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The Norwich Free Academy R-Word Campaign: Watch the Video - Spread the Word!

As we write, the word against use of the 'R-Word' is building momentum, one school at a time, around the U.S. and into the global community!

Take a moment now to watch Connecticut's Norwich Free Academy R-Word Campaign video  

Directed, edited, and produced by talented 16-year-old Patrick Kudej with the help of Alyssa Beit, Katie Beit, and many others, this video was uploaded by NFArword to YouTube on February 16th and is going viral.

Help circulate this message around the world: A single word has the power to wound and discourage the acceptance of people with disabilities!

Support Patrick's video; contact him at [email protected], or on YouTube.

For a collection of campaign videos, visit http://www.r-word.org/r-word-videos.aspx.

Lives Worth Living On PBS: Independent Lens, October 27

Click the following links for details of the recent PBS program, Lives Worth Living, which aired on Thursday October 27th, a compelling documentary on the disability rights movement, and its profiles of courageous people in the Independent Lens series.

Trailer for Lives Worth Living     Photos and Press Kit for Lives Worth Living

ADAPT Talks Medicaid Reform with The Gang of Six; Visits White House

Washington,D.C. --- May 4, 2011 - 300 members of ADAPT, the national disability rights grassroots organization, visited the U.S. Senate Gang of Six: the six Senators currently shaping the country's budget for fiscal year 2012.  The four day event included the arrest of 101 ADAPT members in the Cannon and Longworth House Office Buildings.

In ADAPT's view, reforming Medicaid long term care spending encompasses several factors. It is paramount to eliminate the institutional bias by mandating that a state can and should spend funds on community-based services and supports. Next, the federal government should take leadership in pushing to rebalance Medicaid long term care spending away from institutional settings and emphasize community based services. Also, making enormous cuts to Medicaid and block granting Medicaid to the states, as under the House-approved "Ryan Plan," would be a disastrous strategy for services that support people with disabilities all over America.

"The Senate has got to take counteractive measures against the damaging provisions of the Ryan Plan," said David Wittie, an organizer with ADAPT of Texas.  "We know that they are eyeballing Medicaid reform ...."  Read the full Press Release. View the photo gallery.

ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.

Forewarned is Forearmed? Fox Business Network Takes Aim at the ADA

We at Planet of the Blind received the following note recently from a good friend:

On NYC time (9:00 PM), Thursday September 2nd, Fox Business Network (who else?) featured John Stossel, who "explored" the ADA with Curtis Decker, Director of The National Disability Rights Network and Greg Perry, author of "Disabling America; The Unintended Consequences of the Government's Protection of The Handicapped". Stossel hates the ADA seemingly. Thought you might need something to "get your dander up" as I noticed it is un-characteristically flat.

We of course remember John Stossel for his vituperative and rabid denunciations of pro-golfer Casey Martin back when he was trying to get the PGA to let him use a golf cart as a reasonable accommodation. Stossel dislikes the ADA but he’s even more contemptuous of people who require accommodations. He reminds me of the people who wanted to protect the red man by relocation.

Hey? When did I get flat?

Stephen Kuusisto, Planet of the Blind

P.S., Mr. Perry’s book is fluff from the fog factory. 

Written by Professor Stephen Kuusisto, who has been blind since birth, the author of Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening and the acclaimed memoir Planet of the Blind, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.  Read more of his blog articles at Planet of the Blind.

Senate passes the Twenty-First Century Video Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010!

On August 6th,  the Twenty-Fi‭rst Century Video Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (s.3304) passed the Senate, requiring that all video content that has been shown on television is captioned.
 
The purpose of the bill is to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to online media. The FCC had previously created video description rules, but those were struck down by the courts.  

A press release by COAT (Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology), quotes Jenifer Simpson of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): “The U.S. Senate takes us a huge step forward for accessible technology...They have given Americans with disabilities access to smart phones, other advanced communications technology, and video programming,” she added.  COAT 's website also features a section-by-section summary: "What s3304 Does for Us".

For additional details and photos of this historic ruling, visit streamingmedia.com: Twenty-Fi‭rst Century Video Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (s.3304).

Wednesday, March 3rd is End the 'R' Word Day

Why a whole day's focus on ending the use of the "r" word?

As Chairman and Chief Executive of the Special Olympics, Timothy Shriver points out in a recent article in The Washington Post:

 ..."Retard" is a symbol of a pain few realize exists. Even when it's not directed at people with intellectual disabilities, it perpetuates that pain and stigma. We hope that the discussion about ending it will awaken millions to the hope of ending the discrimination it represents.

If we're successful, the world will discover the joy, hope and sparkling individuality of millions of people. With that, real change will come.

It can't come soon enough.

Read the full article - and go to http://www.r-word.org/ today for more information, and to pledge your support for Wednesday, and for the cause.

Gary Norman: Lesson in Leadership

Gary Norman, Baltimore attorney, mediator and founder of Norman Access and Conflict Resolution Consultants Group,
is the recipient of Ohio's Wright State University Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for 2009.

He has met WSU's stringent criteria for achieving career success  while making a positive impact at the local, state, and national levels.  His standards of integrity and professionalism have earned him the respect of colleagues, associates and the university community.

Gary, who is vision-impaired and partnered with guide dog, Langer - a nine-year-old Golden Retriever - will also be honored as an inductee at the 2009 "Ten Outstanding Young Americans" by the Jaycees at an awards ceremony in Orlando FL on Sept. 26th.

Gary serves as Chair of the Animal Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, and is leading the planning for the first 2010 MSBA animal law symposium. He is the Immediate Past President of the Maryland Area Guide Dog Users, Inc., an advocacy and education based non-profit that he established.

Gary is a noted speaker, and has plans to campaign for elected office in the future.  His first book chapter, The Disabled, Service Animals, and the Law, appeared in Litigating Animal Law Disputes: A Complete Guide for Lawyers (2009).  

A Trip with Epic Enabled

 Submitted by Scott Rains of The Rolling Rains Report

  On the prowl...Akila sizes up Scott.

I live in a small world - but it just got larger!  By estimates there are maybe as few as 50 million of "us" in the world . Who're "us?" People with disabilities. People who use wheelchairs. So being part of such a small group, it is only natural that a few of us would know each other. We work together to make the world bigger for each other. Big is beautiful!

My 'accessible safari' in South Africa with Alfie and Epic Enabled made my world larger. It was a wheelchair-using English fellow living in Belgium who put me in touch with Epic, and an Indian with family in Brazil who told me more stories about accessible safaris.  I was intrigued by the interest shown in my potential trip by travel professional colleagues - all of whom specialize in serving travelers with disabilities: a Canadian, an Australian, several Thais, a German, a Pakistani, and one temporary Nicaraguan.  Two other professional colleagues' uniquely English and Chinese insights into South Africa convinced me to go.

It didn't hurt that I had a personal invitation from a tour operator in KwaZulu-Natal whose husband is a quadriplegic like I am.  My story of apparent "over-researching" for the trip is not at all uncommon among travelers with disabilities. Studies show that we depend more on word-of-mouth recommendations when making the decision to travel than any other sector of the market.  And the research paid off.  I can heartily endorse Alfie, Sabine - the entire crew at Epic Enabled - because I traveled through the Kruger National Park with Epic (and on the way encountered a most uncomfortable traveler's health condition that Alfie unhesitatingly helped me resolve.)

Thank you Epic - and Alfie - for amazing wildlife, hearty food served on the pristine veldt, and a unique business that is driving the whole safari industry and South African national tourism to greater standards of excellence.  Come to think of it, maybe my world just got smaller.

Now I'm also part of the small confraternity of travelers with disabilities who have taken a long walk down a country road with a wild lion!

(For more photos of this adventure, see The Rolling Rains Report Travelogues!)

Epic Expeditions has been running since 1992, helping many “Enabled” people who wish to experience the same sense of adventure and thrill which "overlanding" has to offer - the concept of Epic Enabled was born in 2001, with a focus on “Enabling” the “Disabled” traveller to experience the 'trip of a lifetime' in a highly planned and carefully structured way. For more information, visit www.epic-enabled.com, or e-mail [email protected].

Making International Air Travel Accessible

Submitted by Karen Stallings

Air travelers with disabilities will soon have greater freedom in the skies! The Department of Transportation has updated the Air Carrier Access Act - a ruling that will make international air travel accessible for the first time.
The Air Carrier Access Act has mandated accessibility on airplanes traveling within the United States since 1990. The updated law applies accessibility standards to foreign airlines traveling to and from the United States, clarifies some of the original Air Carrier Access Act rules, and updates accessibility computer bookings. The law says:

No one can be refused a flight basis of a disability;

Aircraft with more than one aisle must have an accessible lavatory roomy enough to accommodate a wheelchair;

If a plane has more than 60 seats and an accessible bathroom, it's required to have wheelchairs on board. Otherwise, passengers must request a wheelchair in advance;

Each aircraft with over 30 seats must have removable aisle seats to accommodate people with mobility problems;

Passengers with disabilities are guaranteed transportation to connecting flights

Additionally, the 2008 Air Carrier Access Act addresses situations new to the 21st century: 

If computer check-ins are inaccessible, a disabled passenger has the right to be assisted by airline personnel or go to the head of the ticket line;

If an airline's website is inaccessible, special web discounts must be made available to people with disabilities, even if they book by phone. To check on web discounts, identify yourself as disabled when booking.

Airlines advise people to call 48 hours ahead to make sure the aircraft has the accommodations they need. The new rule will be effective in May 2009 to give carriers time to comply. For more information, go to regulations.gov and type in the docket number DOT-OST-2004-19482

Karen Stallings, Community Liaison NC, is the Executive Director of the Association of Self-Advocates of North Carolina, and is a writer and an actress currently working on her autobiography.

Growing Together: Best Buddies Reaches Out to People with Developmental Disabilities

Submitted by Karen Stallings

   A group of caring students from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC is giving this population opportunities to lead fuller lives through the gift of friendship.
    Sponsored through Best Buddies International, Best Buddies Colleges pairs university students with people with developmental disabilities, and offers opportunities for meaningful lasting friendships to grow. The goal is to end social isolation and enhance lives; not only for people with developmental disabilities, but for the students without disabilities.
    "My buddy is just like any other friend," says Kara Loth, a second year University of South Carolina Pharmacy Student and the President of the Best Buddies Chapter at the university. "That's the point of Best Buddies - adults with disabilities might be labeled as having a disability, but they are not their disabilities. They all are individuals just like you and me..." says Loth.
   Each student Best Buddies volunteer commits to the program for the full academic year, but most students keep the same buddy throughout their college careers; and sometimes, beyond graduation.
   When Kara joined the program three years ago, she was a sophomore; she and her buddy have been friends ever since. "You keep your buddy from year to year, unless your buddy decides not to stay in the program," she said. "It allows you to build a relationship with your buddy over time."   During the year, student volunteers commit to:

• Weekly contact with their buddies by phone or email;
• One to one activities twice monthly, decided jointly by the buddy pairs, such as sporting events, movies or going out for dinner;
• Attendance at group chapter activites for volunteers and their buddies - which might include bowling, a theme party, or a picnic for new buddies who are just getting to know one another

   The Arc of Midlands in Columbia SC is an advocacy group for the rights of citizens with special needs and the host site coordinator for Best Buddies at the University of South Carolina. They choose program participants, pairing Buddies based on similar interests, with no special training required.
  "We do meet with everyone and go over different scenarios that buddies might face," Kara said. "For example, if you're out to dinner with your buddy and the waiter is asking you all the questions and not focusing on your buddy, we offer tips to make sure that your buddy interacts with the waiter too. Just little things like that make people more comfortable."
   Students benefit just as much as their buddies, said Alisa Cooney Liggett, Associate Director of the University's Judicial Affairs Office and staff advisor for Best Buddies at the college.  "They are giving back in a very personal and committed way, and through that, they are inculcating a lifestyle that says, "I give back," Liggett said. They're also learning to deal with people who are very different from them, in ways that are wonderful and challenging; and how to advocate for people who can't always advocate for themselves. They have the satisfaction of knowing they have genuinely increased the value of someone else's quality of life, and I think that's most rewarding. The University benefits too. I am a firm believer that a university is responsible for developing good citizens in addition to good scholars," Liggett said.
 Sometimes those rewarding relationships are lasting. A former President of Best Buddies who had finished her degree invited her buddy of four years to pass out programs at her wedding.  "Her buddy was an important part of the students' lives, so she wanted to honor their friendship by including her a special way," Liggett said. "And in her wedding photos, there's her buddy, just glowing!" 

Karen Stallings, Community Liaison NC, is the Executive Director of the Association of Self-Advocates of North Carolina, and is a writer and an actress currently working on her autobiography.