Infobility has two goals:

1)Sharing information by connecting people with some unique resources.
2)Sharing information through personal coaching and educational programs.
Connecting to Resources:

* Getting Money - This is a discussion on receiving finances through a unique program. We will discuss the products / services offered and the qualifications.

* Getting Benefits - This is a discussion on applying for Social Security-SSDI, SSI. We will discuss the often lengthy and frustrating appeals process.

Coaching and Literature:

* Vocational Venues - This is a community employment model that can be adapted for consumers. Skills adressed include interviews, applications, and resumes.

* Paths to Progress - These are individual sessions, via telephone or in the home, to assist consumers in a number of areas. Issues include: coping with challenges, family relationships, and future goals. The first session is free.

* The Tenacity of Hope - This is a self-help booklet to assess needs and give a framework to improve the quality of life. The issues covered include physical, social, vocational, personal, educational, and community.

Tomorrow's the day-"Working on Wheels." I have professionals experiencing disability.

I spoke with a lady who runs a magazine for teens with disabilities. I'm going to help her write and grow her publication. That will be my purpose for "Pedaling for a Purpose." I'll talk about it to independent living centers and they'll do a blurb on us. They're not a non-profit but that's okay. Soon I'll meet with Eric, the reporter from the newspaper who will help us by writing about the project and connecting us with a local non-profit so we can be legitamate. It will all work out.

Complacency-It's a serious problem in much of society. In politics most people vote for the incumbent, regardless of how little the person has done during the tenure. In education students don't work hard but pass anyway. Eventually they are sent into the world unprepared. In human services staff do not really take the time to listen and implement the client's ideas. Eventually they decide it's best to sit back and let things happen to them. They do a significant amount of complaining about things but when it comes to actual advocacy.

So what are the solutions to eliminate complacency? In politics people are electing outsiders in the hopes of new ideas. In education parents are seeking new types of classrooms such as cyber school. In human services advocacy is starting to be a crucial part of the services. On the other side educational programs, in which all people without challenges learn and experience disability, are crucial components to creating a more equitable society.

I read a book called "Who Cares" by David B. Schwartz. He talks of the healing powers of human connections and support for people with disabilities. Since I am a sociology major I was really interested in this somewhat hard to read text, it would make a great reading for a college sociology class. It illustrates optimistic stories of people who were once isolated now being healthier and happier because they have friends. It's such a simple concept. Society ruins things and makes it so involved and ultimately things get worse instead of better. I had an attendant who "Took care of me" in public school. That did so much damage to me for decades after. I had no idea how to relate to people cause I had no one my age in my life. If only someone like David could have seen this, recognized it, and facilitated a small friendship circle! I would love to meet him and talk with him further.

Increasing acceptance is a result of education, education, education. Programs in schools, programs in the community, programs in churches. Reach the young people because they are the most receptive, stereotypes are not already formed. Encourage them to ask questions and create opportunities to ask them. Create activities that include kids with disabilities such as arranging for them to help in the special needs classes in schools. Teachers should explain that just cause a person looks different on the outside (s)he is the same on the inside. Bring guests into the classrooms and talk about some famous people (athletes, entertainers) who have/had disabilities and excelled. A meaningful program for any age is simulations in which people pretend to have disabilities.

I just figured out facebook and am trying to connect with people with my disability. I never knew much about my disability except it was pretty rare. It turns out that it isn't actually, it's more common than MS, CP and MD! Hopefully I'll get replies for sponsors, interested in "The Tenacity of Hope." I'll just donate it rather than trying to get moeny for it. The pay pal code is too confusing anyway.

I should make this blog more interesting and not so diary - like. It's not the way other people's are. I have to come up with a toppic that has many parts to it and is optimistic but not self-absorbed. Maybe I'll answer the question I ask of others- how to increase awareness and decrease stigma. Maybe I'll get people to give me ideas. Then maybe they'll be interested in what I have to write.

I learned how to do the HTML code in order to put my booklet on someone elses website. It is a very logical process but I thought it would be harder and required a profesional. I can now start to look into other websites and get moving on this. It's about time, professionals make it sound impossible for others to do so they can get $$$ for it.

"Working on Wheels" will happen on October 25th! It will only be a few hours but it will be effective since there will be media attention for it. I expect that others will be interested in doing one for their worksites too. I have high hopes for it as the start of Infobility getting started.

I am getting excited to make this "Wheeling Across America" succcessful. I will be contacting the CIL Directors tomorrow and hopefully then find a few consumers that will be excited enough to work with me. Hopefully this will be my chance to make "Chain of Challenges" and share "The Tenacity of Hope" with disabled people around the US. I need to know the newspapers in people's home towns and continue communication with them. I wonder what they think would be a good message to convey.

"Everything happens for a reason." I really believe that. Sometimes I create a reason. Anyway. I was upset about my manuscript not becoming an e-book. I just met another person who had the same problem with the same publisher. He wrote a book on urban youths and speaks to groups on helping them stay or get clean. I decided to share my idea for this type of issue with him and I offered him an opportunity to speak here in Harrisburg. I sent him "The Tenacity of Hope" and even asked if he knew anyone who wanted to cycle across America with my husband. I know that he knows people in the public speaking and marketing worlds so I'm hoping reciprocity will prevail. Montel Williams said "If you're doing something cause of your passion, not desire to make money, it will succeed." Hopefully this will be the case. Imagine, success as the result of being scammed!

I hope the contacts who work with veterans respnd to me soon. My whole goal is to make life easier for them by sharing some tips in my booklet "The Tenacity of Hope" was supposed to be an ebook. Unfortunately it won't come out that way, however, I will still share the contents because it's important to me. Am I stupid to just distribute this for free or will it benefit me in the end? I will soon find out. Hopefully the people I share it with will contribute to my husband's "Wheel Across America for Disability Awareness." I'll find out tomorrow, I will call the Independent Living Centers in the states that Terry will be peddaling through. There has to be a flip side to everything and this is it!

"The Tenacity of Hope" is now an e-book. I had some ideas about the marketing part. I started copying addresses of popular drug stores but I wasn't confident that they would agree to my book being there, certainly not without weeks of approval. I knew the CIL's would come into play in some way. I thought about Terry's pedaling and how I could draw attention to disability. I thought about putting it all together. So I am going to ask 2 questions to all of the SILK secretaries. A)What would be the most effective way to draw attention to "Disability Awareness?" B)Could I alert your CIL's about my self-help manuscript? I'm anxious to see what the reactions will be.

The ebook is done now I must market it. That seems like a huge task but with Facebook, Kristy of "Cool Wheelchair Stuff" and contacting all Independent Living Centers it will be a good start. Hopefully by offering complimentary coaching sessions with it people will be willing to give it a try. Counseling is worth a whole lot more than what I'm charging. I won't know until I try.