Until now I was convinced that reaching the community at large, with educational programs, was the way to go. I saw so many people with challenges as unmotivated and apathetic. I'm deciding to shift gears beause I may soon have a unique opportunity for people with disabilities. I am interested in finding people who are skilled at crafts and similar skills and to have a store featuring their things. There are many talented people who are either unaware of a venue, not taken seriously, don't see their skill as worthy but now this can all change. My other love is marketing so I'm going to succeed from this angle instead.

Last week I attended the Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce Meeting and this week I will attend a meeting regarding economic development in Mount Joy. I shared information on October being Disability Employment Month and distributed flyers. I met a local marketer who would like to help me. I also met a local man who runs a personal care business. I told him I could help him market and I'd like to meet with him. I'll see.

I just met with a Mount Joy program director and she was very receptive to my ideas to add the disability component to econmic development. I also hope to attend the meeting with the Chamber of commerce on Wednesday. I would like to offer literature on this topic and get businesses excited about some of the projects I would like to implement. It would be more successful if I had a joint venture with them. Hopefully other towns will follow; I must do this here first.

I met with the Program Director of the James Street Improvement District. This is an entity that works with business and other employers in the Lancaster area to improve the quality of life for the residents. My idea was to include the disability component by creating a booklet of accessible places for people who have physical challenges. I'd also consider applying for a quality of life grant from the Christopher Reeve Foundation. I would love to have a joint venture going with this program, I would finally be able to implement some of my accessibility ideas.

I was going into a CVS and was wheeling in the parking lot seeking a ramp. I noticed a car backing up and I knew they couldn't see me since I was too low for the car mirror. I wheeled all the way to the back of the parking lot till the driver was done. I started to turn left to continue my search for the ramp to get inside the store and suddenly the driver was 2 inches away from me, clearly not looking. I started to yell. Some stupid girl with a baby starts to yell at me and asked when my ride was coming. I informaed her that I drove here but when I back up I look before I move my van. She disliked like my tone and continued to reprimand me! She was the typical stigmating person totally clueless because there was certainly a point in whcih I was visible to the driver. Wow was that upsetting- I haven't had THAT in awhile.

I attended the Pennsylvania Disability Employment Summit. It was very inspirational to listen to CEO's of Walgreens, CVS, and Lowes talk about their hiring practices. It is hoped that other companies will follow suit. I reworked my employment presentation and sent copies to everyone who I met Friday. I will make efforts to meet with Lancaster companys and then request some testimonials to include in a brochure. October really is my business launch I must start somewhere. This is just like I did with the public school presentations in Lehigh Valley.

At this point most of the local libraries who belong to the Lancaster system have my information. I requested that the flyer on page 1 is posted. I contacted a reporter who has a disability and has written articles on the subject. I have written to a large orthopedic center in Lancaster requesting that I leave some booklets in their waiting room. I hope that the Commnity Exchange program that I'm bringing to Lancaster will somehow join with my disability program.

Every day this month I am going to actively do something regarding disability awareness. Yesterday I wrote to 5 of the Greater Lancaster Chambers of Commerce to send a manuscript I wrote on the topic and a flyer. I asked each person to print the flyer and share it with others. If I do that in enough places, I should eventually get a response. I discovered that a Women's Business Expo will be held on October 11 in Manheim and there is a ames Street Community Development Project in downtown Lancaster in which many many local businesses are involved. I have a meeting about getting involved with that next week. I really want to help businesses reach out to customers who can't come in due to steps at the enterances. I'm on the right track.