Category: Uncategorized

Autistic Boy and the Letter

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Earlier this week, I heard something about an Autistic boy and a letter.  Today, I had the chance to sit down and read the letter.  Let me first say, that I was horrified by the message the letter sends to the parents of this child.  I’m fully aware that there’s unfortunately prejudice and discrimination still alive and well against people who are disabled, but, I really can’t believe the nerve someone would have to actually express their feelings in writing and for the whole world to see.

The pure hate that’s expressed in the letter is reprehensible to say the least.  Kudos though, goes out to the neighborhood that has rallied behind this child and his parents.  As I’ve said before, everyone deserves to experience life to the fullest extent possible.  In particular, I really don’t appreciate how the person states that no one would love, marry, or employ their child and that their body parts should be donated to science.

I’m truly saddened for the author of this letter because they have this point of view on others around them.  I was watching Steve Harvey the other day and he was saying that people should do positive things instead of negative ones, especially when using platforms like the Internet to let their voices be heard.  I’m taking the example of this horrible letter and asking that people remember that we’re all people with feelings and emotions and should be treated with the respect and dignity we deserve, not like some object that can’t feel anything.

Thanks for reading..

cr

To read more about this story go to the following link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/karla-begley-autistic-letter-teen_n_3780378.html

Starbucks Discriminates Against Deaf Customers

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Being a very frequent coffee drinker and Starbucks customer, I was very upset and disturbed to see this story on Yahoo.  Ironically enough, while drinking my coffee, I caught the tail end of the story on “Good Morning America” too.

I’ve talked a lot about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in previous posts.  This law is supposed to prohibit discrimination of a person with a disability.  Sadly, like when I was a child, there are still people who will laugh and make blatant fun of someone just because of their differences.  While enduring some taunting by students in early childhood isn’t necessarily against the law, because kids sometimes do those kinds of things to others who may not be just like them, it’s a different story when you participate in that kind of behavior as an employee of a company.

I’ve seen “deaf chats” happen in places like the local mall and even at Panera.  In this case though, the police were called to break up a meeting of a group of deaf individuals such as the “deaf chats” I describe above.  Isn’t this a free country where people can assemble peacefully without repercussion?

I’ve previously worked with the local deaf community for many years, and understand there are many forms of communication that deaf individuals utilize to communicate with hearing individuals.  In this story, one of the customers wrote their order on a piece of paper.  As a result, the person at the cash register told them they weren’t going to serve them because they’re deaf.  What if the person just had a bad case of laryngitis? Wouldn’t  that employee have felt dumb?

Toward the end of the story, one of the attorneys suggests that employees receive disability sensitivity training so that similar incidences don’t happen again.  While this seems to be needed and helpful, I hope the training doesn’t just focus on one particular disability.

After this incident, it’s my sincere hope that Starbucks and other companies realize the amounts of money disabled people as a whole contribute to their bottom line each year, and that this sort of thing never happens again at Starbucks  or any other store.

What other measures do you think could be taken to smooth over this occurrence in the disabled community?

Thanks for reading..

cr

For more information check out the link below:

http://gma.yahoo.com/deaf-customers-sue-starbucks-discrimination-233751945–abc-news-topstories.html

“Dolphin Tale” More than a Movie

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching the news the other night and heard the story of the movie “Dolphin Tale”.  The movie stars Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick, Jr. just to name a few of the celebrities. While the movie came out in 2011 and is about a dolphin who receives a prosthetic tail after her tail was tangled in some rope that was attached to a crab trap, it’s interesting to me that this movie can have a positive effect on people’s lives even today.

After doing some research and having time to think about a dolphin receiving a prosthetic tail, I realized that this would be great encouragement for those who are maybe having a hard time with the loss of a limb themselves.

It seems that this is in fact the case.  “Winter” the dolphin lives at Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.  She’s been an inspiration to many people, including the little girl who really helped “Winter” get noticed.  I’ve read some criticism about where the actual story that’s shown in the movie came from but, what difference does it make when none of the major facts were really changed and the message that’s getting to the public about disabilities is positive?  This is a movie inspired by a true story, which means that some things in the movie may not be exactly what happened in real life.  Either way, I think Hollywood did a great job talking about a subject that maybe people feel uncomfortable talking about or wouldn’t  know how to approach in the first place.

What other movies or books help you approach topics related to disabilities that might not be so comfortable to talk about otherwise?

To read more about this post, go to:

http://www.mnn.com/local-reports/indiana/local-blog/dolphin-tale-amazing-true-story-is-not-exactly-true

Thanks for reading..

cr

Hurricane Season…

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Living in Florida, Hurricane Season has arrived.  That means it’s time to stock up on canned foods, water, batteries, flashlights, and maybe even buy a generator.  Making an emergency plan with your family is also important in case you happen to get separated from each other due to certain circumstances.

One thing you may not be aware of that could be equally important is signing up for the Special Needs Registry.  The registry is available in every state to those who are elderly or disabled and live independently.  It’s a totally voluntary service but is available to you in case you need assistance evacuating from your home.

I know it may seem like one more thing you have to do when hurricane season arrives but  you don’t have to wait for a storm to be on the way.  You can sign up for the registry at your leisure but, sooner is always better than later.  It’ll be one less thing to think about later on and probably make the whole experience of the inclement weather a better one in the long run.

Thanks for reading..

cr

 For more information visit: http://www.floridadisaster.org/disability/snshelterlist.html

Boston Marathon Victim Honored

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Although I haven’t said much about the Boston Marathon tragedy in my posts, being from New York, and seeing the devastation September 11th brought to the City of New York and the country as a whole, my heart is totally with Boston.  That being said, I have something positive that may come out of the tragedy that so many there have faced.

While watching “Dancing with the Stars” Tuesday night, one of the spotlights was on Adrianne Haslet-Davis.  She lost her leg due to the bombings and is currently in the process of preparing to receive a prosthetic leg.  Adrianne was a ballroom dancer before the bombings and said that although dealing with the loss of her leg has been difficult, she’s going to dance again.

“Dancing with the Stars” is going to follow her recovery and once she’s ready, she’ll perform on their show.  I’m really impressed and happy about the attitude she’s taken on the subject and believe that she’ll totally reach her goal.

I’ve worked with newly disabled people who have taken the attitude that their lives are over because they get a diagnosis of some sort or get into an accident and have permanent injuries that were because of the accident.  Although the adjustment process may not be an easy one, the support you receive from others and your outlook on life really matter.  I hope that Adrianne’s story helps people realize that there’s never a reason to stop reaching for their goals or believing in themselves.  Good Luck Adrianne!

To find out more about Adrianne’s story, check out the link below:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dance-teacher-lost-foot-boston-bombings-honored-dwts-article-1.1328219

What other stories have given you hope from the Boston tragedy?

Thanks for reading..

cr

My Karate Experience

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I know I’ve been talking a lot about adaptive sports, so, I figured in today’s post, I’d tell you a bit about how adaptive karate changed my life.

When I was about 17 years old, I was lucky enough for my mom to enroll me in Karate classes.  That’s right, Karate.  My mom had taken Karate herself for many years and I’m not exactly sure how, but I became interested in it too.  I do remember feeling a little nervous when I went to check out the class.  The kids all had different disabilities and they were much younger than me but, I decided it would probably be something exciting for me to do.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to do any sort of Karate since for the most part, I need my cane to get around outside my house.  I had no idea how much it would help me in the long run.  After a while, I was running around the Karate studio in the routine warm-ups the instructor had us doing and even sparring with him!

I didn’t realize how much I could actually do, not only in class with different stances and punches, but, it even started to help me outside of class.  My stamina increased and my balance got better! I couldn’t believe it! Yes, I was exhausted after class and did have some discomfort in my feet because I had to stand for longer periods than I was used to, and be barefoot, but, after a while, it wasn’t so uncomfortable.

I believe that staying as active as you can, even when you have a disability does help you in many ways.  No matter what your limitations may be, there are always options out there in the form of different activities for you to do and things for you to see.

What activity would you participate in if given the chance?

Thanks for reading..

cr

Derek Hough Dances with Brilynn Rakes

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching “Dancing with the Stars” last night and heard that the “AT&T Spotlight Performance” was going to feature Derek Hough and a legally blind dancer.  If you follow my posts, I’ve talked a lot about different adaptive sports.  Adaptive sports are a way for people who are disabled to go out and participate in different activities such as basketball, bowling and martial arts.  I feel like it’s important to get out there and be as active as you can, no matter your limitations.

When, I saw Brilynn dance with Derek, it was amazing!  Hearing her story about how she adjusted to learning dance, because she can’t see in mirrors at the studio was just great.  She didn’t go to any adaptive dancing classes but, instead, made modifications to the way she learned to dance on her own.  The way she’s found alternatives to accomplishing her goals just shows how we can all be inventive when we have something we want to achieve.  She even has problems with her balance but, that didn’t stop her either.

No matter what obstacles she’s faced in life, she found a way to make her dream of becoming a dancer come true.  We shouldn’t limit ourselves in what we want to do.  There are always ways to reach our goals.  Sometimes it just takes the encouragement of those who love us most and a belief in ourselves to make it happen.

To find out more information about Brilynn Rakes you can go to the link below:

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/spotlight-performances/s16-brilynn-rakes-bio

Thanks for reading..

cr

Dolls for Downs

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

While browsing the Internet the other day, I saw a story about a doll that’s fashioned like a disabled child.  To be a bit more specific, a child with Down Syndrome.  While I was growing up, I used a wheelchair.  Although I knew most of the kids at my school didn’t have a disability, it didn’t bother me.  This isn’t necessarily the case for all disabled kids.  I think having dolls with differences is a great idea for children with disabilities so they’re less likely to feel left out when it comes to their non-disabled peers, which can sometimes be the case.  If there are dolls with different eye, skin and hair colors, it only makes sense to have dolls with different disabilities too.  It’s great that dolls can be made representative of real life.

Having these dolls available can help kids feel like they’ve got someone to identify with.  They can also help build self-esteem.  It’s a great idea for children with out a disability to have a chance to be exposed to these dolls too.  That’s because it could help them become sensitive to others no matter their circumstance.

When I started thinking about this, I remembered that when I was about 17 years old, Mattel came out with the first Barbie doll in a wheelchair.  It was really cool to see that a toy company seemed to be catching up with the rest of the world, but then, it kind of disappeared from the market.

I really like that this doll encourages things like occupational therapy.  I remember when I was younger, I was really not interested in doing the exercises that were assigned to me by my physical or occupational therapist in the least.  Maybe these dolls can help make a not so fun thing a little bit more fun to do.  All in all, I feel like these dolls have the potential to make an impact on many people.

What do you think about creating different dolls to exemplify the differences of people in society?

Thanks for reading…

cr

Medicaid and Caregivers

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

In yesterday’s online edition of the Tampa Bay Times, there was an article about people writing contracts with family members to be their caregivers so that they can qualify for Medicaid.  It said that people were paying their caregivers a salary, which then helps them qualify for Medicaid.

After thinking about this for a while, I feel like this would be okay as long as there are some stricter guidelines in the contract that help to minimize fraud, which seems to be one of the problems listed in the article.

Being the caregiver of a family member who is disabled or elderly isn’t a glamorous job.  For the most part, it’s emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting.  That doesn’t mean that people are unwilling to do it for a loved one if it became necessary.

Medicaid is a state run insurance program for people who have limited resources.  It too isn’t glamorous or a program people want to use if they don’t have to.  In some cases, utilizing the services of Medicaid is the only way some people can get the healthcare they need.  Florida Medicaid also assists in the cost of someone who has to live in a Nursing Home for various reasons.

Past generations have done all they can to take care of the aging population in the comfort of their own home when possible.  If a family member wants to make that choice and help their loved one, I believe they certainly should have that opportunity.  Since there are currently no guidelines in place for this occurrence, maybe a committee could be formed to oversee the contract process and help minimize occurrences of any fraudulent types of activities.

What do you think about hiring a family member as a caregiver like this article talks about?

Thanks for reading..

cr

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/family-caregivers-contracts-under-scrutiny-in-legislation/2109442

 

The Oscars Celebrate People with Disabilities

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Tonight is one of Hollywood’s biggest nights – The Academy Awards. This week, I started thinking about how many of these most prestigious awards have been given out to movies about people with different disabilities.

From true stories like “My Left Foot” to depictions like “Rain Main”, these movies have gained the highest praise the movie industry has to offer.  In my opinion, they’ve also made people with disabilities a little more relatable.  That’s  because they’ve shown them in real-life situations that can happen to anyone.  Each movie also showed what the person would do in response to their surroundings.  Though there were a handful of movies that depicted disability in some way, shape or form, I’ve chosen three to talk about in today’s post.

“My Left Foot” is the story of a man named Christy Brown.  The movie shows how he lived his life with the use of only his left foot due to Cerebral Palsy.  When “My Left Foot” was in theaters  I was surprised to see the story of someone’s life with Cerebral Palsy being shown in the movies.  It was one of those times where I felt like C.P. was being shown not as something that’s contagious (as some kids used to say) but, something that was meant to be overlooked.  It helped emphasize that people should focus on the actual person instead of what they weren’t able to do.

“Rain Man” may have been the first time that someone with Autism was depicted on the “silver screen”.  One of the reasons that I chose to list it here is because in the movie, although his brother didn’t know that he existed, when he found out about him and started interacting with him, Raymond showed that despite his disability, he was an intelligent person.  I feel like this movie  helped dispel the myth that a person who is disabled can’t be intelligent.

There’s also the movie “I Am Sam” which starred Sean Penn.   This movie is about a father with a developmental disability that’s trying to keep custody of his daughter after they’re abandoned by her mother.  Although it didn’t win an Academy Award, it showed the struggle that people with disabilities sometimes face in order to keep custody of their children.

Oscar night is always exciting, even if you’re just watching from the comfort of your own home.  It’s also refreshing to know that it’s filled with great diversity.

What is your favorite Academy Award winning movie?

Thanks for reading..

cr