Tag: disability

The Special Olympics

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Since the Olympic games began in London this past Friday, I started thinking about how the Special Olympics started and the different contributions the creation of the Special Olympics has provided to people with disabilities.

To begin our journey, let’s first look at the origins of the Special Olympics.  Special Olympics was started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, in the 1960’s.  They had a sister named Rosemary who had an intellectual disability.  Eunice saw that people with intellectual disabilities were treated unjustly and, to me, was a very early advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.  She wanted to give kids with special needs a place to play, and so, the Special Olympics was born.  As of July 2008, Special Olympics has 3 million athletes in 180 countries.

My first experience with Special Olympics was in elementary school in my adaptive gym class.  I wasn’t too good at a lot of the sports we played except for bowling.  At that time, I had lost interest in playing a sport but, I actually love to bowl now.

Special Olympics caught my eye again later on in life.  It is not only a great way to participate in sports but, it also helps build self-esteem and learn the value of teamwork.  Not to mention make new friends, get exercise and have fun!

I believe the other benefit the Special Olympics has provided (which I don’t think Eunice Kennedy Shriver intended but, would be very happy about) is that it is a good way to find out about adaptive sports teams and outdoor groups, if that is your thing.  A disability shouldn’t stop you from participating in an activity you love if there is a resource out there for you to utilize.  What other benefits has the Special Olympics brought to people’s lives?

To find out more about the Special Olympics click here.

Thanks for reading..

cr

What has the ADA done for you?

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Since July is the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law, I started thinking not only about what this law has done for me but, also what it has done for people with out a disability as well.

You may be thinking to yourself, “this law does not affect me at all” but, it probably does in some way, shape or form.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 Americans have a disability (www.cdc.gov).  That is 20% of the American population.  You may not even know that someone you know has a disability because it could be a disability that is not outwardly seen (like an intellectual disability or hemophilia)

If you are a person with out a disability, maybe the ADA has allowed you to get a job as a sign language interpreter to help deaf individuals communicate with their doctors or even help them communicate with friends over a video relay system. 

It’s possible that you work in the construction field and when constructing a new building, you make sure there is a ramp in place at the entrances or exits and that the doors are wide enough for wheelchair users to enter and exit the building.

Believe it or not, these are just a few examples of jobs that people have because of the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

If you are a person with a disability, maybe the ADA has helped you get a printer placed by your desk if the one you are supposed to use is too far of a walk for you to get to without getting too tired.  Maybe it has helped you get speak to type software installed on your work computer if it is difficult for you to type because of an impairment related to your hands or fingers.

These are some examples of ways that the ADA has helped the disabled achieve their goals in life despite their obstacles.  There are procedures that need to be followed when requesting accommodations of any sort but, we need to be aware of their availability to help us in the first place.

How has the Americans with Disabilities Act influenced your life? What might you change about the law?

What is your dream?

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

What dream do you want to accomplish in life?  Maybe there is more than one dream that you are working on making a reality.  I have been very lucky that despite my obstacles, I have been able to make my dreams reality.  A person, disabled or not, should never let the obstacles they face stand in the way of their dreams.

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and saw a great example of this come to fruition for someone.  Connor Boss is legally blind and she is a Miss Florida contestant.  How awesome is that! Despite her visual limitations, she has a great attitude about accomplishing her goals and seems to see the glass more “half full” than “half empty”.  She is living her life to the fullest and is a great example of determination. 

Disabilities don’t have to be the end of the world for people.  I just see them as a way to become innovative in reaching your goals. 

Here is the link to the story I referenced above:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/miss-florida-usa-contestant-legally-blind/story?id=16741255

Happy Anniversary to the ADA!!!

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

July marks the month that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed in to law over 20 years ago.  It opened lots of doors that previously were not open to people with disabilities.  Years before starting this blog, I didn’t know the different ways the components of this law made my life easier.

In the first place, no one ever seems to talk about people such as Justin Dart and Ed Roberts.  These individuals struggled tremendously and made the lives of people who are disabled better because they broke down many barriers that no one had even tried to attempt to touch before then. 

Secondly, I know that the ADA is not a perfect law (in my opinion there is no one perfect law) but, the Americans with Disabilities Act helps people in a lot of ways.  It does not grant any special favors because of the limitations we face on a daily basis, it just tries to make it more of an equal playing field for everyone.

What questions do you have about the ADA?

Thanks for reading…

cr

Jack Osbourne and Multiple Sclerosis

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching Good Morning America earlier this week and heard that Jack Osbourne, son of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, announced that he has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  It made me think of a few things….

Number one…Jack Osbourne is a celebrity from the younger generation..(younger than mine).  The point being that Multiple Sclerosis may get some attention from the younger generation because of his diagnosis and celebrity status. As a result, younger people might learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and maybe even other disabilities too…

Number Two…Now that Jack Osbourne is being associated with MS, the disability may get pushed into the spotlight and maybe some good can be done in the form of more research or donations to fund studies leading to better treatments, or even a cure for those who live with the disability.  Maybe even something similar to the things like what Michael J. Fox has been trying to do for Parkinson’s Disease since his diagnosis, can result from this news.

How do you think popular culture is affected when celebrities are diagnosed with different disabilities or illnesses? (By the way, I am in no way stating that a disability is an illness because to me, that is the farthest thing from the truth)  Does it positively affect people’s perception of that disability or illness after the news of the diagnosis becomes public?

Thanks for reading.

cr