Giving attention

My friend's 67th birthday is Tuesday. She's so nice to people yet has been taken advantage of, ignored, and talked down to, due to her physical disability. I spent a few hours with her and I didn't feel like I was doing a good deed, I felt like I was with my friend. Last year I got her an ice cream cake that her friend enjoyed like it was the best thing he ever tasted. But this year I got her a cute musical card and a sweater. Periodically I brought her clothes that I didn't want this year it was a purple sweater that was really pretty on the store rack. She totally deserved something new even if she doesn't wear it. Then I took her to McDonald's for her favorite drink. She thanked me a lot and I drove home. Eventually I will bring her one of the 3 puzzles I have that I didn't open. Then I will spray it so it can be framed on her wall. It will be a fun ongoing project.

Times have changed.

I asked the Careerlink director what, in detail, she wanted me to speak about in addition to showing the film on "10 Commandments of Speaking with People with Disabilities." I figured a quick list of strategies for implementing disability inclusion. Instead she was interested in the topic of encouraging employers to hire individuals with challenges. When I was a job placement counselor I never gave a second thought about meeting with the prospective employer, leaving the person with my sales book, and discussing the positions available when I came to pick it up. Apparently this is no longer the protocol nor is it as easy. I feel like my experience will be quite useful. It is interesting that each speech is different though they're all about hiring workers who have disabilities. So I'll slowly get back in my field but it will be from the employer's viewpoint. I will enjoy practicing this talk.

mattresses and mini meetings

Denver will happen but not the way it was planned originally. I was supposed to stay at the cousin's suite however the room has a queen sized mattress. It may be fit for a queen but it's much higher than my wheelchair seat so I know I can't transfer on it on a good day. Plan B is to call a slew of hotels to find out the cost of 1 week there. It will be so much better because it will be on a bus route and it will offer breakfast- I won't be confronted with seeds and grains every morning. I met with someone who gave a presentation at my group on women and leadership. M

Infusing disability awareness

Yesterday was a Health & Wellness Conference- naturally I spoke to vendors about disability awareness at their sites. Many sounded receptive but I'm pretty confident that a few will materialize. I am no longer interested in collaboration since I did the work planning, speaking, and marketing this program. Furthermore, it is actually a Team River Runner Project since they sponsor it. I have finally figured out the content of my website and, like the video I produced then used to death years ago through Northampton Community College, I can't wait to have it published. I'm also helping a teenager with no arms, secure a job at Dutch Wonderland for the summer. How odd this is the disability since the segment on the Sunday Morning Show was of a boy who wanted to be on a basketball team but was rejected due to no arms. This girl will be a good recommendation and she would be the perfect presenter for Infobility. She's done inspirational speeches before. I knew I needed someone with a disability to be my "front person." It's true that when you put a request in the universe things happen. It's odd, I never before decided not to collaborate and I'm being rewarded...strange.

A necessary topic.

I presented to SHRM members about implementing disability inclusion in the workplace. First I did an experiential exercise in which people were asked to assume a certain disability then posed the question, "What type of barriers may there be in a workplace with a disability?" Silence from almost everyone. Wow nobody seemed to have any idea. Sometimes asking to assume a disability is threatening. Sometimes people don't wish to speak up. One table spoke about safety measures in case of an emergency. Otherwise there was nothing about bathroom doors, nothing about parking spaces, nothing about attitudes (which I mentioned later). At the conclusion I asked for people's experiences with inclusion of disability in your workplace. Again there were a few stories but nothing like I expected. A few people came up to the brochure table. A few people had questions. Did everyone feel guilty about there poor inclusion policies?