Bloggers Unite: People First: Empowering People With Disabilities

Profile of an inspiring person who happens to have a disability

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:42:58 -0500

For this BU event I focused on a person who is inspiring for his accomplishments and for the hope he gives to other people with disabilities. He has achieved much more than the vast majority of people without a disability. Everyone, especially employers, can and should learn to look past a disability and see the whole person. If you're in the states and in one of the cities where he'll be performing this summer, check out Brian Shaughnessy's “The Squeaky Wheel SQUEAKS!” show. Or visit his web site, or read excerpts from his book. Links here: http://www.fleshandstone.net/arts/2088.html

Be Passionate

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:31:52 -0500

When I left my job as a director of group homes in San Antonio to start a company to publish teaching materials for students with intellectual disabilties in 1991, I got a lot of interesting comments from people. Some good, some not so good. Some people even said, "There can't be much money in that." News Flash: Success and life happiness isn't about money. I have learned along the way, that life is better if you do what you are passionate about. Congrats on this blog post. Most awesome!

ADA 20th anniversary!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:23:32 -0500

Are you doing anything special for the 20th anniversary of the ADA? I am! My Center for Independent Living is throwing a party. Find an ADA celebration near you: http://www.aapd.com/ADAanniversary

Dignity

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:15:09 -0500

I try to reach disabled persons with advice which I wish I had access to when I had first lost my eyesight. I share my ongoing experiences with technology, safety, and perception in order that our community is integrated on all social levels. Disabled persons actually have the power to enlighten others by sharing a wisdom that can only come through first-hand experience in a social interaction. We must be visible and active to show that diversity needs to include the strata of physically and mentally abilities.

301!

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:04:02 -0500

We had a goal of getting 300 bloggers signed up for this event...basically 100 bloggers per month leading up to it. We have reached that goal and have a few days left until the event date. Thank you to everyone who has signed up and/or helped promote this event. We appreciate your interest and your efforts. You rock!

Questions about web accessibility

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:08:25 -0500

A few people have asked if there are resources that explain to bloggers how to fix problems a site evaluator may point out to them about their site. I asked blogger @GlendaWH if she had any suggestions and she responded: Two great resources for web accessibility are the Web Accessibility Initiative - http://www.w3.org/WAI/, and WebAIM - http://www.webaim.org/. However, I am finding that blog accessibility is different than web accessibility, even though the underlying principles are the same. Instead of a web team working together, with blogs, there's the platform, the theme, the plugins/widgets and the blogger. The average blogger can do only so much in terms of accessibility. Hope this helps those of you who had questions and thanks Glenda for sharing your knowledge with me and the rest of the event.

Empower, Educate and Embrace

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:48:48 -0500

I am overwhelmed by the numbers involved and words shared. I am an occupational therapist and a paraplegic (from an ependymoma - spinal cord tumor). I have been blessed to become an advocate for wheelchair users and those with other disabilities both on a local scale (trying to improve accessible transporation in my small community through an Easter Seals initiative) AND nationally through Users First Alliance (www.usersfirst.org) which advocates for better wheelchair funding/coverage and giving those of us who rely on other sources of mobility a name and a face so legislators KNOW who we are and our stories. Keep up the good work and get/stay involved!!!

DISABILITY NOT INABILITY

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:06:41 -0500

Since when did being disabled mean inabled? We live in a society that excercises its freedom to judge at the first opportunity. Is there one brain working on more than a thrid grade level out there even a child must understand that physical appearances mean nothing when measured against the merit pf the person inside that physical body. I am embarrassed to think that we even call to question any judgment towards any person on the face of this planet and even more so a citizen of the United States. It saddens me to think that this type of in human act is allowed to happen as if completely normal, NO not the case. Disabilities have nothing to do with ones character, mental power, emotional discipline and the like. A disability can apply to a myriad of situations for example: We the American people have a mental disability to think with the mind of reason and inept wisdom in our understanding that the one law which never fails is that of the act of compassion which lies within the human heart.

A Fairy Tale around the idea of Empowering People with Disabilities build across countries

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:27:54 -0500

Dear all, My name is Pedro Oliveira. I am a psychologist and anthropologist. I am currently managing a blog and facebook community around the theme of educating across difference and diversity. On our Facebook page we opened a chain message post where members of different countries will be contributing to the idea of building a collective fairy tale on the idea of empowering people with disabilities. This will be posted on the Blog on the 24th of July. I would love to have active participation of Bloggers Unite community. Please join our Facebook Community, help us write this tale and visit our Blog, if you will. Many Thanks, Pedro, 15/07 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=312078576185 Blog-Project: http://chainsofdifference.blogspot.com/

Any hints on how to make a site/blog 100% accessible?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:13:34 -0500

I'm going to try to make my blog (http://theiciexperience.blogspot.com) 100% accessible for the People First event. I have no idea how to do it and the Wave site that tells me some things about what's wrong with my blog (http://wave.webaim.org/) has no clues about what to do to fix it. I'm going to research this, but any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

What do you want to happen

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:56:35 -0500

I write blogs about disabilities regularly. Do you want something special for the 24th

rights to all man

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:45:56 -0500

How well that I live in a country where no one that disability is not ashamed. "Their generous health, nobody would know as taste, until you fail .. " But as I have health restore you, everyone learns this manner.

be-B : Braille Education Ball teaches kids braille

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:32:36 -0500

be-B (Braille Education Ball) allows users (both blind and sighted) to learn Braille letters in a fun and playful way! The ball has 26 magnetically attaching pegs on it (one for each letter of the alphabet). One side of the peg has a Braille letter on it, while the other side shows the corresponding Latin letter. The ball also has 26 indented circles on it, each with a Braille letter. There is a raised line on the side of each peg and underneath each Braille letter on the ball to orient users as to which side is down. The object of the "game" is to match each Braille peg to its corresponding spot on the ball. The toy also has an electronic device in it that "speaks" the letter that is touched on the ball and which emits a chime when a Braille peg is correctly matched with its corresponding letter on the ball. Both fun and educational, be-B is a toy that turns learning into a challenging game that engages multiple senses and encourages cognitive development. Suitable for ages 3 and up. The description of this Game Changer comes from http://www.design21sdn.com/competitions/26/entries/9450/gallery/55038

My story...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:00:41 -0500

As we moved into the month of July...the coming Bloggers Unite event is.....Empowering People with Disabilities. However, I have sahred my story on my blog of how a colleague's struggle to come to term...

Apology

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:21:13 -0500

Hi, A while ago, I wrote that this event excludes people with disabilities by the language used int he E-mail reminder. I made a lot of noise about that, and, that way, was corrected several times that the "You" that is addressed, may be people with disabilities, and that therefore we aren't being excluded. I want to apologize fo rmy mis interpretationa nd for the fact that I may've given this event a bad name by my commentary.

good post

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:03:10 -0500

this post is has BloggersUnite in supporting people with disabilities and the groups who work to empower them by raising awareness the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has done much to eliminate the barriers and discrimination people thelmadebock musical instruments

Web Accessibility

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:22:37 -0500

I'm a little disappointed to see that a page promoting the empowerment of people with disabilities does not pass the Web Accessibility Evaluation tool. (http://wave.webaim.org/)

developmental disabilities

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:46:17 -0500

I have a special interest in developmental disabilities and mental illness especially as portrayed in the media. There is so much misunderstanding and stigma. Sometimes, I think that people do not include them in their idea of disabilities, but some do. Having worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness for 20 years, I have a unique perspective.

My Disabled Friends

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:31:41 -0500

I shall share my experiences on my blog nearer the date. I hope more organization will take in such people or allow them to work from home. The new word is Corporate Social Responsibility and empowering people is one of them.

Nice Event

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:56:54 -0500

This upcoming event will have a significant impact on me because I'm undergoing dialysis treatment and considered by our society as partially disabled. Though I firmly believe that I am not but I still support these kinds of advocacy. More Power!

Badge

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:29:15 -0500

I see badges with no html codes.

Excluding people with disabilities

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:42:33 -0500

Jason, I have to comment on your E-mail nnouncement, in which you write: "By sharing stories of how you, a friend, a colleague, or maybe a family member have dealt with the challenges of living with a disability, we can raise awareness about this issue and bring down some of the barriers to equal accessibility and participation that exist today for people with disabilities." This language excludes people who have disabilities themselves. Even though I am not a family member, friend or co-worker, I'd still like to participate. This language excludes me as a person with a disability, while your aim was to empower us. Would you please change it?

People first!

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:41:51 -0500

I do not consider being an Aspie as a disability. I consider my Aspergers as a 'hidden' disability and most importantly, another way to look at life from a unique perspective! I support this community effort on Bloggers-Unite! I look forward to reading about what everyone feels most passionate about! -hugs- AIDY

Bravo

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:30:31 -0500

As the mom of a child with cerebral palsy, I know all too well about how the world views people (and kids) with disabilities. Sometimes, it's disheartening—but I feel empowered to change perceptions by blogging. And blog, I do! So glad you've organized this. Ellen http://lovethatmax.blogspot.com

Unite For Site

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:17:34 -0500

I was researching organizations that serve people who are disabled and came across http://www.UniteForSite.org What really is impressive about UniteForSite is that they are driven by social entrepreneurship and 100% of all donations go directly to providing eye care for patients living in extreme poverty." What a refreshing and enlightened way to run a non profit organization. Unite For Sight's Goal: To sponsor 41,000 sight-restoring surgeries by year-end 2010. 32,509 To Date! Unite For Sight supports eye clinics worldwide by investing human and financial resources in their social ventures to eliminate patient barriers to eye care. If you are wondering what cause to blog about, UniteForSight.org seems like an organization that deserves our support. http://www.uniteforsight.org/ http://twitter.com/uniteforsight

Empowering People With Disabilties

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 02:26:22 -0500

I love it!!!!! We wanted to be treated normal that's all we have ever asked. I didn't know there was anything out there like this. This is so cool. I am disabled and I can't work. But when I did work I was judged because I couldn't keep up with everybody else. It sucked. I have Crouzon's Disease and Apert's Syndrome. I have 2 websites if you want to come and visit or even join. http://chronicillnessandfriends.webs.com and http://shareyourchronicillnesscorner.ning.com I am for the EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES!!!! Tricia

Not a Happy Story

Fri, 21 May 2010 13:16:57 -0500

Because of problems with doctors that don't have a clue, they are forcing me into a wheelchair. So there may be lots of bitching about the Modern Deities, or as I refer to them, Hounds from Hell. I've just started a new blog thepaingame.org, the Diary of Puppet Legs, and I'll try to direct it to more positive reflections. My mentor in my Master's Program was disabled, and I took all of his classes. He let me teach the computer portion of statistics; that course was his baby and he gave me some great gifts. As far as empowering someone like me, well, I certainly won't get that from the medical community.

Badge???

Tue, 18 May 2010 02:48:48 -0500

Where is the badge about this event???

Great!

Thu, 13 May 2010 03:22:30 -0500

This is a great cause! Glad someone made this event. http://mandykrzywonski.blogspot.com

this..

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:48:51 -0600

this new for me....