"If part of what I've learned about living with a disease – an illness – can benefit other people or change the way they look at people with an illness, then it makes what I do worthwhile." ~Steven Arnold 1968-1998
When you think of the phrase "minority group" what do you think of? Many people think of minorities as people who are not Caucasian, women, the LGBTQ+ community, or people who practice a different faith than the majority in their country. However, more often than not, people with disabilities are not thought about in discussions… Continue reading People with Disabilities: The World’s Largest Minority with the Least Amount of Attention
Bullying is never ok! Whether a person has a disability or not, bullying should not be tollerated. We live in a world now where bullying doesn't just stop on the playground, or at school. With the implimentation of social media, people who are being bullied can sometimes never escape their bullies, and for impressionable kids… Continue reading Bullying and Kids with Disabilities
In a previous post, "DISABLED/DISABILITY- The ‘D’ Word is Not a 4 Letter Word!", I discussed the importance of acknowledging and understanding a person's disability. When we refer to disability as 'handicapable', 'differently-abled'. 'disAbility', etc., we are essentially diminishing a person's disabilities and only focussing on their abilities. While this sounds like a positive thing for… Continue reading Downplaying Disability Can Cause Accessibility Oversight
Today I had the unfortunate experience of being treated like a child, yelled at, and had my personal boundaries violated by multiple employees at National Seating and Mobility (NS&M) in Indianapolis, IN. Now, I understand that not all branches are the same, and some NS&M branches are good and treat their customers with respect and… Continue reading National Seating and Mobility: Ableism and “Don’t Touch My Wheelchair”
There is a lot of controversy these days regarding the word "disability". Many people without disabilities still believe the training and education they received back in the 80's and 90's about how the words 'disabled' or 'disability' are bad words that shouldn't be used. However, there are many people in the disabled community who embrace… Continue reading DISABLED/DISABILITY- The ‘D’ Word is Not a 4 Letter Word!
"I am Brave, I am Bruised, I am Who I'm Meant to Be. I am Me!"
Why do I, and why should you, volunteer for the Joseph Maley Foundation? There are multiple programs to get involved with, and they are always looking for new volunteers to help them complete their mission, disabled or non-disabled, all are welcome here.
Are successful relationships with disabilities possible? Yes! It may take time to find the right person for you, but that is the case for any relationship. People with disabilities are just as capable of having loving, long term relationships as able-bodied individuals.
Does Dating/Marrying Someone With a Disability Automatically Make You a Good Person? My husband and I were talking the other day and he told me a story about an incident that occurred when we were dating over ten years ago. One day we decided to go to the mall. We were just shopping together in… Continue reading Responding to Stereotypes About Disability and Relationships
Teaching non-disabled children about their disabled peers is extremely important. The younger you start, the more understanding and empathetic your child will be.
Showing My Stripes 