Day in Washington blog

The blog Day in Washington is a must read for many reasons, including that it provides current disability policy information, but it's getting even better. Day will be featuring blog posts from experts and is looking for advocates who would like to do that.

Because of increased interest in this blog and podcast and a widening of our audience, I am encouraging individuals interested in acting as guest bloggers to contact me about potential publication on Day in Washington. I make no promises that I will post your article, but there are so many wonderful advocates out there doing amazing things that can and do impact disability policy, I think it is important to be able to offer a forum for that to be highlighted. Never fear though, Day in Washington will continue with its history of strong legislative analysis of disability policy; and I look forward to many more years of providing this service to the community.

So go on over to get more information. (For a good laugh, you can also see the video Wheelchair Werewolf- bwa ha ha!)

More groups helping amputees in Haiti

Please see article here, list is reprinted below.

via msnbc.com

Some groups aiding quake victims:

Handicap International: Co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for work with land mine victims, the agency conducts 250 programs in 60 countries. The group has been working in Haiti since 2008.

Amputee Coalition of America: Provides resources and education for amputees in the U.S. and around the world.

Healing Hands for Haiti: Aid agency has worked for more than a decade providing help for 800,000 disabled Haitians.

Physicians for Peace: Provides medical education and training in developing countries, including Haiti.

Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics Inc.: U.S. largest supplier of devices. Sites nationwide are accepting used crutches, braces, wheelchairs and prosthetics.

American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association: National trade association of manufacturers and suppliers of braces and artificial limbs.

Prosthetics Outreach Foundation: Helps amputees in the developing world gain mobility.

Legs for All: LeTourneau University program that helps clinics in developing countries produce inexpensive, durable prosthetics locally.

Limbs for Life Foundation: Helping re-establish prosthetic supply and distribution for Haiti in the Dominican Republic.

via msnbc.com

Crying out to God: Prayers from Haiti

I'm reading a book entitled Wild at Heart: Radical Teachings of the Christian Mystics by Tessa Bielecki, who describes prayer as "crying out to God."

On a day when the earthquake in Haiti is two weeks old and massive suffering is ongoing, I can't help but add that crying out to God can be, and has been, accompanied by tears.

There is nothing dry about my prayers for Haiti. I have wept openly when talking about the lack of resources for Haitians with disabilities with my friends and colleagues. I've asked people to send donations, on an ongoing basis, to various organizations . Even as amputations continue, amputees are being released out of the hospitals because the space is needed. In a country where mobility is accomplished mostly on foot or bicycle , and where many jobs involve physical labor, amputees face insurmountable obstacles getting to church, school and work. Medical equipment is needed, as well as ongoing medical care.

(Find ways to help here.)

Then there is the danger of child trafficking, of trucks pulling up to groups of children and offering them food before taking them away to become victims of sexual trafficking or slaves, called restaveks. (Find ways to help here.)

Some of the most vulnerable cry out, asking where God is. These are their prayers. ( Read A Prayer after the Earthquake in Haiti here.)

Let us pray and help answer their prayers.

[For a 360 degree view of streets in Haiti, click here.]

Like Stars on Earth

I just watched the movie, Like Stars on Earth. It's about an eight-year-old Indian boy who has dyslexia. He's doing poorly in school, failing in his second attempt at third grade, and acting out so badly that his father decides to send him away to boarding school. Once he's there, he emotionally shuts down as a result of the discipline and failing grades he receives. Fortunately, a temporary art teacher, who also has dyslexia, reaches out to the child, the school's principal and teachers, and his family.

It is, however, a difficult movie to watch. Not only is it two hours and 45 minutes long, but the struggle faced by the child is not glossed over. Nor should it be. This is a very effective way to highlight the difficulties faced by children and their families when they aren't diagnosed properly with learning difficulties. The movie also realistically portrays bullying, as well as the abandonment felt by the child when he was sent off to boarding school. (There are multiple references to the R. word.)

I was disturbed by some of the messages regarding disability in the movie. I found the emphasis upon having a disability always linked to an exceptional talent a bit problematic. It certainly is good to teach children that we have different talents, and we see the world differently, but it's not necessary to have an exceptional talent to have worth if you have a disability any more than it's necessary to have an exceptional talent if you're nondisabled. This theme is repeated throughout the movie since the "best student" at the boarding school is physically disabled and uses crutches. The lead character who has dyslexia is an exceptional artist. The teacher emphasizes how many famous people had dyslexia- and on and on. It is as if there is a dichotomy between the children in the school for the disabled and the exceptionally talented disabled kids which undercuts the theme of the equal worth of everyone.

But on the good side this movie realistically portrays some things about the experience of being disabled. I just wish it hadn't involved so many examples of black-and-white thinking. It's in the gray areas that true understanding will flourish.

It has nothing to do with disability

I ran across a post discussing why disability "is not your analogy"and would like to add some thoughts.

Saying your quiche turned out badly is like having a disability apparently seems like it's not a big deal to some folks, but to disabled people, it shows ignorance.


Using it for an analogy appropriates the experience of being disabled. It takes the experience without permission or proper respect and only in part, meaning everything gets skewed. This sort of thing tends to leave out either the dimension of social oppression (as with the cooking example) or the impairment (the ‘we’re all disabled’ example). And it’s always used to say something negative: it’s setting up disability as the go-to reference for bad things. In short, using ‘disability’ for an analogy shows a lack of connection with disabled people’s experiences of disability.


This is not surprising since many in our society still blanch when a person with a disability talks about social oppression. When told about the lack of housing, transportation and access to equipment and services, some respond by saying "that's just part of being disabled". But it has nothing to do with disability. This circular thinking is used to justify eliminating the need to find solutions for the limitations that are imposed by barriers, whether they be physical, attitudinal, or systemic.

Systemic barriers, those which are ingrained into not just our institutions but the way we create our world and conduct our affairs in it, have not even been addressed yet except in piecemeal fashion with few exceptions. One exception - those who talk about universal design -speak about a world where the environment is functional for everyone. This eliminates the need to retrofit housing, public buildings and other environments that are originally built with the assumption that they will only be used by non-disabled people. Instead, places are created with the needs of all in mind.

So-called solutions that keep the experience of being disabled segregated and "special" often fail. They don't take into account that the ultimate solution is for the experience of being disabled to be recognized as a valid and equal state of being with the same rights and privileges as being nondisabled. Moreover, as we are seeing in the current economy, programs that are considered "special" are often the first to be cut in a budget crisis. Solutions that are grounded in charity also fail since relying on the kindness of strangers tends to keep people stuck with unpredictable results for what are very real needs.

The answer lies in providing services, equipment and access in a reliable and predictable way so disabled people can fully participate and contribute to society the same way the nondisabled can. As long as we continue to allow people to indulge in the magical thinking that keeps using disability as an analogy alive, as long as people think that a disability simulation is a huge step toward understanding what it's like to live with a disability, as long as segregation is seen as the status quo and not a last resort, the very need for the services, equipment and access will continue to be questioned.

It is not having these things that creates true dis-ability-the time suck and energy suck that nondisabled people don't have to suffer through for making special arrangements included. I don't see them having to call ahead on a special line to get tickets, or make special arrangements to go to a doctor because so many offices are still not accessible. The list goes on and on, but the point is clear: we continue to be segregated in many ways that are ingrained in the way we relate to each other and the way we do things that conducting our affairs leaves us dis-abled in a way that has nothing to do with our physical disability. This is on top of not having access, services or equipment we may need.

Having said all this, perhaps someone out there will reconsider comparing not being able to make a good quiche to having a disability. Perhaps not. I can tell you that a friend of mine who is a chef has quadriplegia and he can tell you how to make a great quiche.

What is the secret to dealing with a spinal cord injury?

One of WildKat's readers (Matt) asked her this question recently and Kimberley aka WildKat wrote this in response. You can read it all at the link, but I'd like to highlight part of her post here. Kimberley has multiple disabilities and writes about how, when she acquired her sci, she "already had the mind set of being able to do whatever I wanted to and I knew if I wanted something I would figure out a way to make it happen", which she attributes to already having a disability. (I might add that this is also true if you're Irish and persistent (although I get called stubborn by those who don't truly understand the virtue of persistence). In any event, it's a good thing, since a medical type was trying to get her into a nursing home. Kimberley was more interested in getting on with her life, but she adds this, which I'm posting in case anyone with a recent sci is reading:

Then there was all of the hidden aspects of spinal cord injury. People see the wheelchair and understand that you can’t move. They accept that you can’t feel certain parts of your body but that’s usually as far as their understanding goes. They don’t usually understand that all of your plumbing don’t work the same as it use to. Your whole life seems to now revolve around the bathroom! After a few months the indwelling catheter comes out and although you feel a new found freedom you have to learn to d intermittent catheters yourself. Otherwise your bladder will either spasm and let go of it’s contents at inappropriate times, or it will just relax and expand until there is no more room causing urine to back up into your kidneys and do damage. Then every other day there’s the dreaded bowel program . There’s also worries about developing pressure sores if you don’t shift your weight around. It can all become pretty overwhelming!

Of course because of the level of my injury I also had to worry about something called Autonomic Dysreflexia to worry about, which can cause unconsciousness, seizures, stroke or even death if not death with promptly. You are thrown into a completely different world and it’s a lot to take in. Especially while you are re-learning basic things like how to brush your teeth, how to balance, how to move from place to place etc.

Once you learn how to do things again and settle into a routine it gets easier. If you accept that this is the way your life will be then you can move on and deal with things a lot easier as they come. I guess I just went into things with the attitude that life wasn’t over. It was just going to be different and dealt with whatever was thrown at me the best way I knew how.




I hope you go on over and visit WildKat's blog - she has many great posts!

The Lady Vols fall in Georgia

Last night in a close and sloppy game the Lady Vols lost to Georgia, 53-50. It was their second loss this season. They've had other close games recently and this time they paid for it with a loss.

It didn't even look as if they showed up. The guard play was subpar. Bjorklund and Strickland shot 6 out of 21. Manning ran down the court for an open shot and missed it. Cain fouled out on a technical after opening her mouth in the vicinity of a ref about the prior foul. In a post game interview Glory Johnson said the team was too inconsistent and hinted that not every team member was with the program. I can't speak to that, but there were obvious issues.

It wasn't as if the ladies didn't hustle up and down the court. Orange suits were everywhere, but plays weren't executed. It reminded me of when I was learning wheelchair tennis. I spent so much time figuring out how to move my chair quickly enough to get to the ball that when I got there, I sat there and the ball flew past me. My coach finally shouted at me "You're there! Hit the ball!" "Backhand or forehand?" I would ask and she'd shout "Just put your racket out."

Of course I refined my play, but it occurs to me that maybe part of what some Lady Vols freshmen and sophomore players may be doing, since this is a team without any seniors and just one junior, is adjusting their game during games and failing to execute. Even if one or two players are doing it, it's an issue. When you consider that they're out of high school playing at a higher speed, playing more defense and suddenly playing in huge, loud (and sometimes hostile) venues, those are enough variables to make one wonder if this is part of it.

The good news is that there's a fix in a team sport. When I played doubles and spotted this kind of thing in my partner or vice versa, we could cover for each other. But someone has to show up and handle the ball. Just getting to the ball doesn't count.

Trust me, I know.

I just wanted to shout at them "You're there! Handle the ball!" last night. Okay, so I did.

I also shouted "Stretch!" at them, because an Australian Paralympian helped my game immensely by sitting on the sidelines down in Washington DC years ago and shouting "Stretch!" at me during a match that was hot, long and close.

I've found it to be a useful approach not only in sports, but in life.

About Julie, Julia and blogging

My favorite scene in the movie Julie and Julia, which I watched last night, was when Julia Child blew a raspberry at a French chef who told her she had no talent.

For those of you who may not know what giving a raspberry looks like, here's a video.



You get the idea.

Although the movie was very entertaining and made me laugh out loud a number of times, I also learned that Julia Child began to cook late in life. Her husband was working in France and she was looking for something to do. So she took cooking classes and as the only woman in the class found herself in the position of not being taken seriously. So she set out to "be fearless", pounding at mounds of onions, dissecting poultry and eventually finishing the course to work on her cookbook about French cooking.

Of course this movie is also about a blogger who sets out to cook all the recipes in the cookbook in a year. Her name is Julie. She not only accomplished that, but became a published author.

When she first started out, she didn't have any readers for her blog. Her mother left a comment pointing that out. It was humorous,especially as a blogger, to see the reactions of everyone around Julie when she really did get readers and eventually her blog took off.

Those of us who blog know about the skeptics. They ask why you're wasting your time doing that. They want to know how many readers you have. They may see that you get negative comments -or even leave negative comments. Bloggers, however, are a hardy lot and are not easily discouraged. We tend to hang in there, even in the face of total derision. Personally, I wouldn't stop blogging no matter what, not as long as I have Internet access and the ability to get my thoughts down.

In fact, the only thing in this movie that was missing was that there was no scene where Julie, the blogger, gave anyone the raspberry. If there was I didn't see it,but I'm sure somebody will let me know if I'm wrong. Because when you're a blogger that's how it goes.

It's very good training for being somebody who follows her dreams.

So go pick up the movie-or blog-or do whatever your heart tells you. Julia Child did and she did all right for herself. So did Julie Powell.

I am PWD: Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities

This video is captioned and narrated.



The site for I am PWD is at this link.

National Council on Disability Calls for Affordable, Accessible, and Appropriate Housing for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released a report titled

The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective that provides recommendations intended to improve housing opportunities for people with disabilities.

This report looks at the state of housing for people with disabilities with the intent to provide recommendations that can improve housing opportunities. The research contained in this report provides a comprehensive overview of the state of housing in the twenty-first century and answers important questions about the current housing needs and options for people with disabilities living in the United States.

NCD undertook this study with three objectives in mind: 1) to evaluate public laws, policies, and program initiatives affecting the housing opportunities available to Americans with disabilities and others who have accessible housing needs for whatever reason, whether due to aging or a temporary disability; 2) to analyze what housing, supports, and other benefits are available through the public, nonprofit, and/or private sectors; and 3) to provide recommendations that can improve housing opportunities for people with disabilities in the United States.

According to NCD Chairperson Linda Wetters, “Affordable, accessible, and appropriate housing is critical and integral to making a community more livable for people with disabilities. In this report, NCD finds that there are unmet housing needs based solely on standard measures of housing affordability. This analysis also reveals a gap between current policy goals and outcomes — even with laws in place requiring a portion of units to be accessible, some developers and property owners do not comply. Whether it is due to ignorance or intent, the evidence suggests we have missed opportunities to increase the supply of accessible, affordable housing.”

The findings and recommendations contained in this document are grounded in data and research gathered from federal agencies, either directly or via published reports, and from research completed by academics and disability advocates. This report also provides evidence of what can be effective in meeting the range of housing needs among a diverse group of consumers with disabilities. This includes best and promising practices drawn from real examples, and lessons learned from experts working on housing issues and policy. In reviewing best and promising practices, data was triangulated from different sources — interviews, published reports, and Internet research — to assure a comprehensive assessment. To this end, the research has been reviewed and commented on by a diverse panel of experts and consumer groups that have all provided valuable insights and guidance.

Some of the recommendations include:

Increase affordable, accessible, and integrated housing for people with disabilities to meet needs and demand.

Increase access to existing units.

Prevent further loss of affordable, accessible housing.

Expand and focus usage of vouchers.

Improve fair housing enforcement of disability rights.

The purpose of NCD, an independent federal agency, is to promote programs, practices, policies and procedures that ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. NCD accomplishes this mission by providing advice and making recommendations to the President, Congress, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Public Affairs, Mark S. Quigley, at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004.

You can find a copy of the report here.

Amputations increase in Haiti due to infections, delays in care

The growing number of amputations in Haiti are raising concerns among medical professionals about those who will be living with disabilities, as can be seen in this video. If you can, please give to Portlight Strategies, Inc. or Whirlwind Wheelchair International to help meet the medical equipment and other needs.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Martin Luther King Jr. as Pastor

Martin Luther King Jr. came to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church as a non-controversial hire for pastor in a church with internal issues. His pastoral work led him to his civil rights work. Rosa Parks was arrested a year after his arrival in Montgomery.

King began speaking out and leading peaceful protests. From the church, he helped ignite the Montgomery bus boycott. According to Baldwin, King saw this as a natural extension of pastoring his people.

The 2006 video linked below shows the church and has interviews with members who describe King's impact on them. The PBS video contains a transcript.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Whirlwind Wheelchairs: thousands of wheelchairs needed in Haiti

via Rolling Rains Report :

Whirlwind Wheelchairs is rushing an order of their durable rough terrain wheelchairs (called the Rough Rider) down to Haiti - their chairs are good quality and will work in the environment. You can learn more about them in this video.






Each chair costs $220 and they are raising $22,000 for the first order. Please help if you can.

You can donate at Whirlwind Wheelchair here.

Portlight Strategies, Inc. seeks donations and staff

The woman is laying on a stretcher in a medical tent in Haiti. A reporter asks a doctor what procedure needs to be done and he replies that an initial foot amputation is now infected and they must amputate more of the leg. When the reporter asks a second doctor if patients like this woman will receive prosthetics, he replies noncommittally. Maybe. If they survive, maybe. First we save their lives. It's a realistic answer for those who survive with a disability in Haiti, but there is a way to help.

As a person with a disability, I know how difficult it is to have any quality of life without the necessary medical equipment to be mobile. Yet I also know that people who live in poverty around the world often wind up living on the floor or in bed, immobile, because they don't have a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg.

Knowing how many amputations are being performed in Haiti due to crush injuries, as well as the fact that 38% of the population is under the age of 15, we can anticipate a great need for medical equipment for survivors of the earthquake that will be ongoing.

Please keep in mind the mission of Portlight Strategies, Inc. who will serve the specific needs of people in Haiti with disabilities. They work with a community of Catholic nuns who will be opening shelters in Port Au Prince. They need both donations and staff.

Any funds we raise will be used to defray shipping costs of medical and clinical equipment...and for the purchase of food and other shelter supplies...Haiti is our neighbor...and Haitians are certainly forgotten people...people with disabilities in Haiti are frequently barely seen as human...

Anyone interested in going to Haiti to help staff one or more shelters for Haitians with disabilities please email us..at paul@portlight.org

Autism bill signed into law in NJ

A new law amends NJ's existing discrimination law to recognize autism disorders, thanks to the efforts of lawmakers, including Senators Kean and Vitale, who were the prime co-sponsors.

Autistic residents will now receive the same protections as other disabled citizens from discrimination in access to housing, employment and public accommodations such as theaters, stores and restaurants,” Senator Kean said.

Disability and Health Journal, Vol 3, Issue 1 (January 2010) free online

The January 2010 issue of the Disability and Health Journal, A Disability Perspective on the issue of Physician Assisted Suicide, pages 1 through 70, is available free online.

It includes articles by Diane Coleman and Carol Gill, among others.

With their bare hands

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, reports came out that survivors were digging their fellow countrymen and women out of the rubble with their bare hands. Haiti is a place that had no infrastructure before the earthquake hit. None of the medical assistance we take for granted- ambulances and 911- are in place. Doctors without Borders lost their facilities and cannot locate many of their staff, but found two hospitals in good condition. They still need more staff, medicine and equipment because surgery needs to be available ideally within 48 hours to save lives, according to the head of Medecins Du Monde, Oliver Bernard.

As the rest of the world responds with troops, medical teams, and cash donations, those who have worked in Haiti on missions pray that the world will be generous. Considering the lack of infrastructure, debates are going on about the kind of help to send. There are at least 10,000 private organizations providing help and the deep poverty continues. It is clear that long-term planning requires "a model for independence", such as Partners In Health provides.

In the short term, there are many organizations you can give to which will help. Laura Hershey has provided a list of organizations, including Portlight Strategies Inc., which is a more disability specific group.

Last night as I was finishing up my work and preparing to go to bed, I discovered a website for St. Joseph's home for boys in Haiti. It indicated that the children were safe because they were outside at the time of the earthquake. The home includes a place called Wings of Hope for disabled children, where graduates of St. Joseph's care for them. Those children were safe as well. The director however was injured and the road was impassable. Hopefully rescue members will get to him soon.

This kind of urgency deserves any help we can provide. May our prayers be with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Updates: Sadly, CNN reports that a seminary student, Ben Larson, is believed to have died at St. Joseph's Home for Boys during the earthquake. He was in Haiti helping with a church school.

The injured director and others with injuries have received medical care.

The National Council on Disability :quarterly meeting

The National Council on Disability will conduct its next quarterly meeting at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, Houston, TX, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, and ending at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, 2010. This meeting is open to the public.

The agenda is posted at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/quarterly/2010/agenda_january%2019-21-10.htm.

Mark S. Quigley

Director of Public Affairs

National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

202-272-2004

202-272-2022 fax

Interdependence

In this 3-D animation created by students, what they call a "partially disabled" robot receives a Christmas gift.

I think this movie really demonstrates interdependence.

Visual description: a one eyed yellow robot sits on the steps of a building holding a Christmas tree star. Santa Claus flies overhead and drops a gift box. Out of the box pops a smaller robot also with one eye who takes the star from the first robot and flies to the top of the tree and sets it there. The Christmas tree lights up and the robots celebrate.

Planes, trains and automobiles: shoveling out

The heavy snowfall and cold temperatures worldwide are causing global transportation problems. Road salt that had built up on a utility pole resulted in a fire that blacked out electricity to Cleveland Hopkins international Airport, canceling flights and playing havoc with schedules.

Then there's the train from hell, as some are referring to an Amtrak train that pulled in to Chicago with a 19 hour delay with "tired, hungry and stinky" passengers because of the severe weather.

In Germany, over 160 people found themselves stuck in their cars overnight as a result of heavy snow.

In the UK, grit levels are "critically low as more snow heads in". This is causing particular havoc for people with mobility problems due to physical disability, who are stuck in their homes. They've even started a hash tag on twitter called #disabilitysnow .

The interesting part about the Internet and the disability community is how it provides a way for people who live alone to reach out to each other when things like this happen. What may be an inconvenience for some non-disabled people, quickly turns into a situation where a disabled person becomes immobile. (This, of course, is also true for some elderly people.) Whether it's ice and snow blocking curbcuts, driveways, bus stops and sidewalks or extremely cold temperatures that make it dangerous or impossible to travel outside for some, this is a great time to to check in with those who may need groceries or other items.

Here's one video taken by a woman who uses a wheelchair. After two hours of trying to shovel herself out of her home, she set up the camera to continue filming. Instead, the camera caught her neighbors who came over with a snow blower and shovels to help her out and she uploaded this high-speed version.

Zyxio Sensawaft hands on : video from CES

I received a couple of e-mails asking about my reference to this, so here you go!

Mental Health Ministries presents a guide for faith communities

Mental Health Ministries presents a free guide for faith communities that can be downloaded. entitled Mental Illness and Families of Faith, the guide provides tools for use by clergy, congregation members, families and others.

It can be found here.

Via listserv NJCIM

Me and the Dragon: Naturally Speaking

I read a number of reviews on Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 that said if you have Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.5, it's not worth upgrading.

If you have a physical disability, that's just not true. The new version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking offers many features in terms of navigating the desktop and using the web that are highly useful. Moreover, the accuracy is increased and this is noticeable right out of the box.

I was fortunate enough to receive Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 in the mail this week. Installation was quick and easy on a Vista 32 laptop. I purchased a Plantronics USB headset, because I find that the soundcards on laptops are generally not optimal for voice-recognition.

The first thing I noticed, after doing a short training, was that I was getting fewer mistakes in my dictation. I dictated three pages of correspondence and there were only three errors, even though I had only done a few minutes of training. Based on my experiences, this is a phenomenal result.

After I finished my work, I decided to check out some of the fun features on Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10. I learned that I could search the web, the news, images, Wikipedia, eBay and almost any site with my voice. The navigation commands responded briskly and were much better in Firefox, which I prefer to use. I opened iTunes and read an audible.com book completely by voice. Not only is the desktop navigation better, but the number of times I have to use a dictation box to input data has decreased. I was able to type right on Facebook and twitter. I can blog directly into blogger with the same level of accuracy as on other programs.

This, of course, also applies to the many programs I use for my job. Because I'm on the computer for many hours a day, the less I have to use workarounds for what voice recognition doesn't do, the less fatigue I have. I'm able to work a calculator by voice, do my research by voice, set up tables by voice, and a myriad of other tasks, including searching my e-mails, by voice. Believe me, all of this is extremely worth upgrading to a newer version of voice recognition.

There are instances where the voice-recognition cannot help me, especially regarding cursor control. Using the Mouse Grid during a busy day isn't practical. I continue to look for very inexpensive ways to solve this that don't require energy drain. I'm excited by the work being done with breath control of the cursor at the CES convention this week and wrote the company about being a possible tester. A mass-market alternative to the present technology would lower the cost for what I need and it's great to see that starting to happen.

If anyone else would like to leave comments about their experiences with voice-recognition or have any questions please feel free to do so.

National Council on Disability to Make Workforce Infrastructure Recommendations for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) will release a report on workforce infrastructure for people with disabilities at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, Houston, TX, from 9:15 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. This meeting is open to the public.

This report, entitled Workforce Infrastructure in Support of People with Disabilities: Matching Human Resources to Service Needs, presents recommendations that call for partnerships among federal departments and agencies, their State counterparts, and the private sector, including organizations involved with education/training, health care, and employment services.

The speaker will be:

Martha Artiles, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Manpower, Inc., San Jose, CA.

The purpose of NCD, an independent federal agency, is to promote programs, practices, policies and procedures that ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. NCD accomplishes this mission by providing advice and making recommendations to the President, Congress, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Public Affairs, Mark S. Quigley, at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004.

# # #

Mark S. Quigley

Director of External Affairs

National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

202-272-2004

202-272-2022 fax

Geoff Holt finishes his trip

The first quadriplegic yachstman to cross the Atlantic Ocean, Geoff Holt, has completed his trip.

The 42-year-old began his trip on December 10, 2008 on his boat named The Impossible Dream. He did all his own sailing. A cameraman and a care attendant were also aboard. He ran into light winds and engine problems during the trip.

Geoff sailed the Atlantic Ocean three times before, but this is the first time since his accident in 1984.

On his blog, he wrote:

"I want my arrival to be a celebration of the past 25 years not, as someone asked recently, "will it give you closure"?... That infers I somehow regret or lament the past 25 years. Absolutely not. Were it not for the accident, I would not have met Elaine, had Timothy or had such a wonderful life so, closure? No. Celebration? Yes."

Below is a video from day 3 of his voyage:

National Council on Disability to Make Housing Recommendations for People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD) will release a report on housing programs and policies for people with disabilities at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, Houston, TX, from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2010. This meeting is open to the public.

The report titled The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective provides recommendations intended to improve housing opportunities for people with disabilities.

Presenters include:

Janet Smith, Co-Director, Nathalie P. Voorhees Center and Associate Professor, Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL

Jean Langendorf, Vice President, Community and Housing Services, Easter Seals Central Texas, Austin, TX

The purpose of NCD, an independent federal agency, is to promote programs, practices, policies and procedures that ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. NCD accomplishes this mission by providing advice and making recommendations to the President, Congress, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Public Affairs, Mark S. Quigley, at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004.

# # #

Mark S. Quigley

Director of External Affairs

National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

202-272-2004

202-272-2022 fax

The real story behind cowbell girl

After the Fiesta bowl halftime show, the internet went on a spree about a female college student playing the cowbells. She was dubbed "Sad cowbell girl". Why? Because her expression didn't change when the camera panned the band.

The video was passed around the internet, with comments mocking "sad cowbell girl". There was even a photo of her in "happier times".

And then, someone discovered that this student band member was blind.

The sarcasm continued. There were post headings such as "entire internet hangs head in shame" at Mashable and we are all monsters .

There were, however, no apologies for ignorance.

Had there been one of those inspirational type stories about this band member floating around, then that would have been how she was seen.

The sad thing about this is not cow girl's expression for that moment, but how people still relate to those with disabilities. People with disabilities are seen as inspirational in those genre stories, but it's still open field day when it comes to mockery for some people for what they don't understand. And here's the kicker- some remain ignorant, because when they commit a social mistake and act inappropriately, they feel it's appropriate to chalk it up to "Oh we didn't know".

There was no mention of how it's wrong to treat anyone, disabled or nondisabled, like that.

One writer said that the joke was on everyone because she was blind. That's not true. There's nothing funny about how people continue to distance themselves from those with disabilities to the extent that they can't recognize a blind person unless he or she has a guide dog - and certainly can't imagine a blind student would be in a band unless it's covered in the evening news.

And if it's not, their thinking runs, how on earth can they be expected to know any better?

Give me a break.

National Council on Disability to Hear Presentations on Military Health Care

WASHINGTON—The National Council on Disability (NCD), as part of its 2.5 day quarterly meeting, will hear presentations and discuss the state of wounded warrior care and transition. Presenters from the Fort Hood and Fort Sam Houston Center for the Intrepid will provide their perspective. The presentation will be held at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, Houston, TX, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. This meeting is open to the public.

Presenters will include:

Colonel William Salter, Commander, Fort Hood Warrior Transition Brigade, Killeen, Texas

Becky Hooper, Program Manager, Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX

The purpose of NCD, an independent federal agency, is to promote programs, practices, policies and procedures that ensure full inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. NCD accomplishes this mission by providing advice and making recommendations to the President, Congress, governmental agencies, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Public Affairs, Mark S. Quigley, at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004.

# # #

Mark S. Quigley

Director of External Affairs

National Council on Disability

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850

Washington, DC 20004

202-272-2004

202-272-2022 fax

Sometimes it's just about dignity

Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them and nothing to you. Frank Barron

It's the herring

Every New Year's eve when I was growing up, the family elders, particularly my grandmother, who we called Big Nana (and yes, there was a Little Nana too) insisted that we eat some creamed herring on New Year's eve so we'd have good luck in the upcoming year. I still remember the scrunched up faces some of the kids made as they squeezed down just one piece of herring. Herring is the kind of food which, if you don't like it, has a challenging texture and those were the days before sushi was popular.

I grew to like herring so this year I voluntarily ate a small bowl of creamed herring with onions on New Year's eve. It brought on nostalgic memories of what's happened over the last decade- and dreams about the future.

The last decade was good to me. I'm relying on God, hard work, and a bit of faith for the future. And the herring.

SPINALpedia

SPINALpedia is a new site offering spinal injury advice and support to "help ease and simplify the difficult transition for the spinal cord injury community into life with paralysis". It plans to use the "power of experience" to help people support each other.



via its site:

Vision Statement

SPINALpedia helps injured people and their support systems transition to a productive life with paralysis through the power of the stories and experiences of others who have overcome similar challenges. We envision a world where no one affected by a SCI is left isolated from the support of others.


SPINALpedia is a social mentoring network and video archive that allows the spinal cord injury community to motivate each other with the knowledge and triumphs gained from our individual experiences.

This video explains it further:



Go on over and check it out, whether you're living with a spinal injury and/or are interested in supporting the site.