when Schuyler was first beginning her journey with augmentative communication technology and was being served very poorly by her Austin-area school, we visited with members of the public school district’s assistive technology team in the north Dallas suburb of Plano. We were expecting to learn that the Plano schools supported students using AAC devices in the classrooms. What we discovered instead was that beginning the next semester, a pilot program would place about a dozen students using AAC devices in a single classroom, with the goal of training them on…

  • Around the Community

    Jen
    11 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    Can you feel the vibe of the summer headed our way? My kids are constantly at the baseball fields, school assignments don’t seem as difficult and summer vacation planning is in full effect. And that’s probably why we had a slow week here at Support for Special Needs. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have new members and activity! New Members Patricia joined this week and says she has a nine year old who was not diagnosed properly. Take a moment to drop by her page to say hi along with Miranda who also joined the site this week. Support Groups It was also a slow week for…

  • Special Needs and Settling

    Julia Roberts
    8 May 2012 | 7:00 am
    Recently, I’ve had to get to know our new doctor. He’s a pediatrician I vetted through a process I wrote about here a couple of months ago. Since that How To post I’ve had to take my daughter in to see him for an unscheduled appointment because of strep and a UTI (which is fairly serious in a kidney transplant kid) and my son for a scheduled well visit. I was a little nervous. It can be nerve wracking beginning a relationship with a new doctor and team and hopes were so high. I’d prepared myself to have to learn the ways of the staff and processes and I’d vowed…
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    Our Special Families Village

  • I Think You Should – or Not.

    Sandra@OurSpecialFamiliesVillage.org (Sandra and Our Special Families Village)
    15 May 2012 | 12:54 pm
          Note: This came up in my work with An IEP for Me! and I thought I’d share it with you. As Special Needs Families we often face similar situations. Let me know what you think in the comments.   What you can do with Unsolicited Advice I have a really big goal in my life. I have shared it with some people but recently I’ve been hearing a lot of, “I think you should…” responses. Now here’s the thing… No one knows me the way I know me. They don’t see the world through the same lens that do They don’t know what I’ve…

  • Welcome to my Interview with Lou Guiffre with LifeProtekt

    Sandra@OurSpecialFamiliesVillage.org (Sandra and Our Special Families Village)
    4 May 2012 | 11:09 am
    Lou Guiffre from LifeProtekt.com LifeProtekt provides personal location safety technology and integrated solutions. Want to know what the heck that means and how it can help your Special Needs Loved Ones? Then listen to this interview with Lou! Lou Guiffre interview.mp3 Click to listen or right click to download. Lou also recommends you read Six Critical Factors to determine which personal GPS fits best and he spills the beans about Vega, an exciting new product that will be launching soon. (And no, I am not affiliated with LifeProtekt in any way – I just think they have some very…

  • Reflections on Autism Awareness Month

    Sandra@OurSpecialFamiliesVillage.org (Sandra and Our Special Families Village)
    1 May 2012 | 5:03 pm
    Yesterday was the last day of Autism Awareness Month.  Whew. What an emotional roller coaster. I believe that Awareness is the first step to Acceptance but what we really strive for, what all Families with Special Needs Family Members strive for, is Inclusion. So I was truly shocked and extremely saddened by some of the the things I read – at the lack of awareness of the uniqueness of each person and their needs, at the lack of acceptance of a different perspective or opinion. And at the lack of Inclusion within our own Special Needs Community. This past month I learned that Awareness,…

  • If Mama Ain’t Transitioning – A Webinar Just for You

    Sandra@OurSpecialFamiliesVillage.org (Sandra and Our Special Families Village)
    1 May 2012 | 3:46 pm
    Hey, this is Sandra and I’m really excited to announce that… … Doreen and I are putting together a sneak peek at what’s going to be in the “An IEP for Me!” Coaching Circle. It will be a fun, interactive and free 2-part webinar titled “If Mama Ain’t Transitioning, Ain’t Nobody Transitioning”. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot (Part 1 is on Tues. May 8th and space is limited). See you there! Sandra

  • Announcing the updated, upgraded, new and improved first “An IEP for Me!” Coaching Circle!

    Sandra@OurSpecialFamiliesVillage.org (Sandra and Our Special Families Village)
    27 Apr 2012 | 3:14 pm
      Hello! As you know, we decided to make some changes to our first “An IEP for Me!” Coaching Circle. There were several reasons: Tara is unable to join us but Doreen and I are committed to moving forward with you on this grand adventure! Because… We understand that you may feel conflicting emotions and overwhelmed. We know you want community, support and info to move forward yet you do not know how you can add another thing into your day. We hear you and we have decided to restructure the program to give you more of what you need now. Learn more here!
 
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