Disability is Natural Free Press

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

FEATURED ARTICLE #1:

Let's Get Curious!

An old proverb says, “Curiosity killed the cat.” But we might do well to adopt a wiser adage from memory expert Harry Lorayne: “Curiosity killed the cat, but where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance.”

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. William A. Ward

What might happen if we were more curious about children and adults with disabilities? Could we learn more, become wiser, and understand their perspectives—and be less ignorant? In turn, would we be more effective in assisting people with disabilities to live the lives of their dreams? (Click here for the entire article.)

 

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

FEATURED ARTICLE #2:

The Entitlement Mentality

It begins very early: professionals tell the parents of a baby with a disability what rights, assistance, and services the child and/or parents are entitled to under federal and/or state laws and programs. This exercise—“these are your rights”—continues throughout the person’s life, and in the process, the Entitlement Mentality is born...

Minds are like parachutes— they only function when open. Thomas Dewar

Few in Disability World—parents, people with disabilities, activists and advocates, service providers—are exempt from the Entitlement Mentality. Parents and people with disabilities are basically told, “This [the system] is the way...” And, actually, deciding whether or not to enter the system is a choice, but that’s not usually on the table for discussion. Instead, “recipients of services” are often led to believe they must agree to the services offered (and they’re often made to feel guilty if they don’t eagerly sign up). Thus, the slide into to the Entitlement Mentality happens so easily that we often don’t realize it’s happening. In the process, we often lose our common sense, autonomy, personal responsibility, and more...

We take the system for granted, as well as the value of the system. But what if we question this? (Click here for the entire article.)

 

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

VISIT DISABILITY IS NATURAL

Goodies for IEPs, IHPs, Mother's Day, Teacher's Gifts, and More!

The Disability is Natural Online Store includes one-of-a-kind products that focus on positive images, new attitudes, and effective strategies. Two life-changing books—Disability is Natural and 101 Reproducible Articles—and the Disability is Natural DVD are generating positive change in homes, schools, and communities across the country! Bright and colorful posters, bookmarks, magnets, note cards, and other goodies are great "attitude adjusters," and can enhance your efforts to ensure children and adults with disabilities live Real Lives, successfully included in all environments of the Real World!   Click here to browse the store!

 

PARENTS AND TEACHERS: As we move closer to the end of the school year, it's "IEP Time" for many students with disabilities. A variety of Disability is Natural products can help make the IEP process smoother, and yield better outcomes for students with disabilities!

• Both of my books include strategies for success.
• Purchase an Abilities Box to showcase the strengths and gifts of a child with a disability! Or buy Badges—in your choice of 28 different designs—for members of the IEP Team to wear!
• Parents: Buy a set of Note Cards—with your choice of powerful, positive, attititude-adjustment designs. Use them to invite educators to your child's IEP meeting or as thank you notes afterwards! And as you think about end-of-the-school-year gifts for your child's teachers, consider the Note Cards, Bookmarks, Magnets, or Posters, as thoughtful presents.

 

SERVICE PROVIDERS: Do you work with adults with disabilities and write IHPs, IPPs, ISPs, etc.? Your Team Meetings can also be enhanced by the variety of helpful products at the Disability is Natural Online Store! And isn't it time to adorn your offices with posters that promote new ways of thinking?

 

HUSBANDS AND FATHERS AND SONS: With Mother's Day coming up, it's never to early to start shopping! Would the lovely woman in your life enjoy the goodies at the Disability is Natural Online Store?

 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING ARTICLES are showcased on the Revolutionary Common Sense page. See the descriptions of the articles below and click here to see the articles. Another series of articles will be featured next month!

It's Time for Spring Cleaning!
It’s that time of year again: the grass is greening, buds are blooming, and everything looks new again. We’re inspired by nature. When springtime rolls around, we open the windows and let the fresh air in; do some heavy duty cleaning and scrubbing; and scour our closets and cupboards, getting rid of old, worn out things. What if we also performed these rites of spring cleaning in ourselves?

Beware the Retarding Environment
Many years ago, a group of experts wrote about "retarding environments." Who were these experts? Individuals with disabilities who had first-hand experience! We haven't heeded this wisdom, as "retarding environments" may still exist in our homes, schools, and other settings in our communities. But we can change this—do we have the will to do so?

Curriculum Modifications 105—Let's Read!
Children with disabilities who have difficulty with reading may be at risk of “punishment”—they’re given more labels, placed in a segregated classroom, or pulled out of regular ed classes for “remediation” in a resource room. Reading is an important skill, but the inability to read doesn’t mean a person can’t learn, and there are many ways to learn from written material—whether one reads it in large print, listens to it on tape, or by other means!

From Inconvenient to Ordinary
On a regular basis, we face change. We’re constantly having to adjust to new technology, new rules, or new situations. And the “new”—even though it may be good and/or helpful—may often be inconvenient initially, but it soon becomes ordinary.The same can be true about the inclusion of people with disabilities in schools, jobs, and ordinary community activities...But like other perceived inconveniences, once the “new” occurs on a regular basis, it becomes familiar and ordinary!

Spiderman, Star Wars, and Disability
Our family loves movies! We saw Spiderman and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones on the first day each was released, standing in long lines with other devotees. When we pause and reflect, many movies offer important themes and lessons which can be relevant to the lives of people with disabilities.

Shhhh....Someone's Listening; Watch Your Language
Somehow, many of us lose our sense of manners and develop our own “inappropriate behavior” when it comes to talking about individuals with disabilities. Isn’t it time to find our manners? Isn’t it time to remember that we always need to watch our language? Isn’t it time to remember that people have feelings? So, shhhh—

#5 Home, Sweet Home (and Other Friendly, Welcoming Environments): Vision Supports
Need some visual supports or accommodations? There are lots of great products on the market today, and others you can make at home!

Best Hopes; Worst Fears
In the Real World, children and adults face difficult circumstances on a daily basis—experiences that constitute being a human being in today’s world. In Disability World, however, children and adults with disabilities are “protected” and may not be allowed to take risks or experience normal activities and environments. And the real barrier isn't usually the person's disability condition, but our fears! The Best Hopes/Worst Fears exercise can help us move in a new direction.

From "Doing" to "Being"
We don't need to make children and adults "do" in traditional physical and occupational therapies. Instead, therapists can focus on ensuring a child or adult with a disability can "be" who he/she wants to be. It's a new way of doing things that works—as evidenced by this interview with extraordinary therapists—and this is a must read for parents, therapists, service providers, and others who are ready to move beyond "therapizing" a person's life!

Inclusive Education: A Principal's Perspective
and
Testimonial on Inclusive Education (from a special ed teacher)
What does it take to create a school where children with disabilities are included in general ed classrooms all the time? Does inclusion work for all students and all teachers? Does it take more money, more training, more paraprofessionals, or more something? You'll be surprised and enlightened by the experiences of a principal and special ed teacher in these two articles.

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

ET CETERA . . .

 

—WORDS OF WISDOM

To silence criticism is to silence freedom.
Sidney Hook

 

You may disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
Beverly Sills

 

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

Thomas Paine

 

The state is the servant of the citizen, and not his master.

John F. Kennedy

 

If the world were a logical place, men would ride side-saddle.

Rita Mae Brown

 

—NEWS TO USE

The Association for Research on Mothering has issued a call for papers on "Disability and Mothering."  Moms: Share your experiences and help others learn! Click here to download the information.

 

Check out a new book of interest to parents, teachers, and students: Educational Journey: A Student’s Struggles With a Learning Disability and Tourette Syndrome by Marc J. O’Neill. Visit www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~42365.aspx to learn more.

 

"NCLB Trumps IDEA" According to a February 19, 2008 article by Mark Walsh, from Edweek (www.edweek.org), "A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, in Chicago, ruled unanimously on Feb. 11 that even if the NCLB law was at odds with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the special education law 'must give way' because NCLB is the newer statute."

 

Mary Obland sent information about Trevor Pare, a young man from Canada, who is petitioning the government of Alberta, Canada to cover the treatment for his condition, Pompe disease. According to the info shared, this treatment is covered in the U.S. and Europe, and Trevor is hoping others will sign his petition. Visit http://petitions.takingitglobal.org/TrevorPare to learn more and/or to sign the petition.

Note: Items included in News to Use are for informational purposes only, and does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

 

—PRESENTATIONS

I'll be presenting in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas in the coming months---visit the Presentations page for more details (and check back often for new dates/events that are added). Contact me (kathie@disabilityisnatural.com) if you'd like to know more about my presentations for your conference or organization, or click here for information about my teleseminars.

 

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

Thanks for your interest in new ways of thinking! 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!