Category: Uncategorized

Loss of Funding=Loss of Independence for Some?

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week I found an article that was a bit concerning to me. Many efforts have been made to de-institutionalize people with disabilities but this article seems to want to take a step back in time. I spend a lot of time writing about the importance of living as independently as possible within your limitations. The opportunity to live somewhere, other than with your parents when you reach 18 is like a right of passage for most young adults. It’s no different for those who live with a disability. The experiences we have building relationships, holding jobs and even volunteering enhances the quality of our lives like nothing else.

Day programs vary in what they do but I really like the one mentioned in this article. There are a bunch of activities ranging from work and play. Also, the residents aren’t necessarily restricted to staying indoors all day. The participants have their own apartments that give them an element of individuality too. A sense of community, where people don’t feel so alone, has also been fostered within the group. Friendships and social interaction between people is an important part of their environment and even trickles out into the community. Not surprisingly, funding is at issue, and these programs are in jeopardy of being cut. As a result, the residents will lose the predictability and stability of what they’re able to do.

It would be beneficial to all if other solutions could be found, instead of going to the extreme of cutting funding for these programs all together. More individualized approaches could be taken soĀ  participant’s lives aren’t totally disrupted. Other solutions could avoid putting some participants in situations they can’t handle because of their disability. Since disabilities vary in how they affect people, it would be interesting to find out if some sort of assessment to determine level of need were conducted, how much could the program be changed to benefit both the State and the participant?

Unfortunately, programs for the disabled and or disadvantaged populations always seem to be the ones cut or downsized in some way that negatively impacts recipients. Maybe in the long run solutions can be devised so the quality of life of these participants won’t be negatively affected.

What do you think of the benefits these programs provide?

Thanks for reading..
cr

For more information check out the link below:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/changes-ahead-in-n-j-for-disabled-some-fear-loss-of-familiar-programs-1.1307297

Law Enforcement’s New Disability Consideration..

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Sometimes I use my posts to shed light on subjects that may not be considered relevant to disability as an issue but, could use some exposure in some way. This week, I wanted to shed some light on law enforcement and their treatment of people with disabilities. I know there’s a large push to increase disability sensitivity among law enforcement but this post is going to talk about something that’s reaching into a totally new dimension.

The issue I’m thinking about is totally different. It involves the split-second decisions a law enforcement officer had to make at a group home in Georgia that injured one of its residents. This is clearly a case of entering uncharted waters as it relates to law enforcement and their interactions with people who have a disability. I’m not sure if, or how law enforcement can act less aggressively when their primary job is to ensure the safety of the general public. In emergency situations faced by law enforcement on a regular basis and, as in this situation, I’m not sure how the ADA fits in.

Somehow, some people feel if there’s a suspect in a crime who has a disability, and that person’s disability isn’t considered in crisis or emergency situations, that’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an attempt to “level the playing field” for those with disabilities on a daily basis. Once the situation has been deescalated, steps should be taken in accordance with the ADA to ensure things like effective communication, if the person has a hearing impairment, and access to the courthouse, if the person a mobility impairment, for example, are observed. These are just a few ways of how the ADA was meant to be utilized as it’s currently written. Quite honestly, I’m not sure if law enforcement has time to consider the ADA when you’re talking about life and death.

I’ll be interested to see what the Supreme Court decides. Maybe, instead of using part of the ADA to regulate this sort of situation, a new law should be drawn up in an effort to have a clearer framework available. I’m not saying the situation should be ignored, because it does need attention. It might just be that another avenue needs to be explored to have more effective action plan put in place.

Thanks for reading..

cr
For more information on this story check out the link below:
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-21/supreme-court-considers-impact-disability-law-police-mentally-ill#.VQ4SleFGSSo

“Margarita, with a Straw” Thoughts

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

In the course of writing this blog, I’ve spent time exploring how the media portrays people with disabilities. The film “Margarita, with a Straw” goes one step further and talks about a person with a disability and their experience with relationships too. Unfortunately, there are many people who think people with disabilities are unable to have intimate relationships because of their limitations. Making that assumption without talking to the person about the subject will only lead to inaccurate information. As I may or may not have said before, the way a person’s disability affects them ranges. While I’m not a medical professional, I can say that reading about Cerebral Palsy or any other disability on a website like WebMD, or picking up a book on the subject may not give you the most accurate information on a particular person’s daily life.

Like with most other things, communication is really the key to quenching the curiosity that might exist. It’s not a bad thing to ask questions about things we don’t know. An even worse outcome would be to miss out on a great and adventurous experience with someone you care about just because there’s no dialogue about a particular issue. Also, not knowing the right information about that person may lead to unnecessarily hurting their feelings.

While I haven’t seen “Margarita with a Straw” I’m glad someone took the chance to make a movie on a subject some may consider taboo. Hopefully, this movie will catch the eye of an American filmmaker and they have the idea to bring it to American audiences. It’s a great way to raise awareness on the fact that disabled people have the same wants and needs as everyone else. It’s also a great way to open dialogue on a side of a disabled person’s life that’s rarely talked about but, is worthy of some attention.

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information on the movie, check out the link below:

http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/film-review-margarita-with-a-straw-1201406266/

Home of the Future

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

When I think about home accessibility, things like ramps, grab bars, and walk-in showers come to mind. While I realize the list Iā€™ve mentioned is in no way all-inclusive of the modifications available to make a personā€™s home more accessible, recently, I ran into an article that discusses how new technology has the potential to increase someoneā€™s independence by introducing various forms of technology and really takes this idea to the next level.

This article will discuss the advancements of technology and how it increases the independence of  people with disabilities.

For those with a disability, accessibility in your own home is like a breath of fresh air. At least I like to think of it that way. Not only have I worked with people to make their homes accessible and have had home modifications completed for my own home but many years ago I was invited to speak to a group of realtors and discuss homebuying as a person with a disability. 

The speech focused on the importance of accessibility for someone with a disability in their quest for home ownership and how different modifications and accessibility features were a necessity so that the homeowner could fully enjoy all of the amenities their home has to offer.

Binyamin Mellish at Pexels

Accessibility allows individuals with disabilities to do things for themselves they may not otherwise be able to do.

Now letā€™s talk about what Iā€™m calling the ā€œhome of the futureā€.  The reason Iā€™m using that term is because when I read this article that spoke of different types of automation like video doorbells and smart thermostats, it made me think of movies like ā€œI, Robotā€ starring Will Smith, or even ā€œThe Jetsonsā€, a Hanna Barbera cartoon from the l980ā€™s. Equipment I never dreamed would be available in my lifetime will be more readily available in the not-so-distant future. Lights being controlled by smartphones and voice-activated television guides for the visually impaired were just some variations of technology that were mentioned. This is definitely a game-changer to help people with disabilities thrive in their own homes.

Right now, thereā€™s a significant cost for such innovative technology. However, there are currently some organizations offering assistance for individuals with disabilities to get the equipment and upgrades they need to make these pieces of equipment available to them. As the years go by, hopefully these gadgets wonā€™t be so difficult for someone to obtain on their own so that independence is not so far out of reach.

The assistive technology we use every day not only helps people with disabilities be more independent but adds to our quality of life and self-esteem. It helps us accomplish this by increasing the number of tasks that we can accomplish independently.

The advancements being made now will only help us reach our goals more and more as time goes by. In the long run, thereā€™s no limit to what people with disabilities will be able to accomplish.

What gadget interests you the most?

Authorā€™s note: The article that was originally included in this blog post was no longer a viable link. Updated information on home automation can be found here.

Caught in the Crossfire

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week, I thought I’d spend some time talking about something that might happen when people become disabled because of violent crime. Unfortunately, the topic of Disabled Victims of Crime seems to be a subject that isn’t talked about too much, or is simply ignored all together.

Having a Criminal Justice background and having been blessed to have spent some years actually working in the Criminal Justice System, it’s sad that not enough attention is given to what happens to innocent bystanders sometimes involved.Ā  I’m talking about the ones who ultimately suffer the consequences of someone else’s actions.Ā  Does anyone give a second thought to the impact the incident may have on them long after criminal proceedings come to a close?Ā  This brings me to the case of Danielle Sampson.

She was hit by a bullet that wasn’t intended for her and now lives with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I’m glad her family won a civil law suit against the convicted shooter. The money they receive should help with her required around-the-clock care. At the same time, because the shooter received a 30 year sentence in Florida’s Department of Corrections, it leaves me wondering, how much of the money will her family actually get to help with her daily needs?

Increased attention is good in these type of cases because it leads to the potential of more awareness. Although the best case scenario would obviously be violent crime not occur in the first place. This is just one example that because of violent crime, many lives have been impacted forever.

For more information check out the link below:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/man-convicted-shooting-12-year-old-asks-new-trial/ngKCJ/

Thanks for reading..
cr

 

 

Special Gift from UCF Students

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week, I was reading my Pegasus U.C.F. Alumni magazine and saw a little boy with a prosthetic arm on the cover. I had seen something about it on the news earlier in the week but, really hadn’t thought too much about it.

What really struck me about the story in the magazine was the fact that Alex’s mother noticed the difference having the prosthetic makes in his life. I’ve spoken with many parents of children and people with disabilities and I know that emotions about disability run the gamut. Whether someone’s disabled at birth or a disability occurs later in life, it can be difficult for people to handle. One of the most important things is the support and love our parents give us to achieve our goals. I know living with a disability can be challenging for everyone affected but, positive results can always be achieved because of our outlook on life.Ā  The way his parents have encouraged him and didn’t give up on finding the assistance he needed will impact him for the rest of his life. Not just because the end result was receiving the prosthetic, but also the other seeds the experience has potentially planted.

At the same time, sometimes prosthesis aren’t suitable for those who might be able to utilize them, depending on their particular circumstances. That’s okay too. We all find a way to compensate when we need to accomplish our goals. According to the article, although adjusting to the weight of the prosthetic has its challenges, it’s given Alex a new outlook on life. Although he may still have challenges ahead, I think this opportunity will start him looking at life in a different way, allowing him to begin his own adventure. Kudos also are in order to the team of students who had a part in completing this project. They unselfishly took the time out to positively impact someone else’s life. The difference they made will be felt for years to come by many not able to get this assistance by other avenues currently available.

How have different pieces of assistive technology impacted your life?

For more information check out the link below:

http://today.ucf.edu/fulfilling-6-year-olds-dream-ucf-students-design-build-arm/

Thanks for reading..

cr

 

 

Re-Thinking Halloween Costumes

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As Halloween approaches, and I get ready to celebrate the trick-or-treating season with my son, I started thinking about Halloween for me when I was a little girl. I remember the year my mom took me trick or treating. I must have been about 6 years old or so. I was a witch and she painted my face green and spray-painted my hair. I remember it was a lot of fun. Other than that, I didn’t really celebrate Halloween again until I went to college.

In the past couple of years, I’ve noticed an increase in accessible costumes. Kids with disabilities are being included, it seems more often in advertising, so they can get in on the trick or treating fun too. I’m not sure this is a new trend because, it very well may not be but, it’s certainly a wonderful and welcomed one. Not only can all kids enjoy the Halloween fun but, it’s something they can do with their family and friends.

There are so many great and creative ideas I hadn’t even thought of as costumes. You could make your daughter’s wheelchair turn into a magical carriage if she’d like to be a princess. I remember I had casts up my legs once and my mom turned me into Wonder Woman! My casts were my boots because she put socks over them for me! That was great too. I don’t think I went trick or treating that year but, I’ll never forget how cool my casts looked! Suddenly, if you can make the assistive devices your kids use part of their costume, not only will Halloween be a lot more fun for them, it might make them look at their cane, wheelchair, cast or other device, in a different way.

All it takes is some creative thinking and a bit of planning to make their Halloween loads of fun and something they’ll probably never forget.

What ideas do you have for costumes this Halloween?

For more information you can check out the link below:

http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/act/family-life/halloween-costume-ideas-for-the-physically-challenged/

Thanks for reading..

cr

New Uses of Technology in Special Education

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

It’s been a few weeks ago now that I was watching the news and saw a report of how one of the local schools was using IPads with students in Special Education. This got me thinking about how far technology has come since I was in school. Advances like the IPad have far-reaching effects, not only on society, since we’re very much on-the-go and rely on devices that travel with us, but on the students in today’s classrooms too.

While I had certain accommodations in school, the thought of what the IPad may be able to do to help students reach their educational goals was very interesting to me. When I started doing some research, it was clear that the IPad was definitely an asset to the classroom. Students were more involved in their work as well as with their peers. Then a light bulb went off in my head when I read about the speech-to-text function. That’s perfect for anyone who has limited use of their hands and needs to type something.

Unfortunately, there’s limited research available on the usefulness of this device in the classroom. One can only hope that maybe as more schools get on board with the idea, someone will conduct further research to determine the positive and negative effects that exist. Although, like everything else, the IPad isn’t a substitute for certain things, and isn’t a feasible tool for all disabilities, it’s encouraging to know it can reach students in alternative ways. It allows students the opportunity to be excited about learning. Once you can engage students in the learning process, the outcome can’t be anything but positive.

What other advances currently available might be able to assist a special needs student in their quest to learn?

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information go to these links:

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2013/09/09/Breaking-Down-Barriers-iPad-helpful-tool-for-special-needs-students/stories/201309090197

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/06/13/321058641/ipads-in-special-ed-what-does-the-research-say

ALS Awareness Sweeps Social Media

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Today I’m applauding “The Ice Bucket Challenge”. Until a few days ago, I didn’t realize the impact it’s been having, not only on Social Media but, also raising awareness and funds for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Sometimes, if you’ve seen the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, you hear about this disability but, for the most part, it’s not mentioned very often.

I’m all for raising awareness on important issues, especially disability issues. Although there’s a backlash going on about this challenge, you can’t please everyone all the time. I think it’s pretty cool that it has gotten the country involved in a good cause. Everyone from Dr. Dre to Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler have accepted the challenge. People have also donated money to the cause to help out.

Either way, it’s bringing people together, raising awareness for a good cause and of course helping in a unique way. I once knew someone who lived with ALS. Unfortunately, they passed away some years ago but, I’ll never forget their voice and the sunshine they carried around with them that lit up a room instantly.

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information, take a look at the link below:

Access Lynx Passenger Almost Arrested

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’ve been a client on Access Lynx on and off, for as many years as I’ve lived in Orlando. They’re the para transit service run by the local bus service that helps people who’re disabled get around town. As with other share-ride systems that pick up multiple people at a time, it encounters problems related to scheduling, and other issues.

I was appalled this week when I saw the story of Joyce Rosa on the news. Ms. Rosa had a stroke, and uses a wheelchair as a result. The driver of the van Ms. Rosa was riding in called 911 on her because she was a dollar short on her fare. The article says Ms. Rosa refused to get off the bus but, honestly, in order for her to get off the bus, the driver would’ve had to help her.

The driver could have used their discretion and not called 911. I’ve been on the bus before and have seen people not have the right fare. As a result, the driver didn’t call the police on them.

The newscast also talked about the drivers receiving additional training because of this incident. While I understand passengers need to pay the fare to use the service, some sort of common sense should be exercised by the driver in each situation.Ā  Since the majority of clients are repeat customers, they could implement a procedure where the person signs a sort of “IOU” for the next time they use the service. They’d probably use the service again very soon, like to get home, for example.

I’ve also had to file complaints against Access Lynx. Although, as with everything else, there’s a process that needs to be followed, it’s the best way to get your issues with them resolved. Either way, I hope they come up with a viable solution to this problem, so that if it happens again, there’s a more logical resolution than calling the police on the passenger.

If you’d like to find out more about this story, check out the link below:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/lynx-driver-calls-911-disabled-passenger-over-1-di/ngTj3/?ecmp=social_20140627_26876706

Thanks for reading..

cr