advocacy – mamasmunchkin

What is an Advocacy Toolkit and Why Do People with Disabilities Need One ASAP

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

As people with disabilities, advocacy is one of the main techniques we use to have our needs met. While this can invoke stress and anxiety in some people and even prevent them from conquering their goals, it does not have to be that way. Creating an advocacy toolkit may be the solution you have been looking for without knowing you were looking. This post is going to explain what an advocacy toolkit is and why you need one in your life.

An advocacy toolkit is a term I created after years of advocating in different situations with no clear road map to guide me along the way. Creating your own advocacy toolkit provides you with a system to implement that helps you be more efficient in your efforts. When you live with a disability, there aren’t many “how to” manuals to take the guesswork out of accomplishing your goals. This can leave you scared, overwhelmed, and even defeated before you get started. Some of the items in the toolkit are physical while others are not. Those that are not will require some other investment from you such as time, resourcefulness, or brainstorming. This is when you can get creative and have a little bit of fun involving friends, family, or others in your support system to get involved in sharpening your skills on the way to overcoming each hurdle that lies in front of you.

While some of the issues that people come up against while advocating for their needs are unique to them, there are some things that are standard that can help make overcoming your obstacles a little bit easier. First, let me define what I mean by an advocacy toolkit. It is a set of resources you create to help you maximize your ability to get a positive outcome for your issue.

Organization is a big part of successful advocacy. Choose a designated area to keep your materials. I call that the command central of all your advocacy activities. The benefit of even having a dedicated corner or space for your advocacy projects can be priceless to the overall operation of your success in the world of advocacy. Advocacy can be stressful. Designating an area to house folders, notebooks and other key materials helps you know where all your materials for each project are located at the drop of a hat. After you sit down in that space, all you need to do is focus on what needs to be done.

Documentation. First it is important to mention that to ensure your success, you should use a system that works for you. Whether you are using a computer program to document certain facts that help you build supporting evidence or if you use regular pen and paper. Your system for keeping notes, logs and other important papers together needs to be something that won’t be easily lost like a loose-leaf sheet of paper randomly placed on your dining room table.

Resources. Learning all you can about what is currently available to help you in your community is another tool that needs to be in place. It is important to stay up to date on the requirements to utilize the services of agencies or other offices that can play a role and assist you in your desired outcome.

Key Details Know the details of the issue that is an obstacle for you. This is where you focus on the problem in front of you. Is there anyone else who has had the same problem in the past? How is it affecting you? Why is it an obstacle for you? Learn as much as you can about how the system currently works and who is on the front line.

Build your Team. Building your team has many benefits for the advocate. Sometimes we need people to be there to listen to our ideas. Maybe we need someone to talk to if the process gets stressful. Building a team that can provide us with the support we need is a way to figure out who can best encourage you in reaching your goal. It is also a way of figuring out who are the people you need to connect with to help you with information and who are the people responsible for helping you overcome the obstacle in front of you. Sometimes you can enlist family members or friends. In other cases, it is the managers of a company that can help eliminate the obstacles in front of you that you can make connections with to help you along the way.

Become Familiar with Potential Outcomes (or Devise Your Own) Try to find out solutions that have been used in the past. What worked and what did not work? Do you have an idea that seems like it could work as a satisfactory solution? Be open to working together with the other stakeholders and other interested parties to work together in finding a solution that works for everyone involved.

Practice your craft. Advocacy is all about refining the skills you need to get your message across. Whether it is public speaking, writing a letter or learning better organizational techniques, use some of your time to find ways to improve on the craft of advocacy. There are plenty of workshops, books, and webinars you can access right from the comfort of your home to brush up on your skills or even learn new ones that can come in handy for improving your outcomes.

This list can help you get off to a good start at becoming a better advocate. It is up to you to create the system you need that will maximize your success rate. Advocacy can be a stressful thing to take on. When you have fewer things to worry about, it is much easier to use the energy to focus on the desired outcome and how to get there.

Goal Setting Empowers People with Disabilities for the New Year and Beyond.

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Once again, we have made it to another New Year. So many people think about making a New Year’s resolution, but do we really realize where the idea began? New Year’s resolutions were started over 4000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians.

New Year’s resolutions are helpful because they make you think of how you can make changes in your life for the new year. All this positive energy is a great way to start a new year. New Year’s resolutions also carry a certain amount of pressure. This is true because if you do not complete your New Year’s resolution, it may discourage you from making other changes in your life. New Year’s resolutions generally get a lot of attention during the first couple of days or even weeks of a New Year only to fall haphazardly to the wayside with last year’s calendar.

On the flip side, goal setting with long-and short-term goals in mind may be a better idea for you. For some reason, people do not think about goal setting as something they can or should use to get important things done regularly. Maybe you think of goal setting as something that should only be used for long term or large projects, or something done in a work environment. It is possible you might think goal setting is something that is difficult, and you are not sure where to start. Although defining your goals may take some time and resources, the rewards are worth it.

There are many ways to motivate yourself to get in the habit of goal setting that can make you a rock star at achieving each of your objectives in life. There are many tools to use that make goal setting a fun and an easy thing to do. Once you get in the habit of taking time to outline what you need and want, the adventure has begun. It is completely up to you how to track your goals. You can use calendars, note cards, post it notes or your phone to monitor your progress. The only thing you must do is make sure the system you choose works for you. It is okay if you find it necessary to test different methods or even combine a few to figure out what works best for you. Make sure to write your goal somewhere that you are going to see it every day. It is also a good idea to create daily action steps toward making your objective a reality. These are things you must do to make sure your goal is achieved. It is just another way to keep your needs at the forefront of your mind. Whether it is reviewing your notes on the progress you have made or talking to a friend to get encouragement, both are productive steps to keep you focused on your desired result.

Goal setting is a great way to get into the habit of taking steps to see actual change come to life right in front of your eyes. It is also an effective tool to use to minimize your chances of getting frustrated or overwhelmed by your situation. Another positive thing about goal setting is that it can help you see your progress in manageable stages instead of trying to tackle a large project in just one afternoon. Seeing your goals through to completion will also help increase your self-esteem and further empower you in the choices you make for your life. It will be clear evidence of your abilities and the methods you used to get results. This could also be your personal playbook on approaching other similar situations and minimize the potential legwork needed next time.

For many people with disabilities, advocacy is a big part of having our needs met. Goal setting is a great tool to use when you are approaching an advocacy project. It gives you an opportunity to focus on your needs and even map out a way to get there. Once you see the progress you have made, it can give you the motivation and self-esteem to complete any project. Using goal setting for both types of issues gives you an opportunity to monitor your progress, celebrate milestones and keep track of the amount of time steps take to be accomplished.

Using the methods put forth in goal setting can be helpful in many aspects in the life of someone with a disability. It can not only help you achieve great things throughout the New Year but let you work on your advocacy skills at the same time. Seeing your goals become a reality is a great way to increase your feelings of empowerment when it comes to choices you make in your life. Not only will the idea of goal setting help you set yourself up for success in the New Year but will help you practice skills that will make you a success in other aspects of your life too. That is a goal anyone would want to reach anytime of the year.

The Importance of Grassroots Groups for People with Disabilities

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Grassroots groups have helped many people spark change around the world for different reasons. They have also been instrumental in championing social justice issues throughout American history. Grassroots groups are one of the best kept secrets in the toolbox of people with disabilities too. The only problem is they aren’t utilized as much as they should be. To help readers improve the resources available to them in their advocacy toolbox, here are 6 benefits of a grassroots group for people with disabilities.

Become more familiar with different aspects of advocacy. Advocacy can be such a long and confusing process. In order to be successful advocates, people must learn the ins and outs of each step that needs to be taken to reach a goal. Sometimes this may overwhelm people. The more we become active in an issue and see the advocacy process in motion, the more knowledge we can gain about how effective advocacy can work in our favor.

Strength in Numbers. This is a common saying utilized in areas of social change but is a concept that can be used for many reasons. Getting involved in a grassroots group is a great way to find people with shared goals surrounding an issue. The idea that many people are involved in efforts to solve a shared problem helps increase awareness and show the importance of finding a solution to others who may not know enough about the issue. There may be someone following the progress made on the situation that holds the key to influencing solutions that can push the issue forward on a larger scale.

Pool of Resources. Once you find a group of people who share an interest in making change surrounding a cause, you may find yourself networking with them to find out what they can teach you about a subject. You can create a plan to work together to streamline the process of solving the problem. Be open to learn from each other and try to find out what didn’t work before. These details can help you solve the issue that much faster. You will have the opportunity to learn about resources that are available or share your knowledge of resources with someone who may not have such a broad knowledge base. Building a reliable toolkit of resources is all about learning from one another.

Taking action for change. Participating in activities to create positive change for yourself and others is one way to act on issues important to you where you believe there needs to be change. Seeing the results of your work can be a powerful motivator to spur you on to increase your advocacy efforts in that one area or expand your efforts to other issues. It can be evidence for you that your voice matters and the actions you take to raise awareness and change an issue for the better can make a difference, not only for you but for those around you. Once you see real proof from the work you have done, there is no stopping the way you can influence the change necessary to positively impact any issue affecting people with disabilities.

Sense of Community. One of the biggest benefits of grassroots groups is growing a sense of community. Everyone needs to know they aren’t alone in their struggles. A grassroots group allows you the opportunity to meet people with similar experiences who you can learn from but also find a place to have shared commonalities. The support that results from such an environment will positively impact your self-esteem, your self-confidence, your sense of community and the strength that comes with being surrounded by a strong support system.

Boost in Self-Confidence and Empowerment. Anytime it’s possible to make positive change in our lives can be a huge self-esteem booster and a source of empowerment. Too often the media and social norms have engrained in us that people with disabilities aren’t powerful. This is the farthest thing from the truth. Because of the activism taken on by people with disabilities they have capitalized on the power of raising awareness in their communities. As a result, huge changes have been made in the United States because of these efforts. We need to harness that momentum and use those examples of advocates that came before us. Building on the foundation they carved out, we can continue the work that will lead to further improving treatment and increasing rights for people with disabilities.

The only thing left to do is to decide which disability issue you want to get involved with. First, learn as much as you can about the issue that is important to you. Next, find out what organizations in your area are trying to advocate for change in that area. Then, contact the organizations or groups to find out about available opportunities to get involved in their activities. Decide if there is something available that is a fit for you. Then, last but not least, GET INVOLVED!

The difference these activities will make in your life will not only change the way you see the world but give you tools to make a difference that will be felt by not only yourself but, others around you. You will be seen as a trailblazer in your own right that made a mark on society on their own terms. That will make you a leader in your community and a person to follow by the example you’ve put forth.

Experiences of Parenting with a Disability Help Increase Disability Awareness

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate mothers and all they do. Since Mother’s Day was this past Sunday, it made me think about how I’ve used the experiences of parenting with a disability I’ve had through the years. There are three main ways I’ve used my experiences. When I thought about it more, all of them are important to raising awareness of issues surrounding people with disabilities too.

Some people would say that parenting isn’t for everyone. The same could be said from the perspective of a parent with a disability. Every time I give my speech about parenting with a disability, the main message is to do your research before you make any choice.

In the beginning, I didn’t realize the challenges I would face when it came to the way people reacted to me being pregnant. The same was true after my son was born. I wasn’t even sure how I would compensate for my physical limitations. It was both exciting and left me with a sense of apprehension. I was also adjusting to the weekly changes my body was going through from the pregnancy. Some of those changes made life a little more complicated. I was happy to go through these challenges because of the new adventures and experiences parenting was going to allow me to have with my baby.

Because I realized that my son learns from my behaviors and how he sees me react to others, I didn’t want to give him a negative example. I decided to use the experiences and turn them into something positive. The three ways I highlight in this post can have a positive impact on society and the way it perceives people with disabilities in a variety of ways.

The first way is to educate the public. There have been times in a store or even when my son played soccer where people have confronted me with their misconceptions about people with disabilities. Sometimes they have said blatantly mean things to me about being in the outdoors or out in public. Instead of having a negative reaction, I use the opportunity to let people ask questions. This approach is surprising to them but, I believe it’s the only way to help get rid of the unnecessary fear or misconceptions they might have. Most of the time it has created an ongoing dialogue with the people around me at the time it happens. Once people see there is an available space to ask questions, they seem more at ease. It allows them the chance to gain a better perspective into the human experience of disability. Hopefully, it helps them not be so afraid at other times when they may encounter a person with a disability.

The second way is to advocate for issues related to parenting with a disability. Luckily, I have had previous experiences advocating for myself and others for different reasons. For someone who feels like advocacy is a scary or intimidating topic, it’s never too late to start sharpening your advocacy skills. It can be an exciting journey where you learn more about yourself and the way each organization functions. You can also tap into different avenues available in your community for help. Whether it has something to do with school, sports or getting to my son’s doctor’s appointments, I’ve had to advocate for different issues. Other examples include requesting needed accommodations to attend a parent teacher conference or using a delivery service to get a prescription. For the most part, once you express a need there are people around willing to lend a hand.

The third way is to foster a sense of acceptance and understanding of people who have different limitations. For example, it takes me a little longer to get on the floor and play with my son. He has learned to be patient with me and even figured out ways to help. Having a parent with a disability helps children be more patient with their parents, themselves and other people. Because he has watched me adapt to different environments, he has a greater awareness of his surroundings. There have even been articles stating that children of parents with disabilities develop greater emotional skills and are more empathetic than kids whose parents are not disabled.

Everyone’s journey of parenting and parenting with a disability will be different. The most important part is to enjoy the ride because it goes by quickly. Parenting with a disability tests your strengths and limitations like you would never imagine. It provides great rewards that are worth every moment spent overcoming obstacles and sharpening your skills. The result is an experience no one can take away from you. It will strengthen the bond you have with your child for years to come.

“Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” on Netflix Gives a Glimpse into Disability History

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

During the recent coronavirus quarantine, I found out Netflix had a documentary called “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” available to subscribers of the streaming service.

The documentary piqued my interest. I had to find out what it was all about. Upon further investigation, I found out this documentary had won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Camp Jened, a camp in the Catskills for disabled campers during the 1970’s, is where everything begins. We are introduced to Judy Heumann, who not only leads campers, but organizes them to bring the disability movement to life. Ms. Heumann is a well-respected advocate for people with disabilities even today.

The documentary brought me back to a great childhood memory. It was one summer when I was about 4 years old. A bunch of friends from school and our parents went to a sleep away camp. This was special because we were a group of kids that used wheelchairs. We had never had this kind of experience before. This was before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and as I think about it now, I am amazed that the organizers of the outing were able to find somewhere that could accommodate people in wheelchairs. We had the best time together, playing video games and just being kids. We had our wheelchairs to help us get around and didn’t even give it a second thought.

The documentary talks about struggles the disability community has endured and how the group of campers who kept in touch after camp, were able to make change in their community. They organized peaceful protests to get their message across to lawmakers. The changes they were able to make not only helped them as individuals, but future generations too. The changes implemented because of their efforts opened many doors for disability inclusion in society. It also talks about the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The most interesting part of that segment was learning about the resistance that resulted after the law passed when implementing the changes that were required.

After watching it, I realized it was a good crash course in disability history. For someone who does not know very much about disability history, it gives various snapshots of what it is like to live with a disability in American society. One of the main messages laced throughout the documentary is that people with disabilities are just like anyone else who live with out a disability. That is something that is important for people to understand, even in today’s social climate.

I have said many times before that there is still work to be done toward disability inclusion. This documentary adds a human aspect to people with disabilities that isn’t seen very often.

“Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” is a step in the right direction for more exposure of disability issues in the media. It also gives people the opportunity to see that people with disabilities lead full lives and are agents of change who can make a positive impact within their communities.

If you have Netflix, it’s a documentary you should definitely check out. I highly recommend it for anyone who is curious or interested in disability history. You don’t want to miss it.

The Power of a Brother’s Love

October 24, 2012 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and learned about 9-year-old Connor and 6-year-old Cayden Long. Cayden has Cerebral Palsy and his brother Connor decided he wanted to help him experience things that he may not have the chance to experience. Connor knew that because of his disability, his brother wouldn’t be able to experience things like other kids would. Connor decided to run in triathlons with his brother so he could give him that opportunity.

They were just chosen as Sports Illustrated’s 2012 Sports Kids of the Year. The interesting part of the story is that Cayden’s brother Connor has inspired his family to look at his brother’s disability in a new way. Their mother was telling Josh Taylor, who interviewed them, how she and her husband had grieved when they were told that their child was disabled. Too often, parents of children who are disabled grieve for the lack of ability their child experiences in their lives because of a disability.

In my opinion, life with a disability is an opportunity to accomplish things in a different way. I know it may be upsetting for a parent at first but, the way I look at it, I haven’t missed the things I have been unable to do so, I am not sad about being born with my disability. I could be wrong but, I don’t believe children miss what they do not know.

I am very impressed that Connor, at his young age, is and was able to show his parents and others the potential his brother has despite his disability. It will be interesting to see how else Connor may advocate for his brother in the future and what else they might accomplish as a team.

Here is the link in case you would like more information:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/cerebral-palsy-sparks-brothers-conner-cayden-longs-triathlon-17552289

Thanks for reading…