Archive for August 10, 2011

Where Is Everybody?

| August 10, 2011 | No comments

I was out at Target and other places, the other day. I was shopping and looking around and I said to myself, ”Where are all the people with disabilities?”

I know they have to be out there. Do you think this is really true or are people with disabilities stuck at home and not given an opportunity like everyone else?

Through my travels I can tell you that the majority of persons with disabilities are stuck at home. They do not have the opportunities that everyone else has.

We are starting to show our faces in this world, slowly one at a time. The disabled are tired of being stuck at home. The disabled are tired of being hidden.

It makes sense that everyone has an opportunity to participate and contribute to to society?

Yes it is true that people with disabilities are struggling. It is true that people with disabilities are not treated the same as everyone else. So what do we do about that?

We need to advocate, speak out, change peoples minds and attitudes. We also need to take ourselves out into the community.

We – people with disabilities – need to get off our butts and start doing. We must be the change. We can not wait for someone to come and make the change for us.

Get out there, go bowling, get a job, go to the movies, play pool, go shopping. Get out with others and enjoy life.

You have to make that decision to stop believing what others have to say. You can not live the life they have planned for you. You have to live your own life.

This message is not just to people with disabilities. It is for everyone. Quit treating people that are different like they are like they have no value!

We will not take it anymore! Remember that the squeaky wheel gets noticed.

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Employment

Collier County Is Doing It Right

| August 9, 2011 | No comments

Inmates in Martin County Florida are helping disabled vets.  This is part of a partnership between the Florida Department of Corrections and Dogs 4 Disabled Veterans.

In a nutshell the inmates are training dogs to be service animals for disabled veterans. They are starting with a small number of animals.  There are 10 inmates working with 6 potential service dogs.

Those who work with the disabled know that service dogs are great assets.  The problem is there are more disabled than there are service dogs.

Most people are familiar with service dogs for the blind.  However, service dogs are being used by a much wider population now.  There are service dogs for those in wheelchairs, for the deaf, those with autism, diabetes, seizure disorders, mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia, and to help and assist so many more persons with a large variety of disabilities.

These inmates are learning a new skill – dog training.  They are being productive and have a sense of purpose.  And the dogs they are training will be of great benefit to veterans with disabilities.

This is one of those win win situations.  The inmates benefit.  Those with disabilities benefit.

We need to see more cooperation and partnerships between government agencies and non-profits such as Dogs 4 Disabled Veterans.

Great work Collier County – keep it up.  Let us hope other counties follow your example.

Complete Story.

Originally appeared on the View From The Dark Side of The Moon Blog

Category: Disabilities

Medicaid Home and Community Based Services

| August 8, 2011 | No comments

Here is a very good description of the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services.  Changes are being implemented and if you are involved with the disabled, the elderly, children on medicaid or anyone receiving medicaid – this is good information.

Category: Disabilities

Along The Path

| August 8, 2011 | No comments

I was out the other day at a few of our major parks with walking paths. I was going down the paths and each time my wheels would either get stuck or dig into the ground.

Have you ever been to a park and tried to go down it in your wheelchair? I can most likely tell you that you got stuck. My point is that the parks are there for the community and people with disabilities are part of the community. Parks should be accessible to all, may it be paths, etc.

So what can be done about it? We can make the community aware. You can your your voice! We speak out for those who can not speak out for themselves. We have to be a part of the change.

What changes do we need? Parks should be fully accessible, so that every one can enjoy themselves.

Paths do not have to be paved. Hard packed ground or grass would be accessible to wheelchairs.
America, let’s work toward equality. It should not matter if you have a disability, it should not matter what your age is, your sex or the color of your skin, everyone can be a part of this great world we live in.

Squeak those wheels until your hearts content!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities

| August 5, 2011 | No comments

Have you ever wondered what it would be like, going to a restaurant and eating out with a disability? Will people stare at you, help you, make fun of you, pull a chair out for you, etc?
I just pulled up to Cracker Barrel in Ocala Florida and got to the door.  It was so heavy that when I went to open it I barely got it open. (Did you know doors have to be a certain weight according to Americans With Disabilities Act? Otherwise they are in violation of the ADA.)
I got in the door and went through the store to the restaurant.  The hostess seated my friend and I. She politely pulled out the chair so I could sit at the table in my wheelchair.
The waitress came up and took both of our orders. She took my friends order and then rather than ask my friend what I wanted, like restaurants do for some reason.  Rather she turned straight to me and asked me what I wanted to eat.
We finished eating, paid and then left.
I was treated so nice and normal. I don’t know what your experience will be but please go out, then come back respond with your experience, on this blog.
Squeak, squeak, squeak!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Living With A Disability

Getting Into Community

| August 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Getting people with disabilities help and into the community makes sense for a number of reasons:

1st – It is the right thing to do.

2nd – It helps them to become more complete as a person.

3rd – They socialize more and integrate into the community much better if they live out in the community rather than in a group or institutional setting.  Or even at home with little or no services.

Most importantly if they are in the community they can work and contribute.  Everyone, even people with disabilities want to do their part.  They want to become consumers, tax payers and productive citizens.

I am an individual with a disability that receives help and support through the Medicaid Waiver. With this help, I am able to live a normal life. I live on my own, I own my own business. I get into the community and am part of society like I should be. See the attached article that talks about my life and how I live it. This shows that people with disabilities can do and can live a normal life with some help. I would not be where I am if I have not had the help from the Medicaid Waiver.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20081107/NEWS/811050271

Keep squeaking your wheels and we will succeed.

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Housing

Headline Reads “Women with disabilities less likely to be screened for breast cancer”

| August 4, 2011 | No comments

I hope there is nothing sinister here.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that statistically women with disabilities right here in Florida and the rest of the country are less likely to be screened for breast cancer.

The statistical different in Florida is 7%.  Nation wide there is a 5% difference.

The CDC does not venture an opinion as to why this happens.  They suggest it may be a lack of access to medical care by women with disabilities.

However, most of the disabled have medicaid or a combination of medicare and medicaid.

We need to educate and inform women with disabilities that proper screening is needed.  Although 5% does not sound like a large disparity, it is significant enough for the CDC to be concerned and take note.

If you know a women over the age of 40 with a disability (or even one with out a disability) let them know that screening for breast cancer is important.

Here is a link to the CDC Report.

 

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Education

Keep It Up Joyce

| August 4, 2011 | 3 comments

Joyce McInerny has voices all around her.  She grew up with schizophrenia, depress and borderline personality disorder.

Despite this, she is a thriving productive member of society.  She also is giving back to her community.

Joyce works as a peer specialist for the Florida Assertive Community Treatment program at the Peace River Center.  She teaches the mentally ill how to cope.  She teaches them how to work, be productive and become members of their communities.

Unemployment among the disabled, no matter what the disability, is staggering.  Almost 80% of those with disabilities are unemployed.

Wow – our government and economists are upset with general unemployment hits 8 and 9%.  The disabled have been dealing with massive unemployment since those statistics have been compiled.

Joyce is making a difference, one person at a time.  In her own way she is giving back.  She is empowering those with a mental illness to be what they can be.

Can anyone aspire to anything greater in their life?

At one time Joyce suffered from the discrimination that is inherent in our society, that anyone with a disability is unemployable.

Keep it up Joyce.  Hopefully others will step up and help – one person at a time – until the disabled have full access to employment, like any American is entitled to.

Previously Published on The View From The Dark Side of The Moon Blog

Category: Disabilities, Employment

Developmental Disabilities

| August 3, 2011 | No comments

Discrimination is when a person with a different color, race, age, gender and a person with a disability is not equally. Discrimination against a person with a developmental disability is the focus here. What is a developmental disability? How and where are people with a developmental disability discriminated against?

A developmental disability is a lifelong disability.  It can be a mental and/or physical impairment. DD as it is referred to effects day to day living functions such as; living on your own, handling money, learning different things, being able to move your body where you want, being able to speak clearly enough where others can hear you, taking care of all your daily functions and taking yourself where you want to go.

A person with a developmental disability may not function like everyone else but most of them can still work and live a full life.

Employers are put off by someone with DD.  They do not see the person, they only see the disability.  Being disabled is not a reason to be turned down for a job.

Those with disabilities are hard workers, they show up on time, they do not miss work and they perform their jobs well if they are properly trained.

Employers who see only the disability are missing out on some great employees.

We need to keep squeaking our wheels until they are all listening.

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Employment

Companion Rate Clarification

| August 2, 2011 | 2 comments

 APD has more clarification on Companion Service Rates  Hopefully this will be the last one.  They have been bouncing around like a rubber ball on this.

First the reimbursement was below Federal Minimum wage.  No surprise there, APD would not be the first Florida state agency to believe it was exempt from Federal Laws.

The new and improved rates have been collapsed into one solo provider rate of $1.68 per quarter hour for serving one or two individuals. Providers serving three individuals will continue to receive $1.39 per quarter hour as they did prior to August 1. There is also an agency and geographic differential rate.

Provider Rate Table

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities
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