Archive for Living With A Disability

Appointed to Florida Developmental Disability Council

| February 15, 2013 | No comments

Thomas Moon has recently been appointed to the Florida Developmental Disability Council by Governor Scott.

The purpose of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council is to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family centered, consumer and family directed, comprehensive system of community services and individualized supports that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination, be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life.

The federal law that created the Council states that the purpose of the Council is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs authorized under this title.

The Council will accomplish its mission by supporting innovative initiatives that demonstrate new approaches to enhance the independence, productivity, inclusion and self-determination of individuals with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life.

This is such a great honor for Thomas Moon to be appointed to the FDDC. Thomas will be going to the annual DD Days held at the capital in Tallahassee Florida on March 6 and 7. During these days the FDDC and many advocates and self-advocates will do around the capital talking to different legislators about people with disabilities and how they can live a full life with some help depending on the individual with a disability.

Thomas is going big places and you can too if you just put your mind to going after your goals and dreams.

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

Happy New Year 2013

| January 1, 2013 | 2 comments

With the New Year starting, it is time to start looking closer at your life’s future.

Most people stick them self in a box and do nothing to get out of it and stay out of it. This includes you working all the time and not spending enough time with friends and family, complaining that things keep going wrong but doing nothing to stop it, letting your health go to shambles, etc.

I tell you now, from this point forward, no more sitting on your butt and complaining. Taking action and keeping positive thoughts is what’s going to make you successful and live a life that you are proud to call your own.

Did I graduate college, start my own business and become president of Ocala Business Leaders by sitting on my butt and feeling sorry for myself/thinking success will just come to me, or did I go after what I wanted and didn’t stop until I got it? (Please leave your answer below).

This year I have many new things planned for my life including going full force on motivational speaking, blogging, advocating, growing my business, finding that special lady, traveling more and much more.

I am available to speak at your next conference, event, business event, nonprofit, church, etc. Contact me at tj@moonscapes.org or by phone at 352-502-5994.

I wish you a very happy and successful new year. May you realize the more important things in life and start focusing more on that. Squeak those wheels until you have a better future you can really be proud of!

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

Thanksgiving Experiences and Lessons

| December 13, 2012 | 2 comments

Thanksgiving has come and gone.

When the pilgrims came to America, I believe they were looking for freedom to live their lives and a better future, but somewhere along the way we lost that vision. Rather than caring about everyone and making a better future for all, we are hurting each other, spend less time together and have gotten a selfish attitude that it’s all about me. Well, let me tell you now that it is should not be all about me but All About WE!

I had an awesome Thanksgiving with family. We ate great food, talked, played games and shared what we are thankful for. I said I am thankful for friends. This time of year is the time of year family and friends get together because it is the holidays.

Ok I get the greatness of the holidays and people caring about each other, but what about the other twelve months of the year. Does that mean we can become crappy people and stop caring/helping others? No.

We have also become a work society. Most people spend at least five days a week getting ready for work, going to work, coming home from work, relaxing and going to bed, then spending the next day doing it all over again. What about living your life to the fullest and spending it with friends and family? Not to put down jobs and the working world down, but it hurts us more than it helps.

Let’s get back to the vision of America and stop being stupid! Squeak those wheels for a better future!

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

A Life Event That Burned

| November 24, 2012 | 2 comments

On November 8, 2012, I was cooking me some lunch in the microwave, good ol’ manicotti, and I was taking the food out of microwave to sit on lap to move to the table to eat, when it slipped out of my hands into my lap. I almost screamed. I fought hard to get my pants off while shaking like crazy.

I called 911 and the ambulance took me to Shands Hospital, the ambulance guys, nurses and doctors were so nice and I gained a new respect for them. (I was told that I was one of the best patients they had in a while). They said I would be ok and that my burns would heal in two weeks.

This event made me look at my life and see that I have become lazy/set in my ways. I needed to really change because my house was becoming so dirty and so bad that I could not invite anyone in. I had some things rearranged to make it more accessible for me and moved the microwave to the table from the counter.

The message for you is don’t burn yourself LOL and make sure you are keeping a healthy and safe life. I know cleaning may be a little tough and takes time, but it needs to be done so do it!

Please share below any comments or stories you have of being burned.

Squeak not only for change but squeak at yourself!

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

Hurricane Who Orlando

| November 14, 2012 | No comments

Wearing my leather jacket, burgundy shirt and black pants, I jumped in the Tardis. I decided to take a trip through time to November 2, 2012, where there was the Hurricane Who Convention going on (All about Doctor Who)

After settling in, I headed down to the convention hall where the dealer’s room was open. There was some awesome stuff including a tardis, a few weeping angels and many people were taking pictures of each other wearing their costumes of different Doctor Who characters. People asked to take my pic/a pic with me and it was so cool. The convention was comprised of different sessions and a masquerade party.


Fantastic!
I was so lonely and was looking for a companion to travel in the tardis with me and look who I found (Rose)

People did not care that I was in a wheelchair or that I had a disability. Everyone treated me the same as everyone else, asked to take a picture, talked to me and had a blast. I had so must fun and I learned that if people really wanted to, they could care more about what’s on the inside than what’s on the outside. Instead that is not the case today and people treat people who are different, like they don’t deserve to breathe the same air as them. (BTW it is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside).
Well, I told you how much fun the convention was and hear are a few pictures for you to see.
There was even the cutest little whovian at the convention
This lady with the tardis on wheels won the masquerade costume contest
Don’t blink

The doctor scanning for weeping angels
The universe will explode because two doctors are together at the same time
Remember that there is more in this world then to worry about others, money, and other things that ruin this world. Begin to make this world a better place, kind of like The Doctor does, Squeak, Squeak!

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

APD Presentation in Orlando at the Faith Based and Community Event:

| October 31, 2012 | No comments

I was sitting in my comfortable recliner on a Thursday a couple weeks ago, when I received a call from Lane with the Agency for Person with Disabilities.  He explained that Barbara, the director of APD, heard me do my speech accepting the Idelio Valdes Award, at the capital in Tallahassee Florida. She loved my speech so much that she wanted to invite me to a presentation she was doing on October 24, 2012 in Orlando Florida.  She said she wanted me to share my story as well.

I said that I would be glad to do it but the only issue was I had no transportation. Lane told me that he would look into finding me a ride and get back to me. Lane called me back a couple days later to say he found a ride for me. My ride was Clearance, who is a local Marion County APD Employee.

When I got to the presentation room, Barbara and Lane came in and said that it was an honor that I came. Barbara did her presentation about APD and why we all were there. She shared a couple videos, in which one of them was a video of the Ellen Degeneres show where Ellen interviewed a lady with cerebral Palsy and was Ms. Tennessee. What a very inspirational video and it even made me cry. (I want to be on the Ellen show one day, what an honor it would be)

Barbara then introduced me and I did my awesome presentation. Please check out the presentation below: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F–j-vpALxU)

This is proof that if you live your life and do extraordinary things, the person you would least expect to call you, asks you to help them with a presentation, do an interview, etc.

We all need the keep squeaking our wheels to make better things happen!

 

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

A Driverless Car? Yes!

| October 5, 2012 | No comments

A Driverless Car, Say Whattt!:

I must be dreaming, pinch me. I had a dream one night about 15 years ago about getting in my own car and telling it where to take me.  Then the car takes me to my destination without me having another person in the car, not even having to touch the wheel or pedals.

Guess what? You may think I am crazy at first, but Google is currently working on a driverless car. Why would anyone need a driverless car and what would be some benefits?

  1. For people who can’t drive, it gives you more freedom to go where you want without counting on anyone else to drive you.
  2. People who are blind or with disabilities that limit them from driving, it gives them freedom and a way to live their own lives without having to count on others all the time.
  3. This will help stop the stupid driving and accidents on the road.
  4. It will stop you from losing your temper due to someone else’s stupidity getting upset changes you in many ways and makes your day horrible.

I don’t know about you, but because I can’t dive, right now, I spend most of my time at home. I get bored out of my mind and wish I can go somewhere. This driverless car will allow me and many others to go anywhere at any time. I can just get my keys, get in car, tell the car where I want to go and sit back while the car takes me to my destination.

The future I getting better and better for so many! Take a look at this video about the driverless car that I found on YouTube and has been on the news

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE

Squeak those wheels because you don’t know but you actions might be something that takes us in a better direction!

 

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

A Step Back To Caring

| September 29, 2012 | No comments

Are you ready to get your socks blown off?

A few days ago I went to the Hollywood 16 movie theater in Ocala Florida, to see Lawless and the most extraordinary thing happened! After the movie was over I had to go to the bathroom so I headed to the bathroom and as I was heading towards the stall, a young kid about seven or eight was coming out and about to pass me. He could have kept on walking but to my surprise the young gentleman walked back and held the stall door open as I entered and then he closed it so I could lock it.

The extraordinary thing was not just that he took the time to step back and perform this awesome gesture, but what was happening at the same time. His family was impatiently waiting outside the bathroom for him, shouting at him to hurry up. WOW, what an amazing thing the kid did and if I ran into him again, I would thank him. The thing is , I never expected help or asked for it.

Now a days, most people are so caught up in themselves that they can not take time out of their own schedule o do something for others, may it be as simple as stepping back to hold the stall door for someone or as more in depth as giving money to help a complete stranger.

Time for us all to change for the better and keep squeaking our wheels until it happens!

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

Voting, What a Concept!

| August 31, 2012 | No comments

Do know the importance of voting?

We as the American people run our country, not the president, congress, etc. We make the laws for our country and elect who we think will be good leaders. So did you vote and will you vote?

We have a current election for president coming up in 2012. This is a very important action you need to take because voting for who you want as our countries different leaders, will be what will help change the world and make a future for so many. Make sure you are a voice for people with disabilities.

You need to research and stay up on the candidates. Putting the wrong people as leaders might be a horrible thing that might tear this country apart.

Research the candidates and when it comes time to vote in 2012, make sure you show up and make your vote!

We as a people can make this world a better place so keep on squeaking those wheels!!!

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

Putting Others First

| August 28, 2012 | 2 comments

You are probably saying, “What does he mean put others first, it is my life.”

Yes it is your life but when you put others first, favors of all sorts  eventually return. People have a very hard time putting others before themselves. Let’s say someone could make lots of money even though they are doing well, but another person is really struggling and could use the money more.  Alot of people will take the money for themselves and let the person who is struggling, keep struggling. That is totally screwed up and needs to change, if you can give a person a better life by putting yourself on the back burner and allowing whatever it is to help that other person, than do it without hesitation!

We are going to struggle but won’t it be a better world and make you feel better that you gave others a better future and put yourself last?

I am not saying to forget about yourself, no you can and should make your life amazing, but make someone else’s life better first.

Squeak those wheels and don’t ever give up on your goals and dreams!

 

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