I'm volunteering as a counselor for a camp with kids who have special needs. It's interesting how some of the kids with disabilities shy away from me due to my own physical disability. I try to make an extra effort to be useful and I'm very aware of things that would not be best for me. For example, they all went swimming today and I can't be in the pool watching the kids so instead I arranged the snacks and collected the floaties once swim time was over. There's usually always another task, just as useful, that I can do. That's a lesson in life too.

I just scheduled a presentation for October 2 at the Lancaster Library. That feels like a lifetime from now but at least it will happen. I have to come up with a good title, one that is not too "disabilityish" I want this to be heard by the general public who does not have much contact with this topic. Bt then we will have done a few sensitivity programs and had a few stories to tell. It should be interesteing. I won't be doing it alone so that's good, Joyce will be a good co-presenter.

This weekend I attended a disability conference and at night I went out with a friend. He had an unsteady gait and eventually fell. I accompanied him to the emergency where he had stitches and x-rays, eventually they sent him home. The next day he was in terrible shape so I told the director I wasn't returning to the conference. The lady was livid, I couldn't believe it! She's an educator on disability and couldn't have been less sesnitive. I couldn't imagine turning my back of my friend in his time of need to attennd her conference. At the conclusion of the two days the conference participants are always asked to complete a form on what they learned from the presenttions. This time I learned the lack of understanding there is among healthcare educators.

I'm working with a friend on developing a homeschooling program for kids. We want it to be for kids with any background. Traditionally it's for Christians kids who are considered "normal." I want to reach kids with learning disabilities and those from families whose parents work during the day. If the requirements are actually only 4 hours a day at home with books and parents perhaps they can come to the group during the day and learn their studies then reinforce them at home in the eveniing. I am marketing to Jewish populations also.

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.