At a conference on "Leadership and Disability" we had a brainstorm session on how to get to know the person who is leading you. We talked about ways we all came to the conclusion that there are many more similarities than differences between most people. Taking that a step further we should remember that in our advocacy efforts in order to work be effectively, it shouldn't matter what your age, disability, race, gender, religion, residence, financial status, (etc.). What we have in common is huge - budget cuts that will impact receiving anything disability related such as (attendant care, wheelchairs, medical assistance etc.)

If the entire disabiliy population and the aging population worked together we'd be the most powerful and largest minority in America. It makes no sense that we don't.

My editorial was published! I didn't recognize it because it had a different title and it appeared as a skinny little column but it was front and ceter on page A9. The only problem was that it was supposed to be taken as a role reversal, instead people took it as a cry for pity. One man said how sorry he felt for me. However 2 other people with challenges contacted me and I have a very good feeling about the second man. I also sent letters to Senator Brubaker and Representatve Sturla's office and requesting that I continue my advocacy project there. It would hold much more weight if I got their stamp of approval than if I did it alone. I was/am determined to develop this advocacy project regardless and now I am confident that I can/will.

My advocacy project is likely to happen even though it is without agency support. Originally it was supposed to be part of a grant through the Pennsylvania Developmental Disability Planning Council. I wrote to a number of agencies requesting that they work with me and in retun they would receive the money.

The deadline came and went and there were no takers. However, that did not mean the project would die. I made some changes and decided to do it myself eventually I'd find people with disabilities who may be willing to join me. I just wrote a letter to Senator Brubaker requesting that I develop the project through his office. That would lend a major amount of credibility to the project and to myself. Hopefully it will be worth the wait.