tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675210140083941232024-03-09T05:56:23.654+11:00Voice For DisabilityDisabled people may feel isolated, alone, that no one wants to listen to their story. Voice For Disability empowers and advocates their needs, wants and required community services.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-39461240878877172442011-06-29T19:35:00.000+10:002011-06-29T19:35:26.458+10:00Stop The Abuse Of People With DisabilitiesAt last I have completed my studies to be a professional disability support worker. It has been an amazing journey and my teachers were excellent in their teaching abilities, passing on years of disability support workers experience.<br />
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One of the topics we learned about was deinstitutionalisation. The closing down of mental institutions that supposedly cared for people with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, ABI (acquired brain injury) etc. <br />
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The community in general felt it was better to have people with disabilities put into institutions so that they can be taken care of and put out of harms way. But whose harm were they thinking of. They weren't thinking about a persons dignity to be treated like a human being. They were thinking about the community in general of so called normal people. But what exactly is normal?<br />
<a name='more'></a>Deinstitutionalisation came about as a result of people speaking (advocacy) up, out, for and on behalf of people with disabilities. This brought an end of isolating people with disabilities from the community.<br />
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Today disability support workers provide a person centred approach in helping an individual with a disability learn:<br />
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<ul><li>Life skills cooking, house cleaning, health and hygiene</li>
<li>how to use public transport</li>
<li>how to do shopping</li>
<li>how to manage finances</li>
<li>how to be a part of (inclusion) and contribute to the community</li>
<li>and more...</li>
</ul>There are so many tasks and chores we do in our daily life that we take for granted. Yet some people with disabilities don't have the necessary skills to do what people in general can do. Disability support workers are taught to do themselves out of a job, by teaching people with disabilities the skills necessary to live independently and have a good quality of life with dignity.<br />
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In our last class we were shown videos of people with disabilities who were abused by untrained support workers. It was very, very shocking to see this. I was mortified, disgusted and horrified that this abuse happened now in 2011.<br />
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The reason I'm bringing this to your attention is so you can consider the vulnerability of people with disabilities and how we need to make sure they are protected from abuse.<br />
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Abuse can be defined as:<br />
<ul><li>physical</li>
<li>psychological</li>
<li>sexual</li>
<li>financial</li>
<li>emotional</li>
<li>neglect</li>
<li>social</li>
</ul>We all need to lobby our community, government and politicians, demanding laws be put in place so that service providers can only employ disability support workers who are accredited and trained in all areas of disability support, legislation, human rights laws, accountability and duty of care.<br />
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Please be warned these videos contain graphic material and can be very distressing.<br />
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As you watch these videos please think how you would feel if someone in your family was being treated like this?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/glp9DlrX-3E" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zZzA2toZZ4Q" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5oCRKDbilLU" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GafW08uQRtk" width="640"></iframe><br />
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What upset me most of all, was seeing the reaction of the parents as they watched the video showing how their children were being abused.<br />
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<ul><li>By demanding that disability support workers must be trained and accredited before being employed by service providers. This will ensure that people with disabilities:</li>
<li>are safe and protected from abuse</li>
<li>their human rights are respected</li>
<li>they are treated with the same dignity that everybody expects</li>
<li>they can enjoy a good quality of life</li>
</ul><br />
<b>References</b><br />
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Abuse at leading care home leads to police inspections of private hospitals<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/31/abuse-at-leading-care-home">http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/31/abuse-at-leading-care-home</a><br />
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Winterbourne View Panorama 'abuse' hospital to close<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13848877%20">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13848877 </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-22010450852644319802011-05-17T18:09:00.001+10:002011-05-17T19:18:52.655+10:00Advocacy For The Rights Of People With DisabilitiesThis blog site Voice For Disability attempts to be an advocate or a representative for people with disabilities.<br />
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<b>What Is Advocacy?</b><br />
The word advocacy is a term used in reference to someone standing up and speaking for the rights, needs and opinions of others. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>We tend to take advocacy for granted, but we do it every day. For example you may have purchased an electrical item. You take it home and plug it in the power point and it doesn't work. You know the electrical item has a warranty, so you take it back to where you purchased it from and request either a replacement or a refund. You are actually advocating or standing up for your rights as a consumer.<br />
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Historical Advocates For The Rights of Others<br />
Through out history we have examples of people who were effective advocates speaking on behalf of and for the rights of others:<br />
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<ul><li>Emmeline Pankhurst - 1880's advocating the right for women to vote in England (UK)</li>
<li>Martin Luther King, Jr. - 1960's advocating the rights for black people in America</li>
<li>Nelson Mandela – 1960's advocating the end of apartheid in South Africa</li>
</ul>There are also the unsung heroes who are advocates for people with disabilities.<br />
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Advocacy for people with disabilities covers several areas, mostly:<br />
<ul><li>Self Advocacy</li>
<li>Individual Advocacy</li>
<li>Systemic Advocacy</li>
</ul><b>Self Advocacy</b><br />
This is when an individual or a group stand up and speak up for their rights.<br />
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<b>Individual Advocacy</b><br />
This relates to a person who stands up and speaks for or on behalf of a person with a disability if they have communication difficulties or lack the confidence to speak for themselves.<br />
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<b>Systemic Advocacy</b><br />
Relates to lobbying governments for change in legislation, social justice and inclusion in the community for people with disabilities.<br />
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As a result of systemic advocacy, laws have been put in place internationally, nationally and interstate to protect the rights of people with disabilities. <br />
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I came across a video that is called The Power of 504. This was a protest not against war, abortion or gay rights. It was a protest for people with disabilities in 1977.<br />
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504 was a law in the United States of America (US) as follows:<br />
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<blockquote><i>No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 705(20) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service.</i></blockquote><br />
Secretary Joseph Califano delayed the signing process of this law which ignited a protest by people with disabilities and their carers. Here is a portion of the video which is part of an 18 minute DVD.<br />
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<blockquote><i>Video Description: Award-winning 18-minute documentary video, which captures the drama and emotions of the historic civil rights demonstration of people with disabilities in 1977, resulting in the signing of the 504 Regulations, the first Federal Civil Rights Law protecting people with disabilities. Includes contemporary news footage and news interviews with participants and demonstration leaders. Available in open caption, audio descriptive and standard formats.</i></blockquote><br />
The Power of 504 (open caption) part 1<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HMC5UuiIQkI" width="640"></iframe><br />
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The Power of 504 (open caption) part 2 <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5vOM0-IOrKg" width="640"></iframe><br />
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This video shows the power and influence of advocacy and the power of using media to create change for the betterment of peoples rights and social justice.<br />
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<b>References:</b><br />
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Advocacy<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocacy</a><br />
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Emmeline Pankhurst<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_Pankhurst">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_Pankhurst</a><br />
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Martin Luther King, Jr. <br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.</a><br />
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Nelson Mandela<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela</a><br />
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Self Advocacy<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-advocacy">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-advocacy</a><br />
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Individual Advocacy<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_and_group_rights">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_and_group_rights</a><br />
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Systemic Advocacy<br />
<a href="http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/pubs/policy/Documents/national_disability_advocacy/sec6.htm">http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/pubs/policy/Documents/national_disability_advocacy/sec6.htm</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ia/tbinterchange/advo.html">http://www.angelfire.com/ia/tbinterchange/advo.html</a><br />
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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_504_of_the_Rehabilitation_Act">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_504_of_the_Rehabilitation_Act</a><br />
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<br />
The Power of 504 (open caption) part 1<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMC5UuiIQkI&feature=relmfu">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMC5UuiIQkI</a><br />
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The Power of 504 (open caption) part 1<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vOM0-IOrKg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vOM0-IOrKg</a><br />
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Disability rights movement<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_rights_movement">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_rights_movement</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-35112735576245706552011-05-02T22:36:00.001+10:002011-05-02T22:54:29.696+10:00Stand Up For Mental HealthToday was an amazing day in my studies for a <b><i>Certificate III in Disability</i></b>. Our teacher <a href="http://mentalhealthgroup.wikispaces.com/">Jo McDougal</a> entered the room on crutches. She is teaching us about <b><i>understanding of mental health issues and recovery</i></b>.<br />
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As she explained that she had knee re-construction and that she was a nurse in a mental health ward in a hospital, I had flash backs of the time I was in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after a life threatening motor cycle accident.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
I was in an orthopaedic, male ward that had six beds and all the patients were in hospital as a result of a motor cycle accident. The nurses were great and they suffered the indignant practical jokes of six bedridden crazy young men. I mean what are you going to do when you're a teenager with your legs and arms strung up on a bed and in traction? <br />
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There was one time when one of the nurses had completed her tour of duty in our ward and we wanted to say goodbye in the best possible way. She was on night shift. We'd been in hospital long enough to know the nurses routines. The nurse in question checked our beds and then turned out the lights saying 'Goodnight boys'. We all responded with a cheerful goodnight. We waited until she went for a meal break. I had a roll of toilet paper. We already worked out the plan. I held the end of the toilet paper and threw the toilet roll like a streamer over the frame of my bed to the persons bed opposite me. He then threw the toilet roll like a streamer across the room to the person on the opposite side. Eventually the toilet roll formed a spider web across the aisle between the beds from one end of the room to the other end of the room. As planned the trap was set, it was time for the spider to catch the fly. I pressed my buzzer frantically. The guys got me to do this because my bed was at the end of the room and the nurse would have to go through our spider web to get to my bed. With in minutes the nurse came running into the room. She screamed as she stopped in the middle of the room tangled up in our toilet paper spider web. We all sat up laughing. She screamed 'why... why would you do this?' we continued to laugh and said we felt it was the best possible way to say goodbye so she would remember us. She saw the humour and laughed along with us. She then turned on the lights and told those who were able to use crutches or a wheelchair to get out of bed and clean up the mess. Ouch!!!<br />
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It's interesting that when you're down or depressed, how the power of laughter can have a positive affect on you. Laughter takes away the sadness we may feel.<br />
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There is a stigma in the community that is negative and judgemental towards people who have mental health problems. What you don't realise is anyone can suffer from depression which is a mental health issue. If not attended to by professional counselling this depression can spiral down to the pits of despair. You hear those negative voices in your head saying 'you're hopeless... you can't do anything right... what's the point in living'. Your sub-concious voices are what I call the Demons of the Mind. <br />
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How many of you have suffered from the loss of a loved one as a result of suicide? I have and it is heart breaking.<br />
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There was a time in Adelaide where I visited a young lady friend who had a stall in Central Market. She had a boy friend who was depressed to the point that he was considering suicide. She was so worried about him. I said I would meet her and her boy friend that night at a certain pub for a beer. That afternoon I wrote a poem for him. It was called<b><i> 'The Demons Of The Mind'</i></b>. When I met them, I gave him the poem. He read the poem and broke down in tears. His girl friend was concerned and asked why he was crying. He looked up at her with tears rolling down his face and said <i>'he knows how I'm feeling'</i>. He looked at me and smiled saying 'thanks mate'.<br />
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Our teacher, Jo McDougal mentioned some videos on Youtube called <b><i>Stand Up For Mental Health</i></b>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sU81dNV6ZIo" width="640"></iframe><br />
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These videos are promoting a counselling service provided by David Granirer who lives in Vancouver, Canada. He helps people with mental health problems, addictions and phobias get over these by teaching them how to be comic comedians. This is a fantastic way to help overcome the stigma of mental health problems.<i><b> 'Stand Up For Mental Health'</b></i> helps people build their self-confidence along with acceptance and inclusion in the community.<br />
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The moral of this story/s is laughter is the best medicine.<br />
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<b>Reference Links:</b><br />
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<b>Stand Up For Mental Health</b><br />
website: <a href="http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/index.shtml">http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/index.shtml</a><br />
facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/standupformentalhealth">http://www.facebook.com/standupformentalhealth</a><br />
youtube channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/psychocomic1">http://www.youtube.com/user/psychocomic1</a><br />
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<b>Jo McDougal's Mental Health Group</b><br />
Wikispace: <a href="http://mentalhealthgroup.wikispaces.com/">http://mentalhealthgroup.wikispaces.com/</a><br />
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<i>Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the poem I wrote for that young man in Adelaide, but I'm hoping he will read this blog post and add a comment along with the poem I wrote for him. If this post moved you, please add a comment.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-80808398964480021502011-04-25T09:54:00.001+10:002011-04-25T10:22:22.300+10:00Excuses Why You Can't Do AnythingLife is a real challenge when you have so many things to do in a day. What makes it worse is when you hear those negative voices ringing in our head, making excuses why you can't do things or get motivated. <br />
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What would you think if you heard someone speaking out loud those exact negative words that rattle around in your head making up excuses why:<br />
<ul><li>you can't get out of bed</li>
<li>you can't go to school - YAY!!! </li>
<li>you can't go to work</li>
<li>you can't go for a walk</li>
<li>you can't do this</li>
<li>you can't do that</li>
<li>blah! blah! blah! blah!!!</li>
</ul><br />
You know what I'm talking about.<br />
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How can you get motivated just to get out of bed and do just the simple things that need to be done in your day?<br />
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<a name='more'></a>How would you feel if you were confined in a wheelchair? You had a motor vehicle accident and you were told you are paralysed. How would you feel? We don't normally think about this, but just imagine how frustrated you would feel when:<br />
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<ul><li>you can't walk</li>
<li>you can't run</li>
<li>you can't go out like you used to</li>
<li>you can't get into your favorite fast food outlet or cinema because they don't have wheelchair access</li>
<li>you can't go to school because it doesn't have wheelchair access - Yay!!!</li>
<li>you can't work in your job any more because the work place environment isn't wheelchair friendly</li>
</ul>This would be a good reason to come up with excuses why you can't do anything at all.<br />
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Here is a video that will help you reflect on your life, when hearing all the excuses in the world not to do anything.<br />
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<b>Warhawk Matt Scott in Nike 'No Excuses' Commercial</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/obdd31Q9PqA" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Matt Scott did this commercial for Nike which is called 'No Excuses'. This video is inspiring to us all not to make excuses. But to do what we can.<br />
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Here is another video of womens wheelchair basketball <br />
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<b>2010 World Championships - Canada Wins Bronze vs. Australia</b><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mGPvPXIDlcQ" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
Doesn't it sound awful when you hear someone rattling off all the excuses in the world that everyone has to listen to in their heads. <br />
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Lets turn that around in a positive way and think about what more you can do in your life and how you can help others enjoy life to the full.<br />
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Don't just give a thought for people with disabilities. Do something about it. Give some of your time and or financial support to help people with disabilities enjoy a qood quality of life. <br />
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As I always say: Don't think about it, just do it.<br />
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<i>Have your say with this blog post and add a comment! Voice your opinion!</i><br />
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<b>Reference Links:</b><br />
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Youtube Channel<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/jasinskija08">http://www.youtube.com/user/jasinskija08</a><br />
<br />
WheelchairBball Youtube Channel<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WheelchairBball">http://www.youtube.com/user/WheelchairBball</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-24092874193183353232011-04-18T09:23:00.004+10:002011-09-22T20:39:39.001+10:00Get into the disability services and make a big difference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5629377814_052310709b_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5629377814_052310709b_m.jpg" /></a></div>Last week, there was a news item in our local paper The Chronicle, promoting CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology). Included in the news item was a photograph of myself and comments I made about the teachers and the course I'm studying, Certificate III in Disability.<br />
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As an advocate for people with disabilities this blog site 'Voice For Disability' is all about:<br />
<ul><li>people with disabilities</li>
<li>disability support workers who have made it their career to care for those who in reality have a special gift</li>
<li>the educational institutions who train individuals to become disability support workers</li>
<li>community services both government and non-government organisations</li>
<li>stories of individuals with disabilities and how they are changing community opinions and who are advocacy representatives for their peers. </li>
</ul>What is so special about this news item?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The title of the new item is as follows:<br />
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<b>Get into the disability services and make a big difference</b><br />
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<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5619907475_db4513cd25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5619907475_db4513cd25.jpg" /></a><br />
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This is what the article has to say:<br />
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<div style="color: black;"><b><i>Canberra institute of technology (CIT) student Daryl Williams describes his current disability studies as a turning point in his life and Daryl is confident about securing a job in the industry upon graduation.</i></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b><i><br />
"This career is very important for the community" he said. " I want to continue my studies into certificate IV part-time while working which will expand on my skills in service to the community"<br />
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If you've ever wanted a career where you can make a difference, then maybe one of the CIT's free places in the certificate three in disability is for you.<br />
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As part of the Australian Federal Government funding, eligible job seekers can gain valuable training in this area to help meet the ever growing demand for community care and support services.<br />
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You could find yourself working as a support worker, case manager, supervisor or program manager.<br />
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Working in the disability sector also has the benefits of flexible hours, work life balance and the ability to work on a casual, part time or full time basis. CIT's certificate III in disability includes industry placements so you learn both theory practical skills.<br />
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Daryl speaks highly of CIT staff who "are excellent in their teaching abilities and in helping us [the students] develop our communication skills confidently".<br />
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Unlimited free places exist for eligible job seekers.<br />
</i></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: black;"><b><i>An information session is being held at the CIT Southside campus, at 10am on Wednesday, April 13 room D112a. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.cit.edu.au/">www.cit.edu.au</a> or phone </i></b><span class="skype_pnh_print_container">02 6207 3188</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" title="Call this phone number in Australia with Skype: +61262073188"><span class="skype_pnh_left_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown"> </span><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" title="Skype actions"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_flag_span" skypeaction="skype_dropdown" style="background-position: -363px 1px ! important;"> </span> </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">02 6207 3188</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"> </span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype_highlighting</span></span><b><i> to secure your place.</i></b></div><br />
The objective of this article is to inform those of you who are looking for a new career direction and want to help people with disabilities. Make enquiries with your local educational institution and enrol in a course that will give you accredited qualifications as a Profession Disability Support Worker.<br />
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It doesn't matter where in the world you live, you can make a difference. <br />
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We want you! We need you!<br />
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If you want to write a blog or article about this blog post, I have provided links for the images that were used. Spread the word and make the world a better place for all of us.<br />
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<b>Reference Links</b><br />
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Uncle Sam - I want you poster copyright details<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Unclesamwantyou.jpg">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Unclesamwantyou.jpg</a><br />
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Uncle Sam poster mashup 'I want you' image<br />
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5629377814_052310709b_m.jpg">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5629377814_052310709b_m.jpg</a><br />
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Daryl Williams flickr stream<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36681541@N02/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/36681541@N02/</a><br />
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The Chronicle news item image<br />
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5619907475_db4513cd25.jpg">http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5068/5619907475_db4513cd25.jpg</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-21661195748878561612011-04-13T14:51:00.000+10:002011-04-13T14:51:52.780+10:00Values and Attitudes – Part 4This is the final, Part 4 of my Values and Attitudes assignment, which is part my <a href="http://cit.edu.au/future/courses/disability_certificate_iii">Certificate III in Disability studies at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)</a>.<br />
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I have included the <i>Reference Links</i> at the bottom of this article which helped me research this assignment.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the article and I look forward to any comments you may have, by posting them in the comments function at the end of this article.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>A person with a Disability cannot contribute to the workforce.</b><br />
In 1989 I was privileged to study the first course developed for people with disabilities in the Elizabeth TAFE, South Australia. The course was called <i>Clerical Course for People With Disabilities</i>. Entry to this course was by selection only, of certain people who were passionate about doing this course and getting employment in the workplace. I graduated on the 14th September 1989. After completing the course, we were asked how we felt about what we had learned. One thing that we unanimously requested, was that the title of the course not include the word 'Disability'. We all agreed that there is a generalised stigma held against disabled people and that employers avoided and didn't employ people with disabilities. So the title of the course was changed to <i>Clerical Job Course</i>. It is sad that we as students felt so strongly that we wished to hide our disabilities due to how the community viewed disabled people at that time.<br />
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Not having the opportunity to work has a negative impact on a person's self esteem. Having employment empowers a person and builds their self confidence. The strength of the economy of all countries is based on how many people are working. When a person is working and earning an income, they spend money to buy food, clothing, shelter and products to improve their quality of life. By spending the money they earn they enable more opportunities for more people to be employed.<br />
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Disabled people know how hard it is to get employment because of ill informed and uneducated attitudes. If you look at disabled people who are employed, you can see they are happy and proud of their jobs. You may also notice that their joy permeates throughout the other employees. If employees are happy with their jobs, businesses will grow. This is because customers are attracted to people-friendly businesses and services.<br />
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Disabled people deserve the right to contribute to the workforce and contribute to the growth of our economy. <br />
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<b>Bilblography</b><br />
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Jobs wife condemns him<br />
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) - Job 2:9<br />
<a href="http://gwt.scripturetext.com/job/2-1.htm">http://gwt.scripturetext.com/job/2-1.htm</a><br />
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Jobs friends say he has committed a grave sin<br />
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) - Job 4:7-8 <br />
<a href="http://gwt.scripturetext.com/job/4.htm">http://gwt.scripturetext.com/job/4.htm</a><br />
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Jesus, two men possessed by demons<br />
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) - Matthew 8:28-34 <br />
<a href="http://gwt.scripturetext.com/matthew/8.htm">http://gwt.scripturetext.com/matthew/8.htm</a><br />
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Abnormal psychology<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abnormal_psychology">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abnormal_psychology</a><br />
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Nazi Persecution of the Mentally and Physically Disabled<br />
By the Jewish Virtual Library<br />
<a href="http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/disabled.html">http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/disabled.html</a><br />
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United Nations - Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities<br />
<a href="http://www.un.org/disabilities/">http://www.un.org/disabilities/</a><br />
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Compulsory sterilization<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization</a><br />
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Eugenics<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics</a><br />
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Nazi eugenics<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_eugenics">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_eugenics</a><br />
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'Moving Forward or Losing Ground?<br />
The Sterilisation of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Australia'<br />
<a href="http://www.wwda.org.au/steril3.htm">http://www.wwda.org.au/steril3.htm</a><br />
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Cognition<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition</a><br />
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Disability Services Standards 2007<br />
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/standards/Pages/policy-nsds2007.aspx<br />
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Working With Disability <br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GptdXjYnFOQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GptdXjYnFOQ</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-73076869766819957272011-04-13T14:33:00.001+10:002011-04-13T14:45:09.668+10:00Values and Attitudes – Part 3This is Part 3 of my Values and Attitudes assignment, which is part my <a href="http://cit.edu.au/future/courses/disability_certificate_iii">Certificate III in Disability studies at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)</a>.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the article and I look forward to any comments you may have, by posting them in the comments function at the end of this article.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>People with Disabilities cannot make their own decisions they need to have someone else do that for them.</b><br />
In some cases this is true but the reason I say this is because people with disabilities may not have learned or been taught how to make their own decisions. We learn how to make decisions because someone taught us how to make decisions.<br />
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To make an informed decision, we need to learn, be taught or research information – surrounding what it is that we want to make a decision on. This could be: <br />
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<ul><li>buying something</li>
<li>choosing where we will go on a holiday</li>
<li>where we will live</li>
<li>who we will live with</li>
<li>making medical decisions based on how those decisions will impact our lives.</li>
</ul><br />
In the past, governments felt disabled people didn't have the required mental capacity to make decisions about their lives. They preferred <i>legal, medical and other professionals</i> to make these decisions and didn't consider the parents', guardians' or clients' choices. Wikipedia “Scientists and Psychologist” refer to <i>"the process of thought"</i> as Cognition.<br />
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People with disabilities are capable of choosing what food they like and dislike. They may like certain activities when playing. This is evidence that they can choose what they want to do. If they are given the opportunity and taught communication skills suited to their abilities, they can contribute to the community and help society learn more about what their wants and needs are.<br />
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The Disabilities Standards 3 – Decision Making and Choices states <i>Each person with a disability has the opportunity to participate as fully as possible in making decisions about the events and activities of his or her daily life in relation to the services he or she receives. </i><br />
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The Disability Standards is a law upheld by the Australian Government that all Australians should comply to.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-4148283782817311382011-04-13T14:20:00.000+10:002011-04-13T14:20:45.537+10:00Values and Attitudes – Part 2This is Part 2 of my Values and Attitudes assignment, which is part my <a href="http://cit.edu.au/future/courses/disability_certificate_iii">Certificate III in Disability studies at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)</a>.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the article and I look forward to any comments you may have, by posting them in the comments function at the end of this article.<br />
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<b>People with a Disability should not be having relationships or seeking sexual activity</b><br />
Disabled people have feelings and emotions like any other human beings. They have the ability to love those who care for them. Since the beginning of time, humans have found it hard to live alone. They have had a natural need to share their lives with a mate – either of the opposite or same gender. Every individual has a right to choose what they will and won't do within the confines of the law of the country they live in.<br />
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In the past, people with mental and intellectual disabilities were forcibly sterilised. Governments legislated policies knows as Compulsory Sterilisation or Forced Sterilisation. This was to stop disabled people passing on their so called genetic impurities to their children. It was also used to protect disabled women from the consequences of sexual abuse which may have lead to unwanted pregnancies. An opinion was also held that disabled women were not capable of parenting. These policies were enforced on men and women. It is shocking to accept that governments practised and promoted 'eugenics'. <br />
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Wikipedia defines<i> 'eugenics' as the "applied science or the biosocial movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population," usually referring to human populations.</i><br />
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The Nazi regime of Germany practised eugenics and <i>defended their actions on the matter by indicating that it was the United States itself from whom they had taken inspiration.</i> As a result of Germany's <i>Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring</i> 400,000 people were forcibly sterilised.<br />
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The United States was the first country to take up the concepts of eugenics. From 1897 to 1981 65,000 in 33 states were forcibly sterilised.<br />
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In Australia decisions on forced sterilisation were <i>traditionally dominated by legal, medical and other professionals</i>. Disabled people were not consulted or allowed to make these decisions. In most cases young girls and women were unaware that they were being sterilised. This was a blatant disregard for an individual's human rights.<br />
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Today, 2011 we live in a more enlightened and informed world. We need to reject the sterilisation ideals of the past and move forward allowing all persons the right of choice. People with disabilities have feelings, emotions and have the capacity to love and feel love. It is unfair to dictate to an adult, if they can or cannot have a relationship or sexual activities with another consenting adult.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-81608366154640792222011-04-13T14:08:00.001+10:002011-04-13T14:13:24.581+10:00Values and Attitudes – Part 1I'm studying a <a href="http://cit.edu.au/future/courses/disability_certificate_iii">Certificate III in Disability at Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)</a>. This article is in three parts of an assignment I wrote based on Values and Attitudes. It relates to people with disabilities and my arguments against attitudes that are held by a minority of the community.<br />
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Now that I have received my grades for this assignment, I want to share with you:<br />
<ul><li>my research</li>
<li>the completed assignment</li>
<li>internet links that support my arguments.</li>
</ul><br />
I hope you enjoy the article and I look forward to any comments you may have by posting them in the comments function at the end of this article.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<b>People with a Disability should not be living within the community</b><br />
Such a statement is based on ill informed, uneducated, and ignorant prejudices. Throughout history many people suffered grave brutality, under the pretence of society helping and protecting the community.<br />
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During biblical times, disabilities were viewed as a punishment of the Christian and Israelite(Judaism) God. For example in the ( Job 2:7) it states <i>'Satan left the LORD's presence and struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head'</i>. It then goes on to say that Job's wife said to him<i> 'Are you still holding on to your principles? Curse God and die!'</i>. Further to this, three of Job's trusted friends said that <i>'he had committed a grave sin against God'</i> (Job 4:7-8). What this means is that Job's wife and friends made an assumption that Job had committed a grave sin against God and that he was being punished for his sin. Job's wife even said that he was better off dead. In actual fact Job had a medical condition.<br />
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During the time of Jesus, two men lived in a cemetery. People were too scared to go along the road because the men were dangerous and accused of being possessed by demons (Matthew 8:28-34). It was believed that people with a mental illness or intellectual disability were possessed by demons or evil spirits.<br />
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In the Dark Ages many <i>Europeans believed that the power of witches, demons, and spirits caused abnormal behaviours.</i> It was thought, at this time, that the only way to remove these evil forces was by exorcism. If that failed the mentally ill were confined, beaten and sometimes tortured to remove the demons or the witches' spell.<br />
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In the twentieth century, extreme policies sanctioned and legislated by governments were created to remove the 'disability' (.e.g. mental illness, intellectual disabilities and people who were unable to work due to disabilities) problem. Terms were used such as <i>feeble mindedness , abnormal, idiots, congenitally crippled</i> in reference to people with disabilities. In Germany on 1st September 1939 Adolf Hitler issued a decree resulting in the killing of patients in mental asylums and other institutions under the policy, code-named Operation T-4. It was found that between the years of 1939 and 1945 Hitler's Nazi Regime had murdered <i>70,000 mentally and physically handicapped persons</i>. Hitler believed this was the only way to cleanse the human race of abnormalities and relieve the financial burden placed on the community.<br />
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Now we are living in the twenty-first century, where society shows respect for people with disabilities. Rather than bad treatment or physical abuse of (beating, torturing or murdering) innocent disabled people, we demand that these individuals be afforded human rights with a life of dignity, equal rights, equal opportunities and inclusion in our community.<br />
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People with disabilities are recognised and respected by the United Nations. Such a statement, that people with disabilities should not be living within the community, is discriminatory and against the law of many countries. Disabled people are also protected and defended by human rights advocates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-41344984154674584802011-04-01T19:02:00.006+11:002011-04-08T18:10:55.019+10:00Is Euthanasia Or Suicide An Option For Disabilities?I recently saw a current affairs program on television about a woman who had Cerebral Palsy. She was fed up with her disability, so much so, that she wanted to follow the path of euthanasia and end her life of suffering. <br />
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In case you don't know what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia">Euthanasia</a> is, it comes from the Greek word 'Good Death'. The Wikipedia on Euthanasia defines it as 'the practice of ending a life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering'. <br />
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I was shocked that this woman who was able to talk fluently about her choices, had resigned to take an easy way out. Now that may sound harsh and judgemental on my part. But hearing this story reminded me of the time I also wanted to give up on my life because of:<br />
<ul><li>extreme pain I was suffering;</li>
<li>the side effects of strong medication I was taking;</li>
<li>the emotional pain and suffering my family was going through because of my disability;</li>
<li>doctors saying I could end up in a wheelchair.</li>
</ul>This woman's story has compelled me to write about my story, causing me to reflect on what I was going through at that time and how I just wanted to end it all. I'm so glad now, that I didn't end my life, whether it be termed euthanasia or suicide.<br />
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I have a lower back (lumbar) injury as a result of a life-threatening motorcycle accident. I broke my left leg in three places and my left arm in two places. I always say jokingly <i>'I learned something about motorcycles as a result of my accident. I realised you need wings to fly - because when I was hit by a car, I flew over the roof of the car and hit the ground. I couldn't fly. You need wings to do that'</i>.<br />
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When I regained consciousness two weeks after the accident, I complained about a sharp pain in my lower back. The doctors said there is nothing wrong with my back. For years, I had x-rays, physiotherapy, chiropractic manipulation, natural therapy and many other therapies with no satisfactory relief.<br />
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Ten years after my accident I was working in my garden and my back was aching. I didn't listen to my body warning me there was something wrong. Basically I just didn't care. I was fed up with the pain. Big mistake - within hours I was in agonising pain. My wife called the doctor, who came to our house. He put me on strong pain killers and I was bed-ridden for three months. During this time the doctor kept visiting me and eventually said <i>'you may end up in a wheelchair'</i>. Those are not the words you want to hear from your doctor.<br />
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Over this time I was heavily medicated and sedated. One day my Uncle Dave came and visited me. He is a very wise and caring man and I have a lot of respect for him. He had a gift that he wanted to give to me, but before he gave me the gift, he wanted to tell me something. He said <i>'Daryl, I know you're not well and we don't know what the future holds for you with your injury, but there is one thing I feel is really important for you to do'...</i><br />
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There was a long pause and I couldn't wait to hear what he wanted to say. I respected and admired my Uncle Dave so much and always listened to his wisdom. He continued<i> 'Your body may not be able to do the things it used to do, but... it's really important that you keep your mind active, keep thinking and developing problem-solving skills'</i>.<br />
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He then gave me a gift, which I unwrapped between wiping away my tears of appreciation. It was a game called<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_%28board_game%29"> 'Mastermind'</a>.<br />
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My Uncle then said <i>'What I suggest you do is teach your four children how to play the game, but only teach one of them at a time. This means you get some quality time with your children individually and when they get bored, call another child and play the game with them. That way you can play the game all day if you want and your children won't get bored playing with you'</i>. <br />
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I followed my Uncle's advice and appreciated the time I spent with my children and they enjoyed playing the game too.<br />
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Today on reflection, I realise the importance and the value of my Uncle's gift. It taught me to use my mind and learn how to learn new things (self learning/teaching).<br />
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I read about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawking and his disability <i>(a motor neurone disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS))</i></a>. The wikipedia describes what happened when Stephen found out that he had a life changing disability. This is what the wikipedia says about Stephen's realisation of his illness:<br />
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<i>When he was young, he enjoyed riding horses and playing with other children. At Oxford, he coxed a rowing team, which, he stated, helped relieve his immense boredom at the university. Symptoms of the disorder first appeared while he was enrolled at University of Cambridge; he lost his balance and fell down a flight of stairs, hitting his head. Worried that he would lose his genius, he took the Mensa test to verify that his intellectual abilities were intact. The diagnosis of motor neurone disease came when Hawking was 21, shortly before his first marriage, and doctors said he would not survive more than two or three years. Hawking gradually lost the use of his arms, legs, and voice, and as of 2009 has been almost completely paralysed. </i> <br />
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What stands out to me with Stephen Hawking's story is his concern when he fell down a flight of stairs and hit his head. <i>Worried that he would lose his genius, he took the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International">Mensa test</a> to verify that his intellectual abilities were intact</i>. Stephen Hawking was more concerned about losing his 'genius' than the impending disability that would dramatically change his life.<br />
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This reminded me of the gift my Uncle gave me and how important it is to me now that I continue to keep my mind active with research, learning new skills and sharing those skills with others.<br />
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I'm so glad that I'm alive today. I'm so glad I didn't choose the easy way out by suicide or euthanasia.<br />
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It is so sad to hear that this woman I spoke about earlier, who has cerebral palsy, wants to end her life by euthanasia.<br />
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She can talk! She has a voice that reveals a mind full of knowledge and wisdom. If you focus more on your mind, filling it with knowledge and wisdom, and sharing that knowledge with others, you forget about the pain. Most importantly you can share your experience of suffering with others and help them understand the life of a person who endures the restrictions of cerebral palsy. It gives people who have cerebral palsy hope.<br />
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In my mind this is what the 'Voice For Disability' is about - encouraging people with a disability to speak out and educate the community so they will understand what are the needs and wants of the disabled. <br />
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Some of those needs and wants are:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>to be accepted in the community</li>
<li>to be allowed to speak and be heard</li>
<li>to be able to communicate with the community</li>
<li>to have a say on how they should be treated</li>
<li>for employers not to discriminate, but to look beyond the disability and give disabled people a chance to work, based on their abilities</li>
<li>to not be patronised, but to be respected for their courage in enduring life with a disability.</li>
</ul>This blog post was really hard for me to write and it was a challenge, because it affected me emotionally. It took me back to the hard days, when I was suffering a lot of pain along with the misinformed judgemental attitudes of others.<br />
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I'm now coming out and telling you my story. Not to glorify myself - far from it - but to share my experiences. By setting an example in standing up and speaking out, not worrying about what others may say or worrying about them discriminating against me for revealing and talking about my disability. <br />
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However we need more people like YOU to speak up for your sisters and brothers who are suffering with a disability. Disability focuses on what you can't do, but we need to focus on abilities. What you can do for yourself, the community and what disabled people can do in the workforce. Speak up and let the world know. <br />
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That is what this blog site 'Voice For Disability' intends on doing and so can you.<br />
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Please leave a comment to this blog post. I would really love to hear what you think about: <br />
<ul><li>A disability that affects you?</li>
<li>How you feel about the way people treat those with a disability?</li>
<li>Employers who discriminate against those with a disability?</li>
<li>What changes you would like to see so that disabled people are accepted into community?</li>
<li>How disabled people can be more empowered and to live a far better quality of life?</li>
<li>What you think of this blog post and how it affects your heart and mind?</li>
</ul><br />
<b>Reference links</b><br />
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Euthanasia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia</a><br />
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Mastermind Game: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_%28board_game%29">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_%28board_game%29</a><br />
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Stephen Hawking: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking</a><br />
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Mensa Test: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-81134689192020517612011-03-27T21:02:00.000+11:002011-03-27T21:02:01.323+11:00When Is A Disability Not A DisabilityWhen you hear the term disability you may think of people who are unable to do activities or assimilate in society. A disability can be physical, intellectual, mental, visual and hearing impairments.<br />
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Disability is a negative word which focuses on the limitations of what a disabled person can't do. <br />
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This may lead to a negative perception of disabled people within the community due to misinformation. Unfortunately some people in the community may view disabled people as a burden on society and its economies. <br />
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The term disability, can also have a negative impact on a disabled person, where he/she may feel unwanted, dejected and may focus more on what they can't do, rather than what they can do.<br />
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This opens a discussion to the question When is a disability not a disability? <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>If you break down the word <i>'disability' </i><br />
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For example<i> 'dis'</i> is<i> 'a Latin prefix meaning “apart,” “asunder,” “away,” “utterly,” or having a privative, negative, or reversing force'</i>. This reflects on the negativity of the word disability – what you can't do.<br />
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<i>'ability'</i> refers to<i> 'the quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; in the plural, faculty, talent'</i>. Ability has a far more positive reflection on the word disability. It focuses on what your ability. What you can do.<br />
<br />
Rather than focus on the negativity of ones disability, it's better to focus on the positive aspects of ones ability.<br />
<br />
As an example, here is a video about dogs who are paralysed. It's so sad when you see a disabled dog who can't run and play any more. In the past it was considered humane to put down a dog that has a disability. But with human ingenuity, wheelchairs were produced to give these dogs a good quality of life. Most importantly their lives were transformed, they were empowered and given the opportunity to enjoy the gift of life once again.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kflptL9l8To" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
So why am I using the example of animals, when I'm talking about disabled people. In the video above you can see how happy the dogs were when they were empowered with a wheelchair to run and play again.<br />
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When you look at the example of people who are paralysed, their lives are also transformed when they use wheelchairs. They are not bed-ridden or house bound. They have the ability of mobility, where they can go out and associate, be accepted and included in their community.<br />
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As the video below shows, paralysed people can also drive a car. When you watch the video, you will see the joy on this young man's face. He is empowered with the skills and ability to drive a car.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kuFiAMLZmCs" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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By watching videos of disabled people who have a positive attitude about their abilities, this can have a positive influence on you. It gives you hope that if they can do it, you can do it too.<br />
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In regards to the question When is a disability not a disability? The answer is, when you focus on your ability.<br />
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<b>Have your say:</b><br />
I would really like to hear your thoughts on this article. Feedback is great to hear your perspective and help me write more articles that may interest you.<br />
<br />
<b>References:</b><br />
Dictionary.com 'dis'- <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dis-">http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dis-</a><br />
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Accurate & Reliable Dictionary - 'ability' - <a href="http://ardictionary.com/Ability/293">http://ardictionary.com/Ability/293</a><br />
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Youtube - Walkin' Wheels Dog Wheelchair Movie Helps Handicapped Pets<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kflptL9l8To">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kflptL9l8To</a><br />
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Youtube - Wheelchair Car Transfer<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuFiAMLZmCs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuFiAMLZmCs</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-21152812230085855512011-03-27T09:28:00.000+11:002011-03-27T09:28:29.072+11:00About usHi I'm Daryl Williams and welcome to <i>Voice For Disability</i>.<br />
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I live in Canberra, ACT Australia. At present I'm studying <i>Certificate III in Disability</i>. My aim is to provide a good quality of life for disabled people, as a professional, accredited <i>Disability Support Worker</i> in the Community Services Sector.<br />
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This blog has been created as a reference source for my studies which may also be of assistance to disabled people, their family, relatives, friends, also students, community services and researchers.<br />
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If you like and appreciate the information provided in this blog, or if you have any questions please post a comment in the article you were reading. Your views, feelings, suggestions, questions will be of help and encourage others to contribute to this community focused blog site.<br />
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<b>Kind Regards</b><br />
<i>Daryl Williams</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767521014008394123.post-31978138888184843552011-03-25T22:15:00.001+11:002011-03-25T23:09:52.531+11:00The purpose of David's Story - Documentary Video Production<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">This is a video that I am attempting to produce with fellow Canberra Institute of Technology students, studying Certificate III in Disability. The objective is to tell the struggles of people with disabilities.<br />
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David's Story is a pilot documentary <i>(first testing documentary)</i> to see how we can use social media, digital media and social networking to educate and inform the global community about people with disabilities. The purpose of this video is to show the community, educational institutions and potential employers that disabled people have skills and abilities that can contribute productively to communities and the workplace.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">David's story is to explore the possibilities of telling the stories of other people with disabilities. This will give disabled people a voice <i>(advocacy)</i>. To spread the word of acceptance into the community <i>(inclusion)</i> and be appreciated for what they can give to the community.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Even though I <i>(Daryl Williams)</i> have a disability, I realise there are others whose lives are far more adversely impacted by a disability. There is discrimination, verbally, physically, mentally and spiritually inflicted on disabled people due to miss-information. Society in general, doesn't realise or aren't aware of the struggles disabled people face everyday. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">One method that can be used to educate society in general is by using video to speak for disabled people. These videos can be put on the internet using social media websites such as Youtube and other video websites. Using social media educates the community on a global scale.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">These videos can be embedded on websites and blog sites where disability advocates can write articles for and about disabled people. They can also be used by educators in primary, secondary, tertiary education, community organisations, employers, corporations, charity organisations, agencies, services and non-profit-government organisations.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The message of the video is to tell the world that, yes these people are disabled but:</div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">they have feelings like everyone else</div></li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">they have needs and wants like everyone else</span></div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">they can communicate</div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">if they can't communicate verbally they can use communication aids</div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">they can study and learn in technical colleges and Universities </div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">they can work and contribute to the community and workplace environments</div></li>
</ul><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The videos can:</div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">educate the global community about the different types of disabilities</div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">educate the global community that disabled people have rights just like everybody else</div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">allow disabled people to give their perspective of the treatment they receive, both bad and good</div></li>
<li><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">give disabled people a voice so they can advocate or speak for themselves and on behalf of their peers</div></li>
</ul><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The video/s are not to exploit disabled people, but to give them a voice <i>(advocacy)</i> and allow them to share their life experience with others. Also to promote their needs and requirements that gives them a quality of life and empowerment.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0