HBO: Yellow Brick Road I almost cried when I saw this. Boy, it brought back a piece of childhood memories. When I about 10 years old, I started organizing backyard shows with the neighborhood kids. The first year we just sang along with 45 rpm records. The second year we did music from South Pacific and the third year we did music from the Gay 90's. When I was 13, my family moved from Cleveland to Cincinnati. But the next year I was back in business with a new group of kids. I decided to go big and do the whole show of The Wizard of Oz.
I could not find a script, so I bought the soundtrack and the book and wrote the script myself. I wrote, casted, directed, and played the Tin Man. We charged 25 cents for children and 50 cents for adults. We made $100. We went on a local children's tv show and donated the money to United Cerebral Palsy---that was the group's decision.
I would love to see the film they made of this production. If anyone knows how to get a copy, please let me know.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
MAR. 25, 2007-- I was asked to give a moment of concern at Pilgrim United Church of Christ today. My subject was "labels."
A few weeks ago, our pastor, Madison Shockley, gave a mini sermon on the politically correct terminology on referring to his race and culture. You see Madison is of a minority status in our congregation. In an effort to improve communication with his 90% white congregation, he ended his mini sermon by saying that he preferred being referred to as an African American or Black Folk. I wanted to yell back, "I prefer to refer to you as Madison!" When I told him I would like to respond with my thoughts about labels, he agreed to let me address the congregation.
Here is what I told the congregation:
Labels are for jars, not people.
Labels are intended to describe who we are, what we have done, or some other characteristic. However, labels never tell the whole story. At best, they only speak of a small part of who we are. They can be based on fact or perception. I am white. Madison is black. Those are facts. You can tell that from a distance without ever meeting us. Some people refer to me as "disabled." Am I disabled? Well those who are visiting today would no doubt say, "Yes, of course you are!" But those who have known me for years would probably argue with you by stating all my life accomplishments. Am I disabled? It is a matter of perception. I have a disability, but does that make me disabled? Some will think it does, but others won't.
In the 80's, a small group of people with developmental disabilities living in an Oregon institution formed a new self advocacy group. They needed a name. Judy Cunio, a severely physically disabled woman, said, "We are people first. Our disabilities are second." That was the birth of People First, a self advocacy organization that is now an international organization. If anyone here would like to know what it means to 400 individuals who are constantly labeled to be considered "people first," I invite you to come to the San Diego People First Conference at the Marriott in Mission Valley on Mother's Day weekend. We have volunteer opportunities and I guarantee it will be an unique learning experience.
There are many labels people can or have used on me--disabled, amazing, sinner, lefty, and a label given by one young member of our congregation, Sam. He calls me "the lady with the dog" (Andre is my service dog). But there are only two labels I accept. One is my name "Linda." The other is "child of God." As a child of God, I know I am loved, accepted, and forgiven no matter how others perceive me. With God, I am always a person first.
A few weeks ago, our pastor, Madison Shockley, gave a mini sermon on the politically correct terminology on referring to his race and culture. You see Madison is of a minority status in our congregation. In an effort to improve communication with his 90% white congregation, he ended his mini sermon by saying that he preferred being referred to as an African American or Black Folk. I wanted to yell back, "I prefer to refer to you as Madison!" When I told him I would like to respond with my thoughts about labels, he agreed to let me address the congregation.
Here is what I told the congregation:
Labels are for jars, not people.
Labels are intended to describe who we are, what we have done, or some other characteristic. However, labels never tell the whole story. At best, they only speak of a small part of who we are. They can be based on fact or perception. I am white. Madison is black. Those are facts. You can tell that from a distance without ever meeting us. Some people refer to me as "disabled." Am I disabled? Well those who are visiting today would no doubt say, "Yes, of course you are!" But those who have known me for years would probably argue with you by stating all my life accomplishments. Am I disabled? It is a matter of perception. I have a disability, but does that make me disabled? Some will think it does, but others won't.
In the 80's, a small group of people with developmental disabilities living in an Oregon institution formed a new self advocacy group. They needed a name. Judy Cunio, a severely physically disabled woman, said, "We are people first. Our disabilities are second." That was the birth of People First, a self advocacy organization that is now an international organization. If anyone here would like to know what it means to 400 individuals who are constantly labeled to be considered "people first," I invite you to come to the San Diego People First Conference at the Marriott in Mission Valley on Mother's Day weekend. We have volunteer opportunities and I guarantee it will be an unique learning experience.
There are many labels people can or have used on me--disabled, amazing, sinner, lefty, and a label given by one young member of our congregation, Sam. He calls me "the lady with the dog" (Andre is my service dog). But there are only two labels I accept. One is my name "Linda." The other is "child of God." As a child of God, I know I am loved, accepted, and forgiven no matter how others perceive me. With God, I am always a person first.
Note: I received a standing ovation.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
www.liveforthepossibilities.com : 'Superwoman Linda Thompson, Born With Cerebral Palsy, Reveals Breakthrough Strategies For Living
Large Without Limitations...!'
In this Powerful FREE E-Course, Linda reveals to YOU 9 powerful lessons for living a life of possibilities not impossibilities. Linda has inspired many to turn their dream into reality. Take advantage of this amazing information that will lead you down a journey of discovering new possibilities in your life and achieving all your dreams!"
Large Without Limitations...!'
In this Powerful FREE E-Course, Linda reveals to YOU 9 powerful lessons for living a life of possibilities not impossibilities. Linda has inspired many to turn their dream into reality. Take advantage of this amazing information that will lead you down a journey of discovering new possibilities in your life and achieving all your dreams!"
Home: The Christmas Puppy, an e-book. "This is a heart warming story about a puppy in a pet store who has only one wish--to find a home and someone special to love and who can love him. All the puppies, except for one, have been promised a new home on Christmas Eve. Being passed over time and time again, the puppy feels he is too old and too big to ever be adopted, but he learns Christmas is a time for miracles.
The Christmas Puppy is a story that touches lightly on differences that can lead to discrimination and how that can feel. It also shows how an encouraging word can help build confidence. And, last but not least, when things seem to be as bad as they can get, it is possible that someone will enter the picture and convincingly show that differences don't only not matter, but also may be beautiful.
A life lesson and story on love and differences for children of all ages."
The Christmas Puppy is a story that touches lightly on differences that can lead to discrimination and how that can feel. It also shows how an encouraging word can help build confidence. And, last but not least, when things seem to be as bad as they can get, it is possible that someone will enter the picture and convincingly show that differences don't only not matter, but also may be beautiful.
A life lesson and story on love and differences for children of all ages."
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Creating Your Own Path
Creating Your Own Path: "If you are a person with a disability, a parent who has a child with a disability, or a professional who works with a person with a disability and you are looking for an inspirational role model, you have found her. Linda Thompson, 58, born with cerebral palsy, has successfully created a productive, independent life for herself. Taught by her mother who was light years ahead of society in her vision of accomplishments for her daughter, Linda managed to forge through the inaccessible barriers that existed the first forty years of her life. Her story is a must to hear for anyone who faces a life of extraordinary challenges in their life.
For the last three years, Linda has created training materials for people with developmental disabilities on self advocate mentoring and how self advocate can become involved in community service. She has traveled throughout California presenting the trainings to People First chapters. Descriptions of the trainings Linda can provide are provided through this website. Can't find what your group needs? Contact Linda and she will create a Power Point presentation tailored to meet your needs. She is also known to be a motivational keynote speaker."
For the last three years, Linda has created training materials for people with developmental disabilities on self advocate mentoring and how self advocate can become involved in community service. She has traveled throughout California presenting the trainings to People First chapters. Descriptions of the trainings Linda can provide are provided through this website. Can't find what your group needs? Contact Linda and she will create a Power Point presentation tailored to meet your needs. She is also known to be a motivational keynote speaker."
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
October, 2006
I am not a fearful person. Fifty five years of living as a person with cerebral palsy has taught me that to live and experience life one needs to be willing to take risk. It is not that I believe in living carelessly for the thrill of excitement, but I do believe there is an element of risk in everything we do in life. I believe that a person can take risks and still safeguard personal safety. With a touch of wisdom, caution, and good planning, one can lead a fulfilling life free from fear of the unknown.
But what happens when all the wisdom, caution, and good planning is yanked out from underneath you and you have nothing but instinct and the will to survive. The world can quickly become a scary, lonesome place in a second of time, It can happen to the best of us.
Several months ago I was hired by People First of California (PFCA) as a Program Coordinator of the Self Determination Project. I live in Vista, CA, 40 miles north of San Diego, and my employer, PFCA, is based in Sacramento. My job responsibilities include leading a team of three other people in developing a training in Self Determination and a new program called the IPP Buddy System. Once the team developed the training materials, we traveled to different People First chapters around the state to present the training to individuals who have developmental disabilities. Self Determination is a concept where an person with a developmental disability becomes a strong self advocate and learns to take responsibility over all the aspects of his/her own life. The IPP Buddy System pairs up a strong self advocate with a self advocate who needs support in advocating for the wants and needs in his/her annual individual personal planning meeting.
When I was interviewed, I was told there would be traveling involved with this position and asked if that would be a problem. I said “no,” for I have done a great deal of traveling alone---Ohio, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. I like traveling and am well versed on travel procedures by plane and train. Though I had never traveled long distance by bus, I had used the local public transit system. Certainly, I could handle traveling throughout California. So I thought. I had never gone to Ukiah, and now that I have been, I hope to never go back. Don’t get me wrong---some of the nicest people I ever hope to meet live in Ukiah, but the trip there and back turned into a major life experience. One I never want to repeat.
My trip to and from Ukiah was a nightmare. I drove from Vista to Orange County Airport to fly to Oakland. Some how the Super Shuttle reservation from the Oakland airport to the Greyhound station got canceled and it took two hours to get a ride, because they had to call a driver in San Francisco who had to pick up the ADA van. I missed the Greyhound bus and the next one was not until 11:40 p.m. and they could not tell me if it would have a wheelchair lift. And they couldn't tell me WHEN they would be able to let me know. In my research of this trip, I knew there was an Amtrak train to Martinez and an Amtrak bus to Ukiah. I called Amtrak---the train would leave at 1:45 pm and yes, the bus leaving for Ukiah had a wheelchair lift. The shuttle showed up at 1:15 and I told him I had to catch a 1:45 train at Amtrak. He took his sweet time gabbing with another driver and then halfway there he decides to stop for gas. I was having a fit, so he finally said if I missed the train, he would drive me to Ukiah. We walked into the Amtrak station and the clock over the desk said exactly 1:45. I was convinced I had missed the train, but the guy behind the desk said it was a couple minutes late. He sold me the ticket and I caught the train as they made the last call. In Martinez, I went to get on the bus, only to be told the wheelchair lift did not work. I must have had fire in my eyes as I said, "You've got to be kidding!" There was another bus there with a lift, so the drivers traded buses. When the driver put me on the bus, I said I WOULD SHOW HER HOW TO TIE DOWN THE SCOOTER. All of a sudden we were on the road and I was not tied down. As I struggled to remain upright, a passenger asked if I wanted her to tie my scooter down. She did, but one tie was not tight enough and I tipped half way over slamming into the side of the bus. The passenger who tied down the scooter grabbed me and pulled me upright again. She yelled to the driver that I had fallen over, and the driver yelled back that the other driver had told her that it was not necessary to tie my scooter down since it was so heavy. I yelled back, "No one asked me!" I suggested she put the other driver in a scooter and take him for a ride without being tied down!! Another passenger adjusted the tie down straps, but the driver never stopped to check them or me. On the way to Ukiah, the driver had to stop a couple times for gas and radiator water and to let passengers use the restrooms---the restroom on the bus was out of order. Originally, I was due in to Ukiah at 4:05 p.m. and Dial-A-Ride was picking me up at 4:30 pm. I had to cancel that ride and was told to call when I arrived. However, they close at 7 pm. The 3:30 bus from Martinez to Ukiah was due to arrive in Ukiah at 5:55 p m. We arrived at 7:10 p.m. I was stuck at Burger King--- a mile and a half with no ride to the Hampton Inn. I had studied the Yahoo map, so I had some idea what my route would be. I confirmed it with the kid behind the Burger King counter and started out into the dark night.
I soon decided I would kill myself on the sidewalks that ended, slanted, narrowed, and had no curb cuts. I felt safe in the street, which was wide and not heavily traveled, and for the most part, was well lighted. I entered the Hampton Inn and exclaimed, "I made it!" The clerk assured me I had and then proceeded to tell me the reservation Becca and Mike made two months ago was not in the computer. With a phone call and a little help from Mike, Becca and I were given an "accessible" room. The room was beautiful and so was the bathroom, except for one thing---the tub. It had grab rails and a bench. Normally this would be great, but the bench was at on end of tub and the shower controls were at the other end of the tub. Does anyone reading this have arms 5 to 6 feet long? I don't and the tub was too narrow to place a stool or a chair inside it. It was useless to anyone who could not stand. The next night I was put in a room with a roll-in shower, but the same design prevailed. The roll-in shower had a hand held shower head, but the cord was long enough to reach to the back of the tub where the bench was. However, a patio chair could be placed inside the shower.
The return trip was traumatic to say the least. I left the hotel at 9 am Saturday and got home 4 pm Sunday. Amtrak sent the bus with the broken lift that had to be traded on Thursday to get me to Ukiah. The bus driver made a call on his cell phone and I heard him say that the compartment door to the lift had been frozen shut for at least a week and he had reported several times. When the call ended, he told me they were sending me a cab. I asked what that meant, but he walked away, got on the bus, and drove away leaving me in the Burger King parking lot.
I was determined that I would not sit there and wait for nothing to happen. I called the Amtrak 800 number and got an operator that simply did not want to deal with me and told me I would have to call back. I talked to the Burger King manager and one of her employees called Amtrak and after a period of time she came and handed me a cordless phone. I found myself on a three way call with someone named Marge, who sounded male. He explained that there was a bus coming through Ukiah on the way to Martinez, but it didn't have a lift. I asked him what he was trying to tell me. He said I would have to wait until Sunday morning to get a bus. After I threw a fit, explaining I was sitting in a Burger King with no place to stay, it was decided to switch buses in Ukiah with the bus going to Eureka, which had a lift. I was to leave Ukiah at 10:20 am and did not leave until 2:50 p.m..
That put me 4.5 hours behind schedule. I had to reschedule the 3:10 pm train from Martinez to Oakland for 6:40 p.m.. My 6:50 p.m. flight from Oakland to Orange County was the last flight of the day and had to be rescheduled for 9:50 am Sunday. Of course the shuttle from Amtrak to the airport also had to be canceled. I got to Oakland around 7:35 pm. I had no idea what to do or where to go. The guy at the Amtrak desk gave me a bus voucher and the bus outside the station took me downtown to the Bart --- the subway system. I took the elevator down---a talking elevator at that. The lady at the Bart info booth helped me buy a ticket out of a machine. She pointed to the elevator and told me to get the Fremont train. Subways can be scary and I was nervous, so I jumped on the first train that stopped. For some reason I instinctively knew I was on the wrong train going the wrong way. I asked a passenger where I was going and told him where I wanted to go. He told me to get off and take the next train to 19th street and transfer to the Fremont train. When I got off, I met a woman with a cell phone and bike who told me to get the Dublin train and it would take me to the Coliseum/Airport stop without transferring. She was right. I got off and was greeted by a Bart info person. I told him my situation and he said the bus outside would take me to the airport, but not hotels. He said I needed a hotel shuttle with a wheelchair lift. I laughed---hotels don't usually have shuttles with wheelchair lifts. He then said I may have a problem finding a room since many people were coming in Saturday night for the Raiders game on Sunday. He made a list of hotels and phone numbers. The first one I called had an available accessible room and a shuttle with a wheelchair lift. They came and got me and the room was big, gorgeous, and the best bathroom and roll in shower I have seen in quite a while. I had not eaten since 1 p.m. and it was after 10 p.m. when I got to the hotel. The restaurants at the hotel and across the street were closed, so the guy at the desk sent someone to the kitchen to make me a turkey and cheese sandwich with a glass of cold milk. Their shuttle took me to the airport in the morning..
I teach social skills and try to encourage people to be cautious when seeking out strangers for help. It is best to ask people who are working and are a recognizable authorities—policeman, bus drivers, and mail carriers. If there are no people of authority, choose someone from a crowd of people, so if there is a problem, there will be others to help. In my case, it was only through the “kindness of strangers” that got me to a safe place to spend the night in a strange town and the ability to safely return home.
I am not a fearful person. Fifty five years of living as a person with cerebral palsy has taught me that to live and experience life one needs to be willing to take risk. It is not that I believe in living carelessly for the thrill of excitement, but I do believe there is an element of risk in everything we do in life. I believe that a person can take risks and still safeguard personal safety. With a touch of wisdom, caution, and good planning, one can lead a fulfilling life free from fear of the unknown.
But what happens when all the wisdom, caution, and good planning is yanked out from underneath you and you have nothing but instinct and the will to survive. The world can quickly become a scary, lonesome place in a second of time, It can happen to the best of us.
Several months ago I was hired by People First of California (PFCA) as a Program Coordinator of the Self Determination Project. I live in Vista, CA, 40 miles north of San Diego, and my employer, PFCA, is based in Sacramento. My job responsibilities include leading a team of three other people in developing a training in Self Determination and a new program called the IPP Buddy System. Once the team developed the training materials, we traveled to different People First chapters around the state to present the training to individuals who have developmental disabilities. Self Determination is a concept where an person with a developmental disability becomes a strong self advocate and learns to take responsibility over all the aspects of his/her own life. The IPP Buddy System pairs up a strong self advocate with a self advocate who needs support in advocating for the wants and needs in his/her annual individual personal planning meeting.
When I was interviewed, I was told there would be traveling involved with this position and asked if that would be a problem. I said “no,” for I have done a great deal of traveling alone---Ohio, Rhode Island, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. I like traveling and am well versed on travel procedures by plane and train. Though I had never traveled long distance by bus, I had used the local public transit system. Certainly, I could handle traveling throughout California. So I thought. I had never gone to Ukiah, and now that I have been, I hope to never go back. Don’t get me wrong---some of the nicest people I ever hope to meet live in Ukiah, but the trip there and back turned into a major life experience. One I never want to repeat.
My trip to and from Ukiah was a nightmare. I drove from Vista to Orange County Airport to fly to Oakland. Some how the Super Shuttle reservation from the Oakland airport to the Greyhound station got canceled and it took two hours to get a ride, because they had to call a driver in San Francisco who had to pick up the ADA van. I missed the Greyhound bus and the next one was not until 11:40 p.m. and they could not tell me if it would have a wheelchair lift. And they couldn't tell me WHEN they would be able to let me know. In my research of this trip, I knew there was an Amtrak train to Martinez and an Amtrak bus to Ukiah. I called Amtrak---the train would leave at 1:45 pm and yes, the bus leaving for Ukiah had a wheelchair lift. The shuttle showed up at 1:15 and I told him I had to catch a 1:45 train at Amtrak. He took his sweet time gabbing with another driver and then halfway there he decides to stop for gas. I was having a fit, so he finally said if I missed the train, he would drive me to Ukiah. We walked into the Amtrak station and the clock over the desk said exactly 1:45. I was convinced I had missed the train, but the guy behind the desk said it was a couple minutes late. He sold me the ticket and I caught the train as they made the last call. In Martinez, I went to get on the bus, only to be told the wheelchair lift did not work. I must have had fire in my eyes as I said, "You've got to be kidding!" There was another bus there with a lift, so the drivers traded buses. When the driver put me on the bus, I said I WOULD SHOW HER HOW TO TIE DOWN THE SCOOTER. All of a sudden we were on the road and I was not tied down. As I struggled to remain upright, a passenger asked if I wanted her to tie my scooter down. She did, but one tie was not tight enough and I tipped half way over slamming into the side of the bus. The passenger who tied down the scooter grabbed me and pulled me upright again. She yelled to the driver that I had fallen over, and the driver yelled back that the other driver had told her that it was not necessary to tie my scooter down since it was so heavy. I yelled back, "No one asked me!" I suggested she put the other driver in a scooter and take him for a ride without being tied down!! Another passenger adjusted the tie down straps, but the driver never stopped to check them or me. On the way to Ukiah, the driver had to stop a couple times for gas and radiator water and to let passengers use the restrooms---the restroom on the bus was out of order. Originally, I was due in to Ukiah at 4:05 p.m. and Dial-A-Ride was picking me up at 4:30 pm. I had to cancel that ride and was told to call when I arrived. However, they close at 7 pm. The 3:30 bus from Martinez to Ukiah was due to arrive in Ukiah at 5:55 p m. We arrived at 7:10 p.m. I was stuck at Burger King--- a mile and a half with no ride to the Hampton Inn. I had studied the Yahoo map, so I had some idea what my route would be. I confirmed it with the kid behind the Burger King counter and started out into the dark night.
I soon decided I would kill myself on the sidewalks that ended, slanted, narrowed, and had no curb cuts. I felt safe in the street, which was wide and not heavily traveled, and for the most part, was well lighted. I entered the Hampton Inn and exclaimed, "I made it!" The clerk assured me I had and then proceeded to tell me the reservation Becca and Mike made two months ago was not in the computer. With a phone call and a little help from Mike, Becca and I were given an "accessible" room. The room was beautiful and so was the bathroom, except for one thing---the tub. It had grab rails and a bench. Normally this would be great, but the bench was at on end of tub and the shower controls were at the other end of the tub. Does anyone reading this have arms 5 to 6 feet long? I don't and the tub was too narrow to place a stool or a chair inside it. It was useless to anyone who could not stand. The next night I was put in a room with a roll-in shower, but the same design prevailed. The roll-in shower had a hand held shower head, but the cord was long enough to reach to the back of the tub where the bench was. However, a patio chair could be placed inside the shower.
The return trip was traumatic to say the least. I left the hotel at 9 am Saturday and got home 4 pm Sunday. Amtrak sent the bus with the broken lift that had to be traded on Thursday to get me to Ukiah. The bus driver made a call on his cell phone and I heard him say that the compartment door to the lift had been frozen shut for at least a week and he had reported several times. When the call ended, he told me they were sending me a cab. I asked what that meant, but he walked away, got on the bus, and drove away leaving me in the Burger King parking lot.
I was determined that I would not sit there and wait for nothing to happen. I called the Amtrak 800 number and got an operator that simply did not want to deal with me and told me I would have to call back. I talked to the Burger King manager and one of her employees called Amtrak and after a period of time she came and handed me a cordless phone. I found myself on a three way call with someone named Marge, who sounded male. He explained that there was a bus coming through Ukiah on the way to Martinez, but it didn't have a lift. I asked him what he was trying to tell me. He said I would have to wait until Sunday morning to get a bus. After I threw a fit, explaining I was sitting in a Burger King with no place to stay, it was decided to switch buses in Ukiah with the bus going to Eureka, which had a lift. I was to leave Ukiah at 10:20 am and did not leave until 2:50 p.m..
That put me 4.5 hours behind schedule. I had to reschedule the 3:10 pm train from Martinez to Oakland for 6:40 p.m.. My 6:50 p.m. flight from Oakland to Orange County was the last flight of the day and had to be rescheduled for 9:50 am Sunday. Of course the shuttle from Amtrak to the airport also had to be canceled. I got to Oakland around 7:35 pm. I had no idea what to do or where to go. The guy at the Amtrak desk gave me a bus voucher and the bus outside the station took me downtown to the Bart --- the subway system. I took the elevator down---a talking elevator at that. The lady at the Bart info booth helped me buy a ticket out of a machine. She pointed to the elevator and told me to get the Fremont train. Subways can be scary and I was nervous, so I jumped on the first train that stopped. For some reason I instinctively knew I was on the wrong train going the wrong way. I asked a passenger where I was going and told him where I wanted to go. He told me to get off and take the next train to 19th street and transfer to the Fremont train. When I got off, I met a woman with a cell phone and bike who told me to get the Dublin train and it would take me to the Coliseum/Airport stop without transferring. She was right. I got off and was greeted by a Bart info person. I told him my situation and he said the bus outside would take me to the airport, but not hotels. He said I needed a hotel shuttle with a wheelchair lift. I laughed---hotels don't usually have shuttles with wheelchair lifts. He then said I may have a problem finding a room since many people were coming in Saturday night for the Raiders game on Sunday. He made a list of hotels and phone numbers. The first one I called had an available accessible room and a shuttle with a wheelchair lift. They came and got me and the room was big, gorgeous, and the best bathroom and roll in shower I have seen in quite a while. I had not eaten since 1 p.m. and it was after 10 p.m. when I got to the hotel. The restaurants at the hotel and across the street were closed, so the guy at the desk sent someone to the kitchen to make me a turkey and cheese sandwich with a glass of cold milk. Their shuttle took me to the airport in the morning..
I teach social skills and try to encourage people to be cautious when seeking out strangers for help. It is best to ask people who are working and are a recognizable authorities—policeman, bus drivers, and mail carriers. If there are no people of authority, choose someone from a crowd of people, so if there is a problem, there will be others to help. In my case, it was only through the “kindness of strangers” that got me to a safe place to spend the night in a strange town and the ability to safely return home.
Nov. 8, 2006
I have been employed by People First of California for the past 2.5 years as a Project Coordinator. I develop training materials designed to educate and empower people with developmental disabilities. I, as a member of a team, then travel throughout California providing the training to advocacy groups. I am a person who was born 57 years ago with a condition known as cerebral palsy, which effects my body movements, but not my intellect. I am completely independent--live alone, drive a van, and have a full time job. For mobility, I use an electric scooter. My only true assistant is my service dog, Andre---a 10 year old Pekingese. When we travel, it is just me and Andre against the world.
In the past 2.5 years, I have learned how well, and, unfortunately, how not so well the American Disability Act (ADA) is working in our great state of California. In days to come, I will share some of my travel stories, especially my horror story that left me stranded in downtown Oakland on a Saturday night. Stay tuned for some interesting, mind boggling adventures.
I have been employed by People First of California for the past 2.5 years as a Project Coordinator. I develop training materials designed to educate and empower people with developmental disabilities. I, as a member of a team, then travel throughout California providing the training to advocacy groups. I am a person who was born 57 years ago with a condition known as cerebral palsy, which effects my body movements, but not my intellect. I am completely independent--live alone, drive a van, and have a full time job. For mobility, I use an electric scooter. My only true assistant is my service dog, Andre---a 10 year old Pekingese. When we travel, it is just me and Andre against the world.
In the past 2.5 years, I have learned how well, and, unfortunately, how not so well the American Disability Act (ADA) is working in our great state of California. In days to come, I will share some of my travel stories, especially my horror story that left me stranded in downtown Oakland on a Saturday night. Stay tuned for some interesting, mind boggling adventures.
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