Jan 29, 2015 | Attitudes, can do, communicating respect, disability etiquette, kids with disabilities, negative perceptions, Society |
I have heard of great expectations before, but when I listened to an interview on NPR recently, it gave the whole concept a new twist for me. Bob Rosenthal is a research psychologist. Early in his career, he went into his lab and put signs on his rat cages. Some of...Dec 30, 2014 | Attitudes, communicating respect, CP, Dancing, disability etiquette, negative perceptions |
It was a summer evening a few years back. The days were long and green outside and a new caregiver was still green around the ears. He had just started the process of learning the ropes. The sun was setting and we had just finished making dinner on that particular...Dec 4, 2014 | changing perspectives, CP, Making Changes, Ms. Wheelchair America, Ms. Wheelchair America pageant, Ms. Wheelchair Kansas, MWA, negative perceptions |
In 1974, at six years old, I saw myself as pretty typical. However, much of the world saw me as “Tiny Tim.” I was a scrawny kid with skinny arms and legs, pigtails in my hair and a smile that was waiting for the tooth fairy. Because of the cerebral palsy...Nov 5, 2014 | Attitudes, changing perspectives, communicating respect, disability etiquette, Education, empowering language, how to help, Irony, Kids, negative perceptions |
I can do something most people can’t. I can be part of a magic trick. Many might think that is kind of cool, but I hate it. Well, that isn’t exactly accurate. I will paint a clearer picture. If Take my aversion to lima beans and black olives. and then...Oct 24, 2014 | can do, dance, dreams, negative perceptions, wheelchair dancing |
Martin Luther King Day is still a few months away, but if you will indulge me for a minute I would like to tell you about a dream I have. I want to perform my favorite dance routine on the Ellen Degeneres show. In late in November of 2006, I got a letter in the mail...Oct 2, 2014 | Ableism, Attitudes, boundaries, choices, communicating respect, disability etiquette, negative perceptions, Walking, What some people don't think about |
I have to admit I did a double-take. When I heard the story a few weeks ago on my news feed on Facebook, I thought somebody was kidding. Kanye West stopped his concert because two of the fans there would not stand up during part of the performance What? That is...