people with disabilities - INDEX

Tag: people with disabilities

16
Aug
2012

Wellness Center offers Alternative Healing to People with Disabilities

I sat on the couch opposite Dr. Maria Broderick in her new offices. The red and brown earth tones in the room released my concerns of the day. The room glowed in the hue of the light of the setting sun. It was an appropriate setting to discuss Dr. Broderick’s approach to health and healing, in which she adds alternative therapies to more traditional ones.

I was interested in Dr. Broderick’s work at the Reservoir Family Wellness Center. Dr. Broderick directs the art of acupuncture and herbal medicine for families. She focuses especially on families and their children with disabilities.

An integrative approach that works

From the beginning of a child’s life, if that child is born with a disability, parents often receive mixed messages. Dr. Broderick has dedicated her life to helping these families and children by using an integrative approach to caring.

Dr. Broderick specializes in working with children on the autism spectrum and has been successful in addressing a common issue with these children: sensory impairment. One of the ways she treats sensory impairment is through a method called Qigong.

Qigong offers a new method of healing

Years of research show that Qigong Sensory Training can reduce sensory impairment. It can also improve adaptive behaviors in children. Dr. Broderick explains.

“Through Qigong Sensory Training, parents can realize the opportunity to direct their love for their children and their desire for closeness into an intervention that requires only their hands, their heart, their persistence and a few simple instructions to deliver.”

Very simply, qigong provides a way of touching that is not corrective or punitive. Caregiver and child do specific exercises together as a way to expend energy, bond more deeply and grow beyond the developmental delay. This method of healing helps parents learn how they can contribute, through their healing touch, to the health of their child.

Making life more joyful

“My purpose in life is to help anyone whose life is touched by autism and special needs…I want to help find the latest and greatest information available. There are so many ways to save time, money and frustration while making life easier, better and more joyful.”

Dr. Broderick is someone you can count on to help you to support the best vision of the healthy development of our children; all of our children.

25
Jul
2012

Voting Resources for People with Disabilities

categories: Voting & Government

This month we have learned why it is important to vote, especially in this year’s elections. Our blog this week gives you all the resources you will need to get out there now and vote with confidence.

Getting Started?

GoVoter.org is the website for SABE‘s National Technical Assistance Center for Voting and Cognitive Access. The many resources on this site assist protection and advocacy systems, election officials and people with disabilities to make voting accessible for all citizens.

RegistertoVote.org
Haven’t registered? Here you will find an online voter registration form for Massachusetts.

Where to Vote & to Locate Your Legislators
will identify your elected officials and voting location.

Voting for Persons with Disabilities has information about accessible polling places, voting procedures and voting equipment in Massachusetts. For information on the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal, visit AutoMARK video

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Voting Resources
has useful booklets and PowerPoint presentations about voter registration and civic participation.

Ready to Get Involved?

What is important to you? View public service announcement about voting and make your vote count.

Massachusetts Legislative Bills and Laws offers information on existing bills and laws in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts on Ballotpedia provides nonpartisan information on Massachusetts ballot news.

League of Women Voters/Mass is a well respected citizens’ organization that encourages community involvement and hosts political forums in various communities.

Project Vote Smart
Learn about candidates before you vote. Gives relevant, unbiased information on candidates and officials. Select “Vote Easy” to find out which candidate is most like you.

Congress.org provides information on public policy issues of the day and tips on effective advocacy. Sign up to get their weekly newsletter and an email of your representative’s vote on recent bills.

OpenCongress.org lets you know what’s happening in Congress by providing official government data and news coverage.

For Disability Issues, Explore These Links

Take advantage of what the Arc has to offer; stay informed at arcmass.org

Sign up on their listserv and the Action E-List on Massachusetts Arc Legislative Action Center to be notified when you can make a critical difference on important state issues. Keep up with the latest developments in bills, and the State House Updates / Public Policy debates.

Impacted by Recent Cuts to Disability Services? Know Your Rights is a handy resourceful guide provided by Arc MASS

Mass Families Organizing for Change sponsors conferences, workshops and forums to educate individuals and community members about advocacy, services and local, state and federal resources.

Disability Policy Consortium members have access to advocacy training, lobbying leadership, legislative email alert service, and information on issues of importance. Check out their weekly updates on website.

23
May
2012

Gateway Arts Prepares Young Artists with Disabilities for the Future

categories: Arts & Fun

At Gateway Arts, we understand the need for supporting young people with disabilities through transition. It is a tough time for all of us during these years entering adulthood, and for people with disabilities it can be even tougher.

Yet we have found a creative approach through art that makes a difference. As we have seen time and again, when students at Gateway begin to create, their confidence builds and their potential replaces their disability.

The Power to Grow

One such student is Neri Avraham, who came to Gateway at age 17. Neri attends Newton High School, loves art and has autism. One of his challenges is patience. Waiting for a bus, for example, would annoy anyone, but for him it’s a real ordeal.

Yet when Avraham paints, he can sit and concentrate for hours. He says it’s allowed him to become more comfortable with uncertainty. He’s currently enrolled in classes at Gateway which help him refine the new behaviors and skills he finds through artwork and channel them into his development as a successful artist and adult.

Neri’s mother, a strong advocate for talented young adults with disabilities, says, “…that to be in a regular society is what pushes people to improve” and, “…that it is better to be a tail of a lion than the head of a small animal”. Gateway gives all young people with disabilities the opportunity to be part of the Gateway family and the mainstream art community with the power to grow to their full potential.

Flowering Through Art

Neri loves flowers. A recent acrylic work of his has been described as ‘…a sea of flowers in many shades of blue and purple, sprouting up from grass so green it looks like it’s been showered with sprinklers every day’. His works are exhibited and sold in the Gateway Gallery, online, and at outside venues. He is also training to arrange flowers for events at and away from Gateway.

Gateway accepts diversified funding including the Department of Education, the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, the Statewide Head Injury Program, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and private payment. Gateway is a CARF certified service of Vinfen Corporation which provides additional administrative and clinical support.

More information at www.gatewayarts.org or 617-734-1577/x10 to set up a visit or screening.

02
May
2012

Gateway Arts Studios offer Artists with Disabilities a Place to Grow

categories: Arts & Fun, Employment

For 22 years I have been coming to work at Gateway Arts. I am still impressed by the successful and tight-knit community that I am privileged to be part of, including over 100 talented artists with disabilities and a dedicated staff of professional artists and administrators who together, help make this premier Art Center shine.

Studio provides outlet and income

Since 1973, talented adults with disabilities from diverse backgrounds have been working at the unique Gateway Arts Studio program located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The studio includes people from 18 to 92 years old, with various disabilities; developmental, psychiatric, head injury, visual and hearing impaired and the full autism spectrum disorders. They live in group homes, with their families, or on their own.

As a service for 35 years of the renowned non-profit human service provider Vinfen, Gateway helps these artists earn profits from everything they create. Pieces are sold in a number of venues including the professionally appointed Gateway Gallery, the freestanding Gateway Craft Store, outside venues, online, and through commissioned installations.

The artist first

Coming from a background of art myself, with an MA in Art History from Columbia University and co-founder of a successful art collective, I feel privileged to be able to witness the remarkable creations that emerge daily from the Gateway studios. Here, we see the art and the artist first. Their disability may be part of who they are, but at Gateway it never defines them.

Many adults with disabilities deal with three limiting issues that Gateway’s unique art-centered program helps to eliminate: Stigmatization, Underemployment, and Isolation. Art as a vocation shepherds people into the mainstream with increased self esteem, by providing them with earnings and offering a nurturing community of other artists with disabilities as both colleagues and friends. To paraphrase, sometimes ‘It takes a studio’!

At Gateway, we make art work.

Join us for our blog next week and an intimate look at the amazing stories of some of the inspirational people who make up Gateway Arts.

About the Author

Mona Thaler is the Development, Marketing, and PR Director for Gateway Arts.

01
Feb
2012

Getting Involved in Shriver Center Research: What’s In It for Me?

categories: Research

This month we are pleased to welcome our guest blogger, Elaine Gabovitch, who will share her personal experience as a parent participating in research at the Shriver Center.

The First Time

I remember the first time I signed up my then-10-year-old son for a research study. Combing through local disability listservs to find tips and resources to help him, I came upon a study posting from the Shriver Center about eating and obesity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Something about it caught my eye and caused me to call and find out more. What was it about this particular posting that made me act?

The Timing

Maybe it was because my son was 10 and the timing seemed right. At this age, we had gotten through the earliest, most urgent days of learning about and responding to his disability. We had some things in place that were starting to work. It seemed that we may finally have the time.

The Topic

Maybe it was because the study was eating habits, something that resonated for us. We had struggled through my son eating little more than chicken nuggets and pizza for many years, suffering through gag reflexes from the smells of certain foods. I worried about how to help him eat better. Answering questions might give me a way to make sense of it all, or at least help research learn enough to help kids like mine in the future.

Giving Back

Maybe it was because I wanted to give back to “the village” of people who had helped us. The researchers at the Shriver Center were not the same professionals who assisted our family in the early days, but there was something about helping them understand this thorny problem that felt right.
Whatever the reason was, something tipped my decision scale and we signed up. And it was interesting, fun, and most importantly, easy to do. But the timing had to be right, and we all had to be ready. Once we were, it was a wonderful experience that I encourage families to try.

Years later, I now work at the Shriver Center and think about research a lot. I see many families getting involved in research as I once did. It is gratifying to see them helping to expand Shriver’s knowledge base through taking part in our studies.

There are many reasons to get involved in Shriver Center research that answer the question, “What’s in it for me?” We’ll start to answer that question next week by looking at the Shriver Center’s health promotion studies, such as the one we participated in all those years ago.

About the author

Elaine is the Director of Family & Community Partnerships at the E.K. Shriver Center and an instructor in the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health of UMass Medical School and Family Faculty for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program at the Shriver Center.

07
Dec
2011

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis

categories: Multiple Sclerosis

This month I am pleased to introduce our guest blogger, Dawn Russo, Senior Program Manager of the Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. Dawn will provide a better understanding of MS and the vast array of services available.

There are approximately 400,000 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States and most of us know someone who has been diagnosed. MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. From the list of possible symptoms to its impact on a family, MS is not a simple disease.

Let’s follow Jane as she is diagnosed with MS

Jane is 32 years old. For the past week, she has experienced double vision. When her neurologist completed a full medical history, Jane remembered several years earlier that her hand had felt numb for a week. Numerous tests were given over a period of several months including an MRI that showed two lesions on her brain; a diagnosis of MS was made.

Jane was overwhelmed by the news and afraid for her future. Would she be able to continue working? Have children? It seemed like she had to learn a new language to understand all the terms she was hearing.

Jane searches for information and support

Jane contacted the Information Resource Center (IRC) at the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter. She was unsure what to ask but the Information Specialist started at the beginning. Jane was sent basic information about MS and received a weekly packet through the Knowledge is Power Program. She joined a teleconference for people who are newly diagnosed and learned about symptom management and disclosing her MS.

Over the next few years, Jane stayed informed by reading the Chapter newsletter, attending workshops, and calling the Chapter with questions. She joined a support group and the Chapter helped her find a yoga instructor familiar with MS.

Living with MS

Jane continues to have periodic exacerbations or flare-ups, during which time she experiences a worsening of her symptoms. When this happens, Jane takes time off from work and is treated with steroids. But even with these setbacks, Jane has learned she can still work and have children.

Join us next week as we learn how Jane is doing 10 years later and how the National MS Society supports people living with MS to lead full and enriching lives.

30
Nov
2011

Advisory Committee and Board Resources for People with Developmental Disabilities

categories: Community, Education

CAB member Douglas Russell, Jr. of Worcester with DDS Commissioner Elin Howe and Regional Director, Terry O’Hare.

Here are some great opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to have a voice and share their perspective on advisory and policy making boards.

Citizen Advisory Boards (CABs)

Individuals with intellectual disabilities are encouraged to join the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) . The advisory board meets monthly at the local DDS area office. Citizen Advisory Board members give input on services, share concerns that individuals face and provide suggestions for improving services. Board members also participate in evaluating programs through Family Citizen Monitoring.

As part of the legislative advocacy effort, CAB members also meet with legislators to inform and educate them on important issues. Most importantly, members host recognition events to acknowledge outstanding services.

For additional information about DDS CABs go to Frequently Asked Questions.

Individuals interested in joining a Citizen Advisory Board can obtain a CAB Application or contact Ralph Edwards, the DDS Director of Office of Citizen Leadership, at ralph.edwards@state.ma.us or call (617) 624-7755.

Additional Resources

Boardsmanship Inclusive and Accessible
This workbook from People First of California Inc. clearly explains the role of board members and preparation for serving on a board.

Get on Board and Make Difference
Effective practices for including people with developmental disabilities as new members on boards and committees is presented in this document.

Facilitation Tips
The Board Resource Center provides this “plain language” check-off list for advocates to ensure they have a voice in public policy.

Facilitation Guide
This Guide is for facilitators offering support to people with developmental disabilities on advisory boards.

The Guide – NASDDDS Handbook on Inclusive Meetings and Presentations
The guide includes resources for conducting accessible meetings, presentations and a checklist for involving people with developmental disabilities.

Not Another Board Meeting, Guide to Building Inclusive Decision-Making Groups
This publication is helpful for support personnel working with people with developmental disabilities interested in being involved in decision making groups. To order copies call Becky Thrash at (508) 945-9941 or email ocdd@ocdd.org . You will only be charged for shipping cost.

09
Nov
2011

Being a Board Member is an Honor

categories: Education

This week I introduce Mary Blauvelt as a guest blogger

My name is Mary Blauvelt and I have a developmental disability. But because I have a disability, it doesn’t mean I can’t do the things I want to do.

I go to the Minute Man Arc Day Hab and live at Carter house in West Concord. In my spare time I go to ceramics and chorus. In the last musical I was Tiger Lilly, the Indian princess in Peter Pan. I am also a member of a book club and President of the Minuteman Self Advocacy group. I was also in a walking club until it got too cold.

Becoming a Board Advisor

About a year and a half ago I joined the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Advisory Committee. I have a supporter who brings me to the meetings and helps me when I need help. I like the meetings; I like them a lot. I learn about the things they are doing at Shriver.

At one of the meetings I met John, who came to Minute Man to meet my friends and talk about using computers. It was called a focus group and he wanted to know how easy or hard it was for us to use computers and get on websites. I learned a lot. Now I go into the computer lab at Day Hab and am saving to buy my own in the future.

And a Board Director

I am also very proud to be a member of the Minute Man Arc Board of Directors because everyone can’t be on it. I have a mentor, Liz who talks to me about the agenda before the meeting and helps me at the meetings if I need her. It is an honor. We learn about the programs, and talk about how to make things better

Contributing to the community

I think the other board members like hearing what I have to say. I also get to vote which feels good because everyone doesn’t get a chance to vote on certain things. It is a good way to let your voice be heard.

Even if you are a person with a disability, you can still be on a board. No one can turn you down because you have a disability, but you should be prepared. You can go to a training like I did or maybe just try it out and go to a meeting first to see if you like it. Whatever you do, you should know about the different issues facing people with disabilities today.

19
Oct
2011

Understanding Vision Loss and Legal Blindness

categories: Blindness & Visual Impairment

Ever wonder what the term “legally blind” means?

There is much confusion about legal blindness, since most individuals who are legally blind have some functional vision and their eyes may look perfectly fine. Legal blindness ranges from low vision to total blindness.

Determining legal blindness

When describing a person’s vision, most people are familiar with the term, “acuity”, meaning how clear or blurred a person’s vision is compared to others. To be registered as legally blind in Massachusetts, an individual must have vision acuity of 20/200 or less in their better eye with the best possible correction (eyeglasses/contacts).

Let’s compare this to a person with 20/20 vision.

If an individual has 20/20 vision, they can see something at 200 feet clearly. If they have 20/200 vision, they must be only 20 feet away to see the same object as clearly as the individual who is 200 feet away.

The second measurement of legal blindness is a field loss of 10 degrees or less in the better eye. Other visual functions impacting vision loss are: Contrast Sensitivity, how clear or clouded the vision is; Motility, how the eyes move together or not and Cerebral vision, how the brain processes images. All these visual functions impact an individual’s vision impairment differently.

Causes and signs of vision loss

Low vision may be due to different eye diseases and/or health conditions. Some major causes of vision loss are Age Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetes, or Glaucoma (See illustrations below). Vision, once lost, cannot usually be restored so getting regularly eye exams is very important to keeping healthy vision. Most vision loss is gradual, painless and unnoticed until a significant vision loss occurs.

Signs of vision loss may include difficulty recognizing faces, inability to read road signs, and difficulty reading print. Complaints may range from ‘lights seem dimmer” or “it’s never bright enough”. Other signs may involve bumping or tripping over items; spilling or leaving food on the plate. For individuals with limited communication skills, new negative behaviors may indicate a recent vision loss.

Role of vision professionals

When telling an individual the news that they are legally blind, many doctors will say nothing can be done to ‘fix’ the person’s vision. This may be true, but there are also many vision professionals who make it easier for their patients transitioning into the world of vision loss.

In next week’s blog we will discuss resources and services available for someone with vision loss, to make it easier for you or someone you know.

28
Sep
2011

Healthy Sexuality / Relationship Resources for People with Disabilities

categories: Education, Health

Here are some helpful sexuality / relationship resources for people with disabilities, professionals, educators, and parents.

Helpful Links

Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and Disability Resource Guide 2011
Be sure to bookmark this new resource link listed on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s website. Here you will find a treasure trove of information that includes curricula, trainings, websites, help-lines, support groups, books and CD/DVDs appropriate for both youth and adults with a wide range of disabilities.

NICHCY – Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities’ site includes various resources for parents and educators. Scroll down page to find materials with specific disabilities in mind.

Sexuality & Disability:A Guide for Parents
This guide is provided by Alberta Health Services for parents of child, teen and adults.

Relationship Groups for Men & Women with Developmental Disabilities

The following agencies in Massachusetts offer group sessions on relationship and sexuality topics for men and women with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Options and Possibilities in Reading
Contact Paula Thompson LICSW at 781-454-7824 or optionspossibilities@gmail.com
Lifelinks in Chelmsford
Oct. 5, 2011, Parent Training, 6pm – 8 pm
Oct. 15, 2011, Seminar for individuals with disabilities, 9am – 2pm
Contact Rachel Ward-Sullivan at 978-349-3040 or rwardsullivan@lifelinksinc.net

Trainings / Learning & Development for DDS Support Staff

Human Sexuality, Relationship and Social Skills training of Trainer Series
Pat Carney provides this annual eight week session to DDS agency and provider staff. This is also available to a limited number of other related professionals.
Contact patricia.carney@state.ma.us with questions.
To register call 413-284-5082 or email Jeffrey.Monseau@state.ma.us

Sexuality Educators
The following professional teams offer sexuality training for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in agencies, school systems and on an individual basis.

Diane E. Westerman
IN2UHealthyRelationships
401-499-5231 or westwooman@aol.com
Ken Renaud
IN2UHealthy Relationships
401-785-2100 or in2uhealthyrelationships.com
Will travel to any part of Mass/RI/eastern CT
Rebecca H. Barry
508-505-6188 or rbarry@arcnbc.org
Mary Ellen Goodwin
508-446-5112 or Maryellen@betacomm.org
Will travel anywhere in Mass/RI