Month: November 2013

Disabled Newlyweds

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Since one of the things I’ve tried to talk about here is Parenting with a Disability, I couldn’t imagine not talking about something else I find equally important, and related.  Married couples that happen to have a disability.  Everyone has the right to be in love.  Right now, the “hot button” topic is gay marriage and same-sex couples getting the same rights and privileges heterosexual couples enjoy being married.  Disabled couples who are married should be no different.

I’m not talking about the legality of the marriage because that’s not the problem we face in the story mentioned below.  The so-called problem apparently arises when two disabled people live in a group home and happen to be married.  For this couple, they aren’t allowed to do so, just because they’re disabled.  What I can’t understand, is that if a State says a person meets the requirements and can consent to marriage, which is a legal contract, what’s wrong with the group home? They should follow suit.

This is a violation of the ADA. The group homes aren’t letting this couple live together because of their disability, and it will be interesting to see how the issue gets resolved.

What do you think about a disabled couple that are married living in a group home together?

To find out more about this story, go to the link below:

http://news.yahoo.com/disabled-couple-seek-life-together-061801569.html

Model with Cerebral Palsy

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’m so happy to write tonight’s post, though I have to admit, it tugs at my heart too.  Growing up with Cerebral Palsy, I remember my mom taking pictures of  me and developing them like I was a model.  Being a model with a disability wasn’t seen as possible when I was six or seven years old.  Today, I found out a British company  has chosen a seven-year old girl with Cerebral Palsy to model clothes for their catalog.

Holly Greenhow is 7 years old and has Cerebral Palsy.  I’m overjoyed that the rest of the world is starting to acknowledge that a person can be beautiful and have a disability.  I also love that according to the article, this isn’t the first time a child with a disability is being used to advertise something in mainstream markets.  Now that we’re getting closer to the Holiday Season, I’ve seen the “differently able” toy catalog from Toys-R-Us and while this is also a step in the right direction, I’m just thrilled about the statement this makes in the mainstream market.

When you grow up with a disability, it’s very easy to think you’re the only one going through things, even if you go to a school, or even a hospital, and see other kids like you.  Seeing someone who has a disability in a catalog makes you feel like you have a place in the world, and there are other people who can understand your situation.  You don’t feel like the odd-man-out.

Feeling like the odd-man-out could lead to self-esteem issues in life.  As I’ve said before, I’ve been very lucky to have an extremely supportive family but, that’s not always the case for others who live with a disability.  Thank you to those stores and other media outlets for making disability more visible for all to see.  The powerful and positive message sent with these actions will impact many people.

What other retail campaigns can positively influence how disability is viewed?

To find out more about this story, check out the link below:

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/adorable-girl-cerebral-palsy-lands-major-modeling-gig-200200378.html

Thanks for reading..

cr

Orlando Science Center and Sensitivity to All

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I thought this week, I’d change things up and give a review of a trip my son and I took.  We went to the Orlando Science Center’s “Sesame Street” Exhibit “The Body”.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I’ve been to the Science Center before and always enjoyed myself.  He loves “Sesame Street”, so I knew he’d enjoy himself too.  Before we arrived, I didn’t realize the amount of information they made available for kids that young to learn.  This time, I discovered I may even be a bit of a science nerd myself.

As I’ve said in previous posts, “Sesame Street” has always been an inclusive show.  They’re always showing different groups of kids playing together.  That’s the beginning to acceptance of diversity.  These exhibits weren’t any different.  We started out seeing exhibits on how the lungs and heart worked.  These were cool because it was totally hands on, and he had a blast!  Then, we came upon an exhibit showing how people with vision impairments use their fingers to read Braille.  There was also a virtual  obstacle course that had different variations of transportation.  There was a rowing machine and a spot people could run in place to complete the course too.  The next compartment had  a wheelchair to get through the course.  I saw this as a way to help others understand different ways people get around.

Praise goes to “Sesame Street” yet again, for planting the seeds of acceptance of diverse populations early on in life.  And thank you to The Orlando Science Center for making the exhibit available for people to see.  Not only was it a fun experience that we both enjoyed but, when my son and other children get to see what life might be like for anyone else, when they interact with people during different phases of their lives, I’m sure kindness and willingness to know others as people first will touch anyone they meet.

What other activities could help children begin to have exposure to different groups?

Thanks for reading..

cr