My Life Changing Experience

(The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and Partners in Policymaking)

Disability resource links gathered from this class HERE

For years people had been bugging me to take this class, Partners in Policymaking. I finally put in my application this year and got in. They tell us its hard to be accepted and many people resubmit applications year after year. First I wondered why they majority of the class was parents. They are the ones who need to be there the most I came to learn. I'm glad I sucked it up and finally took on the commitment of this class. Nine months, one Friday and Saturday a month, over 12 hours a session listening to amazing speakers.

I take great comfort in knowing each year Virginia turns out 30+ plus people who 'get it'. (each state has Partners in Policymaking)

This is a highlight of each class. I can not begin to cover what I truly gained from the class.

When I was younger and stupid I thought I could change everybody's perception about disability in the first ten minutes of meeting them, I had no idea this class existed. It is the only 'magic bullet' I know of that busts through ignorance about all things disability. This class reaffirmed that it's ok to be me!

Class 1: Heidi Lawyer, Jerry Adams, Ed Turner & Jack Brandt, Youth Leader Panel (Adam Amick, Mary McAdam, Matt Shapiro, and Erin Thompson)

When seeing the room full of my classmates for the first time I felt an intense joy that these people cared disability advocacy as much as I did. It was a relief to feel I wasn't alone in the fight. DRS (Department of Rehabilitation Services) will always have a job if people with disabilities don't. Think about the possibility of college for your child with a disability: Here's how: HERE

Class 2: Katherine Laswon, Steven Traubert, Jim Rothrock, Bobby Silverstein

You can't just advocate for what's good for you because you might be doing a large group of people a disservice. Now I won't advocate to get rid of options that I myself can't see myself ever using because there's a whole other group who need and like that option I despise. Instead I will advocate that the filters that help place people with disabilities stay strong and not pick the easy option when placing people. THAT'S what scares me. People need different options but as long as the options exists the filters will most likely place people where it's the easiest. Ex. I got placed at a vocational rehab after graduating high school. What, no college?

Right off the bat DRS (Department of Rehabilitation Services) speaker (Jim) made steam come out of my ears. He opened with something like, "Ya'll should receive a degree for this class." What the hell? The nerve! I didn't get one when completing my two year CAD drafting class. In my opinion DRS needs a overhaul. They should be doing community outreach to change perceptions about disability THEN focus on employment and/or college. I wanted to punch the him in the face because I was so mad at what he was saying. He painted a picture of roses and unicorns. It was all lies. The bar of expectation must be raised for sudents with disabilities.

Class 3: Fred Orelove, Charlie & Maria Girsch, Dana Yarbrough & Valerie Luther, Maureen Hollowell

Adult behavior hinders creativity. We become afraid to voice ideas because we slam them down before we can voice them. The best ideas are wild notions that are skimmed back. Adults must keep their brain opened to new ways of thinking by doing exercises.

Learn the ropes about any services before you request them. Offices that deliver services often don't know themselves. The only one that is going to keep you informed is you!

Class 4: Cyndi Pitonyak, Christina Gilley, Lynn Seagle, Kathie Snow

Special Education is a service not a place. Inclusion for all children is the way to go, no more special ed classrooms. As long as there's a special ed classroom in a school, there will be kids in it.

“Inclusion does not mean fitting students with special needs into regular schools. Inclusion means creating schools where everyone fits.” -Dr. Marti Snell

The world of Disability Services is a cash cow that needs to be gutted. ex. Group homes, institutions, job finding services, etc. Stay out of the system because it doesn't work. The disability unemployment rate is proof of that. If you start in special preschool you're likely never to be included in a regular classroom. EVERYBODY needs to read Disability is Natural by Kathie Snow (not just people touched by people with disabilities)

My blog about Kathie's book HERE

Class 5: Pete Wright, David Pitonyak

Even if a child with a disability is suspended from school he/or she is to have their IEP executed.

Positive reinforcement is not always the best way to modify their behavior. Never assume the behavior is caused by the disability. With people who can't talk a change in behavior may be because they're in physical pain. Don't take away the one thing/activity a person looks forward to as means of behavior modification. Some people need to be taught coping skills through repetition. A person may need help to learn ways to stay in the frontal lobe of the brain. When your brain switches to limbic things like speech can not take place. Limbic is where flight and fright happens and instincts kick in. Some people with disabilities have had horrific things happened to them so they stay in limbic. Always assume people with disabilities can understand what's being said to them. Most of the time when people do annoying behaviors it's because they're lonely. Did you know it's a fact that when studying the brain in say a CAT scan, the brain reacts the exact in same way: when a person is deliberately left out/rejected from a group activity & a person is physically punched in the nose? Make sure your child with a disability has true friends. People need to have choice to control their lives. No matter how insignificant the choice might be.

Class 6: Pat Carver, Mock testimony at State Capitol

People have the right to live how they want, where they want. Do not feel guilty for asking for want you want, no matter how small the detail is. Note to myself: You are not bossy and picky. You have the right.

Parents set the example to siblings how to treat siblings with disabilities. Building a strong community is the sure fire way to make sure you get the supports you need. When somebody goes into an institution they become institutionized. Their behavior and their physical appearance changes for the worse. It's sad for the families to witness so a lot of them stop visiting. When public speaking stick to one topic and keep it to three minutes. Practice with a video camera. The older parts of the State Capitol are scary in a power chair! Lol! Feels as if the floors will give out.

Class 7: Debra Ruh, Roy Grizzard, Susanne Croasdaile, Kelly Ligon, Ed Turner, Ginny Cooke

Positively Positive, People are mostly good.
Try not to take things personally, what people often say is a reflection of them and not you. Perceptions are based on a persons experiences. So you can only have so much control on the way you are perceived. There is no us Vs them. We are all rolling along making the changes we need at the time. All things that are set up for good reasons by nature derails and must be corrected or created new again.

“We cannot solve the significant social problems of the world at thee same level of thinking that created them in the first place.” - Albert Einstein

“As we think so shall we speak, as we speak, so shall it be.”

"Success is when preparation meets opportunity."

They're huge taxes incentives and paybacks if your hire people with disabilities for job accommodations.

Facts from national surveys about employees with disabilities: punctual and rarely miss work due to sickness, work safely, work independently, rarely seek special considerations, can be modestly accommodated, and considered assets by co-workers.

Class 8: Dr. Al Condeluci, Graduation! May 2011

Friendship and health are the two most important things many different cultures say. Average friends of "typical" adults: 150. Average number of friends for adults with disabilities: 20 (and half are family, other half are service providers) Any shared interest can start a friendship.

Social capitol gets you jobs. (not DRS, or workshops, etc) You yourself have to build social capitol.

(I'm so glad I'm naturally social! One of my nickname's is Social Butterfly)

We as a society are all connected. Look at the stats for disability, employment rate, housing, etc. We can make people's lives better and in turn that makes our lives better. If we claim health as so important we must try to change the sad stats of the uninsured.

Graduation was fabulous! I feel I have accomplished so much in the nine months than in ten years. I have made connections, seen people change their way of thinking, been offered and accepted a number of jobs, and MADE FRIENDS!


UPDATE 2.3.13
I'm still employed with Moms in Motion, a Medicaid Waiver Facilitator. The boss and I were PIP classmates.
I also have had many public speaking engagements because of networking through fellow PIP graduates.

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