Tag Archive for florida

Azmyth Concert

| August 13, 2012 | No comments

Have you ever been to a concert even though you may be in a wheelchair?

Well I have been to a couple and it is amazing. I was at a concert a couple a weeks ago by Azmyth and a few other rock bands.

I was first invited to an Azmyth concert by the band leader. He told me that he invited me because he likes my great attitude and all the things I do in the community. At this concert with my great friends/band members, Tim, Alex and the others, I had a blast. It was great seeing them again and of course getting out of the house.  However, the best thing was being the only guy in the crowd with a wheelchair and I was rocking out with the music.

I love showing people that even though someone may be different and have some limitations, they ae still like everyone else and can live a normal life with maybe some help here and there.

Get off that butt and start doing because even though I love being the only person in a wheelchair in the crowd, I would love to see others in wheelchairs and with disabilities out there living their life.

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , , ,

Interview On WOCA Radio

| July 10, 2012 | No comments

WOCA 96.7FM & 1370AM

You can here the interview here. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/23802314

Friday July 6 was my interview on WOCA to talk about my book, “The Squeaky Wheelchair.”

I had a great time on the radio and loved I inspire so many people. You may think that you can’t do thinks because of your disability, struggles, etc. but you CAN!  I have faith in you and know that if you just went out and tried things, you will be amazed and show others that you can.

Think about this quote and starting moving towards a better future, “How Bad Do You Want It?”

Squeak those wheels and grow your interdependence!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled | Tags: , , , , ,

Family Café (part 2)

| July 7, 2012 | 2 comments

Saturday has arrived. We woke up at around 7 A.M. and I struggled out of the high, hotel room bed. Two beds were next to each other with a good size gap in between.

I was sitting up and about to transfer to my wheelchair when I lost footing and fell to the group. I was working hard to get up but I finally got up and sat in my wheelchair. After that we all got ready and went downstairs to the exhibit hall.  There I r-opened my booth but took some time to look around while I waited for people to start showing up. People start showing up and all throughout the day I had people come up to my booth for info and to buy my book.

Soon it was 1 P.M. which was an hour before I had to be upstairs to do my presentation. A few minutes later I saw my great friends Andrew and Jaime who I got to meet in my Partners in Policy Making class of 2010. We chatted for a while and then they went to look around as I ran my booth some more. 2 P.M. came along it was time to head upstairs for my presentation and get setup. You can hear my presentation below.

My presentation went great and I decided to go see my friends Heather and Michelle’s presentation on service dogs. After their wonderful presentation we all got together and decided to go to Golden Coral for dinner, great dinner with conversation.

Saturday ended and we were ready for Sunday to come so we can pack up to leave and go to Disney with my great friend Heather.

Great time, great life and more, you can have it too but you have to work for it!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , , ,

Family Café (part 1):

| June 29, 2012 | No comments

You are probably asking what Family Café is. No, it’s not a restaurant but an amazing annual conference.

The Family Cafe Annual Conference began with a simple idea. Why not bring together individuals with disabilities and their families with state agencies, non-profit organizations and other service providers.  This was done so families could network with each other, learn what services are available to them, and find out the best way to go about accessing those services. The conference provides a unique environment where families could connect with peers, commercial service providers, and public entities. The Family Cafe has always believed that well-informed people make the best possible decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Our Annual Conference provides the opportunity to put that principle into action.

That initial vision has spawned the largest state-wide conference of its kind in the nation. The 14th Annual Family Cafe Conference, which occurred this past June, hosted more than 7,800 people, and included 160 educational sessions.

On June 14 my dad, nephew and I headed down to Orlando the day before the conference started. We checked in and waited in our hotel room until we could go set up my booth. We went downstairs and met my great friends Heather and Michelle.  We all walked down to the exhibit hall to set up my booth and my friend’s booth.

After we set up our booth we got together in the lobby and waited for my friends to get ready for dinner. My friend Jennifer, Heather and Michelle came to dinner with us at Don Pablo’s. We all had a great dinner with great conversation.

 

We went back to hotel and decided to hang out by the pool. I put on my swimsuit and went down to the pool to swim. We decided to head to bed since it was getting late.

Friday arose and it was time to register and go down to the exhibit hall to run my booth. I set out my new book I wrote called, “The Squeaky Wheelchair” and put out all my literature for my motivational speaking tour and contact info. The day went along as I met a lot of people and sold and autographed about ten books.

I was getting tired so all my friends decided we wanted to get together again and go to dinner. We went to dinner and again had a great night of friends and conversation. Again it was time for bed since we had to get up early for presenting and running my booth.

Stay tuned for more of this great conference story/adventure.

Squeak, I think I need some WD 40.

 

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Education, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , ,

Sarasota schools again try to fire teacher O’Neill

| June 28, 2012 | No comments

Some teachers can abuse children with disabilities with no consequences.

SARASOTA COUNTY, Florida – More than three years after they first tried to fire teacher Diana O’Neill, Sarasota school district leaders may again be frustrated in their latest attempt to dismiss the embattled teacher who was disciplined for abusing profoundly disabled students.

The latest attempt comes after the Second District Court of Appeals affirmed a state panel’s decision to suspend O’Neill’s teaching certificate for two months. Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White mailed O’Neill a termination letter on June 20 stating she will ask the School Board to fire her at its July 24 meeting.

But O’Neill could thwart that move, at least temporarily, by requesting yet another administrative hearing or protesting the decision through the district’s grievance process, a move that would keep her in her $77,000 a year job possibly for several more months.

Read full story.

 

 

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Education, News Story | Tags: , , , , , ,

Ahh! Vacation in a Wheelchair

| June 1, 2012 | No comments

May 20, 2012 was upon us and I was packed and ready; ready to go on vacation to Orlando at Grand Beach Resort.

I got my suitcase and music bag ready and sat it by the door. I put on my wheelchair legs, which I rarely use.  I was so pumped up for a week of relaxation and fun. The door goes knock, knock and I open it, there was my nephew. He came with my mom to help put my wheelchair in the car, we all get to a point that the wheelchair becomes too heavy to lift. Have you had that situation where you are limited in places you can go because there is no one to put your wheelchair in their car? I bet you have but remember there still are ways, like riding the bus.  If you have a support coach to help or you can make new friends who can and are willing to lift your wheelchair, etc. It can be done!

We continued on the interstate to our destination. We arrived and out came my brother in law to help unpack the car and lift my wheelchair out. We headed up the elevator to our room where I got to unpack my clothes on my bed. Now I was ready for the week of fun and relaxation.

The week consisted of swimming,  relaxing by the pool, hanging out in room watching TV, going out to  eat a few times and wheeling around by the lake. This was great and I did it all even with a disability. Again, I had help lifting the wheelchair in and out of the car.

I was just another human being on vacation. You can do things too, live on your own, go on vacation, go to movies, go out to eat, attend events, and so much more!

Get off that butt and start doing because sitting and complaining will get you nowhere!

Squeak, squeak here we come.

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

A Young Advocate Goes Up Against the Florida Government – Part 1:

| March 11, 2012 | 2 comments

The adventure started on one bright and shiny January morning in Florida. The young advocate named Thomas Moon woke up, ready to take on the day!

The young advocate packed his bags into his trusty Peace Mobile, and made his way to Tallahassee, the state capital. Along the way, he made peace between his fellow Americans. He felt it’s what any true American should do.

Only a few of his close friends knew why he was going to Tallahassee, in the first place. Upon arriving at his destination, the young advocate unpacked his bags in his lovely hotel suite. Then, he proceeded to walk downstairs and try to locate his good friend and her service dog.

On his way, he overheard a discussion. Someone was talking about service dogs, and how they should be allowed in schools, as well as many other places. Right away, he knew it was his good friend. They caught up for a bit, before having dinner with a group of other advocates for people with disabilities. This is the reason the young advocate decided to go on this adventure, and travel to the state’s capital.

After dinner he got together with his friend, and a few other people. They discussed how they were going to speak to many different legislators, the next day…

Until the adventure continues, squeak those wheels and don’t let anyone say you can’t!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities | Tags: , , , ,

Expect the Unexpected

| January 23, 2012 | No comments

Have you ever had something very special happen unexpectedly?

Well, I have! I was attending our annual Ocala Business Leaders banquet where the new officers and board members were installed (I was installed as president but that was not the unexpected). The 2011 president just finished speaking when they called up Dan Kuhn, the Under Sheriff for Marion County.

I thought he was just another part of the program but next thing I know, he calls me up. I thought it was something for being 2012 president but then he started saying how proud of me he was and read a plaque that said:

“This Certificate of Commendation is being awarded to Thomas J. Moon in recognition of your contributions to the Ocala/Marion County community over the last several years. You are an outstanding example of the difference a young business person can make to the improvement in the quality of life of all Marion County citizens. Specifically, your volunteer work with the Children’s Alliance and your election to the position of President of the Ocala Business Leaders organization are just two instances of your community commitment.

Additionally, your life is an excellent illustration to others of how to overcome obstacles in life. Your advocacy on behalf of disabled persons is known state-wide.

Thank you for being a model of servant leadership for all Marion County citizens who seek to serve their fellow man.

May God bless you in all that you do.”

The plaque was signed by Sheriff Ed Dean. I was speechless and almost busted out in tears.

I didn’t expect this and I realize that more people knew about the things I do in the community and my advocacy work. Doing the right thing always pays off!

You can have this too so keep squeaking those wheels and doing the right thing!

Category: Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , ,

More on “Scream Rooms”

| January 20, 2012 | No comments

From the West Hartford News.  A reporter who is the mom of a special needs student.

“They are essentially jail cells — most of them can only be opened from the outside — and most are smaller than a walk-in closet, painted white and with bright lights, the kind that only exacerbate sensory issues in kids with autism and other special needs. I’ve seen kids as young as 4 wailing away in the room as class is in session just a few feet way. (I wonder if it’s disconcerting to the other special needs kids in class.) For those with poor reasoning and coping skills, hearing others in the room creates constant anxiety that is bound to make them act up and get put in the room.”

Read the entire article.

The abuse of our children with special needs and disabilities has to stop.  We need to keep making noise – keep squeaking those wheels.

 

 

 

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Education, Growing Up Disabled, News Story, Raising A Disabled Child, Restraint | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Scream Rooms In Connecticut Schools

| January 12, 2012 | No comments
Scream Room

Scream Room

Children with disabilities being placed in seclusion in public schools across the country including here in Florida.  The students in Connecticut have dubbed them “Scream Rooms.”

Horrible – but true!

Officials: ‘Scream rooms’ common in Connecticut schools

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Education, Growing Up Disabled, Restraint | Tags: , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »