'Hold My Hand' documents disabled student's desire to attend SOU art class | MailTribune.com

What an inspired idea to make Eliza's story into a documentary! There is no better way than in our media-driven culture to tell a story worth telling. I would love to have a copy of the finished project, if only to show people what I keep talking about.

Well done, Eliza and filmmakers.

'Hold My Hand' documents disabled student's desire to attend SOU art class | MailTribune.com

Short hiatus

On a short break while I recover from surgery... I'll be back with an update from Disability and Higher Education and Partners in Policymaking.

Little things can do so much

I just read about this organization, founded in loving memory of a young lady with Apert's Syndrome -www.beyonddifferences.org. Lili keenly felt the sting of invisibility in her middle school years. We often forget that even if a person is not being teased, being quietly excluded takes its toll on the spirit, too.

Inclusion is more than a place...it's an attitude of the mind, heart, and spirit.

Adrian, the Aspiring Actor

Can always count on Facebook for ideas for blog posts. Hope you enjoy Adrian's story as much as I did.

I have been remiss!

But, remiss with good reason... I have been taking a graduate course (Disability in Higher Education) at Syracuse University and just began Partners in Policymaking New York with an online and in person component. So, I've been busy... but good busy. I'll be back when the dust settles a bit.

Welcome ways to look at disability

I can't wait to see this documentary...

www.embraceablemovie.com

The movie begins with a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Pied Beauty
Glory be to God for dappled things
For skies as couple-coloured as a brindle cow
For rose moles all in stipple upon trout that swim
Fresh fire-coal, chestnut falls, finches wings,
Landscape plotted and pieced
Fold, fallow, and plow
And all trades
Their gear, and tackle, and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange
Whatever is fickle, freckled, who knows how?
With swift, slow, sweet, sour, adazzle, dim,
He fathers forth Whose beauty is past change.
Praise Him.

Who ever said we were all supposed to be the same?

Hidden contributions of people with disabilities

Beverly and Wayne Black have been married for 35 years. Both of them have developmental disabilities and left state institutions to get married and live in the community. They have worked in their communities, volunteered, and now are caring for Beverly's mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. And they are in danger of losing the modest state funding that enables them to live independently.

By living on their own and managing their own affairs, as well as providing care for an aging parent, Wayne and Beverly are actually saving the state of Texas money. By using only a few service hours a month, they are saving Medicaid the thousands of dollars it would cost to move them all into an assisted living facility or nursing home. All three get to live with dignity, are allowed to make choices, and continue to improve their lives and the lives of those in their community.

In addition, Wayne and Beverly are working on continuing education goals; he is trying to improve his academic skills and she is working on her speech so she can continue to speak at self-advocacy conventions. I wish the people in charge of supportive funding in Texas also believed in continuing education... their math skills need some work.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2F2011%2F01%2F26%2F2800538%2Ffort-worth-couple-with-disabilities.html%23ixzz1CFGXNKtV&h=7a504