http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/dad-refuses-give-newborn-son-syndrome/story?id=28756025&cid=fb_nl

I want to hear what you guys think about this. I think this is awful. The words that i want to use are not appropriate to use on this blog. Hope we can stop people from thinking we are useless. I know you  don't think all people are useless.

Wheelchair Accessibility Map

http://wheelmap.org/en/map

Hi guys, I found this cool link that you can mark the places around the work that are wheelchair accessible. Just click in the top right hand corner and it'll turn into English. You click on the places you know and put wheelchair accessible or not wheelchair accessible. So we can all find out where is and isn't accessible! thank you!

I found this on Equal Treatment for Differently Abled People's facebook page.
This is an awesome sign - I love it - I wish I could carry it around! This happens to me all the time - not funny, but it is funny. You should not do this. You should talk to people normally. Shouting at them won't help anything. If you don't understand what someone is saying to you, just ask them again.

Share this sign with your friends :)

Aging parents struggle to find care for disabled daughter

 http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/11/19/roumeliotis-sarnia-family.html?autoplay=true Hi guys, this is heart wrenching, it brings tears to my eyes. To think people actually give their kids up just because they have disabilities is really, really sad for me. I think Ontario should change to a system of funding similar to Winnipeg's family managed care program. Where you don't have to go through an agency, you can hire your own people and have someone manage it for you, or manage it yourself. I wish I could do something to make this stop, because it's not right. I'm not saying what the parents did is wrong, but it's not right. Just because they can't take care of the child and I think that the Church or some big community in the area should offer to help for free. This is crazy that they can't find help. There should be some people out there that could help them. And I think this is awful. I would help if I could, I'm not sure we should do, but I would definitely try and help.

Lost Voice Guy

There's this guy that uses an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) to communicate and he's a comedian.  I don't normally like stand up comedy but this IS funny!! Because I can relate to him.  People also think I know everybody with CP.  He says some funny things like that.  Here's the link www.lostvoiceguy.com

Enjoy!!

Ipad Robbery

IPAD Robbery Video

This video is about an adult that got their ipad stolen.  This person is non verbal and hearing impaired.  They use their ipad to communicate.  Who in their right mind would do something like that?  I don't think they were thinking about what they were doing.  If they were, then....well.  What I didn't like was that they beat her up for it.  But I'm happy that sombody gave her another one.  I do hope the person that did it has to pay her back or do some sort of community service or even jail for 6 months.  So let me know what you guys think!  I think it is awful and sombody else said to me that this should have never happened in the first place.  He said it was nice that she got another one but it's still something that is just, wrong. 

Can people with disability take care of their kids?

Ellen  beat me to it.I was going to write about this,couple of days ago. My opinion is that if the baby is getting his needs met then why are they taking him away. I can understand if he wasnt getting his needs met then I could see the point of them taking the baby away. because they have CP,doesnt  mean that they are incapable. If they are able to take care of their kid they should be allowed to, and if they are not they should be allowed to at least see him and be a part of his life.http://www.lovethatmax.com/2012/05/yes-people-with-disabilities-can-be.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ToTheMax+%28To+The+Max%29

The Sky is Falling

I went to a friend's retirement party at work, and I had lots of fun. However, there was one person who was  really rude and insensitive as we know people can be. I was sad and crying because my colleague/friend was leaving. This person goes up to my worker and goes "why did you make her cry?" Nnumber one, I don't like that they used the word "her" - why would my worker/friend want to made me cry on purpose? It had nothing to do with her. When you're in a wheelchair and you're crying, it's like the sky is falling. It's like the person was saying "make her happy right now, she can't be sad."
The party was lots of fun. We had pizza and we dressed up in animal prints (in honour of the retiree) and took pictures. I don't understand why I should be expected to be happy all the time, just because I'm in a wheelchair. The perception is that you have to be happy, and and if you're not, somebody has to do something, RIGHT AWAY.  

Why do people see wheelchair and see you differently?

Why do people see wheelchair and see you differently?

So today, I went talking to somebody and I told them I have a job and they look at me like I was some alien!!! I often wonder why they do it, do you have any idea? Leave a comment if you do.  

Homecare

Homecare is so screwed up. The workers are nice, but the office is odd. On Monday they decided that they would cancel my essential service to do more training. Training is fine and good, but don't cancel essential services, and don't give me half an hour notice to figure something out. I was able to figure something out, but in my opinion if you have to cancel homecare for a while, you should tell the person that is receiving the care at least a day in advance, or more. It was so frustrating - phoning and wondering , and one person said one thing, and another person said another thing.

Annoying

This is a post from Caleigh's blog. I do not agree with what they are doing, and the supported typing is not putting words into somebody's mouth. I think that Caleigh knows what she wants, especially when Holly her mom says that she was choosing things that Holly didn't really want to do. That shows me that she can make her own decisions about different things, like what she wants to do. I don't think those people that she's working with really know what they're doing and they really need to get somebody else involved that is willing to listen to what Holly has to say. An ipad is definitely considered a communications device. They have it in my program where I go. This upsets me so much because I had similar experiences.

Communication

i am really angry because as I was reading Caleighs Corner; I came across..her getting her ipad taken away without asking.  When her parents said they were sending her to school, they were afraid of that happening and so was I.  I think that is there is no possible way for her to get a mount, they really need to talk about access because; I'll tape your mouth shut and see how you like it!  It's kind of ironic that it was a speech therapist that took it away.  They need to listen to the parents because they know more about this.  It makes me very angry because it is like taking your voice away and a communication device replaces or enhances your voice.  And nobody should be able to take your device away.  Or at least tell you where they're taking it so you know and let you know when they'll bring it back.  I know of three people now that have gotten there devices taken away.  This should not be an issue guys!   This is somebody's way of communication!!  To all the teachers out there: PLEASE DO NOT TAKE PEOPLES COMMUNICATION DEVICES AWAY!! EVER!!!  If it really bothers you maybe you could figure out a way to make it work.  You can change the voices on them, make it quieter, etc.  I hope Caleigh has a better time.  And if her parents read this, I'm so sorry that this happened. 

Holidays

So you phone somewhere and people are always on holidays!  Yesterday I phoned somebody for my home care call.  The regular person wasn't coming.  So I phoned the Coordinator to see what was going on (after waiting for 15 minutes to be absolutely sure they weren't coming).  And she was on holidays until next week or the week after.  She said on her machine to call the Case Coordinator instead.  So, I did this. 

And he said he was on holidays on his machine until later that day.  So, I pressed zero for the reception because I think going to the washroom is something that requires "immediate assistance", don't you? 

And so my worker talked to the receptionist who went "hold on, I'll just transfer you to the case coordinator." who she just called like 5 times just so she could hear all the details of the message he left which said, to call the reception if you needed "immediate assistance" (and it might have said to call the coordinator, which we have established was already gone on holidays). 

Eventually, he got back to the office and emailed me that he talked to the coordinator's sub who phoned me back and arranged something...after I figured out the afternoon on my own. 

But, this could have all been prevented if I knew who the replacement was and how to phone them...but apparently they always change..so they can never tell me who (!) and this day in age, maybe it's confidential!  Everything seems to be that way.  But it was a pretty funny day..you never think they are all going to go on holidays at once!!

I'm just happy I wasn't training anyone, that might have freaked them out a bit:) 

Police Handcuff 9 year old boy with autism following meltdown

http://news.sympatico.ca/oped/coffee-talk/toronto_cops_handcuff_9-year-old_following_tantrum/16d79769

I think if they really needed some intervention; they should call them but don't handcuff the poor guy for crying out loud!  Did he kill anybody?  No.  He just threw some chairs and splashed some paint on the floor.  So, why are they handcuffing him?  If he didn't do anything criminally (against the law).  Then why would they handcuff him?  In a pair of adult handcuffs!! I guess they didn't know what to do. 

Maybe police should have special training on dealing with situations that involve people with mental disabilities like autism.  So that in a situation like this they can go in and know exactly what to do.  Like putting the person in a quiet place by themselves so that they can work it out and come back when they're ready.  NOT trying to calm them down and talk to them intensely.  Putting a little boy in handcuffs makes him seem bad and them seem like they're mad at him instead of wanting to help work out the situation.  People need to know about autism so they can help.  There needs to be more education in the Government about it. 

Dignity

Today at my work we have a Dignity Forum.  And I think dignity is very important because as people with disabilities we don't get that enough.  All I ask for is to be treated like a regular adult.  That shouldn't be a lot to ask but it is sometimes.  It is important, especially for non-verbal people to have their needs and wants known somehow.  Because it's really important that we give them dignity and respect even if they don't speak or seem like they can do anything.  Which I don't believe, I think that everyone can do something, even if it's small.  People don't see that though.  And that annoys me.  That they look at people like medical cases instead of like people with hearts and minds and souls. 

One time, I went to a doctor that was doing a procedure for me that wasn't very pleasant sometimes and I thought it had to hurt and my next doctor said no, it doesn't have to hurt that much!  It just has to hurt a little bit.  The other Doctor was not paying attention to how I felt and actually was doing something wrong!! And this Doctor knew exactly what it was and fixed it right away because she was talking to me and listening to what I said and asking if I was ok lots of times.  Normally, that would really bother me, people asking are you ok? are you ok? all the time but when you are having work like that done, it is actually nice to be asked and not jabbed without notice!!!

I hope you all have a very Dignified Day!!!

Marshmellows

On Love That Max I was reading a comment from somebody and I'm not trying to be rude; but I didn't appreciate it at all.  (Max who is 8 and has Cerebral Palsy painted a paper plate by himself for the first time using marshmellows that his Occupational Therapist suggested to him).  This person said that marshmellows should only be used to feed people because there are starving children in the world and not for OT activities.  What if you had never painted before (and you really really wanted to)??? Or think of something that you really want to do and you can't do it and all of the sudden there is a way that you CAN do these things...wouldn't you buy anything to be able to make you do it??? want to acheive this goal. 

 This makes me angry because I have an OT that is very creative and I get very upset when I can't do things.  If that is the only feasible way that I could do something; it would make me happy, really happy!!! In my opinion, whatever works, works!!

kilometres for communication

I loved this presentation that I went to. It's about these two boys that are cycling across Canada to raise awareness about alternative augmentative communication. It is really cool, I think, and I think there has to be more awareness raised because two of the people at the presentation had communication devices taken away from them by teachers because the voice was annoying. (!) This is like me putting tape over your mouth because it's like taking their voice away and how would you like it if somebody made fun of your voice? This really makes me mad because everybody has the fundamental human right to communicate. If you don't give them a chance to communicate, then they can't. Alot of people think that non-verbal people are dumb and stupid and don't understand what you're saying. Even the simple things, simple wants and needs, like thirst, hunger, need for sleep, etc. If people had the ability to communicate even these simple needs, they would feel more like humans. Not aliens. This is the blog for Kilmotres for Communication:
http://kilometresforcommunication.wordpress.com/
Check it out!

Talk to you guys later! Leave me comments if you have time!

Good Stuff for People with Disabilities

Hello Everyone,

I thought this was SO NEAT!!! And I would reccomend (for the Enter Van).  That you get the 500 dollar straps because their the best ones ever! And I would never go back..to the other ones.  You don't tip or move a bit! 
Enjoy!
http://www.lovethatmax.com/2011/05/stuff-for-kids-with-special-needs-lots.html

Metro - Winnipeg : Video : iPad gives non-verbal kids a voice

Metro - Winnipeg : Video : iPad gives non-verbal kids a voice

This video is really cool because it's about about giving non verbal kids a chance to have a voice and pay attention better in school and let them know what they really want, you don't have to guess anymore.

XALTS New and Exciting Speech APP Proposal

Hi Everyone,
Click on the link below and find out what someone is doing to make communication apps accessible to everyone.  Developing a web-based free speech app that can be used on any device not just ipods.
Enjoy!!!