Friday

Hello again.

Well, it's Friday and I have no big plans for the weekend. Although, I am kind of excited because of several things that will be happening in my near future. First, my dad and I finally ordered me a new computer. This one works fine, but it's a little slow processing my words for the dictation because of all the documents and stuff I have accumulated throughout my education. The new one will have tons of room. For more iTunes and things from work. When I get a job that is.. My dad keeps joking that it is a new computer "for all of the new stuff I have planned for rollin into the future" readers. Anyway, he's going to set that up tonight. The voice recognition technology is supposed to work fine with Windows Vista. So we'll see. I'll give you a report and tell you how it goes later. If everything goes as planned, I may be up and running by tomorrow. I might even have a web cam. Who knows?

Also, it's finally official. My best friend is in fact moving back from Chicago and we are moving in together. We've been sorting out some of the details if this were to become a reality. But it actually is. Another girl is going to move in with us, allowing us to split the difference three ways. It'll be easier on us financially that way. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents. But I am 26 (27 in April). It's about time I get on with my life. My mom even says that every once in a while. Although, not in that tone. Just gently urging and encouraging me.

I also have a long-awaited coffee break arranged with some college friends on Tuesday night. The details aren't concrete yet, but I haven't seen them in a while so I'm excited. Being stuck in the house with not much to do is getting old. Although I do have those job consultant meetings to go to which are interesting. But in the long run, I just want a job. Somewhere I can utilize the talents that God gave me for writing.

Anyway, onto today's topic. As I said I might do, I have decided to refer back to the advocacy article on this woman, Carrie Ann Lucas. The question is, can people w ith disabilities be good parents? I believe they can in most cases. Either way, parenting isn't without its difficulties and sometimes you do have to ask for help.

Okay, so I had originally planned for this post to be longer including all of the quotes of the article that I thought were important. But then I thought you could just read the article and find the quotes yourself. I'm actually having a little too much fun with my new computer here

You know where you can reach me
Debbie

Encouragement: Everyday Breeze

Hello again!

First off, I'm sorry for not posting anything spectacular yesterday. Let alone, posting a day late. The truth is, I wasn't feeling quite up to it. I was having a difficult day. Actually, it seems to be a routine lately. So how was everybody's weekend? Mine went okay; it was a little unusual, being that it was primarily just mom and I until saturday night. Much of my dad's job takes place out of town, so we don't really get to see him that much. Except on weekends. Oh well. He does the best he can, considering the circumstances. But at least he enjoys what he does. So I guess that's a plus. Anyway, enough with the personal stuff.

I debated posting at all today. I know I said I would post every other day, but today I'm just not feeling it. Actually, I've been feeling that way a lot lately, especially the last couple days. Usually, my faith in God is enough to bring me out of the way I feel. But lately, I've only been feel his presence for "fleeting moments". Like the singing of a or a powerful analogy used in church.

I encountered two of those experiences last Sunday in church. Although, I'm afraid some of it may have lost its impact on me since I didn't write about it right away. The first had to do with the choice of music. I've always thought that music has the ability to touch someone's soul and minister to them through a simple melody or a group of lyrics. I felt that way during the worship service. The songs were entitled "Draw Me Close" and "The Power Of Your Love". Singing the songs in that church really touched me at that moment. It's really hard to explain why, except to say that it had been a long time since I've felt like I belonged anywhere.. in a community. That is, outside my family circle. It's a long story. Let's just say my family has been through a lot the last couple of years. Anyway, I felt truly connected for once. Like God was "speaking to" me through the music as well as the people singing around me. In a weird way, I felt as if the songs were handpicked for me.

Then next source of comfort came from an analogy used in the Pastor's sermon. It's been three days, so I may have lost some of the specific details. For that, I'm sorry. Anyway, as a young man in the mission field, he was really debating God and the plan He had for the Pastor 's life. Walking along the tall brush in Africa, (I think) he asked God for a sign of peace and hope in regards to his future. Just then a small breeze caressed his cheek; it also separated the brush so he could see the path just a few feet ahead of him. Moments later, the breeze vanished. It was then that he realized that he didn't have to see and understand the "whole" picture because God did.

I don't know what else to say.

Later.

Walk a Mile in Our Shoes

Okay,

So I have a new friend to thank for this entry. Like me, Laura too has a passion for partnering with people that have disabilities to ensure that their rights and freedoms are protected. In fact, she is just in the process of finishing off her law degree. And it seems like we're not the only ones. Take the recent article in the Los Angeles Times for example. It features the story of Carrie Ann Lucas. She is a lawyer as well, but unlike most, she has walked a mile in our shoes and knows first-hand the difficulties of having a disability. I have included a brief summary of the article according to what I thought was most important. For further information, see the citation at the end of the article. I was amazed by Carrie's story and I think you will be too. Thanks Laura for passing the story along.

Lucas began developing bone tumors and experienced increasing muscle pain as a young student at Washington State. Unable to find the root cause of these symptoms, she continued her life and graduated with a degree in sports medicine. After that, she tried seminary. But in the long run, she decided it wasn't the right career for her. She was later diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease called central core disorder. As a result, she ended up in a wheelchair and eventually lost her hearing.

When a family crisis threatened to tear her immediate family apart, she was prepared to do anything to keep them together. This included becoming a foster parent to her niece Heather when she was taken away from her half brother. Social was doubtful this was possible at the beginning, making several trips over to the house and forcing Lucas to prove herself by making sure she was capable of putting Heather's wheel chair into a rented van. Heather herself is unable to walk or talk too.

This experience was so life-changing; she decided to try again. This time, attempting to adopt a seven-year-old girl who was also confined to a wheelchair. After just 10 months of fostering, the girl's aunt and uncle stepped up to adopt the child. She was devastated. During this process, Lucas worked as a legal assistant for Cross-Disability Coalition; this law firm specializes in trying to keep parents with disabilities together with their kids.

At that point, Lucas decided to return to college. This time for a law degree. Unfortunately, her vision began to fail making this much more difficult then she anticipated. As a result, she had to add the course of braille among her many important college courses. Graduating in 2005, Lucas is now " legally blind, but is able to scan documents and read lips at a very close range".

Why does she do this?

This was my favorite quote of the article and I think it says it best.

"We [the coalition ] realized if that's happening to us, who're really connected, who know our stuff, are professionals with advanced degrees, what's happening to other people?"

The article goes on and on about several specific cases. I may refer back to this on Friday. Who knows? But I think I'm going to do something special tomorrow.

See you then
--

Riccardi, Nicholas. "Disabled woman is able ally for parents." (Los Angeles) latimes.com 5 March 2007.13 March 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lucas5mar05,1,828207.story? page=1&ctrack=1&cset=true&coll=la-headlines-nation

Controversy over Accessibility Laws in California

Okay,

So, I'm a little late with today's post. Yesterday, I was a little busy with my first meeting in regards to getting a job coach. But that's another story for another time.

Today's post is going to be a mixture of opinion/reporting the news. Recently, The American with Disabilities Act has become the center of attention. Signed over 17 years ago, the law is intended to create barrier free access for the disabled.

What's the problem with that?

Absolutely nothing.

In California, problems began to surface in 1992 when they decided to allow plaintiffs to sue for monetary damages . As a result, thousands of lawsuits are being brought up in court cases. The price that businesses end up paying is a big one. Not only do they have to correct the violation for future customers, they also have to pay the plaintiff for the violation. While Attorney David Peters admits that most suits are valid, it's the law's misuse that concerns him the most. Some examples of this may include such small violations as the placement of a mirror or a coat rack. Peters say it's often cheaper for businesses to settle rather than follow through in court. In effort to prevent such misuse, he created Lawyers Against Lawsuit Abuse.

On the other hand, many disabled people feel that issues need to be pointed out. To date, there have been more than 14,000 lawsuits in California's federal courts. David Gunther is just one of those people. Gunther, who has been disabled for over five years, has sued a variety of businesses for what he considers "a barrier for the handicapped".

"I'm trying to make this world a better place before I leave it," says Gunther.

Now onto my opinion. To be honest, this was one of the hardest entries for me to write. As a person with communication degree, I realize the importance of trying to tell both sides to the issue. I wasn't quite sure what details to add or leave out because CNBC did cover a lot regarding the specific suits and such. Because of that, I was left to use my own judgment. Truthfully, I'm still a little confused and irritated by the segment. That's why I decided to cite this source for you to make your own informed decision if you wanted further information. I myself can see both perspectives-the disabled person and the businesses. On the one hand, yes, I do want places to be barrier free so that I can come and go wherever I please just like any one else. Yes, you have to be assertive and stand up for what you believe is right. But there also has to be limits. I'm not quite sure what kind of limits I am speaking of because as I said I can see both sides.

Anyway, that's all for today. I'd be interested in hearing your opinions
---
Citation for TV program: "Legally Challenged" News segment Jane Wells reporting, CNBC channel 39, Business Nation at 10 pm, March 8, 2007

My Rules/ Quotable quotes

Welcome!
You probably noticed a routine in my entries by now. Over the weekend, I had decided to set some rules and regulations for myself while writing this blog.
Rule #1: New posts will be written every other day of the week. This means Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; there will always be something new from my readers. I wanted my readers both new and old to be able to depend on this blog if they are ever looking for new and interesting information pertaining to their disability.
Rule #2: Early Bird Catches the Worm-this one is primarily for my own information. Sometimes I may end up posting a post a day early or the night before, so it's here and ready for you when you need it. Ah, the wonders of draft mode!=)
Rule #3: Quality Versus Quantity- this is probably more of a comment than a rule. I created this for you my readers. I can't do much without your help and feedback. Yes, I can depend on my experiences to write an entry. But I won't really know if that helps you unless I get feedback. I've created this blog for you guys. You tell me what you want to learn, understand, and accomplish and I will do my best to help you with what ever I can. In that effort, I am going to try and compile everything I can about disabilities in television, magazines, and media. I don't want to get "burned out" trying to find information every day on disabilities that isn't useful. I want this to be informative as well and entertaining at the same time. That is yet another reason why I chose to write every other day.
Rule #4: At least once a week, I will have a "Encouragement Day" where I will post some encouraging words meant to inspire, motivate and stay true to yourself.
Finally, Rule #5: There are no dumb questions. I am pretty open when it comes to my disability, my life in my dreams. So feel free to e-mail me. Besides some of the personal questions, I would be happy to communicate with you through e-mail and talk.
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Now that I've got that covered, let's get to the main event.. Can anyone guess what today's topic is?

If you guessed "Encouragement of the Day ", you're right. Looking back through history, there have been many people who have led courageous lives through adversity. Their positive attitudes and outspoken character have opened new doors and broken down barriers, getting us to where we are today. Take for example Helen Keller. I'm sure most of you are familiar with her story, but if you aren't feel free to go to "Helen Keller: Services for the Blind". Their website can be accessed by going to: http://www.helenkeller.org/graphicversion/bio.html

Below are a collection of her most inspirational quotes. I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. These quotes can be found in a variety of places just by searching for "inspirational quotes". However, the source I found to be most helpful was "The Quotations Page" where you can search for variety of authors. This website is:

http://www.quotationspage.com/

Words of Wisdom From Helen Keller

1. Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

2. Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

3. I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.

4. Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

5. Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.

6. No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

7. One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.

8.When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.

9.When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.


10.Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never good in the world
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Yet another story, "The Smallest Survivors"

Okay,

It's only a few days ago when I first discussed the importance of people with disabilities on television. Well, it happened again last Thursday. It was a feature story detailing the courageous story of the Edward family and their two premature births. At 27 and a half weeks, doctors were forced to deliver little AJ. Why so early? His mother had developed a life threatening condition called Hellp Syndrome. According to doctors, this syndrome is a cluster of pregnancy complications that attack the blood as well as the liver. AJ spends over a hundred days in the hospital before returning home with his family. After a brain ultrasound, something seems wrong. Doctors prepare the Edwards for the possibility of problems in the future.

After such a daunting experience, the couple debates trying to have another child. While they are concerned that the condition will occur again, doctors reassure them the possibility of it much smaller and less dangerous than before. So they proceed on ahead.

After just twenty-four weeks of pregnancy, Jada's blood pressure rises. The Hellp Syndrome was back. Born 16 weeks premature, Alexa weighed less than a pound. Alexa also spends over a hundred days in the hospital before being sent home.

As a result, A. J. developed cerebral palsy. He eats some regular food, but primarily has to be fed through a tube in his stomach. On the other hand, Alexa suffered no effects because of the premature birth.

-----

Citation for TV Program: "Smallest Survivors" News segment Carmen Harlan reporting, NBC channel 4 WDIV Detroit, News at 11 pm, February 28, 2007.

The "Real" Story

Sometimes I wonder whether I'm doing you a disservice by only sharing certain parts of my life with you in this blog.

By that I mean, the happy times. Don't get me wrong, the happy times outweigh the sad. But sometimes having a disability and everything gets to me. Take today for example. Waking up this morning, I felt extremely disheartened about my life. I began to wonder how I fit into the big picture of this world in terms of my faith and purpose. I began to question my motives for a lot of things such as writing for this blog, or whether I'm doing enough with my life to serve God. Okay, so maybe the weather has something to do with it. It is absolutely terrible outside. A thick layer of snow covered the porch when I last looked outside. Gray clouds loom above making it seem as if it's evening when it's really not. In actuality, it's about 3: 30 in the afternoon.

Having a disability can be difficult. It does limit me and give me boundaries in terms of what I what I can do with my life. Yes, I wish I could do more!! On the other hand, it allows me to depend on something "higher" than myself to supply my needs. My friend and Savior Jesus Christ. That begs me to ask another question of myself, "What if I don't have enough faith?" Then it dawned on me that it's not my job to produce the faith, just to keep it alive no matter what.. Even the smallest bit, the size of a mustard seed, matters.. The rest is up to God. Sure, people can increase their faith by reading devotionals and the Bible. But the reality is, the initial sacrifice and "measure of faith" was God's. He gave it to you and me at no cost whatsoever.

Anyway, those were my thoughts this morning. As the day went on, my attitude got better. Looking back, I guess my devotional fits really well. Living life. The difference is, Christians don't live by society 's standards, but by God's. According to Psalms 34: 12-14, the list includes:

1. Keep your tongue from deceit.
2. Depart from evil.
3. Do good.
4. Seek peace.

Seem simple? I guess it is. We all feel down sometimes. It's normal; it's our job to not dwell on it too long.