Archive for Living With A Disability

Life’s Messed Up Crap We Don’t Understand

A few weeks ago was the Family Café annual conference. I had a booth and presentation.

Life has its messed up crap sometimes and I sure had an adventure at the conference. Let me tell you about it and why I bring it up.

Starting Friday June 10, I had a presentation to do with someone. I was manning my booth before the presentation. About two hours before I decided to go, to the bathroom.

Before I go there, let me explain a few things. I rented a scooter and I got in that for bathroom. Usually I have my manual wheelchair where I can easily pull up my pants.

Well since I was in scooter it made it hard. I had to stand up to pull up pants but they kept on slipping down, so eventually I slipped and fell on ground. I can normally get back up easy but my feet kept slipping on the floor so I couldn’t get up.

I called out for help 20 or 30 times and I had no phone. I just sat there because I knew my dad would eventually come looking for me. He got someone to help me up and we got to the presentation with 20 minutes left, so I briefly did a talk. Presentation still went well.

Later that day we decided to go to a restaurant in hotel with friends. We were going wrong way and turned around. I guess I accidently hit a speed thing to turn up and I took a sharp turn and tipped the scooter. They got me and scooter back up and we did dinner.

We went to bed that night. I woke up at 1:30 in morning and had the worst shooting pain in my side. We called EMTs and they brought me to the hospital. After a few hours, the doctor tells me I had a kidney stone.

What a crazy adventure right? I tell you this because life has messed up crap happen that we don’t know why they happen. We can’t let that screwed up stuff knock us down and keep us from going towards that amazing future.

Trent Shelton once said, “Don’t let the person who didn’t love you, keep you from the one who wants to!” Well I say, “Don’t let messed up past, keep you from the amazing future you want and deserve!”

Life has messed up crap happen, don’t let it win. You are strong enough, squeak your wheels until that amazing life comes!

You Don’t Want to Miss

Have you heard of Family Café?

Family Café is an annual disability conference with lots of great information, sessions, exhibit and more.  There are many sessions, like busting down barriers, how to get services to help, how to advocate better, scuba diving, social security and many more. This year the conference is June 10-12 in Orlando at the Hyatt.

Thomas Moon will be there with a booth, selling his great books, motivational cds and more. Let’s just say you could win a drawing so make sure you definitely stop by and enter the drawing, see the amazing Thomas Moon, get a picture and learn some great information.

Thomas will also be doing a presentation on busting down barriers and succeeding despite a disability or any other life struggles. The presentation will be on Friday June 10 from 4:30 p.m.to 5:30 p.m. in room Bayhill 24.

Please come hear the extraordinary Thomas Moon and prepare to be amazed! He will have a box with him that you will find out more about then.

Come out June 10-12 or even just one day. You can find out more information at www.familycafe.net.

Until then remember to squeak your wheels and that a little bit of motivation and action each day will make your life shine brighter than the suns ray!

These Low Limits Don’t Help

Did you know that there are low income limits for services like social security, agency for persons with disability services, housing authority services, etc?

These low income limits make it hard for people to live life to the fullest and get help they need. There are many people who get social security and different services to help them live more independently but with the low income limits, they can’t pay to get services, pay all the bills and have money to live. Let’s say people made over the income limits, they would most likely lose social security and other services that are meant to help. Then people affected would probably end up in groups homes which would cost the country more or worst case end up homeless left with nothing.

Take social security for example, you can make up to $1000 a month and any $2 you make after they take a dollar. This makes it really hard on people that this is their only option. A suggestion I have and I‘m sure other people will agree. Like with social security, raise the limit from $1000 a month to $2000 a month before they start taking money from social security check.

Do not forget the other services and programs meant to help. They also have income limits. Doing this is a win win both for the government and everyone. The people being affected would be able to pay more in different taxes and contribute more to society.

On another note, let’s stop being so judgmental when it comes to the convicted looking for jobs and stuff.

Quit making it so hard for people you are trying to help. Let’s squeak our wheels until income limits are raised and it stops being so very hard for people!

Fight Against the Struggle

We all have struggles/obstacles in our lives. You could be the happiest and richest person on earth and still have struggles!

There are many different struggles, financial, relationship, weight/health, employment, business and more. What most people do at the sight of these struggles, is sit down and give up or what I call put themselves in a freaking box. There are two types of people, those who see the struggle and let it defeat them and the few that see the struggle and don’t let it keep them down no matter how many times it knocks them to their knees.  Which one are you?

I had problems in my life. When I was younger. Teachers, foster parents and others said I was retarded, was going nowhere in life and thought I was wasting my time. I am sure there are still people today that think the same but I chose not to listen to all the naysayers and make life the way I wanted. I graduated high school with a regular diploma, graduated college with a real bachelor’s degree, started my own business, moved out on my own and more. I continue to grow and become better. Why do you let the struggle defeat you?

What could you look forward to if you chose not to let struggles defeat you?

I will answer this by telling you my story at the gym. I started the gym and worked out by myself for a few years. One of the awesome guys kept an eye on me for a while and decided to come work with me and get me stronger.  He also helped me to lift weights properly.  I got stronger and got to where I could have control. I chose to fight against the struggle and now I am so much better and happier. You could be looking at a happier life, nice car, house, relationship, money and much more success if you just decided to not let struggle win and choose to step out of that freaking box.

I believe in you and you should believe in yourself. Roll those squeaky wheels over that struggle, into an awesome future!

 

Quit Being a B-hole and Don’t Let the B-holes Win

Why are we hurting others?

When we are born, we have love in our hearts. We don’t care about and play with black, white, disability, etc. We have joy in our hearts and live our life to the fullest. The thought of hurting others isn’t even in our thoughts.

Why are most people different now when they got older? What is the point of even trying to physically or emotionally hurt someone else?

I hate to say but these b-holes out there hurting women, men and even animals, are the worst human beings on the earth! Are you so messed up that you have to hurt others to feel better? What you are doing is ruining other’s lives. No wonder they have no self-confidence, sad most of the time and some even so depressed that they don’t want to live anymore.

You who, hurt others, should be taking that energy and rather than hurting others, put it into improving and bettering your own life!

Now those being hurt or might get hurt, what should you do?

First of all if you are being physically or emotionally hurt, you should get those hurting you to stop that crap. Now if they continue, you need to contact the police and have them do something. You should then leave and not come back, even if they say they changed! You don’t need that crap in your life. You may have some stuff still left at their place if you were staying there, but don’t try to get it because you don’t need any of the hassle in your life. You can improve yourself, your life and buy brand new stuff.

Second, don’t let their messed up crap ruin you’re your life! You are worth so much more. You have the power inside to build yourself up to something way better and live an awesome life.

Three, let’s say you are in a relationship with that hurtful person. Leave them and know that there is someone way better out there for you, even if you don’t feel like there is.

I will close by saying to those hurting others, to stop that crap and build a better life for yourself. Those being hurt, roll your wheels over that hurtful life and build yourself a ten times better one. We need to all wake up and start making this a better world and throw out the garbage!

Did Someone Say Commitment?

Do you know what commitment is?  Commitment is when you start something and put your blood, sweat, and tears into it. You don’t quit because you are so determined to conquer something, that nothing can stop you!

There are so many people (people with disabilities and those without) that start something but don’t commit to it. Some examples are a relationship, a job, career, project, goal, etc. A question I have is why do you even start something if you are not going to commit to it? (Please leave your answer in the comments)

Things are harder with a disability but that only means you put in more effort and commitment. I have problems with completely comprehending almost everything I read but I graduated from college. The few years I was at college may not have been easy but I choose to put in extra effort and commitment! We had to read so many text books but I did not quit because it was hard. You know that if I quitted every time things got hard, nothing would get done.

Your disability, your being different and troubles, is no reason that you can’t do something and commit to it. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and many other successful people would be nowhere, if they quit in tough times and did not commit everything they had!

Take this new found word, commitment, and apply it to your life. Your life will begin to turn around!

Squeak those wheels until you are blue in the face!

You Can’t Have a Kickass Life with a Crappy Mindset

The brain may seem like just a small organ but it is the most powerful in your life/world!

The mind is what attracts things into your life. You may think negative and discouraging thoughts, which will turn around and manifest those thoughts into your life. The same goes for a positive/encouraging mind. This is a huge reason you may think your day keeps getting worse. Your thoughts will spiral, so if you let’s say trip on something in the morning and start thinking how stupid you are, how It is going to be a bad day, and other discouraging thoughts, that is how your day will turn out. Now if you take the tripping and just think like it was no big deal and move on, then your day won’t spiral downward.

Have you ever wanted something real bad? You may want it but in your mind you are saying that you will never get it. Change your mindset and start thinking that it is yours and that you can feel it in your grasps. You can’t just think it and it happen but you also have to work to make it happen.

Here is something awesome that you probably never thought about. You ever been driving and keep hitting the red lights? You know that your mind is making those red lights because you keep thinking how you keep hitting ever red light and that you are going to be late. Now does that work for green lights? All I can say is that it doesn’t hurt to think green lights and making great time.

Your mind is so powerful that you are creating the world around you. Take time to think about your thoughts and feelings. Get rid of the thoughts that are sculpting a crappy life and start thinking great thoughts that will take you down an awesome path. You will go further than you ever would have believed.

Squeak out those bad thoughts and start getting that life you want and deserve!

A Big Thing Called Discipline

Have you ever found it hard to do things, so you don’t do them?

A lot of people crumble at the sound of hard work. You may have goals and want more in life but with any kind of struggle most people give up, stop and don’t do it anymore.

Struggle and hard work is actually good for you. Take the struggle and hard times that may beat you to your knees and fight even harder to make your task become something. During the struggle is when you find out who you are and what you want in life. You have to be different then the many others that just let tough times defeat them.

Hold your head up and have determination in yourself that says that you will conquer, you will overcome, and you will go beyond beliefs.

Life is not easy but if you don’t let it hold you back, it will be so worth it. Here are some ideas to try, that might bring you past the hard times into great things:

  1. Turn on some music, watch a movie or do something that will relax you and take your mind off things.
  2. Now that you are relaxed and have a clearer mind, go out and take on the tasks and goals in your life.
  3. Remember that we are going to make mistakes and have obstacles come along, no matter how far you have come. What will take you even further or break you, is that you keep pushing no matter how many times it tries to knock you to your knees and defeat you!
  4. Now sometimes you may have tried something over and over and over again but it just is not working out. Take a step back and think about the situation and your passions. Decide if you should keep trying the same thing or try something new. Sometimes there will be things that just won’t happen for us but we still have to try other things because eventually something will stick. One example is when I was running my own web design business and I just was not getting customers no matter how hard I tried. I stepped back and decided that I would stop losing money in web design and go towards a bigger passion of mine. That passion is helping others and making a difference, so I became a motional speaker where I motivate, give the audience ways to live a better life, give ways to conquer your goals, bust down barriers and more. (www.disabilityspeaker.org)
  5. When you conquer things, makes sure you celebrate. You got that far so why not be proud but after, you need to keep pushing further.

We have to really discipline ourselves and remember that things that need to be done, we have to do no matter how hard it is/gets. Take your life in your hands, squeak those wheels until you get that life you want and deserve and beyond!

If I Cannot Get There It Is Not Real

I recently took my son to a meeting of the Transportation Workgroup for the Florida Developmental Disability Council.  Thomas (TJ) sits on that workgroup.  Before the meeting started in my talks with one of the other workgroup members they made the comment “If I cannot get there it is not real.”  She was relating a statement that one of the FDDC members had made some time ago.

That simple statement hit home with me.  It was insightful, on target and right on point.  If I cannot get there it is not real.

Over 6 million person with disabilities have problems finding adequate transportation.  Statistics also show that as many as 1.9 million persons with disabilities almost never leave their homes because of transportation issues.

Transportation is a major issue and a major problem for those with disabilities.

For example, a job opens up that would be a good fit for a person with a disability.  This is a real job paying a real wage.  However, if the person qualified for the job has no way to get there then –  If I cannot get there it is not real.

New services are being offered or a new program opens up in a town or city that would benefit those with disabilities.  This program will enhance and enrich their lives. – If I cannot get there it is not real.

A movie has just been released that this person really wants to see.  However, there is no transportation available – no accessible transportation that they can use to go see the movie.  If I cannot get there it is not real.

Those who do not have transportation issues cannot understand what is like to live without adequate available transportation.  Those who do not have transportation issues see the world in a completely different way.

However, for those who have little or no transportation options – the world is not real.  If I cannot get there it is not real.

Solutions are available.  However, they involve investing in public transportation.  In areas where the population cannot support that option – then an investment in allowing those with disabilities to have access to private transportation options needs to be established.

Realize that 1.9 million people do not leave their homes because they lack transportation options – Unacceptable.  1.9 million people are denied access to a real life and the real world because of funding for transportation – Unacceptable.

The world is real.  Opportunities to enjoy life are real.  Jobs are real.  Restaurants and movie theatres are rea.

However – If I cannot get there it is not real.  So keep squeaking those wheels.

What Are People With Disabilities Looking for When Looking for a House or Apartment?

Are you a realtor or just a person with a disability? Let’s discuss what people with disabilities are looking for when looking for a place.

When I moved out on my own I was of course looking for places I could live that were accessible and accommodating.

List of things I was for so I could live comfortably:

  1. Was the place close near a bus stop?
  1. Did the place have a ramp or steps?
  1. Was there a walk in shower or a tub?
  1. Was I allowed to put grab bars up in the bathroom?
  1. Could I accessibly move around the place kitchen, bedroom etc.?
  1. Was there stairs in the place?
  1. If there were stairs, is there a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen downstairs?
  1. Could I afford the rent or to buy?
  1. Could I have a care person come in to help me around the house and if needed be a live in helper.

These were a few things I was looking for and many others with disabilities are looking for. Do you as a Realtor know this or do you need training when it comes to people with  disabilities?

 

Check me out www.disabilityspeaker.org

Do you as a person with a disability discuss with the Realtor or landlord, what you need to be able to live in a place? You should know what accommodations you need to live comfortably.

No matter what situation you are in, you can live on your own and sometimes with help. This is possible, you just need to know what accommodations and what you need to live comfortably. Let’s stop making excuses and feeling sorry for yourself and start living our lives to fullest! Go after that life you want and deserve, squeak, squeak!