Disability is Natural Free Press

********************************

NEW People First Language Bookmarks; Sweatshirts on Sale!

Visit the Disability is Natural Online Store and check out the new People First Language bookmarks! Like the 25 other bookmark designs, these bright and colorful oversized bookmarks are laminated for durability and carry a powerful message. $1.00 each or 10 for $8.00. Buy a handful and pass them out wherever you go to inform others about the importance of People First Language!

Cooler weather is on the way (in some places!), so it's time to think about warm and cozy sweatshirts, now on sale for $14.00, a savings of $6.00! Choose from 25 different designs in adult sizes (medium, large, and extra-large).

While you're at the Disability is Natural Online Store check out the posters, sticker sheets, note cards, bumper/wheelchair stickers, and other products that promote positive perspectives on disability. You can also learn more about the life-changing book, Disability is Natural: Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities, and the powerful and thought-provoking Disability is Natural video/DVD.

****************************************************

NEW Article for Children---"Same and Different: Respect for All"

Many parents and teachers have inquired about a People First Language or awareness article for school-aged children, and I've finally taken the time to write "Same and Different: Respect for All." It's a two page document for children, and is accompanied by ideas and suggestions for parents or teachers on ways to use the article to facilitate interactive discussions. Click here to download the article. You can also download the article from the bottom of the People First Language page. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the article, and I thank you for helping children learn new ways of thinking!

****************************************************

Featured Article: Labor Day

Copyright 2006, Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com

Just prior to the Labor Day weekend, email messages included things like, "Have a happy Labor Day!" and "Hope you have the day off!" Some of us did; some of us didn’t. But the majority of American adults---whether they were currently employed or not, whether they had a day off or not---have experienced the joy of receiving a paycheck, the contentment of being good at what they do, and the hope and anticipation of moving on to a better job.

Can the same be said for the majority of people with disabilities? Unfortunately not. Too many have never had a real job. Some are underemployed in low-paying, dead-end, part-time jobs. Others have been "assigned" to "work" in sheltered workshops, earning sub-minimum wages. Few will ever move beyond these paltry "employment opportunities."

Many service providers bristle at the "sub-minimum wage" terminology. One provider exclaimed, "They’re not 'sub-minimum wage' jobs---'compensatory wages' is the appropriate term!" Loosely-translated, this means that if John, a person without a disability, can make 10 widgits an hour; but Jim, a person with a disability, can only make 2 widgits an hour, he'll be fairly compensated if he's paid 2/10ths of what John is paid.

This sounds good in theory, but think about your own workplace: haven't you known coworkers who share the same job description as yourself (or maybe one even "higher") who don’t work as hard as you, but they get paid the same as you or even more? What might happen if your employer tried to institute "compensatory wages" for all their employees? Just imagine the brouhaha!

My friend, Cindy, is the owner of a popular lodge/motel in Colorado. She is also the parent of two teenagers, one of whom happens to have a disability. A high school special ed teacher called her to inquire about employment for students with disabilities. Cindy was delighted to meet with the teacher and a 17-year-old female student. After a tour of the property and a chat about potential jobs, the teacher escorted the student to her car, then returned to Cindy and gushed, "This is a great opportunity for you---you’ll get a new employee, but she won’t cost you a penny!" Cindy was appalled, and responded that anyone who worked for her would get paid. But the deal was off since a paying job didn't fit with the school's policies!

How many people with disabilities are "working" in jobs for no pay? And how can this practice be justified? On December 6, 1865, Amendment XIII to the Constitution of the United States outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude, "except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted..." Working for no pay, in a job you didn’t choose, is slavery. Is it also a form of punishment for the "crime" of having a disability?

Are we willing to do nothing on our own? Where is our personal responsibility... Do we need to wait for the system to act before we do? No. Can we ask people with disabilities to wait any longer? No!

In pre-Civil War America, slave owners bought into the myth that their slaves were happy and grateful for the opportunity to work. Today, many who "employ" people with disabilities in slavery-like conditions feel the same way: "Our employees are happy...and what would they do if we weren’t here to provide this help?" This pathetic and dangerous mentality is reinforced by parents who say they’re "grateful" the school system has found "work" for their young adult children. These same parents share their feelings with their children---insisting they should be grateful for the opportunity to "work" for low- or non-existent wages. Now back to American slavery---when slaves began escaping in greater numbers, and with the first shot fired in the Civil War, the myth of the "happy, grateful slaves" was exploded. What will it take to explode this myth as regards people with disabilities?

Many of us abhor the shameful unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities (estimated at 70-75 percent). Yet too many of us continue to look to government systems to solve the problem. Yes, the government should attempt to remove barriers to employment of people with disabilities. At the same time, are we willing to do nothing on our own? Where is our personal responsibility, as individuals with disabilities, family members, or friends? Do we need to wait for the system to act before we do? No. Can we ask people with disabilities to wait any longer? No!

So, yes, let's work on systems change. But let's also recognize that systemic change generally occurs at a snail's pace. In the meantime, there is much we can do, individually and collectively, right now.

A recent (8/31/06) C-SPAN program focused on the latest national unemployment rate (4.7 percent). Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Hudson Institute, Center for Employment Policy, stated that the unemployment rate was "dependent on education," and added the following unemployment rates of people with different educational levels:

---Bachelor's degree - 2% unemployment
---Two years of college - 3% unemployment
---High school diploma - 5% unemployment
---No high school diploma - 7% unemployment

Department of Education statistics reveal that the high school graduation rate of students with disabilities is half that of students without disabilities. So, parents and teachers: are we ensuring students with disabilities are receiving a real and meaningful academic education which they'll need to go on to post-secondary education, a trade school, or a real job? A "life skills" curriculum is not a ticket to successful employment!

If you work in the human services system, are you helping people with disabilities learn how to get their own jobs, instead of you finding their jobs and making them dependent on you in the process? Are you recommending post-secondary education and/or other real-life learning opportunities in inclusive settings?

No matter what role we play, we can help individuals with disabilities learn how to find jobs the way others do, such as networking in the community, using ordinary employment services, and more. We can help them learn to use the natural support of coworkers, and explore assistive technology devices and accomodations which can ensure their success. Within the service system, we can investigate waivers and other alternatives to traditional services. We can and should see beyond the disability diagnosis, and focus on a person’s abilities and interests which could lead to successful employment. And we can help individuals with disabilities understand that living a life of dependency on government assistance is not the only option!

If you're currently employed in any capacity, does your employer actively recruit people with disabilities? If not, what can you do to change this? And what about the employers of your spouse, other family members, friends, and neighbors? Imagine the dent we could put in the shameful unemployment rate of people with disabilities if we worked to influence the hiring practices of our own employers!

There's much we can do to ensure people with disabilities can join in the celebration of Labor Day, and there's not a minute to waste---so let's get to work!

----------

Learn about state-of-the-art employment practices at www.griffinhammis.com and check out Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities by Cary Griffin and David Hammis. The Rural Institute at the University of Montana (http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu) also has a wealth of helpful information. Technical assistance and specific worksite solutions can be found at the Job Accommodation Network (www.jan.wvu.edu).

----------

Copyright 2006 Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com. If you'd like the handout version (PDF) of this article, click here. You may share and/or distribute this E-Newsletter or the PDF version of this article (in their entirety and unedited) to other individuals and list serves (non-commercial use only). As a courtesy, please let me know how/when you use it - kathie@disabilityisnatural.com. Do not violate copyright laws---request permission before republishing this article in newsletters, on websites, in chat rooms, etc.

********************************************************************

Revolutionary Common Sense Articles

A variety of enlightening and insightful articles are available at the Revolutionary Common Sense Library at www.disabilityisnatural.com. Read them online and/or download the PDF versions to share with others---and enjoy!

Redefining Disability - What is a disability? Is it really the defining characteristic about a person or a collection of social constructs we've created? Oh, how things can change when we see things differently!

Life Beyond the Label - When we minimize the importance of the label and maximize the person, individuals with disabilities can enjoy real lives and move beyond the label. (And you'll love the story about the mother of a daughter with autism!)

Developmental Age vs. Chronological Age - An examination of this common---and harmful---practice will lead us to question its validity. I don't always act my age, do you?

Halloween and the Mask of Disability - Putting on a temporary mask at Halloween can be fun for all ages. But wearing the permanent mask of disability can rob a person of her true identity.

The Ticket to Inclusive Schools - Too many schools follow school policy, not special ed law. The solution to this dilemma? Get involved in your school district (run for the school board!) and make inclusion policy!

Mining Our Natural Resources - Our communities are a treasure trove of natural supports and generic services which can meet the needs of children and adults with disabilities (and ensure their inclusion!). Why go to the system when what you need is in your own backyard?

Curriculum Modifications---Writing: By Hand or Otherwise! - Learning to write doesn't have to be a tortuous terror for children with disabilities. With the right tools and accommodations, students can write their way and succeed!

Going for the Gold: Self-Employment - Yes, the American Dream of being your own boss is a real option for people with disabilities. Dreams can become the reality!

Is It "Just Semantics"? - The words we use and the meanings we attach to those words create attitudes, drive social policies and laws, influence our feelings, direct our decisions, affect people’s daily lives, and more. Words matter! And if you've ever wondered about the word "normal," you'll find the answer here!

Are NCLB and IDEA in Conflict? - What happens when two Federal laws send mixed messages? And who gets caught in the middle?

When the Table is Turned - A special ed teacher believed she was a great advocate for students with disabilities and their parents—until she sat through the first IFSP meeting for her baby son with a disability. Amazing new insights can be gained when the table is turned!

Public Images vs. Personal Self-Esteem - How can people with disabilities feel good about themselves if the organizations which represent them promote negative images?

Religion and Disability: Are All Welcome? - In theory, churches and synagogues would seem to be havens of inclusion. In practice, many are not. Check out the strategies that can ensure all are welcome!

Humor to the Rescue: What Do You Say When... - Tired of nosy questions and rude comments? Don't get mad, get funny and let humor come to the rescue!

The 10 Commandments of Creating Community (or How to Get Out of the System and Into Your Community) - It's easier than you think when you follow these steps!

The Case Against "Special Needs" - Like other words in Disability World, this term is so commonly used we seldom think about what it means. Have you considered that it promotes pity, negative attitudes, and segregation? It's time to throw this descriptor into the junk heap!

********************************************************************

Good News to Share

• "What message is your business sending to consumers with disabilities..." is the opening question at www.inclusionsolutions.com. This site features innovative products (Big Bell, Fuel Call, Ballot Call, and Order Assist) to ensure access for all. Check it out for yourself, then get the word out to businesses, state and local government offices, and other entities in your community!

• Wouldn't it be wonderful if all libraries were more welcoming and accessible for all? One state is making a difference: "The Infopeople Project improves the quality of information access to the people of California by upgrading the skills, resources, and tools available through libraries." Learn more at www.infopeople.org. As part of this initiative, Marti Goddard, Access Services Manager at the San Francisco Public Library, is teaching a class on improving library accessibility entitled, "Beyond Ramps: Library Accessibility in the Real World." What's happening in the libraries in your state?

• The Third Annual Access Nashville Day is scheduled for October 7, 2006.  Per an Email I received, "Access Nashville is a volunteer project providing information about the accessibility of restaurants, hotels, and attractions in downtown Nashville." Learn more at www.accessnashvilleonline.org. And for information on how to replicate this grassroots project in your community, contact Tennessee Disability Pathfinder's Carole Moore-Slater at 615-322-8529 or carole.moore-slater@vanderbilt.edu.

• "Promoting Olmstead: Improving Community Services for Persons with Disabilities" is a 29-minute film designed to educate legislators about the importance of allocating funds to people in communities instead of residential, segregated settings. Produced by Robbin Miller (rmillerchat@aol.com) and Sonya Perduta, the film recently won the "Spirit of Access Award" from Shrewsbury Media Connection. For more info or to purchase the film, contact the REDD Group, PO Box 3028, Worcester, MA. 01613 or REDD-Group@yahoogroups.com.

****************************************************************

Thanks for your interest in new ways of thinking! Feel free to print and share this E-Newsletter and/or forward to other individuals and list serves (non-commercial only). But, as mentioned previously, please request permission before reproducing any portion of this E-newsletter in another newsletter or other publication, on websites, in chat rooms, etc.

Also, please contact us with your comments and ideas about this E-Newsletter, the Disability is Natural website, or anything else of interest. If you received this E-Newsletter from a friend and would like to subscribe, visit www.disabilityisnatural.com and sign up at the bottom of any page, or send an Email to kathie@disabilityisnatural.com with your request.

And thanks for all you do to create an inclusive society where everyone belongs!