AZ is Amazing

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Able to go to College: Episode ten : The best way to go to school

Going to school with my dog is the best way to go to school. I mean Zoe is really cute and soft.
Anyway about the smart pen.

The Smart Pen is a pen with a tiny recording device that allows people to tape record what anyone is saying. It is a helpful tool for people with disabilities. The best part is if you do not write everything down and miss something you do not have to listen to the whole thing over again. The only drag is that at this point I could not take the pen home because it belong to the school. To learn more about the smart pen click here.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Saying good bye to a difficult year

This year has been one of the hardest years of my life. I have lost two grandpas in addition to meeting people with ablest attitude aka college professors. The past couple of months have been especially hard so I am sorry that I have not had a chance to blog. I hope to keep writing stuff in the New Year.

January :My parents go to Obama's inauguration. I help build a roller coster with C and R. I meet Prof D and he guides me through the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I also had a situation with the cheese burgers.

February I got new glasses and was team ghost busters for Turn of the screw. My parents went to AZ for spring training My father's dream come true.

March . I met up with Steve Wampler again and watched his documentary about climbing El Captain The cougars bring home the gold in 2013 Basketball championship.

April My family gets a new car. Tragedy strikes the special needs blogging community when Gavin passes away suddenly. Aunt L gives me a new hair style

May I graduate CC and get accepted into university.

June
Princess finishes up her freshman year of college. My dad's dad passed away suddenly in his sleep. We celebrate fathers day at my mom's sister's house.

July
I celebrate the forth of July and learn about an emperor who might have had Cerebral Palsy. My mom's dad is told that he is sick. My cousin has another baby.

August
I say the pledge of allegiance and earn another gold medal in golf and receive the best medal ever begin university.

September

I got a personalized orange back pack for my 22 birthday.

October
I am a world CP Champion . I make a Super Hero World CP day. My mom takes me to see the Wizard of Oz. Its a fun night but the mood turns to sadness when a later that month my mom's dad had a stroke and died.

November
I had to say goodbye to my grandfather at his funeral. I attend the ability expo and see demos of wheelchair sports and a super cool new wheelchair. My cousins and I took awesome fall photos for thanksgiving

December
I get to see Dan Habib's new film.

We get new carpet. I got to go to see my first NBA game on Christmass and hang out with C and R . My parents are in Mexico and I can not wait to see them in the new year.

It is bittet sweet to say goodbye to this year because of all the deaths that have happend in my family. But I know that the memories of my grandfathers and Gavin will continue in the new year and beyond.

Note: Sorry I have not posted more on here I am plaining to work on the rest of the Able to go to college posts and should have those up starting in january . I have finished all of them I just have not got a chance to upload them all. I also owe you guys more post. Hopefully I will have time in 2014.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

When Universities are not inclusive

So last post did not get any comments but I did post a question.

The inaccessible
staircase
that leads to campus. I do not take this
often.
I go where the cars
go.

My university is completely inaccessible. Walking up to the campus from the street, I take the bus because I live at home with my parents, You are met with a wooden staircase. You know the wood that cause you to have splinters if you need to use the rail due to compormised balance.
There are only two people that I have seen that use wheelchairs and I am not surprised because there is one building that holds classes does not have a elevator.

Why am I telling you this , well this is the scene of my college and their view of disabled people. This is where I have been attending for the past week and although I do not need an elevator I still have a major disability. I have CP NLD and OCD.

* I have had teachers that do not get it.

* I had a professor make jokes about my hats and then when I explain the fact that I can not do my hair because of Cerebral Palsy. He says whatever

A sad day at school. This was taken in the
beginning of October
:however things never improved they got worse

* I have had an Linguistic teacher say blanket statements such as " Everyone learns language without direct instruction, which invalidates my experience,

* I have had a professor defend the use of the word cripple. She is not a crip thats my word to defend.

* I have had a professor use the R word and then scold me when I bring it to his attention.

* I have had a professor not understand why reading   Beowulf and Canterbury  Tails ( Click on each one to hear how its pronounced )  out loud seem like cruel and unusual  punishment for someone who struggles to speak modarn english.

* I have had a professor force me to take a test that I was not prepared  for.

The last one was the straw that broke my back. i have no intention of going back this semester Its gotten too the point where I do not want to be a teacher anymore.

So what happens  when schools are not inculsive

One of the few fun times that I had in University was
an activity on campus.

" IT MAKES DISABLED STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE AFTERTHOUGHTS. IT MAKES US GIVE UP ON OURSELVES AND LIVE UP TO SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS, IE SHELTER WORKSHOPS, IT MAKES US DEPRESSED AND UNSURE OF OUR FUTURE."

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Inclusive Schools week 2013 : A Question

If I knew what I know now. I do not think I be smiling for the camera .

According to my parents, who are both physicians College is the key to a good life. You need college to have a great job. I believe this and have a lot more to say; however its 11:25 I have class at 12:30 which means that I have to leave but before i do I want to leave you with this thought.

" If college is supposed to be the key to a successful adult life . Who is that key ment for? Is it ment for everyone who wishes for a good life. Is it ment for people who fit the mold of a college student. How about students who have physical and mental health issues. Is college ment for them."

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

An Update on Henry

Remember this amazing young man.

No well maybe this will spur your memory.

Here is his update. Watch it til the end its worth it. He also got an Award from ASAN.

Keep up the good work Henry. Still want to meet you one day

Its been a while

Hay guys so I know I have not been around recently. Its because I have been dealing with mental health issues/ depression in addition to another loss in the family , My mom's dad pasted away the last saturday of october. So its been hard. Hope to blog more soon.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Dear Public Schools,

Dear Public Schools,

You know when you have school wide events, and the school website . All the kids need to be represented. That means every type of learner needs to be represented at the school. If you have school wide pajama party or a Science fair or walk a jog . All kids need to be represented. Including those kids in those classrooms. You know the ones who for no fault of your own have special needs. Let me tell you a secret.

Those kids have names

Those kids enjoy having fun.

Az, a student who has special needs goes down a bouncy slide on her Senior Activity Day.

Those kids want to belong to the school community

So next time u have an event Please make sure they know. please make sure they are invited. If you happend to take pictures of said event please make sure you capture their smilies to post on the website. They have the same rights as the average students.