Hi,guys so in June I graduated from a local university with a BA in Liberal Studies. So now I am looking for a job. Job hunting is a difficult process for everyone but I think it's y hard when you are disabled. AS of now I have applied at the following places
Toys RUs
My local community college
Pals
Target
I asked to volunteer at the local Down Syndrome connection but I they didn't have any openings
Yesterday I did go to the mall and look around . I went into a hand full of stores gathering job applications. I had DR. G help me fill out the one to Build a Bear and dropped it off last night.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Workarounds that worked for me going through school
So yesterday I talked about how a few weeks ago I got a nickname which is a workaround for my real name. Going through school there were lots of workarounds that worked.
Slant board
I used this in early elementary school to help me write. I did not like it because I wanted to be like everyone else. This was an idea of my preschool teacher who helped tutor me. It was helpful once I agreed to use it
Fischer Scissors.
Cutting things and doing art projects is a skill that is a staple in many kindergarten classrooms. I have Cerebral Palsy and I had some fine motor difficulty which made cutting difficult for my tiny hands to use. My OT recommended these special scissors that had bigger holes which make cutting easier. My mom donated multiple scissors to my kindergarten class. This made cutting easier for everyone.
Adapted Seating
Due to my Cerebral Palsy, I had trouble sitting well. My trunk muscles were so weak that it was easier for me to put my feet up near my chest which did not make for great learning posture. I had an adapted chair from second to fifth grade. It was a blue chair with a block on the back with a velcro cushion .
Alpha Smart
When I was in second grade , I moved to the public school so there were more resources to help me access the general education curriculum. One was an Alpha Smart. I am sure that many disabled students remember these word processors . I had one in second grade. This helped me type my spelling words and write stories. Nowadays Ipads and tablets can do far more cool things than my word processor ever could. I did not like using these things because I wanted to be like the other kids. In third grade, I got access to the school computer and by fourth grade I wanted to write and my teacher agreed to let me write. In middle school, my aide and I took notes. In high school I took my own notes.
Pulse Pen
In college I used a Pulse pen to help me take notes. I highly recommend this for students who are auditory learners. It is better than a tape recorder because when you touch on a note it actually plays what was said while you are taking notes. I think this assisted me with doing well in college. I graduated from Community College with honors.
Sniffle Buddies
A cool wristband that helps me manage my drooling.
Name Tags
I love name tags because when I meet someone that can't understand my real name I just showed them my name tag. It is easy and quick. A few weeks ago someone gave me the nickname that I now use to introduce to people. I love my new nickname.
Do you have any adaptation that you use? Want a more in-depth description of an adapted strategy? Leave a comment below.
Got images from
Slant board: http://www.sgwoodworksllc.com/Incline_Board.JPG
Fiscar scisssors https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515%2BQfIJsqL._SL1000_.jpg
Blue chair :http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/NationalBusinessFurniture/51239_0?hei=325
Alpha Smart http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAyWDEwMjQ=/z/yq8AAMXQ74JTUAWT/$_12.JPG?set_id=880000500F
Pulse Pen image https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41N8dbsDUHL._SY300_.jpg
Sniffle Buddies http://www.childrite.com/media/Sniffle_powderblue.jpg
Slant board
 |
| Image description :A side view of a slant board facing to the right |
I used this in early elementary school to help me write. I did not like it because I wanted to be like everyone else. This was an idea of my preschool teacher who helped tutor me. It was helpful once I agreed to use it
Fischer Scissors.
 |
| image description:blue scissors on a white background |
Cutting things and doing art projects is a skill that is a staple in many kindergarten classrooms. I have Cerebral Palsy and I had some fine motor difficulty which made cutting difficult for my tiny hands to use. My OT recommended these special scissors that had bigger holes which make cutting easier. My mom donated multiple scissors to my kindergarten class. This made cutting easier for everyone.
Adapted Seating
 |
| image description a blue classroom chair against a white background |
Due to my Cerebral Palsy, I had trouble sitting well. My trunk muscles were so weak that it was easier for me to put my feet up near my chest which did not make for great learning posture. I had an adapted chair from second to fifth grade. It was a blue chair with a block on the back with a velcro cushion .
Alpha Smart
 |
| Image Description A blue keyboard with a tiny green screen. says AlphaSmart 200 between the screen and keyboard. On a teal background |
When I was in second grade , I moved to the public school so there were more resources to help me access the general education curriculum. One was an Alpha Smart. I am sure that many disabled students remember these word processors . I had one in second grade. This helped me type my spelling words and write stories. Nowadays Ipads and tablets can do far more cool things than my word processor ever could. I did not like using these things because I wanted to be like the other kids. In third grade, I got access to the school computer and by fourth grade I wanted to write and my teacher agreed to let me write. In middle school, my aide and I took notes. In high school I took my own notes.
Pulse Pen
 |
| Image Description. A black pen pointed on the record button on the paper. Next to it has pause and stop, Then it has jump the other things are harder to make out. |
In college I used a Pulse pen to help me take notes. I highly recommend this for students who are auditory learners. It is better than a tape recorder because when you touch on a note it actually plays what was said while you are taking notes. I think this assisted me with doing well in college. I graduated from Community College with honors.
Sniffle Buddies
 |
| Image desciption A blue wristband, On the front it says I'm blank 's buddy. Then it has the Words Sniffle in green and buddies in blue along with their website www.snifflebuddies.com |
A cool wristband that helps me manage my drooling.
Name Tags
 |
| A blue name tag that says on top " Hello my name is" and then there is a place to write your name |
I love name tags because when I meet someone that can't understand my real name I just showed them my name tag. It is easy and quick. A few weeks ago someone gave me the nickname that I now use to introduce to people. I love my new nickname.
Do you have any adaptation that you use? Want a more in-depth description of an adapted strategy? Leave a comment below.
Got images from
Slant board: http://www.sgwoodworksllc.com/Incline_Board.JPG
Fiscar scisssors https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515%2BQfIJsqL._SL1000_.jpg
Blue chair :http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/NationalBusinessFurniture/51239_0?hei=325
Alpha Smart http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAyWDEwMjQ=/z/yq8AAMXQ74JTUAWT/$_12.JPG?set_id=880000500F
Pulse Pen image https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41N8dbsDUHL._SY300_.jpg
Sniffle Buddies http://www.childrite.com/media/Sniffle_powderblue.jpg
Monday, October 17, 2016
The life lesson behind Hide and Seek
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| Image description. A young white girl covering her eyes. Three young kids run away. |
So my two friends tandem blogged about the frustration they have when people wait to ready as an excuse. They then invited people to continue blogging.
One of my favorite old-school childhood games is hidden and seek. Kids count than say "Ready or not here I come."
 |
| Hawaii Image Described A young mixed race girl with a purple Hercules T- shirt, and a lei around her neck. |
When I was four about to turn five. My parents had their version of " Ready or not here I come," except they were not joking about it because it was the most important decision of their lives and would impact me for the rest of my life. It was time to pick a school for me to go to for Pre-Kindergarten. Up to this point, I had been educated with kids who had speech impairments in a county program the next town over. But now it was kindergarten, the big leagues. They decided to have me apply for a private school. This school welcomed me in with open arms ,but let's say for a minute that they said.
AZ isn't ready to be included because ...
* drools a lot , the other kids will think it's gross"
* has bad balance."
 |
| An Articulation disorder wasn't a barrier for me to perform in the school operetta Participated all three years on stage with my classmates. Image description A young mixed race girl with a Purple leotard and a sparkly shirt. Standing aginst a gray and blue wall. |
If you are reading this thinking that they can't justify special education for that. Your right they can't because it's against the law, but I have heard too many stories from parents of kids with intellectual disabilities of school officials saying that their kid isn't ready because of their disability. Because if these same people used this I would have never stepped foot in a general education class. Because at 25. I have a real hard time saying my name, I still drool, I have bad balance, but when they were willing to make accommodations for me I was able to learn.
Instead at the private school, I was able to be myself, and my peers got to learn that disability was not something to be ashamed about. I was able to drool and not have kids mind because sometimes I drooled. My drool and I were invited to birthday parties and kids from my school went to my birthday parties.
In kindergarten, my teacher was determined to teach me how to jump rope. When she was on yard duty she made it her personal mission to teach me how to jump rope. By the end of the year, I was jumping rope. That kid with bad balance learned how to jump rope. The kid with bad balance learned from her best friend how to do the monkey bars.
A few weeks ago, After that kid that could not pronounce her name, graduated with their BA. They had a work around. They have a short name. There are workarounds for a lot of things. More on that tomorrow.
Adults need not be ready to include students with significant disabilities . They just need a belief that all kids can learn alongside their peers. Students with significant disabilities do not need to be reading, or potty trained or speaking in full sentences. They are ready and are coming. Luckily there is a lot research that supports resources that supports full inclusion. So schools that feel "not ready" can get ready because ready or not here comes disabled kids. What you'll find is worth the finding when done right .
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Important documentry
Hard to watch but important to see. I want to live in a world where all disabled lives matter. These test might change this. Disabled people are not broken and our lives have value. Click Here to see this documentary from the UK.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Friday, October 14, 2016
Really happy with this tool
I have been using this tool for a week and am very happy with it.I recommend it for everyone. Have a good weekend.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Not that Inspiring: Speechless episode four
On this episode of Speechless, JJ and Keneth get to spend the entire day together without mom or school,while the rest of the family gets to go to Paintballing and Ice Skating two things that with JJ are hard to do. Durin their day together JJ and Kenneth become the objects of pity and get special perks, for example. they get to get into a Dogger Game for free. At first,JJ is into to this, but by the end, he is not happy.
I have mild CP , so while I do not get inspiration a lot I still get it. When people call me inspiring, I do not like it. I mean I have not done anything that great. Yes I have a disability and have overcome a ton and I think I am strong and think I am amazing, but I do not like being called inspiring because it does one of two things.
One It shows me how limiting you think that disabilities are.
So one time in college I had something happen to me that I have called the Seal incident. In a Linguistics class at a private college. The teacher overly praised me for doing well on the first test of the quarter . She came to where I was sitting and wanted to shake my hand because I had gotten the second highest grade, she did not praise the highest student. I felt like a seal. I hated this in fact it discouraged me from doing well on future tests in that class. I later learned that she thought I was not going to do well. This made me mad. Let me tell you guys something. Just because you thought I wouldn't do well doesn't mean it's a miracle when we do well it just means that you had low expectations because we have disabilities. I am a disabled honor student and no that is not surprising.
Two It puts me on a pedestal
Inspiration puts me on a pedestal. Just because I have a disability does not mean that I am always good. I have made lots of mistakes, just like everyone else. I am just a human being trying to have a good life according to my family values.
I have mild CP , so while I do not get inspiration a lot I still get it. When people call me inspiring, I do not like it. I mean I have not done anything that great. Yes I have a disability and have overcome a ton and I think I am strong and think I am amazing, but I do not like being called inspiring because it does one of two things.
One It shows me how limiting you think that disabilities are.
So one time in college I had something happen to me that I have called the Seal incident. In a Linguistics class at a private college. The teacher overly praised me for doing well on the first test of the quarter . She came to where I was sitting and wanted to shake my hand because I had gotten the second highest grade, she did not praise the highest student. I felt like a seal. I hated this in fact it discouraged me from doing well on future tests in that class. I later learned that she thought I was not going to do well. This made me mad. Let me tell you guys something. Just because you thought I wouldn't do well doesn't mean it's a miracle when we do well it just means that you had low expectations because we have disabilities. I am a disabled honor student and no that is not surprising.
Two It puts me on a pedestal
Inspiration puts me on a pedestal. Just because I have a disability does not mean that I am always good. I have made lots of mistakes, just like everyone else. I am just a human being trying to have a good life according to my family values.
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