ilivewithadisability.com

I’ve got advocacy on the brain lately:  how to do it, who does it and when it should be done.  Lots of ideas are floating around, but I’m still trying to solidify everything.  I’m co-facilitating the next round of advocacy workshops at disABILITY LINK; the name of the course is “take ACTION!”. It will be an eight week course that helps participants get in touch with their inner advocates. Read the rest of this entry →

I want to explore additional outdoor activities for the disabled. Many of us feel confined and we don’t feel a sense of value; truly this is the opposite. All of us are “value-able” and we have capabilities. We just don’t know where to turn or may not have the opportunity. I realize that many of you don’t have the resources. I am an advocate for promoting that the disabled can and should be allowed to explore outdoor sports and recreation. It is vital to a better quality of life and self worth. Read the rest of this entry →

There are many recreational opportunities for the disabled. Many states have improved access to fishing, with wheel chair ramps and hand rails. Recreation.gov is an excellent site to explore areas to go. I am an avid outdoor enthusiast: I have hunted, fished, snowmobiled, and done thousands of miles of back country off road ATV’ing and dirt biking. I retired last year from my dirt bike and have not hunted for many years, due to my disability. Read the rest of this entry →

Valentine’s Day is here once again. Normally I’m not really into the whole thing, but this year I am. I suppose it has a large part to do with recently meeting and moving in with my new love. My sweetie is disabled too, and we found one another on the dating website, disabled4dating. This is my dating story of fear, taking chances, being honest, and finding love. Read the rest of this entry →

Unbeknownst to many people, especially those with very low incomes – if you are disabled, there are services available that can provide you with assistance in your area. Usually, every state has a different organization – the name might be slightly different with each state; however, in the state of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services will provide testing & determine if a person with my disability classification (severe to profound) would be eligible for assistance with hearing aids (or whatever your disability may be).
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ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Initiated in NY in 2007, the festival presents award winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout each hosting city. Read the rest of this entry →

This month, you can help bring something positive into the world. New York rock/pop outfit, Lachi and Meridian Gold (http://www.lachimusic.com/) are enlisting the help of fans, new and old alike, to pitch in to make their upcoming full-length album possible with a Kickstarter campaign. Read the rest of this entry →

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) began as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week in October of 1945.  The name for the observance has since been changed to reflect the fact that not all disabilities are physical in nature. The observance that began 65 years ago highlighted the contributions of persons with disabilities, however, it did not discount that persons with disabilities had not been contributing to their communities the many years before the creation of NDEAM. Read the rest of this entry →

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services are an important part of the job search for people with disabilities. Generally, those who are receiving Supplemental Security Income, (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are considered eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation programs. Read the rest of this entry →

In keeping with this month’s theme of disability employment awareness, I would like to share various resources that may either help you in your current position or in job seeking. This article focuses on information for job seekers, and I have included some organizations and websites that may be useful in finding rewarding employment. Finding a job is hard enough in these times of high unemployment; however, I believe we can all find satisfying work with a little effort. Read the rest of this entry →