Armed with professional dancers as partners, 14 people with disabilities danced their tires off in a recent dance contest for a grand prize of about 5,000 pesos or $100 (US).  After a month of training with professionals, dancers were not necessarily based on “foot movement,” rather a whole slew of other criteria such as head movement, eye contact, timing and coordination.

“I hope people don’t judge us based on physical appearance. With the help of dancing, we can show our real emotions and share it with others,” Juanito Mingarine, a national wheelchair basketball champion who has won pentathlon gold at the Southeast Asian Paralympics, told Reuters.

“Their bodies cannot function completely, as they’ve lost the sensation in their legs. But they can turn quickly. They can move their hands and heads quickly. They double their effort, and I really appreciate it,” said professional dancer and instructor Victoria Huyatid.

Read the whole article here:  Filipino disabled groove to the jive for confidence

In an ongoing effort of parent advocates to help children become more sensitive to students with disabilities, parents have created a workshop to simulate visual and auditory disabilities to help students understand what others students may see, hear or feel.

In one of the activities, students had to write their name using the reflection from a mirror. In another, they had to listen to instructions distorted by lots of background noise, or told stories without using the sound the letter “n” makes. Words that utilized this sound were distorted so the “n” sound could not be heard.

Colleen Griffin, a fourth-grade teacher, said the program was a wonderful experience for students to see how some kids have trouble processing or remembering information.

“It also makes those children with learning disabilities feel like there are people who truly understand what they’re going through, and it helps when they see their classmates understanding them.”

Read the whole story and see photos here: Making a difference: Northborough fourth-graders get a lesson in learning disabilities

I stumbled across an article aimed at dealing with the interpersonal relationships with coworkers at a place of employment while having an “invisible disability.” Invisible disabilities are those that are not outwardly apparent, such as diabetes or migraine headaches, that may require accommodations in the work place.

The question comes from a frustrated employee feeling like a poster child for “difficult” employees asking how to go about educating coworkers about an invisible disability.

The response was to the effect that one should look at their own behavior and how a condition may affect their lives. Even going deeper to set boundaries about how comfortable one feels about sharing information about a condition, noting that the more open an employee is the greater the ability of coworkers to empathize.

The other great suggestion was that one should be willing to be a teacher informing in manageable pieces as not to overwhelm those receiving the information. As well to add a personal touch to the information as perhaps sharing a personal experience supporting the information being provided. Finally, to be willing to work with coworkers in a give and take relationship as they should be applauded for their efforts to help make accommodations.

Read the whole article here: Education on disability may ease friction

iRun Magazine has recently named Alex Bain as Canada’s most inspirational runner, not because he’s 20 years old, but because he was diagnosed as autistic at age three. Being diagnosed with autism is not the sole reason for his recognition, rather that he runs for autism awareness. In preparation for his most recent marathon, Bain ran 20k-25k per day, running from tip to tip of Prince Edward Island.

Today, a huge part of Alex’s motivation each time he laces up his shoes is to promote awareness about autism – and the fact that he, and many others like him, wish for acceptance, not a cure. “Autism makes me different from my friends,” says Bain. “That’s OK.” As his trademark yellow race t-shirt spells out, Bain is “Running For Autism, Not Against It.”

Read the whole iRun Magazine article here: iRun for Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion

Last year we posted a story relating to Clay Aiken appearing on FOX’s “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” in order to raise money for the charity he helped co-found.  Little know this, but Clay Aiken was actually a special education teacher before winning American Idol.

The foundation raised a half a million dollars in one night at a recent gala titled “Champions of Change” for supporting inclusion programs nation wide to allow children with disabilities to participate in all the activities along with their peers.

The whole press release can be found on the Bubel/Aiken Foundation’s website at the “Champions of Change” link above.

Citizens of Topeka got the chance to learn about Americans with disabilities today. The Disability Media Initiative came to Topeka to display the “It’s Our Story Flag” outside of the Washburn University Memorial Union.

The 12 by 19 foot flag is made up of more than 740 Story Sticks. Each stick has a picture of an American with a disability and coincides with a video interview of that person.

The Disability Media Initiative is traveling across the United States.

View the video of this story posted here:  Traveling Flag Teaches About Disabilities

Despite a brother and sister living in a house, they forced their 58 year old sister to live in a shed in the backyard. The facilities provided by the shed amount to a children’s sized commode, no running water and a space heater with frayed wires which created a fire hazard. According to police, there were no signs of abuse, neglect or being held against her will; police found her living situation after being called for a fight between family members.

Amelia told investigators she lived in the shed because there wasn’t any room in the home, which housed her brother, sister and seven pit-bulls.

The brother and sister were put under arrest for grand theft after using Amelia’s $700 a month on themselves instead of for her.

Read the whole article here: Police Say Disabled Woman Forced to Live in Backyard Shed

Video can be seen here: WOAI - Media Center

An unlikely source of therapy for kids with disabilities in Illinois, a horse which was bred for racing but was brought to an abrupt end when the horse suffered a debilitating accident.  Donated by a local resident thinking it might help the children of Camp New Hope, Nala will start making appearances in January 2009.

Sessions with Nala can help people with disabilities improve their self-esteem, emotional control and balance, as well as offer other benefits, Walk said. A first step for the Camp New Hope participants is making friends with the horse.

Read the whole story here:  Horse therapy set for area kids with developmental disabilities

On a 20-acre ranch in Alaska, former Iditarod racer Lynda Plettner and staff provide an alternative home to adults with developmental disabilities. The ranch houses many animals of different varieties including dogs horses and birds. The ranch provides a therapeutic setting for its clients and lacks the overload of stimuli one would find in more urban areas.

“She gives them a sense of accomplishment, positive reinforcement. She creates a very warm and congenial environment for a wide variety of individuals with a wide variety of disabilities. She has a very consistent staff that follows through with stuff that needs to be done. I have seen great strides in the abilities of people in my care.”

Plettner stumbled into the business by allowing a man with disabilities to volunteer every Saturday to help take care of her dogs. When the man lost his place in an assisted-living home, Plettner offered him a place to stay, room and board, for free. Eventually, Plettner got license to care for three adults with disabilities, then again got licensed as “Big Lake Country Club” and added six more rooms. Soon she plans to add on two more rooms to be caring for 11 clients total.

Plettner embarked on the adventure planning to have the clients help in all aspects of living, including cooking and cleaning. According to her it is more labor intensive to have them help, but also gives them a sense of accomplishment. She also makes sure that the clients are able to interact with the community by providing each with a library card, watch and cellular phone (for safety) and bicycles/cross-country skis to encourage physical fitness.

Read the whole article here: Iditarod racer’s goals shift from Nome to Home

Sandy Lahmann writes an article for the Summit Daily News talking about inclusion throughout childhood in schools and the practice stopping once adulthood is reached.  The article challenges people without disabilities to befriend someone with a disability; and makes a challenge to those with disabilities to explain circumstances of discrimination to those that are able-bodied.

The writer, often writing articles about people with disabilities, has received the suggestion many of times to target her articles toward people with disabilities and she retorts with “they know what I’m talking about, those that are able-bodied need the education!”

She also encourages people with disabilities to comment on articles online, in a publicly read forum/comment system, which many refuse to do.  She also recommends writing a local news paper or representative conveying their experiences and give a voice to themselves.

Correspondingly, I challenge every person who is able-bodied who is reading this to get to know someone who is disabled. I mean really get to know them. Invite them to talk. Listen.

Don’t form predetermined assumptions as to what their needs are. Don’t think you have all the answers.

Just listen. Really listen.

Read the whole Summit Daily News article here:  Disability 101: Inclusion challenge

Next page »

NorCal Disability

Northern California Disability News.

Categories All Uncategorized Activities Advocacy Business Civil Liberties Education Employment Fund Raisers Funding Health Housing Legal Legislation Media Meeting Recreation Relationships Reminder Website Information International

Archives December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006

Meta Register Log in Valid XHTML

Feeds Posts Comments

XHTML | CSS | RSS