Year in Review

  Hay  guys  it seems like the year  was  just started  yesterday but as I  write this its the day before  New Years eve. 2014 has  flown by  and it was a  great  year . I hope that I can  have   a  great  year   in 2015.  

  Now there is  a lot of  great stuff that happened in 2014  here are the monthly  highlights  complete with pictures.

 Let's Go  Niners

 January 2014 :  Took  my  mom out to dinner and  paid for it making me the first child to do that. I got a new basketball and a nice 49 sweatshirt and hat,
 February 2014 :   Watched   the  Superbowl  with  Mexican  Food .   My  old b ball coach came to see me  play in a tournament.








 March 2014:    Had the  best weekend ever at the  TASH  Conference a
nd  got a   cool t shirt to celebrate  World  CP  Day.

March 2014 

April 2014 : Celebrated  Easter by   going to Cream. Competed in Shot Put for the  first time  ever with the special olympics.  I also  went to the beach,

May 2014:  Celebrated  my sister's  b day  by  hanging in  SF

June 2014: Started summer  school and  learned  that "Individual differences  reign
 supreme.  Saw the para olympics at my  jc.

July2014:     I cut my  hair on the fourth of July.  Celebrated my  Dad's b day by  going out  for  lunch and  feeding  the ducks.  Watched the World Cup  and  chugged a shot of  alcohol before  throwing it up.  I also  went to the movies with  LM

August 2014 :    Went to a giants  game.  Took a final   while my mom was away and aced it. I  attended  Motown the musical with my sister and  my mother.   I     also  played in my first Unified  golf  game hosted  by Special Olympics. My  team mate and I  got  sliver

Halloween 2014

September  2014:   I turned 23   and took the  ALS  Ice bucket challenge.


October 2014:      I had a blast at  Big  Wave  and helped make the day  fun.  I  was  paid in two  free spray painted  pumpkins .  I  won the JC  costume contest as an orange crayon and  went to two special needs Halloween Parties. The  Giants won the World Series

 November  2014: I got my first  job at the bookstore.  Had a wonderful Thanksgiving  at  my house My   Aunt L  Uncle M  C and R  came down.

 I beat  C in a game of Parcheesi 

December2014:   My  grandma comes to visit.  I get  my first pay check and use it to buy a golf  bag  and I gave my mom 200 dollars for being my mother.I MET TIM SHRIVER.  I had an awesome christmas  week with my grandma and cousins and had a X - Men Movie Marathon . .


Over all its  been a great  year.

 Here are some  post that are worth looking  at  from  2014



  The  Solution is Inclusion
 The  Power of Choice
 Inclusion Matters because

The power of Choice

  So   college  for me has  been a bumpy  ride to say the least.     From  being   terrified on my first  semester  of college to  powering through  to  the horrible inaccessible  experience at the  private university  down the street from my house.   Its been very hard.




  What makes it even harder was that I  believed  I  had no choice.  

 First Pay Check  12/15/ 14

      You  see as a disabled person  you do not  really get choices.  Ok  sure I had  the option of   choosing what I wanted  to eat and stuff but  the big ones i did not have a say.   In  high school I did not  have a say  where I wanted to work  and  messed up  on the job.   Back in  November  I  applied to a place  I have always wanted to work ever since I  went to  visit colleges back in high school.  I wanted to  work at the book store.   In  November  I got my wish.   This past week  I got my first pay check  and it felt good to earn money.  I am  one of the best workers.  I  take my job seriously and  am  learning a ton about the book business.   This is a far cry to  the placements  I had in high school.  I  chose what  I  wanted  to do.


 Now back to colleges, My  faith has been tested and if you asked me on  Friday morning will  I  finish college?  The  answer was.

  I do not know.

 A good problem to have 

  It has been  really hard to go through school with people that are ablest and who are not patient. I felt that I did not have a choice because when I  went in the spring  to apply to another school my parents  said no  i had to go  back to school that i hated. So  I did this past fall.  I took one class  from a teacher  whose cousin had CP.  So they understood me and helped me out with the projects  and  did not  think  anything of it.  I  had a fantastic  time there.  Which was  saying a lot.  I  always  felt respected. I  even had fun,

  Dealing with the administration was very hard though. After my advisor  was not nice to me  I   got  really sad.  It took a week to  recover  but I did.

     The day before thanksgiving I went to my advisor at the JC  who told me that I still had time to apply to CSU.  I thought i missed the deadline. I  got  right on it and was able to  apply before the window closed at the end of the month.

   On friday  I  got into  my first choice of schools for the fall of 2015.  I  am  soo happy.  I have options  I have  choice.



            I CAN NOW SAY  THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF  I  FINISH COLLEGE  BUT  WHEN  I FINSH COLLEGE.



   

 Now I have to chose my  path just like Pocahontas.  I might be able to finish  faster if  I stay at the private school but at least now  I have a backup plan
  This  was my favorite movie in Pre School.  Probably because  Pocahontas had my same skin tone 

  To all parents of children with disabilities  please  give your children choices, Teach them that  their voice matters.  Ask them what they want to be when they grow up and help them  get there.    Everyone should be given the power of choice.   Presume that all children can make choices.   Do not   try to guess what they  want  because you could be dead wrong.  Give them the tools and confidence to know that they can change the world.




 Got  Images from

http://www.manataka.org/images/Choices%201.jpg





https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wBMloVl1WxJTmipjLGbg3M9YAM9BJyLWBcFKoAZm0HAVtHymHtH5QITnIP2yMB1w_g5PnhXZ_Jk0vMDOxxIO288SGwMAA8dL-XC64hiWrc4oJ6pezIyR1yUZr3E08MjsU6HszYxmgIzs/s1600/compass.jpg

Week in review

 First paycheck   Hung out with friends a great week 

AZ week in review

 This week i turned in a essay  saw my grandma survived a storm  

Week in review

This week I took the bus to meet tim shriver 

Inclusion matters because __________________

  Hay  guys  so this week is Inclusive Schools Week

  I  asked  people to  fill in the blank with their own words.
                          Inclusion matter because ____________________________.



  Here  is  what   Parents that have children with disabilities    said.

Inclusion matters because my daughter is no less of a person than yours.

 Inclusion matters because disability is a normal part of life.

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  the sentience flow better )

"Inclusion matters because everyone needs to feel like they fit in somewhere."

"Inclusion matters because it works!"

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  sense )

"Inclusion matters because it enriches everyones life."

It matters because it allows everyone to have the chance to become the people they are meant to be. Because each of us are divine and sacred and with inclusion we send that message.

 Inclusion matters because  it means we are all equal 

Inclusion matters because disabilities are part of the human experience. We all have different abilities, strengths, weaknesses. Inclusion matters because we teach all students that we need to embrace and accept all people no matter their differences, and that when we all work together, we all benefit from the experience. Inclusive schools foster the building of an inclusive society.

 Inclusion matters because   everyone wants to be included






Inclusion matters because my daughter is no less of a person than yours.

 Inclusion matters because disability is a normal part of life.

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  the sentience flow better )

I asked  people I know  and  this is  what they said 

 A local mom who has a child  with CP said

Inclusion matters because we all have to live in this world together, the earlier everyone learns that the better

 An Author who wrote a book about inclusion said.

 Inclusion matters because we all live together, work together and play together. We don't have special towns, special jobs...so there should be no special education. Only services." The author of Who's the Slow Learner who I met this past March.  

My Uncle , says.

"Inclusion matters because humans are not solitary animals. The need for togetherness is strong in our species."

 

My  second grade   teacher says

"Inclusion matters because all individuals disabled or not,should be entitled to equal opportunity, choice and equal access to education, and community resources."







What I Say

Inclusion matters because separate is not equal. We all only have one life so its important to make the most out of it. Inclusion allows people with disabilities a chance to have memories. As I look back on my school years, my favorite memories happened alongside peers. I enjoyed going on field trips in elementary school. I enjoyed science experiments in high school. I went to prom. I learned about our countries history. I wrote stories. In short I had a childhood similar to those in my town. Inclusion also matters because it means that future generations may not be as ablest as previous generations and it gives me confidence to explore my community on my own because although I may be different , I have been taught that this is much my world as an able bodied person.

Pleas note if your child's photo is up here it is because someone gave me their photo to =use if you want it taken down let me know asap by leaving a comment or emailing me at azchapman1991@gmail.com

Thanksgiving weekend

Weekinreview Thankagiving week 2014

AZSWEEKINREVIEW

This week was spent working on a essay and preparing for next week 

world premature day

I was a primmee.I wanted to see the world I just had a mind of my own even then.  Some things never change 😜

AZ 's week in review

This week I ordered a pizza to my house and answered the door when nobody else was home. Took my parents out for lunch and paid.  Yestereday i went to my college basketball game we loss but I had fun.now to finish homework and prepare for  my first full week of work!!!

Week in review

This week I  honored my grandpas.Got my first job at my jr college and  gave back to the dsps program that means so much to me. 

Week in review

This was a great week! On Wednesday i won a costume contest at my jr college and the sf giants won the world series.On hollween I went to two halloween parties it was a great week overall!

Foot cramps

Hay  guys so i have been having foot cramps more often i have had them for the past three days.def something thats been bothering me this week. A part of the cerebral palsy. Hoping it gets better asap

I won

The costume contest at my jr college pic will be shown on Friday 

Being responsible

So last night I brought toliet paper for the house. It felt good to be responable. Being responsible is  a sign of growing up. I will be a responsible  tax paying citzen who happens to be disabled. Set your sights high because if you don't your child wont get there.

Got off Facebook 

Peacocks

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my grandfathets death a year ago today there was a live  peacock in my grandparents backyard peacocks have been special to my family ever since 

Miss you grandpa 

Week in review

This week I  took Zoe to a newlocation on our walk I went to the places where I got pt and ot on Thursday night  Princess came home and on Friday night.I went with her and my parents to the football game at Levistadium.Today  we went to see Dear White people it was an good movie that made  some good points. 

Today is also the one year anniversary of my grandfathers death.I will blog more about this  tomorrow  for now here is a picture of me and him 

Week in review

This week I  took Zoe to a newlocation on our walk I went to the places where I got pt and ot on Thursday night  Princess came home and on Friday night.I went with her and my parents to the football game at Levistadium.Today  we went to see Dear White people it was an good movie that made  some good points. 

Today is also the one year anniversary of my grandfathers death.I will blog more about this  tomorrow  for now here is a picture of me and him 

I definitely know nonverebal communication

Today at starbucks

Az gestures behind her mom at the male baresta 

Mom: what 

AZ smiles 

Translation the guy is cute 

A pic to end the week

 This is  in sf to support the Giants I like it because it's orange tonight is there first home game for the World Series. I won't  be watching though because I am  going to see the ducks play cal in football at Levi's stadium.  

Let's go giant. Ducks

Been busy

I have been busy this week sorry for not writing much here is a pic from yesterday 

Proof that Inclusion can work ( a new label)

   Hay  guys  I am  going to start inclusion tag called  Proof that  Inclusion  can work    This is the first  post.   This post will be of successful inclusion stories and video. I am most likely going to  speak on inclusive ed   for  my public speaking class at  my jr college. So I am gathering information  now.    Here is the first link.




   PS if you have an inclusion success story   email me  azchapman1991@gmail.com  you  can be featured on my blog and if  its   soon I might be able to work you into  my speech,

Zoe says

  Lets go  Giants 

More then a job

     

       So there is a new program called I am to  hire.  It's aim  is to encourage employers to hire  people with intellectual disabilities.  The  statistics are stagering about 88 percent of  disabled  adults do not have jobs.  so having jobs is  a good goal but  there needs  to be  more that needs to be said.

Disabled individuals  need more then just a job that they are assigned too by an  agency or school.   Able bodied people get to chose where they want to work  then  they apply.  People with disabilities should be offered  the same choice.  My  work experience was chosen for me  without  my input.  I  really  wanted  to work at  Trader's Joes in  high school, but  I was not given a choice. Instead  I went to Macy's  then to  Barnes and  Noble.  Neither  one of them  were places  that I wanted  to work and  guess  what  I was not motivated to work there.  I  did not complete the job for the whole  year.  The work was really   tedious and  boring.  I  had  to dust the selves and  racks for an hour.  This  was not a pleasant experience and  I had  to miss school

   Disabled individuals  need to make at least  minimum  wage.   It may be legal  but it is not ethical   If people were able to make minimum wage it wouuld cost the goverement  less in SSI.   A nickel an hour  or even a dollor is  not enough for an able bodied so why  is it ok  to pay said ammount  to the disabled.  This does not make senese to me.   The disabled are people first with wants and intrest.  We deserve to be payed at the same rate as our  able bodied counterparts.  It is not  eithical.

  That is  my  two cents for the day.  What are your thoughts?

Week in review

This week Was ok my parents came back safely and I made a mask.I ran up aganst some ableism this week but that is par for the course when you have a visable disability.

Me Too

  Last night I got to see  Yo  Tambien  me too,

 Here is the trailer







  This  is  one of the  best  movies  I have ever seen. The main character  with   DS is portrayed in a great way.  He is  just an ordinary adult  who happens to have DS but  is so similar   to other  young men.      Without giving  too much  way  let me say that this was a movie that tackled ablesim. I will be writing a post on  what ableism means  soon.


  I saw this in  SF  as part of the Reel Abilities film  festival. Might go see another film  tomorrow.

Zoe last night

Have a great weekend

Throwback Thursday Bear Nessecities

Recycled Post: It should not be a fight

  Originally written in 2010 ..  I stand by what I say though 

   I have  seen and heard  Many stories about    parents  who  have to   fight  for there child  to be in   mainstream  and   after  reading such  accounts  I  wonder why  does  it have to be a fight   on there  part    to   let disabled  kids  go to inclusive  school.

My mom  came  to   my  kindergarten  class    when we had our career
  unit I am  sitting on    my  teachers lap   listening to what she does  in the
hospital

I  have always  been  included  since  kindergarten.  It was a no  brainier    for  my  parents  and the  two  school districts  because  I  have   normal    intelligence.      I would not trade      inclusion   for special  education,  (although  I must admit  I  wish  I had  more life skills when I graduated high school ) because I have  met so many wonderful  teachers, students and faculty as well as  being  apart   of   all of my school  communities.  I  have  so  Many great   memories   of     being in the  mainstream  and  going  on  field  trips  and  discovering     new  things.      I  just graduated   from  inclusive  high school  but  have  left behind   a club and lessons  that  others have  learned  from  me.

Ms P  (red)  was my sped teacher  all t
throughout high school here  i am  with her
 halloween 2009

  I have had   help and support   from special  education  teachers and staff  and have  participated in  ST     a  one  to  one aid  and  Work ability   while  being  able  to read    write and  learn  with  people  in my community, people who  live  near  me and     in my city    because  I have  been  in inclusive education

 Field trip  fun.

I   care so much about inclusion  because   Cerebral  Palsy   could  have    caused me  to  have a  intellectual disability  are be     so  disabled  that  the  best  place  for me   would have  been a separate  class  or  a special   needs  school.    I     care because  I  have  friends with   disabilities both online   and in  real life   who are not included . I   see   what  a shame it  is  that  other people will not have the chance  to get to know them.

Art work  2009   the teacher
used  to be a sped  teacher
  I  took  ceramics  during my Senior
year  of high school 

 I have  heard   from a  favorite  teacher of mine that    when  they taught at   another  school the kids with disabilities  were  there  but  they never  got to see  or talk to them.  The kids   missed  out   on getting  to  see   and talk  and  make a connection  with   the  person  who has been  a great   mentor and  friend to me.       The teacher  has been  working as teacher for  a while  but  I  was  their  first    student my   level  of  disability    it was not easy  but    like they  said    at the end of the  year   " Oh  the stories we could  tell"  and     I   am a character in  that story  along with  the  other students.(maybe   mine are the   annoying  and hard stories  but     hopefully there are some great ones of just me and  the whole class) I  have not heard  any  stories  yet from that class  but   I would buy the  book .........I  think.....  lol

 School is not the only  area that  inclusion
  should  apply to but to   all types of  recreation for
  peers of   similar ages. I played  soccer in AYSO    from pre k
 to  8th  grade every fall

 Inclusion     should  not be    so  hard because  unlike a driver's   test which should be  earned because the   result  of     it not  going  badly are deadly     inclusion  dose  not hurt anyone . In fact inclusion  benefits  everyone   involved the students  teacher s and school community.       In    all classes i have been  in  (AP   US history  include)   everyone isn't  at the same level  so why is it that    people  say it is  easier  not  to  have  kids with  intellectual  disabilities   at the  same   classrooms. With   mortifying  assignments    or    simplfilng  the  information     all kids would be able to learn better.  Inculsion   was not  a fight  for me  and should not be a fight for anyone  else.

OCD Awareness week

   I have  OCD.  Those  three  letters  ruined my life. It causes me  a ton of pain and anxiety.  My OCD is also one that isn't  well known.  I have  thoughts that I do not like. It causes me to  have panic attacks and has limited me.  I know  CP  should not prevent me from living independently   I know young adults with CP who have lived  internationally.  For me  i live at home because of OCD.


  To understand what it is like to have  OCD watch Birdy's story.  I was diagnosed with OCD at 15.



I am  geting better at handling it all the time

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