A Mixed Bag of Coolness!


This week you are likely to find a few smaller posts on here. I’m working on a longer piece but it’s not ready yet.

I’ll start with a neat surprise I got this past Sunday evening. On Friday I learned that one of my favourite local musicians, John Lindsay-Botten, was putting on a mini-concert at his church, Knox United, in Sackville. About 10 years ago John used to be the Music Director at my church and personally I still very much miss John’s musical quality and standards. He’s top notch by any measuring stick.

So of course, I was going to do my darnedest to get to the event. The first effort this took (after checking to see if Kelly was up for an adventure – which she almost always is unless she’s not feeling well) was to get to Sackville.

Anyone who knows me knows I am no fan of our parallel transit system for people with disabilities, so I instead use our Low Floor buses. They’re awesome! John had said that the #80 bus goes right by Knox and that info gave me a fair bit of confidence for my first bus run to Sackville. Kelly and I got there hassle free, although it seemed like a significant jaunt. I don’t think I would venture it on my own. On the other hand, knowing me, in the right mood, yeh, I might, if my sense of “ohh what the hell” kicks in.

Shortly after our arrival, I learned that the proceeds from the event will go towards the installation of an elevator/lift, giving access to all floors of the church to anyone with mobility issues. I was so happy to add my tiny drop in their fundraising bucket.

I also want to mention that in addition to my postings on here, I share other items on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Quora, etc. You can find those listed at the bottom of this page.

So enjoy!

“Becoming Helen Keller”


A new 2 hour documentary on the life of Helen Keller is in development and looks like a winner. The project is still incomplete, partly because of further funding needs and while this blog is neither encouraging nor discouraging financial support from anyone, Helen Keller’s life is indeed a narrative that we should all be reminded of – with a fresh perspective and fresh senses.

“Disability history reveals her story as a human rights pioneer….. Without historical context Keller’s story becomes a folktale about a “wild child”. Or she’s a by-passed celeb in a funny hat, or a saintly icon……” The documentary is titled “ Becoming Helen Keller “.

Lets hope there’s a “Coming soon to a theatre near you!” in our near future shall we!

Why Not Indeed!


Growing up I wasn’t usually a whiner or complainer. (Whiners drive me nuts! – They’re so depressing!) So early on, I sort of took on an “all’s fair in life and war” attitude and while this phrase can undoubtedly lead one to a different interpretation than my own, my rendering of it is just that with life comes good, bad, struggles, triumphs, failures and what have you. It’s all “fair game.” So in my youth, I always pretty much rolled with whatever life brought my way.

Of course though there’s always an exception.

I remember one evening when for whatever reason, I was feeling that “life” was treating me completely unfairly and yes, I got into a bit of a whining mode.

I went down to the institution’s Recreation Office to see if one of the staff, (a guy named Gerry) was around. Now you have to understand that Gerry was certainly not your typical institutional staff person. He was a great exception. He was very much “there for the kids” and amazingly he found a way to connect with each of us on a very individual level. For some, Gerry became a coach type figure, who encouraged some of the youth into the disabled Olympics. My initial and instant bond with Gerry was that we were both from Newfoundland and we were the only two there who were for the most part. There was an attendant staff from PEI, but that was the complete representation of the “East Coasters.”

As I approached the office door, (and with it being late evening) I predictably saw Gerry at his corner desk. As I entered, he turned and smiled.

“What’s new m’dear? How are you! this fine evening!?

Unlike me, I instantly broke into a major self-pity party. “My life sucks. This thing’s wrong. That’s going down the toilet. Everything sucks.” And on and on.

Gerry sat quietly for a few minutes and then calmly interrupted me.

“So, life’s pretty bad for you is it?”

“Yup!!! My life definitely sucks!” I replied.

Well then, let me ask you one question” Gerry requested.

I waited.

“What makes you think that you’re so darn special that nothing ‘bad’ can ever happen to y-o-u; that you can’t have a bad day, or a bad week, or even a bad month or a bad year?”

After a second or two of shock, I acknowledged his question with a smile, for I knew well that his intent was not mean spirited.

“You’re absolutely right Gerry.” I said.

Since that evening, as we all do, I’ve faced countless scary and uncertain times: a mystery illness with rapid weight loss; going through bankruptcy with all its fears and stresses, yet its reality proved a sharp contrast; spousal abuse which ended only by divorce, and an initial uncertain future.

My life on the whole is still very good for me, yet the temptation to fret, worry and complain, sometimes becomes a little more commonplace than I care to admit. And in those times of fear and doubt, I inevitably find myself thinking about those such as Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and countless others.  Unlike them, I have not suffered tremendous physical pain through beatings and torture; I have not endured such ridicule and false accusations that led to Jesus’s crucifixion. My thoughts also turn to the single mother with 5 kids to feed, the homeless War Vet, the suicidal CEO, and in those moments, Gerry’s question returns to me: “What makes you think that you’re so darn special that nothing ‘bad’ can ever happen to y-o-u; that you can’t have a bad day, or a bad week, or even a bad month or year?”

And in my reflections, I realize yet again that my woes aren’t even in the same ballpark as others. This is not to say that my worries have no validity to them. They often do. Yet many of the things I fear I don’t need to fear.

So, why not me? Why can’t I go through hard times, scary times, uncertain times, and the likes of it all; in faith and hope and with a positive attitude? Why not indeed?

A footnote:
To this very day Gerry remains one of my most cherished friends. He now lives in St. John’s, NL and we still speak fairly regularly. He’s one of my several “adopted brothers.”

Fear Is A Bummer!


It stops us from getting what we want, when all fear was ever designed to do is protect us from harm.

FEAR MOVES.
It moves around your body, it moves from one idea to another, from one image to another, from one situation to another.
If you are afraid of moths and then overcome that fear, it doesn’t mean you are through with FEAR for life – there will always be fear. But also…

FEAR GROWS.
And it GETS SMALLER, too. You can work to make fear smaller, or you can work to make fear bigger.
This is where you have a choice.

– Rory Raye

What’s Been Happening?


As you have no doubt noticed it’s been significant time since my last posting. Have I been on vacation? Lost interest maybe? Have nothing to say? Hardly!

Actually, some pretty exciting stuff has been taking place in my (and disabilitypride.net’s) life.

First, both of us have been given a huge show of support in a matter of speaking. As many of you know, an immense concern in my life these past few years has been around the issue of not having enough attendant hours/funding to adequately cover my needs.

In Nova Scotia there is another program besides the “Self-Managed Care Program” called the “Workplace Attendant Program,” which is run by our Department of Community Services. In most cases this program has supported those who are “employed” but not “self-employed.” After meeting with the program’s decision makers on May 1st, I was granted additional hours as a self-employed blogger. I and (and disabilitypride.net) will be a test case for possibly supporting future self-employment situations.

Our Department of Community Services (DCS) is now recognizing that even when an individual is highly skilled with many talents, conventional employment may not be practical for some people with disabilities. Although an increasing number of employers are open-minded enough to hire someone with a disability, there’s still a long way to go. Still, even among the employers who are open-minded enough to hire someone with a disability, they mostly hire those I refer to as the “able-bodied disabled” – the blind, the deaf, those with Down’s Syndrome or Autism. Those whose looks, speech, and movements are fairly “normal.”

In his article titled “ The Business Case for Inclusive Workplaces for Persons with Disabilities ”, Marcus Jamieson of TEAM Work Cooperative says: “…..according to the United Nations, there are over one billion people in the world living with a disability…. Even with these staggering facts, persons with disabilities participation in the workforce is not favorably reflected in our province’s employment statistics. Unemployment rates in Nova Scotia for persons with disabilities are twice the number of those without disabilities – 16% vs 8.8%. Also, the more severe the disability, the higher the unemployment rate.” That night, after my meeting with DCS’s WPA program managers, was the first night in over 3 years that I was able sleep without fear or worry of how to fully pay for all the attendant hours I need; without having to ask myself questions such as: “How do I hire new/replacement attendants when I don’t know how I’m going to fully pay for the hours I need now? How/where can I cut back without losing the ones that are extremely rock-solid reliable?” Living in that fear is horrifying. Our governments and agencies have no clue about what kind of utter fear this causes for people with disabilities who very much want to and are making immense efforts to be full members of the community. The system’s concept of getting back to you quickly is within a few months. They don’t even think about how people are going to manage “in the mean time.”

For this meeting I needed to have a prepared business plan. Alongside an exceptionally talented recent Dal Business Management graduate, Victoria Palmer, the collaboration of a solid document came into being. I am planning to put my business plan on disabilitypride.net in the near future.

Following the WPA decision came another first of sorts. I was requested by one of the Editors of the “International Journal for Direct Support Professionals” Dave Hingsburger, to contribute an article on the “Do’s and Don’ts” of staff who provide support to persons with disabilities in their individually private homes. In the past some of my poetry has been published internationally, but this is my first article to go in a professionally recognized international journal.

Yet this very busy couple of weeks started of with my conducting a mini workshop on self-confidence at Teamwork Cooperative . Visiting Teamwork is always such a positive experience for me. Many staff I now know well. Fellow guest speakers are always incredible to listen to; and I love to have current clients engaged in my presentations. It’s awesome!