Disability Discount

 Image  description   A group of white rubber tees.  

 Yesterday, I went to my local driving range.  This is the same place where I play for Special Olympics and  where I played in high school.  I needed a rubber tee, the one pictured above.  So I went to the pro shop. The guy gave me one for free
 Now  I felt awkward accepting this for free because I am able to pay. I feel like he gave me it because I am disabled.  After  I was doneI  went back and he insisted this I did not pay.I  wish that I could have paid because I do not want to be pitied I want to be considered  a regular person who is expected to pay.  For me  being seen as an adult is something that I am struggling with lately.

31 for 21 Day Five : Laying the foundation

  I have been playing golf   since  2007.   I  first learned about the sport   through  Special  Olympics.  My first year I  started  playing I  was in  skills and I could not hit the ball over  100  ft.

First   golf event with Special Olympics 2007

 After  two months  I  decided that I wanted  to play for my high school  team.  My  dad thought it was foolish  but he  drove me  to the course  anyway. The  coach was a former  special education teacher and  felt that he could  handle  a teenager  with disabilities and   let me on the team.  By saying  yes to me  he allowed me to become a part of the golf team  he also  laid  the foundation for  something  magical  to happen    a  Monday  night   in  August.  

 Good  chip 

     Now  I am  pretty good at golf,  I can  hit the ball  over  one  hundred  feet and   hit  really  good chip shots .    I  now no longer play skills,  I now  play  unified  golf.   Unified Golf is where   a person with a disability  plays alongside a person without disabilities  and  mentors  them  as  they  develop their skills   to play  individually.   I  really thought that my  partner would  be the same one as  last year but   she had work commitments. I asked   a girl on my  high school  golf team if she would be willing to play  with me.  She  couldn't , but she did come out to play with me  one  night.

   That  night  I played the best game of my life.  I  got two  great chips and  great drives.   I also  was  able to connect  with a peer who is quickly becoming my friend.  We were not close friends   in high school , but we  were able to  reconnect,  She  originally lived on my street but moved  to another city. Being on that  team  laid  the foundation for us   to play together .

   I know  a lot of  families of kids with disabilities who have to fight for  inclusive education.   My heart breaks for these families and their  kids.  I also feel very angry because educators  need to understand that   school  is more  than  test scores and academic honors.   It is  the center of a child's life.  Friends  come  from school experience  when   people  ship  students   off to another  place   there is no  foundation for  friendships to form between those with and without disabilities.  I am not saying that these friendships will  form while in school, but they  could,  but  as  people   grow and mature  and  see  their surroundings in a new  way  they might want to become  friends with  people  with disabilities, but if they did not have  the  chance to attend school  with people  who did  have disabilities   they will not know  where to look.   

 Inclusion  lays the foundation for   friendships.



 Tune in tomorrow for  a book giveaway

Unified Golf

             

         The  red ball is   part of  a campaign to get more people involved in Unified Sports. I thought I would share my  reflections from my first Unified golf tournament   Its an event to   encourage people to play unified.



 In August I played in my first Unified golf tourment. It had a  fun time.  I  got to know a fellow female golfer I will  call her Kim.  Kim is actually step mom to a guy  I went  to high school with.  We were even  able to meet up and practice on a  friday night. Which got me out of the house.    I  love  golf a lot.  I  played  golf in high school on the  practice team.

The Unified  golf it self is really  cool. It was the first time I played on the course in a tournament so  it  made it really exciting    I played Ok.  I had some bad shots but Kim was able to help me refocus and play.    We got sliver but I would say that  the other two teams were similarly matched.    I  really  wish  the special olympics  season was a little bit longer.    Our season was only eight weeks  long.  My  goal for next season is to play 9 hole individual  round.    Speaking of next year I really hope that I will be able to  make the trip down to  LA  next year  to watch the opening ceremonies next year.

 Here are some more  pictures

 WE both got medals because we both played hard. 

 On the course selfie

AZ's Week in review

  So today   I am showing you  the second  week of August  week in  review.
  That week  my dad got a weird  app  that repeated back  what he said in a monkey voice.  I played  golf three times.
















 Now   for  those of you that are new   here.  I started playing golf when  I was 15, the summer before sophomore year.  I  was actually on the practice

 team for three years.    Here is a  post  I wrote  back on my old blog.

October 9th 2009

Last Saturday was the Special Olympics play day. I love this day. It is for preschooler with special needs. There is basketball, bowling, dancing, biking, running, arts and crafts, parachutes and golf.

If anyone has not heard today golf became a Olympic sport. Golf is one of my favorite sports. I have played golf for the local Special Olympics and for my high school for the past three years. I love playing golf for my school. GO is really great guy he gets it. He is a former special education teacher who believes in inclusion. GO has let me play on the practice team and although I have never played a match I get to play on the course. He sometimes pushes me hard to do things I do not want to do. (More on this latter)He lets me be on the team. I may not play in the match however I have a uniform and am involved in all the fundraising and it means a lot to me . I love golf I may not be the best but I like it all the same.

So as I watched the little kids with disabilities play mini golf . There is that glimmer of hope for inclusion on a golf team in high school . The kid may only be on the prat ice team like I have been,but the kid will earn a spot through hard work. Like I am trying to do on Tuesday rain or shine. Although sun will be better. No matter if I play or not there will still be hope for the little kids because of GO. It is amazing how one person can give a glimmer of hope.

Cerebral Palsy Party Day 15: golfing

    

 Hay guys  so today's photo to end out the week  will be from the first time I played golf.  

 Ok so its not  real golf but  mini golf.    I really enjoyed  playing  here.  Besides  mini golf they had   go carts,  an arcade, and bumper boats.  This was a really fun center.  I  was sad when they had to close this fun-land. 

 I continue to play golf for Special Olympics  and  was on my high school golf team.   

 Don't forget to comment before you leave. 

PS  Happy  World Down Syndrome Day. 

There is hope

One thing before I start. My back is spasming so any prayers for a quick recovery will be much appreciated.

Last Saturday was the Special Olympics play day. I love this day. It is for preschooler with special needs. There is basketball, bowling, dancing, biking, running, arts and crafts, parachutes and golf.

If anyone has not heard today golf became a Olympic sport. Golf is one of my favorite sports. I have played golf for the local Special Olympics and for my high school for the past three years. I love playing golf for my school. GO is really great guy he gets it. He is a former special education teacher who believes in inclusion. GO has let me play on the practice team and although I have never played a match I get to play on the course. He sometimes pushes me hard to do things I do not want to do. (More on this latter)He lets me be on the team. I may not play in the match however I have a uniform and am involved in all the fundraising and it means a lot to me . I love golf I may not be the best but I like it all the same.

So as I watched the little kids with disabilities play mini golf . There is that glimmer of hope for inclusion on a golf team in high school . The kid may only be on the prat ice team like I have been,but the kid will earn a spot through hard work. Like I am trying to do on Tuesday rain or shine. Although sun will be better. No matter if I play or not there will still be hope for the little kids because of GO. It is amazing how one person can give a glimmer of hope.

A coach who premotes inclusion

      I am soo lucky that  I have a coach  who truly  believes  that anyone can    play and support there school.    This year  golf had a  a lot of  new comers so I thought I was  history.  GO is  not cutting  anyone but for finical  reasons  he is not going to  take everyone out for  matches  or    practice on the course. Go   has   a  good heart he   knows  about   my changes  but is  willing to do all he    can to  help  me  learn the game that he loves.       A lot of   coaches   have    cut me but  not GO.  I am thinking of writing a poem to him explain how    he  has helped be  belong  but   that will have to  come  latter.    

got pic from  http://www.ci.orono.mn.us/images/Recreational%20Facilities/Golf%20cartoon.gif

golf is gone gone gone

Friday night my golf team had a end of the year party at nicks pizza. I went to this instead of a Dr appointment as was really glad I went. It turns out one of th golfers knew the people at the pallor and got the space for free. I had so much fun playing video games eating pizza listening to the gals talk after inhaling helium from the balloons (Its really funny) and with help I was able to do it too playing football and surpisesing K a senior who was team captain and will be off in Collage next year. (We will miss you K come back and visit) I had a lot of fun this season and can't wait for next season. Coach G O was really patient. Any coach needs that when teaching me a new sport and I gave him a lot of hugs during the season. He told me that despite the fact I don't have him in pe he will make a point to stay in contact with me and might be a Unified parter for me this summer in SO golf. If I get premisson from the team I might post pics online and might make a montage.