Sharing information

The tag line for Infobility is "sharing information on disability issues." I'm testing the "sharing" part. I'm sending my second wordpress to all of the members of the Spinal Cord Peer Support groups across the country as well as Independent Living Centers in the USA. I will send them the "Do It Yourself Disability" booklet along with my site. For t he CIL's I'll make calls I should get some suggestions and replies. It will be a lot of work but who knows what will happen. I am also going to try getting some college students involved in disability awareness. This Jewish New Year I will find new paths to reach the same goal- inclusion.

Long distance trips

My biggest tip regarding traveling in a wheelchair is this- arrange it yourself do not leave it up to a travel agent. 1)If you need to stay overnight speak with guest services NOT a call center. I will never allow Expedia, Priceline, or others to book my hotel stays. In the case of my visit to Denver, Colorado there were many mistakes made that would not have been, had I arranged it every step of the way. 2) Never assume an airline van is accessible just because someone says it is. At a local airport I was to take an accessible bus to Newark airport. It came and the driver had no idea about the wheelchair lift request. The airport official then insisted on calling 25 places to drive me to Newark. I asked the lady to make alternate reservations for a Denver flight. She would not listen till it was too late. Once she was given approval the only available flight was at 9:40pm (there were 2 others we missed). At my suggestion we took a local/private bus with a lift that I had previously taken somewhere before. 3) Before the plane lands make sure your wheelchair meets you at the gate. After the trip home I was to meet another accessible bus at 8:15pm. This connection involved my speeding up the stewardesses. All four people stood at the airplane exit door wishing guests a a good trip. I asked about my chair and they said it may not arrive at the gate. Then I asked for further information and was informed that it may be in the baggage claim area. Finally, a stewardess did make a follow-up call on my behalf. 4)If someone requires a wheelchair for the long walk to the gate inside the airport, make certain the call is followed up. Often calls were made to request wheelchairs for my folks but attendants did not know who to help or they just passed by. One should not need a vacation after a vacation.

Disability for Lancaster

Rather than trying to create small events I may try arranging one big one. I met with the Director of Jewish Family Service who is interested in the agency becoming known for it's services. I pitched the idea of planning the Disability Resource Fair. The idea is to good to ignore but I can't see these disability agencies working together to create a county wide event anytime soon. After 2 meetings they're still getting opinions. I say move on already because families are desperate to learn of what exists in this county. I began writing an outline and my words just took over. What I developed is really comprehensive yet simple. 7 workshops include all facets of life- social/ recreational services, employment, housing, and estate planning. Hopefully a talk with the JFS and building organizer will result in The First Annual Disability Resource Fair.

An unexpected contact

I checked my linked in messages, I never do that. I noticed a lady who works at the independent living center in Reading. She asked me to connect her with Marsha Timmerman. Someone I wanted to hear from anyway. I then read that this lady was writing an article on employment and disability. I was very interested in helping and replied right away. We'll talk tomorrow and I'll tell her of my interest in disability awareness for employers. Hopefully she can offer me the exact support and advice that I have been seeking. I won't need to undergo a $295 10 week session from a mentor from the Samaritan Center. I'm meeting with t he director of the business program, I wasn't sure that was the right thing to do but I really need to explain the entire situation and show what I've been doing to market the mentoring program. There's all types of angels to explore.

Musikfest

Sometimes, if you're going to a festival, you have to create a Plan B. The Bethlehem event, used to have a van, from a local rehab facility, picking up people in wheelchairs at the same place as everyone else. Suddenly that stopped due to finances instead they have an accessible bus that drives people within the festival area. There's no time schedule but they tell the staff to tell those people who ask that there is. I would like them to be honest with guests in wheelchairs. It is probably a real hassle for out of towner's. Not only that, but during the week the bus only starts at 4 pm and that's not helpful at all. Once a family with a kid who had a disability wrote a letter to the editor about it. Last year I called and spoke to the director who was very receptive and said I could be really involved with the accessibility aspects this year. That was never followed up on but I will call again this year.

Her thoughts?

At the Science Factory I arrange for disability experiences for the kids but I spend most of my time volunteering. That job involves disconnecting Kne'x. Today I did this for hours at a time and it really resembled that of a sheltered workshop. Once the pieces are separated they must be organized into their own bins. A parent was watching me and on her cell phone the entire time. I couldn't help wondering what the lady was thinking. Perhaps nothing but I was really perpetuating the stereotype. However, I may get this into a newspaper article, it's quite a unique way to teach disability awareness. This is a great bunch of people and 1 or 2 will participate in a "Shopping on Wheels" at the mall. I have always wanted to do the experience and it will happen in the next 3 weeks. One girl in my chair today actually counted the number of people who stared at her while in a wheelchair- that's the whole idea of doing it in the community.

Placement strategies

I spoke at a staff meeting for Careerlink staff on strategies for increasing placement successes. Can the person perform the job is the most popular concern. Many jobs require multitasking and include physical requirements of stocking the shelves from items in the back room. I explained the benefits of using a salesbook- a small binder with information on the agency photos of consumers working in the community testimonials from other employers, and information on the benefits of hiring. I think inviting employers to charity events may lead to jobs also. The most meaningful idea is offering a general overview of hiring disabled employers even if they are not hiring. One never knows when an opening arises, if a good relationship starts who knows what can happen. These types of informational interviews should be explored.