Found this great video from the 2012 LA Abilities Expo featuring interviews with wheelchair dancers, daredevils and movie stars, technology for all kinds of disabilities and a way to meet up with the disability community and find out great info at the same time.
Showing posts with label about disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label about disability. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Pass the brie
I sometimes get emails after I write a post about my life prior to acquiring quadriplegia asking what it's doing on my blog. "It's got nothing to do with disability," the person says. "Not sure why you put it up there."
Asking me to deny the years of my life prior to acquiring my disability, however, seems to me to be just as silly as those who expect me never to refer to living with a disability in conversations. Those who do this really don't understand that my life is woven with experiences from all the years I've lived. It's not an either or to me.
I write about my experience of living with quadriplegia, how it's taught me perseverance and resourcefulness, about my strengths and weaknesses, about forgiveness, trust and gratitude, how it's made me laugh and cry and deepened my faith in myself, others and God.
But the experiences from my life prior to acquiring my disability are just as rich and varied and full of spiritual meaning in the context of my whole life. It would be ridiculous to deny those experiences.
Whenever I hear the phrase "an acquired disability", I think of "an acquired taste"- and I wonder if some of this is a language issue. Having an acquired disability is not the same as learning to like a type of cheese or even a state of being. People would laugh if you made that analogy to a nondisabled life. Living with a disability isn't a static state either. The rest of my life happens amidst all the "quad" jokes, cleaning cat hairs out of my wheelchair casters, learning to trust new aides, and figuring out a schedule that is both efficient and leaves me as much independence as possible. There is no doubt that in one sense, the "acquired taste" of living with quadriplegia becomes easier with time. There is a familiarity now to things that were at first novel and sometimes frightening. I no longer deal with the shock of realizing that some places are still not accessible and how that dynamic plays out in the rest of the world. But it isn't the same as learning to like a certain type of cheese and once and for all I am a lover of brie!
To my reader I say "It all has to do with living and doing that with a sense of humor and faith when humanly possible," whether I walk or roll. I may never acquire certain things, but I hope I never lose the perspective that we are all in this world together. I had friends with disabilities before I acquired mine and have friends without disabilities now. No matter how much I advocate for those in the disability community, I pray I never forget that many whom I count as my dearest friends are allies.
Pass the brie.
Asking me to deny the years of my life prior to acquiring my disability, however, seems to me to be just as silly as those who expect me never to refer to living with a disability in conversations. Those who do this really don't understand that my life is woven with experiences from all the years I've lived. It's not an either or to me.
I write about my experience of living with quadriplegia, how it's taught me perseverance and resourcefulness, about my strengths and weaknesses, about forgiveness, trust and gratitude, how it's made me laugh and cry and deepened my faith in myself, others and God.
But the experiences from my life prior to acquiring my disability are just as rich and varied and full of spiritual meaning in the context of my whole life. It would be ridiculous to deny those experiences.
Whenever I hear the phrase "an acquired disability", I think of "an acquired taste"- and I wonder if some of this is a language issue. Having an acquired disability is not the same as learning to like a type of cheese or even a state of being. People would laugh if you made that analogy to a nondisabled life. Living with a disability isn't a static state either. The rest of my life happens amidst all the "quad" jokes, cleaning cat hairs out of my wheelchair casters, learning to trust new aides, and figuring out a schedule that is both efficient and leaves me as much independence as possible. There is no doubt that in one sense, the "acquired taste" of living with quadriplegia becomes easier with time. There is a familiarity now to things that were at first novel and sometimes frightening. I no longer deal with the shock of realizing that some places are still not accessible and how that dynamic plays out in the rest of the world. But it isn't the same as learning to like a certain type of cheese and once and for all I am a lover of brie!
To my reader I say "It all has to do with living and doing that with a sense of humor and faith when humanly possible," whether I walk or roll. I may never acquire certain things, but I hope I never lose the perspective that we are all in this world together. I had friends with disabilities before I acquired mine and have friends without disabilities now. No matter how much I advocate for those in the disability community, I pray I never forget that many whom I count as my dearest friends are allies.
Pass the brie.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Reverse inclusion and the question of disability
I ran across an interesting piece about a study done on reverse inclusion vis a vis wheelchair basketball. It spoke about how wheelchair basketball welcomes both able bodied and disabled participants- not unlike wheelchair tennis, which offers up-down doubles play.
Researchers were surprised by the participants' response along the lines of "what's the difference?" when it came to who was perceived as disabled. Some of the able bodied players were seen as disabled and vice versa.
I definitely related to the following, however, as I heal from yet another shoulder/neck injury:
Where difference was noted tended to be about specific areas, such as injury. "If a classifiable athlete injures her shoulder she cannot push her wheelchair, but if the same thing happens to an able-bodied athlete she has options. She can run or walk," says Spencer-Cavaliere. "As one participant said, '… for me it's a huge issue because that means no transfers, no wheeling.'"
Researchers were surprised by the participants' response along the lines of "what's the difference?" when it came to who was perceived as disabled. Some of the able bodied players were seen as disabled and vice versa.
I definitely related to the following, however, as I heal from yet another shoulder/neck injury:
Where difference was noted tended to be about specific areas, such as injury. "If a classifiable athlete injures her shoulder she cannot push her wheelchair, but if the same thing happens to an able-bodied athlete she has options. She can run or walk," says Spencer-Cavaliere. "As one participant said, '… for me it's a huge issue because that means no transfers, no wheeling.'"
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Statement by the National Council on Disability on the 19th Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council on Disability today released the following statement on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, 2011:
NCD observes the 19th International Day of Disabled Persons, first recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. The theme of this year’s observance is “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.”
Why is meaningful involvement by persons with disabilities in international development important? The United States invests billions of taxpayer dollars into foreign assistance programs that foster international diplomacy and development annually, aimed at improving the quality of life for people around the world. These programs develop economies, promote democracy and governance, provide humanitarian assistance, build new infrastructure, and advance and protect human rights. Given that 15 percent of the world population is made up of people with disabilities, and growing, the United States cannot effectively accomplish the goals of foreign assistance programs unless it ensures programs are accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities.
Conservative estimates by the World Health Organization suggest more than one billion people, an estimated 15 percent of the world’s population, have a disability. 80 percent of these individuals live in developing nations. Although people with disabilities make up a large segment of the global population, they continue to face worldwide discrimination and segregation at alarming levels. Moreover, numbers are likely gravely underestimated because people with disabilities are typically shunned, hidden from public view by their families, and commonly excluded from community activities.
Exclusion from the built environment prevents use of necessary services and resources that non-disabled populations take for granted. These barriers have a negative, spiraling effect. Physical barriers also keep people with disabilities from using voting centers, polling places, courthouses, administrative agencies, schools, and embassies.
Those who aren’t hidden by families or communities of origin are often left to languish in institutions – further removing them from civic and social engagement. Conflict and poverty continue to increase the incidence rates of disability in less developed and industrialized economies alike. Already significant numbers are rising due to a variety of factors including aging, poverty, armed conflict, as well as improved data collection.
Overseas economic development will not be successful unless people with disabilities are included. If development is not inclusive, the significant numbers of people with disabilities in developing countries will hinder the very economic growth the U.S. seeks to facilitate. NCD recommends both micro-level solutions to spark income generation in coordination with large scale interventions to create the kinds of legal and regulatory structures to better serve and benefit from the contributions of people with disabilities.
As the world observes the 19th International Day of Persons with Disabilities, NCD welcomes the opportunity to focus greater attention to workable solutions to concerns faced by people with disabilities, their families and the diverse communities people live in around the globe.
About NCD: Founded in 1978, the National Council on Disability is a small, independent federal agency comprised of 15 Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed Council Members and a small staff, who advise the President, Congress and other Federal agencies on disability policy, programs and services.
More information on NCD's website at: http://www.ncd.gov
NCD observes the 19th International Day of Disabled Persons, first recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. The theme of this year’s observance is “Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.”
Why is meaningful involvement by persons with disabilities in international development important? The United States invests billions of taxpayer dollars into foreign assistance programs that foster international diplomacy and development annually, aimed at improving the quality of life for people around the world. These programs develop economies, promote democracy and governance, provide humanitarian assistance, build new infrastructure, and advance and protect human rights. Given that 15 percent of the world population is made up of people with disabilities, and growing, the United States cannot effectively accomplish the goals of foreign assistance programs unless it ensures programs are accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities.
Conservative estimates by the World Health Organization suggest more than one billion people, an estimated 15 percent of the world’s population, have a disability. 80 percent of these individuals live in developing nations. Although people with disabilities make up a large segment of the global population, they continue to face worldwide discrimination and segregation at alarming levels. Moreover, numbers are likely gravely underestimated because people with disabilities are typically shunned, hidden from public view by their families, and commonly excluded from community activities.
Exclusion from the built environment prevents use of necessary services and resources that non-disabled populations take for granted. These barriers have a negative, spiraling effect. Physical barriers also keep people with disabilities from using voting centers, polling places, courthouses, administrative agencies, schools, and embassies.
Those who aren’t hidden by families or communities of origin are often left to languish in institutions – further removing them from civic and social engagement. Conflict and poverty continue to increase the incidence rates of disability in less developed and industrialized economies alike. Already significant numbers are rising due to a variety of factors including aging, poverty, armed conflict, as well as improved data collection.
Overseas economic development will not be successful unless people with disabilities are included. If development is not inclusive, the significant numbers of people with disabilities in developing countries will hinder the very economic growth the U.S. seeks to facilitate. NCD recommends both micro-level solutions to spark income generation in coordination with large scale interventions to create the kinds of legal and regulatory structures to better serve and benefit from the contributions of people with disabilities.
As the world observes the 19th International Day of Persons with Disabilities, NCD welcomes the opportunity to focus greater attention to workable solutions to concerns faced by people with disabilities, their families and the diverse communities people live in around the globe.
About NCD: Founded in 1978, the National Council on Disability is a small, independent federal agency comprised of 15 Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed Council Members and a small staff, who advise the President, Congress and other Federal agencies on disability policy, programs and services.
More information on NCD's website at: http://www.ncd.gov
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Overheard from a wheelchair
Screaming loudly at your kids "It's not polite to stare!" eight times in a row isn't polite either. Actually I hadn't noticed the kids were staring...
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
My Take on Disability
Jake Scholl, who has muscular dystrophy, talks about some of his life experiences in this video.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Claire's Story : Muscular Dystrophy
Via YouTube:
Claire has a form of Muscular Dystrophy, and has been using a wheelchair for the last ten years. With her condition deteriorating, her movement has become more limited. Recently she found herself unable to lift her arm to reach the key in the lock of her front door. While this should have been a relatively simple matter, it took 12 months before the relevant agency organised for an accessible door to be fitted. In the meantime she was forced to use a side gate without a padlock to get into her own home. While she waited for the new door, someone broke into her house while she was home.
Every Australian Counts is the campaign for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS will revolutionise the way people with a disability, their families and carers are supported in this country.
www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sticky Love Notes
A couple meets in the park and exchanges sticky notes as they flirt....no, I'm not going to give away the ending...
Monday, May 9, 2011
Asking for help
Victoria Mavis talks about her disability and asking for help tying her shoes in the grocery store.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Social Model of Disability keep it real.wmv
This video discusses the social model of disability v the medical model. It addresses, physical barriers, such as access issues, as well as attitudes, but also points out, as an individual with Asperger's, how that affects situations.
If anyone has any thoughts about her viewpoint, please feel free to leave comments.
If anyone has any thoughts about her viewpoint, please feel free to leave comments.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Other Child
via YouTube:
This is a preview of an 11-minute documentary made by Jon Kent.
Stream and download of this film are available at: http://www.sproutflix.org/content/oth...
Through a series of short vignettes narrated by the sibling themselves and depicting life at home, "The Other Child" provides a moving portrait about how growing up with a brother or sister with autism can shape a person--and a family.
This is a preview of an 11-minute documentary made by Jon Kent.
Stream and download of this film are available at: http://www.sproutflix.org/content/oth...
Through a series of short vignettes narrated by the sibling themselves and depicting life at home, "The Other Child" provides a moving portrait about how growing up with a brother or sister with autism can shape a person--and a family.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Just back from the Abilities Expo
I just returned from the New York Metro Abilities Expo. If you've never been to an expo, I suggest you check one out if you can. They have everything from wheelchairs to adaptive sports exhibitions to information booths and more. It's a great place to network and explore different ways of doing things.
I was especially impressed with the young man who climbed up the adaptive rock climbing exhibit. He made it all the way to the top while his service dog looked up protectively. My friend was able to get a picture and I'll try to post it when she sends it to me.
I also saw the Wheelchair Super X. I don't have a video from today, but below is a video from the LA Expo.
About half a dozen youngsters in power chairs raced around the super x track before the demonstration began. They started out a bit tenuous and then picked up speed with their parents running after them. Guess who won? I saw some journalists there taping and if I find any video I'll link to it.
UPDATE: here's some great pictures of the expo from ThisAbled including the rock climbing and a motorcycle with ramp access!
More to come....
I was especially impressed with the young man who climbed up the adaptive rock climbing exhibit. He made it all the way to the top while his service dog looked up protectively. My friend was able to get a picture and I'll try to post it when she sends it to me.
I also saw the Wheelchair Super X. I don't have a video from today, but below is a video from the LA Expo.
About half a dozen youngsters in power chairs raced around the super x track before the demonstration began. They started out a bit tenuous and then picked up speed with their parents running after them. Guess who won? I saw some journalists there taping and if I find any video I'll link to it.
UPDATE: here's some great pictures of the expo from ThisAbled including the rock climbing and a motorcycle with ramp access!
More to come....
Friday, May 7, 2010
Disability Pride Parade
via YouTube:
Disability Pride is a film about a community fighting to be seen and heard, to be acknowledged as able and proud.
The film weaves 'on the street' interviews with verite footage of the 6th Annual Disability Pride Parade in 2009 to convey human experiences that promote the belief that disability is a natural part of human diversity and can take pride in its heritage and culture.
The parade, held every year in Chicago, is the first of its kind in the world and people travel far and wide to attend the event. The next parade is on July 24, 2010 and the filmmaker's hope that this film can persuade more people to attend and show their support for Disability Rights
Disability Pride is a film about a community fighting to be seen and heard, to be acknowledged as able and proud.
The film weaves 'on the street' interviews with verite footage of the 6th Annual Disability Pride Parade in 2009 to convey human experiences that promote the belief that disability is a natural part of human diversity and can take pride in its heritage and culture.
The parade, held every year in Chicago, is the first of its kind in the world and people travel far and wide to attend the event. The next parade is on July 24, 2010 and the filmmaker's hope that this film can persuade more people to attend and show their support for Disability Rights
Friday, April 2, 2010
Speak Truth Not Ignorance: a short documentary about disability
via YouTube:
A short documentary for the University of Northern Colorado's Disability Support Services enforcing the respect and equal treatment towards disabled people. This film was featured at the UNC event Speak Truth Not Ignorance on March 30th, 2010.
A short documentary for the University of Northern Colorado's Disability Support Services enforcing the respect and equal treatment towards disabled people. This film was featured at the UNC event Speak Truth Not Ignorance on March 30th, 2010.
Monday, January 11, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Shameless: The Art of Disability
via the SDS list serv: Below I've embedded the film Shameless: The Art of Disability and its description from NFB.ca
Art and activism are the starting point for a funny and intimate portrait of five surprising individuals with diverse disabilities. Packed with humour and raw energy, this film follows the gang of five from B.C. to Nova Scotia as they create and present their own images of their disabilities
Art and activism are the starting point for a funny and intimate portrait of five surprising individuals with diverse disabilities. Packed with humour and raw energy, this film follows the gang of five from B.C. to Nova Scotia as they create and present their own images of their disabilities
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Imagine no one has to imagine
There are questions I've heard so often about my disability that Meredith once put together a FAQ list for me to hand out. But not every question made that list.
One of the other questions I've been asked is "What's it like to be a quadriplegic?" usually followed by "I can't imagine!"
My answer to that is no, you probably can't imagine, although you may try , with the misguided help of maudlin movies about disability, on the one hand, or inspirational tales of people climbing mountains, on the other. You'll read stories about quads who want to die and stories about quads who help others find better ways to live. You may tap into societal myths and assumptions about disability, through no fault of your own because we are surrounded by them. You may base your ideas on the few disabled people you've met and generalize from there how it is to live with a disability. And, sadly, you may avoid being around disabled people because you are so worried that you'll say or do the wrong thing as you try to imagine what it's like for them.
To all that I say - please, don't imagine what it's like. You're bound to go wrong with that approach. Living with a disability is a personal experience, shaped in part by economic, class, race, gender and other issues. It is also based on personal response. Some people adapt, others do not and there's a whole range in between.
This is not to say we should judge anyone's personal response to living with a disability. We don't go around condemning nondisabled people for how they respond to life, so why should we judge disabled people for how they respond to living with a disability or, for that matter, for getting things done differently?
But we do as a society. And the doing things differently part is still a huge issue when it comes to many of the assumptions, that begin with the unfortunate word itself - dis-abled. Nothing could be further from the truth of my experience. In fact, I've accomplished more since I acquired my disability than before.
For example, I do some things differently at work, but the way I do things at times (and this is a little known fact) is better than the way I used to do them when I was nondisabled. I take more copious notes, for example. One colleague was amazed to discover the level of detail that my method of taking notes provided one day when we needed to find information out quickly. In minutes, I went through hundreds of pages of documents in a way I never would have discovered if I didn't use assistive technology.
The point is, it's wrong to assume that living with quadriplegia (or any disability), is a disadvantage in every way. It's wrong to think of it as black and white. It's wrong to assume that doing things differently results in an inferior product.
We must get rid of the Sunday night TV movie mindset too, which has for years trapped disabled characters in a story arc that resembles a comic book superhero. Adjusting to living with a disability is not exciting enough, I suppose, to show on the big screen, so Hollywood has to embellish. The truth is that, just like nondisabled people, I have good and bad days. I also get tired, get the flu, get good news, see friends, and experience everything nondisabled people do. The everyday mundane details of my life, which I don't blog about because it would bore you to tears, would never sell a book. Do you care what kind of coffee I drink? Does it matter to you that my cat woke me up at 4 am by banging a door repeatedly because he was out of food? Probably not.
It is only in getting to know and being around someone who is living with a disability that the "I can't imagine" approach gets fixed - or cured- as some of my friends would say. When you see a disabled person in a cubicle next to you or speak with her over coffee and they become a neighbor, a friend, a colleague or a committee member, then you don't have to imagine what it's like.
That's the day I dream about. Imagine when no one has to imagine because we are living shoulder to shoulder.
One of the other questions I've been asked is "What's it like to be a quadriplegic?" usually followed by "I can't imagine!"
My answer to that is no, you probably can't imagine, although you may try , with the misguided help of maudlin movies about disability, on the one hand, or inspirational tales of people climbing mountains, on the other. You'll read stories about quads who want to die and stories about quads who help others find better ways to live. You may tap into societal myths and assumptions about disability, through no fault of your own because we are surrounded by them. You may base your ideas on the few disabled people you've met and generalize from there how it is to live with a disability. And, sadly, you may avoid being around disabled people because you are so worried that you'll say or do the wrong thing as you try to imagine what it's like for them.
To all that I say - please, don't imagine what it's like. You're bound to go wrong with that approach. Living with a disability is a personal experience, shaped in part by economic, class, race, gender and other issues. It is also based on personal response. Some people adapt, others do not and there's a whole range in between.
This is not to say we should judge anyone's personal response to living with a disability. We don't go around condemning nondisabled people for how they respond to life, so why should we judge disabled people for how they respond to living with a disability or, for that matter, for getting things done differently?
But we do as a society. And the doing things differently part is still a huge issue when it comes to many of the assumptions, that begin with the unfortunate word itself - dis-abled. Nothing could be further from the truth of my experience. In fact, I've accomplished more since I acquired my disability than before.
For example, I do some things differently at work, but the way I do things at times (and this is a little known fact) is better than the way I used to do them when I was nondisabled. I take more copious notes, for example. One colleague was amazed to discover the level of detail that my method of taking notes provided one day when we needed to find information out quickly. In minutes, I went through hundreds of pages of documents in a way I never would have discovered if I didn't use assistive technology.
The point is, it's wrong to assume that living with quadriplegia (or any disability), is a disadvantage in every way. It's wrong to think of it as black and white. It's wrong to assume that doing things differently results in an inferior product.
We must get rid of the Sunday night TV movie mindset too, which has for years trapped disabled characters in a story arc that resembles a comic book superhero. Adjusting to living with a disability is not exciting enough, I suppose, to show on the big screen, so Hollywood has to embellish. The truth is that, just like nondisabled people, I have good and bad days. I also get tired, get the flu, get good news, see friends, and experience everything nondisabled people do. The everyday mundane details of my life, which I don't blog about because it would bore you to tears, would never sell a book. Do you care what kind of coffee I drink? Does it matter to you that my cat woke me up at 4 am by banging a door repeatedly because he was out of food? Probably not.
It is only in getting to know and being around someone who is living with a disability that the "I can't imagine" approach gets fixed - or cured- as some of my friends would say. When you see a disabled person in a cubicle next to you or speak with her over coffee and they become a neighbor, a friend, a colleague or a committee member, then you don't have to imagine what it's like.
That's the day I dream about. Imagine when no one has to imagine because we are living shoulder to shoulder.
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