Saturday, October 26, 2013

BE Assertive

The way I began to handle this frequent occurrence several years ago was to insist that the airline pay for the damages they were responsible for.  Many USAir (the airline I fly most often), employees began to recognize me as a professional who understood the consequences and legal liability issues that would be imposed should I file a formal complaint.  USAIR now has a department, Global Repairs, which handles all such damages expediently and professionally.  While I agree such adversary need not be necessary if  the airlines simply did their jobs, I commend USAir finally handling such situations promptly and damages to my scooter occurs much less frequently!
I encourage people with disabilities to exercise their rights as anyone else would.  We are not “complaining” , nor do we have unlimited time to wait for our mobility aid.  The assumption that we have “nothing to do” is erroneous as  well as insulting.  If we treat ourselves and each other this way, why should society treat us any differently?
The way I began to handle this frequent occurrence several years ago was to insist that the airline pay for the damages they were responsible for.  Many USAir (the airline I fly most often), employees began to recognize me as a professional who understood the consequences and legal liability issues that would be imposed should I file a formal complaint.  USAIR now has a department, Global Repairs, which handles all such damages expediently and professionally.  While I agree such adversary need not be necessary if  the airlines simply did their jobs, I commend USAir finally handling such situations promptly and damages to my scooter occurs much less frequently!
I encourage people with disabilities to exercise their rights as anyone else  would.  We are not "complaining" , nor do we have unlimited time to wait for our mobility aid.  The assumption that we have "nothing to do" is erroneous as  well as insulting.  If we treat ourselves and each other this way, why should society treat us any differently?

Friday, October 18, 2013

A More Accurate view

This article reflects a more accurate view of being a caregiver.



Caregivers Live Longer, Study Finds

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Contrary to popular belief, a new study suggests that being a caregiver for a family member with a disability may lead to a longer life.
In a study looking at data on more than 7,000 people — about half of whom were caring for a loved one with a disability or chronic illness — researchers found that caregivers saw a nine-month increase in life expectancy.
“Taking care of a chronically ill person in your family is often associated with stress, and caregiving has been previously linked to increased mortality rates,” said David Roth, director of the Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health and first author of the study published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology. “We did not find any subgroup of caregivers in the (study) sample that appeared to be vulnerable to increased mortality risks.”
Roth and his colleagues compared data on 3,503 family caregivers to that of 3,503 non-caregivers. All of those studied were over age 45 and the two groups were matched based on demographics, health history, health behaviors and other factors.
After six years, “significantly fewer” caregivers had died compared to the non-caregivers, the study found, with caregivers experiencing “an 18 percent reduced rate of death.”
The researchers did not find any groups of caregivers who failed to see greater longevity, but they acknowledged that their results may not extend to all types of caregivers.
“If highly stressful situations can be avoided or managed effectively, caregiving may actually offer some health benefits for both the care recipients and the caregivers, including reduced risk of death for those providing care,” Roth said. “Public discussions of caregiving should more accurately balance the potential risks and gains of this universal family role.”

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Cultural EMPOWERMENT for Women

Penn State has been receiving funding to empower women  in their lives.  I have attended several of these workshops which includes a healthy lunch and  time to share experiences with other women of a variety of backgrounds.  Today's session on  "Networking" was the BEST for me in terms of gaining usable information for my current life experiences.  Of  the  three women on the panel, Theresa Vescio, Ph.D. whose research interests is in the relationship between power and stereotyping.  She mentioned every "ism" accept ableism, however her research holds true for the experience of those with disabilities. I didn't know there was  so much current investigation in this important area in academia.  Racism. white men, and white women who assume the behavior of white men and discriminate against other women,especially those of color, and  those with disabilities.

This has been my experience since my memoirs, It's Easier to Dance, was released in July, 2010.  Merging the reality of being black and developmentally disabled with a superior intellect has elicited, in some incidences such outrage that there have been incidents of violent behavior.  Local, state and federal government as well as law enforcement simply refuse to address the issue.  Instead, it is treated as a civil or social issue, when, in fact state and federal laws are being violated with increasing frequency.  Oddly enough, I feel less afraid than when such bias was more covert.  I have traded so-called favors for consequences for unethical behavior and continue to behave accordingly.  Phony friends have fallen away and real friendships have formed, some familiar, some new.

As I read of the increasing number of unexplained deaths of those with developmentally disabilities in nursing homes, home based care agencies, and group homes, I ponder why my life has been spared thus far.  Teachers from many religious and spiritual traditions insist that it is my "Karma" or "God's Will. I only know that as I proceed, I am connecting with more and more women on the same path and there is a combined inner strength that I have never known..

I AM GRATEFUL!