Cerebral Palsy Party Day Five:When we are not there you miss out

 So yesterday I  talked about my friend  KB,  KB  is my good friend from my private school;however, it is lucky that we are still friends,but more on that  later.

   These past  month , I have heard troubling news  from   three  mothers . One parent had  pulled her child out of school, another  was told despite progress ,he  had to switch schools. Another  school ,of faith mind you , rejected  her  child.

    These three children  resides in the United States. These three children are missing  out on a good education. Why?   Because these three children have Down Syndrome.

    When schools deny   students with disabilities  they undoubtedly miss out on inclusive education;however , they aren't the only ones who miss out.



 GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS 

Inclusion  makes Everyone happy. The women
on the left was my 9th grade PE Teacher.  Picture is from
Senior year  Winter 2010. My mother had to advocate
 for me when I was in this class freshman year;however
by senior year I was able to be  ball manager  for the
  Laddies Varsity team.  Took her three years before I was
able to show her the power of inclusion.   More on PE
later this month.    

  General Education teachers miss out on an opportunity to know and  teach a student with disabilities.
They miss out on  learning new ways  of  reaching all learners.  They miss out  on becoming better teachers  and  celebrating   those little moments that to general education students don't realize;however, when   student with  significant  disabilities  does them they  realize  Just how big  these little moments are.   They miss out on sharing there knowledge with  kids.    They miss out  of approaching  things in a new way.   They miss out on all of this because   the district , or administrator

 GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

 Me and a friend from  high school playing golf  spring 2015 For more
on this Click Here 

   Students without disabilities   miss out on  knowing a person with a disability.   These guys  miss out  at knowing at a formative age that  disability is a part of diversity.   These kids miss out on learning about an unique person.  So often   Biology text books talk about Down Syndrome or  other disabilities, however,  how cool would it be if instead of learning about  this abstract concept  they learned  from  hands on experience of  talking,  playing,   dancing with  a  person with Down Syndrome.  How empowering would it be  if  working with  students with disabilities  taught them the  abilities that we do posses,  yes  we do have them.   If these kids grow up and  become adults that have  children and they  receive the news that  their baby or toddler, depending on the diagnosis, has a significant disability  perhaps  they will   not  be so fearful and chose life.  Perhaps these students become doctors  and  will be able to treat new parents and  patients with disabilities with respect.


So  about  KB.  Well  when I was kicked out two times   at school. I saw him and all my friends from the private school less  often.   He admitted to me that it was hard to hang out  because  he was busy with school.   As bad as the private school was  I am  thankful that I went because I made some lifelong friends.   But we all missed out because  I was not included.

Cerebral Palsy Party 2016 : Friendship

  Hi  guys,

 Today I am  going to talk about friends,  I have mentioned earlier but it is fine time to post an update.  A lot  of things have changed since I last blogged about this.


   You may remember that  I used to go to a school that wasn't inclusive.  It was a private university.   What you may not have known is that I made great friendships there.  One of them was a  biology student.  In fact one of the two reasons , the other being my mother, why I went back in the fall  of 2015, was to be around   this guy.   He is that awesome.  He wants to be a doctor and I think he will be the best doctor in the world, he is smart caring and does not judge .    He graduated last year, and will be applying to medical school next year.    But in the meantime he will be spending some time helping  disabled kids and endangered animals in  South America for a few  months .   He leaves  tonight.   On the  last day  before  he heads to the airport, he  spent some time with me.  So  yes   he truly is a friend.
                     I think the key to a friendships is that we are   equal.  He  helps me  if  I need help, but  I do my part to help him as well.   For example ,  he  may drive me to a restaurant, but I  pay for the  meal.   He listened  to me when  I was having difficulty at my school, and I listen to him as  he has problems.   I am so  glad that I have a friend in him.  I will miss him and eagerly await his  return in May.

http://www.informationnine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/237.jpg

Cerebral Palsy Party Day Five Becoming Bullet Proof.

  So  I just finished watching an amazing documentary and film.   Bulletproof   is about a bar tender  who  is under threat by a gambler  who wants to take over the  bar to make an hotel.    Sounds like an ordinary movie   right.     It is but it isn't as the cast is comprised of people with and without disabilities.    All the main characters  have  a disability  whether its  Cerebral Palsy  Williams Syndrome or Down Syndrome.


     Since its Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.   I am  going to talk about AJ.  AJ is man that has CP.   He is in a wheelchair and tends to be trapped  at his home a lot with his mom and sisters. AJ acted in many  plays when he was younger  so when he heard about the program,  which  shoots in  the  LA  area, he  begs and begs for a chance to go to camp ,  I tend to  do this a lot too.  The Film  Becoming Bulletproof  follows his journey to make   Bulletproof.


         I  really liked this movie.  As a disabled  advocate I have always been all for inclusion  of people with disabilities both  among disabled people, physical  and intellectual,  along with people without disabilities. This movie does both which is refreshing to see.  One of the things that  was hard to hear as a person with CP was when AJ says that he feels like he doesn't have a chance to give back. As a young person with CP  I totally understand where he is coming from.  I feel fortune that I am able to give back  but it is hard because some people are unwilling to accept the help.


 This is a great movie that comes highly recommend.

  Here are some links

 the Trailer





  The movie  Bulletproof

Bulletproof RECUT FINAL 720 MED from Zeno Mountain Farm on Vimeo.


  A link to   the organization  Zeno   Mountain  Farm 

Cerebral Palsy Party Day Three: Inventions that increase independence

   Long time readers may remember that  I used to have a baby sitter, T,  T  stayed with us from the time  I was in  Kindergarten til  I graduated from high school.

  T and AZ   at  AZ's High School Graduation  2010

 One of the things  that T did for us kids was laundry which meant after  she left I  had to do my own  washing. This  posed some challenges for me  due to find motor and forgetfulness.  When it came to soap  I could never  navigate the soap.  I would load the clothes in the washing machine  then  have someone help me pour the soap into the right compartment.



  When my family discovered pods, pictured below,  they totally allowed me to be independent in my laundry.  Pods are soap packs that you put into the main compartment with the clothes.    It makes it easy to  wash. These can be found at many stores and are not  too  expensive.  These help me  be independent.          

  You  put the thing on the right  in the wash.

 Tide  DID NOT SPONSOR  THIS POST .  THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN

Palsy Party Day Two : Never a good word

 Today is Spread the Word to  End the word.

 The word is Retarded.  It is not a nice word.

 In a US  History class at my private college.  Which  was not inclusive.   My professor used this  word.  My  stomach  dropped.    He said  something about  the fact that   Cotton gin  was not  invented  retarded   the  growth  of cotton.


 Now  you  may be wondering  why this upset me, it still does  because  my reaction to it  was a reason why I was not permitted  to attend  the next year.  First off  the professor  yelled at me  saying it was a fine word to use in that case. Second  the administration  defended him, including the  disability person.

   I am sorry but when is that word ever okey. Why is it that a term that is considered hurtful to  people, children and adults,  ever be okey to use.    If   a student with an intellectual disability  was in the class they may not understand that you were not talking about them.  That is why it is never a  good word to use.

  Please go sign the pledge  and eliminate this dreadful word from your vocabulary.

Palsy Party 2016

    Hello guys it  has been quite around here.  I am sorry.   I am in 13 units  which is challenging.  I am  going to  try to blog every weekday  for CP awareness.   Anything you want to hear about in particular  let me know in  Particular  let me know in the comments BE SURE TO TUNE IN  TOMORROW AND THE REST OF THIS MONTH.

Hay guys

  HI long time no blog.  I  tend to use my  FACEBOOK  page more  for stuff so  be sure to like that page.


   How   Am I doing.

 Really well .  I am a Senior in college and will be graduating in June along with Princess.   This quarter I am in  three classes and  playing basketball in HMB.

I am in Music, History of Early Christianity,   Judo, and  anthropology  . So far 2016 has been  busy but good.  I am enjoying  History because we get to keep a website. Click Here to see  the website
 that I am keeping for class.

 Also  I am in the beginning stages of trying to publish a  children's book about CP. More details will be released as I get them.

Year in Review

Happy  New Year Everyone. It is time  once again to look back on my year.

 January 2015   I tried a new school.  I met with a new school consular   who  gave me some exciting news, read through to the end to see what it was.  I did not  start this school but  I  thought about going it would take a few months before I worked up the courage to  go but  I had the confidence to  try  and that has made the  difference.

 February   2015 Beat  our cross town  rivals in basketball

 March 2015  Had a fun  basketball tournament  and went to the Warriors Special needs night where I  scored a ton of baskets Went to Tahoe and celebrated  National CP Day.

April 2015   Started  School and loved every second of it .    I went go Karting and had a fun Easter  with friends.

May 2015   My Grandma came to visit.

June 2015  The  warriors win the NBA Championships. My parents go to Puerto Rico.   I begin Summer Classes at my new school.  Met up with Friends at the  Magical Bridge Playground.  Princess goes to Tonga with her  friends.

July 2015: Find out that I will be a Senior if  I pass all my classes in the  Fall.  I also learn that I will graduate   2016. (more on this soon)

 August 2015 :  I played Unified  golf with a former  Teammate from High School .   Completed a big project  and finished all my summer classes

September  2015 :    Tuned 24. Began Senior Year and  Princess  goes to Italy  for studied abroad.













October 2015 : I have fun at the Big Wave Harvest Festival  and  Carving  Pumpkin Event.  I  dress up as Yoshi for Halloween.

 November 2015  Get some disheartening news about   my future  but  people at my junior college and current school  rally around me and convince me not to Drop out of School.

 December 2015:  Finished and Passed all of my classes and  Princess returns  home safely !  Have a Star Wars Marathon.  I get a ton of clothes for Christmas. I can not wait for the  New Year.  2016  could very well be the best year  of my life.
 I do plan to use my Fb page more often in  the New  Year so Go Like i

Resolutions 

 Caring the  Torch  Spring 2015

 BE  Positive

 Gain Independence

 Lose Ten Pounds  and Eat Better

Stuff  I wrote

 CP Can  Earn Money 
 The Best Word in  a Textbook
 Dear CP 
 The Invisible Student 

The REAL Experts:An partial explanation of why Disabled people are mad at the Mighty

 Hi guys its been awhile but something pressing has come up  that I want to tell you about. For those in the disability  blogging community   you probably have heard of  the Mighty , but what not  may  be as clear is the problem that some disabled people have (using that  for a reason please  bare with me).

 My family and I have  watched all six of the orginal Star Wars over the holidays.  It is a great series  and lends itself  good way  explaining  part of  what is going on.

     If you wanted to know what being a Jedi is like who would you go to for an explaination?

a  R2D2

B A  wookie 

C  Luke Skywalker 

D  Hans Solo 

        If you were  to ask me this at the begining of the month  I would not know  who  to ask because I  do not know the characters.      If I  told you that   Luke  is a Jedi  The answer should be pretty clear  that you were to ask  Luke to explain the Jedi's role.    This  seems like common sense for any other able bodied  question on the experts. 

     When the person has a disability they are thought to have no voice which gives rise  to Parents being  their child's voice.  I am not saying that parents should not advocate for their kids.    What I am saying  is that they aren't the experts on disablities nor  are the doctors  and specialist   or  teacher experts, asuming  that none of them had   a disability, The real experts are the ones that live  it 24 seven or people with disabilities.  The only experts are the disabled. 

   Do Able bodied people   play an important part  in a person's life.?  Yes They are the ones that  use their   skills abilities and privilege in helping their child navigate  this   society.   But they do  have privilage and sometime their use of  privilage  does more harm then good.  For example  when people  poke fun of their disabled kid or dicuss personal issues  online for anyone else to see then they  violate others privacy  in the name  of advocacy.   An example of this  is anything relating to the bathroom  should not  be online for anyone to see. Itpersonal  and  not  for the public.  Another thing is  Insperational Pron.  I will  write a post on it  soon.   This is why disabled people are mad.

Tune in tonight

  For  A and  E  new series  Born this way. Staring Sean McElwee of  Who's The Slow Learner 
  and  six other  adults with Down Syndrome.


 Tonight  at  10 /9 central on A&E

AZ with  Sandra and  Sean

Happy Inclusive School Week

 

Hay  guys between  Finals and  everything I do not have  time  or  energy to come up with a thought provoking  post this year  for inclusive schools week, but I wanted to say Happy   Inclusive Schools Week.

 Classes have  been going ok, but it has been hard to stay  motivated because  there is a good chance that I won't be able to be an inclusive teacher.  So  I am still trying to figure out what I can do   carrer  wise so it has been  a rocky journey these past  two months.  I wish there was  a way but  because  of  my  terrible articulation   it wouldn't be fair to  my students.  

 How  have  I been dealing with this.


   It  depends some days  I am  ok  but  other days  I am  blue.  I'd give anything to be able to speak better but  at this point  according  to a speech thearpist chances are  not good  that I  will improve.  So continuing to push  forward   is very hard but I will keep at it.


 Do I still belive in inclusion  despite this  News


    Yes there have been  many  happy times throughout my school carer  where inclusion  has  been  great. I read some good books  played on playgrounds, explored my world.   I have met  so many great people  and  gotten  lots of  awards because I was in inclusive education.    Here  are some of them

  Kindergarten

 Award  Second Grade

 Student of the day

 Senior  Prom  Spring 2010

 T and  I    Junior College  Graduation

  DK and  I  chilling out    summer 2013

 Go  Carting for a project  April 2015

  Playing  Unified  Summer 15

    Me and  Dr B   wearing green for World Cerebral Palsy Day 2015

Who is the Slow Learner Giveaway: The Winner

 Thanks everyone for commenting on that  post.  I will be doing another giveaway in the future so stick around .



Still want to read  the book Click Here to order the book.


   Jennifer V  please contact me  so I can  put you in touch with the author my email is azchapman1991@gmail.com

31 for 21 Day 31 Happy Holloween

 Me and  Princess  before we  go beg for  Candy.   October 2005

  Happy  Hollween  guys.  I hope you guys have  enjoyed  31 for 21.  Its  been a lot work but very fun. 


  Mid night tonight is also the  last day to enter the drawing  for  Who's  the Slow  Learner, Leave a comment on day  6 and tune in  Wednesday for the winners to be announced



 What are your  kids  for  Halloween.  Let me know in the comments  below.

31 for 21 Day 30 Memories from Third grade

  In third  grade I remeber...

   Learning  Cursive.  Everyone thought that cursive was  going to be easier for me. In the end  I  like   printing  better.


    Times tables and number charts. See  Tuesday's post.

  Bike  riding with my teacher on Saturdays


   Learning about  Indians.


  Being in charactor  when  I was Rosa  Parks  I  told  Martin  Luther  King that " it  was nice to see him again. "      I became  known as a future   actress unfortunately, I  did not act again.


  Going to the recycling center and landfill.


  Saying announcements  on the loud speaker. I worked really  hard in  ST to  be able  to be clear.

31 for 21 Day 29 : A video everyone needs to see

   This is the  video that started Spread the Word  to End the Word.  I  really  like this video.

31 for 21 Day 28 Rude customers scare me

            The biggest fear I have at work is that  a customer will call  me the r word.  You may be wondering why  I have that fear since I do not have an intellectual  disability.

      I work  in the college  bookstore.  I  work the cash  register, see  below for money handling tips, and sometimes it gets busy.   I  do have  unclear speech and  problems   using my hands at times, so  uneducated people  could  assume  that I have an intellectual disability.  Being in fear of  a word being used  towards me should show  how  bad  the word is.  The word stings   and  should not be used.


 The closest thing that I have come to the r word was a customer  trying to grab his  merchandise.  from me.  It really  rattled me up.   My boss is  really great  and has told me that he would defend me.  My boss is the best boss ever.




 Here  is  a related story about  having others back  at work.

31 for 21 Day 27 : Money handleing tips

 

   So today I am  going to be  talking about two  strategies that help me   work the cash  register at the   bookstore.  When  someone asked me what is something you did not think that you would be doing  I  said working  the cash  register.   I was able to surprise myself and work the  register. 

 Here are  two   tricks   I  use.



 One      I  picture an  100  chart in my head.  This helps me a lot.  Also   skip counting  helps a ton as well. I am  glad  I was exposed to this  in my gen ed math class.




 Trick  two


 I have a  hard time telling the difference  between a quarter and a nickel, but  I can  read those words.   On  the  quarter  it says   Quarter  dollar so  I  find that and then  I know its 25 cents.


  I will say that working the cash register has  been THE BEST  way for me to  handle money. 

  Do you guys have any  tips  let me know  in the comments  below

31 for 21 Day 26 : Ten things you should know about my grandfather

     Today is a really  hard day for me to blog about.   For those  long time readers you guys know that two  years ago  I lost my grandfather.   Here are a few things you should know about my  grandfather.

1  My grandfather loved old cars.  He kept an assortment of old cars. To this day  there are still  old cars   at my  grandparents home.  He loved to fix them up.  He gave my brother one of his cars  for his 16th  birthday.


2  My  grandfather loved  my  grandmother.    They were together for a long time,   The  rasied  six  kids  together. They  may have gotten  in  fights but they always made up

3 My  grandfather  was an extremly hard  worker.   He  had to quit school to help his family when his father died  when he was a young boy.

4  My  grandfather  valued education.   Four out of his six kids  went to college.  One of my anunts   owned her own buiness.  My other anut  works  for state farm,  My mother became the first   Black  vice chancellor  at UCSF.  

5  My grandfather  was in the Army  when it became integrated .  It  was a hard  time but he  had an excelent work ethic,

  My  grandpa,  My father, Princess, my grandmother  and me in the overalls

6  The day after my  Grandfather pased a peacock  came  to visit my grandparents house.   Ever since  Peacocks have been very important to my  family.

7  I wish   he would have been here to watch me graduate college, move out and  have kids.

8  I wish I could be able to have my mom  talk to him  in heaven.

9  I  wish he could have been here to   hear about  my Princess  trip to Italy when she gets back  in December.

10   I  miss hearing his voice.


 Love you grandpa  

31 for 21: Day 25 Hate Crimes

  This is a great documentary on an  is an important  topic. I have  been bullied but   not like this .    

31 for 21 Day 24 : One more week to enter the drawing

   Hay  guys October  is  nearly over which means that it is almost  the end of  the giveaway for  Who's the slow  learner.  Sandra  also made a video.  It is really good. I love the song she used.
  It is  31 for 21 day six.

31 for 21 Day 23 : Memories from Seconed Grade

In Second grade  I  remember..



  Starting a new school.  I moved to public school it was harder to fit in. I had a hard time making  friends and was bullied.

Aide :  I had a one on one aide.

 
  Writers  Workshop :  I  remember  coming up with  great stories about different things.

 Spelling  words and  homework packets:  These came home every  week.


  Arthur and  Toy Story  Two:  These  were my favorite things to watch on  tv.  Toy story  two  came out   the Thanksgiving  of  my  second  grade year.   I had an  Arthur  Backpack.

 Field Trips: To the park, to see Elephant seals,  and we rode the train to   the downtown.

  Singing   in the classroom   and   after school in the school singing class .  I still remember those  tunes.



  This  teacher was a great teacher for me. She actually  taught all of my siblings.  She is  now my Facebook  friend.

31 for 21 Day 22 : "The first of many graduations"

      My  mom is a wonderful women.  She is strong   smart and  by far my best advocate.    I love her so much.  She  also  believes in me.


 We have an old  video  of my  preschool graduation.  In the video  my mom is saying that this  is the first of many graduations and she included medical school .    I should  mention that  this was  a graduation from a  special needs preschool.    My mom is amazing.  The belief and hope that her child  with  disabilities could achieve  greatness  is  ineradicable.   That is one of the reasons  that I have  come so far.   It is  because  she believed  in me. 

  Leave a comment  if you would like to hear from  my  mom in a future  blog post.

 The  first of many  Oh how  right my mother  was

31 for 21 Day 21 Brave in the attempt to obtain knowledge

 First day of school  Fall 2015

   

        On my first day at my new univestiy,  which  happen two days   before  I wrote this post.   I  alternated  between   excitement and  fear.

 The excitement   came from  the classes I would be taking,  the  fear   came  from  my experinces at my  old  university.   But after   I   had one class and   went to go find lunch   and heard  music playing I  thought  that.  I  got   this   and I knew that I  can be brave  in the attempt to   obtain  knowledge.  

  The  mental  scars that I have  from my educational experince are many.   I  was  label  the bad kid  in  K to 12 . I was  told  that I could not  graduate  from college (  I graduate in 2016)  I was   bullied  and  told  to  ignore  it , yet I  have overcame.      It has not been easy but    I  am  plaining to celebrate big  when I  graduate  from college because  I was  brave and  overcame soo much.

    Imagine how much more confident  I would have been if  I   did not have those  scars.  Do you have school scars  from your school  years of your child's  let me know below

   I  do not mean to brag  or  anything but I  am  pretty  amazing.   

31 for 21 Day 20 : On being realistic...

              When   a  baby is born. The sky  is the limit. Parents dream  of their kid being a doctor lawyer or actor.  Sometimes those dreams die when  their is  a developmental disability  that is  diagnosed.    Haply  as society   is becoming more inclusive  these dreams do not have to die. There are  college  programs for people  with disabilities  and  there are more options for employment   as well.
                          The hard  part about this is that  these opportunities are closed to people with developmental disabilities.   Not because   they are not  capable  or unlucky, but because  the adults in charge  destroy   their dreams.    They rip them up into tiny shreds  and  lock them  away.   Now  these people are not  overly mean  they  think they are  being realistic and  kind. They  feel that they are doing the best thing for them and  their  parents. Sometimes parents  agree with  these limits.

    This happened to me  on a few occasions.  The first being  in  high school  where they told me I'd  work in the back room and live in a group home. The seconded time being   my experience  at a private college.    I know  how I got through those hard  times by  having people  believe  in me.    From parents to  teachers   at my  jr college to my friends .  I decided to listen to them instead and now  I am  almost done.
   It is up to the adults  in  a young persons life to encourage them to dream big.  Young children can  not  dream , but  the adults  can  dream by having high expectations.   A   long time ago doctors  tried  telling parents to be realistic and put there children in institutions.     That did not  work out  so well.   Don't  be  realistic  be  bold and  daring.   Set high goals Will kids  reach those said  goals?  Maybe not, but  not all able bodied people  do either.   Let  people with disabilities  show  you that they can not  do something instead of  never  letting them try .
 
  For anyone reading this   with a disability

 Blast those low expectations out of the water.



 Got image from
http://previews.123rf.com/images/iqoncept/iqoncept1408/iqoncept140800100/30604007-Be-bold-confident-courageous-fearless-daring-and-brave-words-in-white-3d-letters-on-an-orange-backgr-Stock-Photo.jpg

31 for 21 Day 19 : Virtural Field Trip

  Hi  guys  so  today I  want to introduce you to another great blog written by  an adult with Cerebral Palsy.  She  is a good writer who also  blogs about disability   issues.  This  is a post in which she writes about  the photo  that  should not have gone viral. The  link can be found   here 


Read it and comment on this page.  Do you agree or disagree.

31 for 21 Day 18 Lorreta Clairborn

 I  really hope I can meet her one day.  She is amazing

31 for 21 day 17 :Great Ted talk

  This  is a great Ted talk done by a women with CP.   I have   chatted with her via Facebook She is nice women who speaks her mind about things that she is passionate about.   Remind you of anyone?

31 for 21 Day 16 : Memories from first grade

     In First grade I remember.

    Learning about the contents and  dinosaurs.


  Falling and hitting my head  three times in the same sport.

           I fell and hit my  head  playing with my siblings  in the play room.  I  remember  going to  the downstairs  bathroom  being all bloody. It was not a present site.

        I fell at school.

      I also fell  when book girl pushed a toy  shopping cart with me riding on top.  That was not a good  idea.

        Today  I have a scar on my forehead from where that happen.



   My class got chicken pox. I got the shot but the next day  I went into school  and my teacher  told me to go to the office because I actually had  the Chicken Pox.



      I  remember  getting  tested for NLD. I did not understand that I  had it until ninth  grade.


             I was  very close to my first grade teacher.  My  mother always  reminds me of this  by saying that first grade was the year I sat on my  teacher's lap.      I do have memories of  not sitting on her lap but   I think it happened more times then not.     I also  remember
  being sat down and  told I had CP, so  maybe that was part of it I am not sure.    I had behavior problems and was labeled  the bad kid.     This was the last year   that I  attended  that school.    From then on I attended  public school.  Academically that was the right choice  socially well you  will have to  see   in my  next post.





    Past posts  about first grade

          NLD 

31 for 21 Day 15 : First grade Opereta

   Tomorrow  I will  be sharing  more about  first grade.  Lets  just say that   First  grade was a tough year but I was still  cute.


 Here is proof.

31 for 21 Day 14 A major misconception about NLD.

       I have  Non  Verbal  Learning disorder, NLD for short.  When  people  first hear that they  think that I  am non Verbal .   The  answer  to this is false.  I  talk  and use speech for all of  my communication  needs.    My  speech is  unclear  but that  has to do with Cerebral Palsy not  NLD.

  Too learn more about  NLD  please  watch this  somewhat short video,

31 for 21 Day 13 Sending your kids with disabilities to college an Q and A

  

Today’s post will be from Stephanie,  Stephanie has two kids    the oldest  is Ryan, who has been on my Special  Olympics Track Team  for the past four years,  Ryan  has  Autism  but that does not stop him from   going to  college.  He goes   to  the Wayfinders program at Fresno State.   I talked  to Stephanie  about her family’s decision to send  her son to college.




 AZ :How did you find out about the program?
  Stephanie:  I heard about the program when I googled colleges for kids with disabilities. I did a lot of research on Fresno State Taft College and UCLA.
The process to apply for Fresno State took about six months. We visited had interviews and there was extensive application process. In the end Ryan liked Fresno State

 AZ Why did   you  guys  chose the Wayfinders  program?

 Stephanie: I  didn't take him to UCLA because I thought LA is too big and too far. When I did research about Taft College it was also too far and it is a very small school. Fresno seemed perfect because it was a perfect mix of not really a big city but a nice college campus
Their program is very extensive. Not only does it include independent living skills and budgeting finance paying bills on your own it's also a work program.
Ryan starts his job in the library and bookstore this week.It's a great school for not only social interaction academics but also the independent living component and they have a lot of life coaches and other coaches to help them along the way
It's challenging because they really work you hard and they make sure that you stick to a budget and that's not always fun. But the whole goal is to get you to a place where you can live and work independently and have a social life. And really isn't that what everybody wants?

AZ  How is  Ryan  doing?

 Ryan and his brother  Will 

 Stephanie :It's taking some time adjusting to all of the new experiences having three roommates sharing living spaces sharing refrigerators going out to parties and events going to classes and all the while keeping track of your own money. Ryan is finally starting to enjoy it a lot more I think at first it was very very difficult because he's never had to do anything like this
 AZ What would   you   want to say to other parents about  sending their  student   with  disabilities  to college ?

 Stephanie: I would say be prepared for a lot of ups and downs. First of all it has to be what your child wants not what you want. Like with Ryan him being 3 1/2 hours away it's very hard. He gets homesick he didn't know anyone when he got there and for some kids with disabilities it's very hard for them to use language skills and social skills and get out there and meet people.
You have to be prepared for a lot of phone calls and a lot of support.
And you also have to realize that it's OK to fail if it's not the right situation for your child or your child is it happy then it's OK to say come home


   Thank you  Stephanie for giving us some insight.  I  can not wait to hang out with  Ryan over winter break.  Have a question for Stephanie  leave a comment below .