Disaboom Blogs

RE: Iatrogenic Drug-Induced Neuropathy?????

tommy_w8576 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:39:00 GMT

I am sort of wondering whether the combination of the Statin & SSRI drugs I am on, LIpitor & Lexapro have anything to do with my becoming neuromuscularly weaker below my knees, & causing tingling, itching, & outright loss of muscular coordination & my lower legs & feet, "turning to Jell-O" underneath me? Statins mess with cholesterol metabolism throughout the body, & the nervous system needs cholesterol as a building block of "Myelin", which nerves require as "insulation" for transmitting electrochemical impulses throughout the nervous system. Also, Psychotropic & SSRI Antidepressants also mess with "Seratonin", a neurotransmitter, that also interacts with Dopamine another neurotransmitter throughout the body.

I may be autistic, but I am not "stupid". This is a bit of my own insight.

When it comes to using Statins & SSRI's like Lipitor & Lexapro, one is "damned if one does take them", & damned if one does not take them".

Without 10 mg/day of Lexapro, I will have "Suicidal Ideations", & "Urges to Self-Injure" myself, either "self-hitting slapping" or "trying to harm my secret body part inside my diaper(s)".

Also, without Lipitor (10 mg/day), my Cholesterol level would be simply so darn high, I could have my heart or brain "plugged up".

On a different note, I did go over to the Mall @ Rockingham Park, to simply "walk around for a while" for some exercise, before coming over here to the Kelley Library to connect to their Wi-Fi Network to access the Internet. I am plopped into a soft arm chair in a quiet corner, which I like, & I will least-likely be interrupted or disturbed by anyone here. I prefer to be "alone by myself", to hyperfocus on using the Internet, primarilly as an information source, not as an "electronic babysitter". I am happy, that the Space Shuttle made it up to the International Space Station several days ago. I am going to check on some of the seismometer data readouts around the Yellowstone Supervolcano Caldera. :-)

Friday and happy

gypsylady — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:35:00 GMT

Greetings everyone I cant believe how fast this week flew bye .

The weather today was not my favorite so I stayed indoors and chilled out but tonight For Dinner a Fresh BBq chicken is probably going to be my main entree

I am in a fun very upbeat mood and Excited about my Weekend coming up again .

So here I am in a writing expressful mood but there is alot on my mind and I wont pick one area yet.

As I am sitting here in my office listening to STP Stone Temple Pilots Music helps me unwind .

Today I took it easy and didnt do much . Still looking for a few important Driver /program Computer disks I somehow managed to misplace these disks which is un normal for me .

I''ve noticed when you least expect things like these Computer program disks they pop up !

My main perogative is saying hi to you all and just typing my simple post knowing my Weekend is now Before me

How are you all doing ?

I really respect / admire every one of you

So Keep Smiling

Sincerely ;

Gypsylady

A needed naptime & getting a couple of chores done...

tommy_w8576 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:29:00 GMT

After Lunch I needed a long naptime. I did have a headache, primarilly centered on both of my eye sockets. Nate, my little brother is still out doing things of his own by himself. Dad is upstairs in his bedroom having his afternoon naptime. I am not sure when Nate will be returning home, but I am not hungry.

To amuse myself, I am watching a DVD of "Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles" episodes. Only have 1 singe DVD of this now old cartoon.

3:39 PM - Nate just returned home with more groceries. He is now cooking Supper "early". I prefer to eat "later". My eating habits are that I eate a meal @ mid-morning "combination" Breakfast/Lunch, & I eat Supper after 7:00 PM. 4:00 PM is "too early" for me.

The Debby Rose Case

Tiffany Huggard-Lee — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:08:00 GMT

*Cross posted from my blog*

A while back I wrote this blog post about Debby Rose and her so-called service monkey. At that point, Debby Rose had filed suit under the ADA, the Civil Rights Act, and the Missouri Human Rights Act against the Greene County Health Department for sending out letters saying that food service establishments should not let the monkey in and against Walmart and Cox Health for not letting her bring her monkey into their facilities as a result of these letters. The Civil Rights Act case and Missouri Human Rights Act case were both thrown out, but the ADA case was allowed to proceed.

The lawsuit was recently settled with a summary judgment against Debby Rose in the Western District Court of Missouri. The full opinion can be found here. The case hinged on two main things: whether or not Debby Rose is a qualified individual with a disability, and whether or not the monkey (Richard) qualifies as a service animal under the ADA. The court wasn’t able to find any major life activity that Debby Rose was substantially limited in performing because of her disability, and found that most of the monkey’s ‘tasks’ only provided comfort and the others were not related to the claimed disability. Thus, the court found that Debby Rose was not disabled and that the monkey was not a service animal.

It was nice to see such a high profile case resolved appropriately. The public opinion towards service animals has been harmed by such incidents, leading many people to think that the abuse of service animal laws is rampant and that there is nothing businesses can do to prevent being taken advantage of. In this case, all the defendants should be commended not only for excluding a fraudulent and potentially aggressive ‘service animal’ but also for seeing this case all the way through to its final resolution. Too often, businesses faced with an impending lawsuit by a fraudulent service animal user choose to settle the case instead of letting it go to court, which encourages fraudulent users like Debby Rose to continue to abuse existing service animal laws.

I would recommend everyone take a look at the full text of the court's opinion if you have the time. It's an interesting read.

Wondering why my own walking gait has gotten worse. as an autistic adult.

tommy_w8576 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:50:00 GMT

A big "why", is that my lower legs & feet simply "go to Jell-O" underneath me. As my physician, Dr. Egenolf has last checked me out, my leg circulation is good, & my EKG is ok, but I simply over the past 30 years, have been intermittently having periods of "pain, numbness, & loss of neuromuscular strength & coordination" affecting my walking gait, & my physical stamina. Something has been going on all my adult life, but "What?". Why over the past 30 years, have I been having periods of "difficulty" standing & walking, & other times, being "relatively normal"?

Not that I am "faking it", these "periods" of what I now regognize as "Neuromuscular Weakness", have been slowly over the past 30 years, have been getting more frequent & "longer in duration". This, on top of my normal Hypotonia anyway.

This morning, I have gone out to the Shaw's Supermarket for Nate & Dad, & I stopped @ the POst Office, to start mailing "Christmas Greetings" "early", before the rush next week.

Antidepressants used to heal spinal injuries. What next?

Tiffiny — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:36:00 GMT

I’m consistently amazed by all the new methods that one day may cure (or hey, partially cure. Beggars can’t be choosers) spinal cord injuries. From the blue dye in M&M’s to embryonic stem cells, I’m no longer surprised at the latest stream of "holy grails" in the field SCI research. Meh. It’s hard to surprise me though (am I really getting that old?).

Most recently Lexapro, an antidepressant I think one of my ex-boyfriends used to take, has been used to help people with spinal cord injuries walk again. It aids in the therapy by stimulating muscle spasms in the legs, which the base ingredient in the drug - Seratonin - is responsible for. Yes, they really are saying that the chemical in our brain that makes us happy also triggers muscle spasms. Is that why that kid I used to hang out with growing up used to jump up and down whenever he got really excited?

So anyways, after taking the drug the participants used robot-assisted treadmills (the participants all had incomplete injuries, which means they already had some leg movement to begin with). Using the treadmill helped re-train their leg muscles to move in the correct way needed to walk (muscles retain memory, but after a spinal injury a kick in the butt is sometimes needed). And for people with very incomplete spinal cord injuries (where a number of nerves are still connected in the spinal cord) they can commonly make use of their leg spasms, and can go from being unable to walk to walking, all by trigging their spasms.

I know. This “walking on sunsh…er spasms” thing is weird. But again, beggars can’t be choosers. If I have to pop a dozen Lexapro and strap myself to a robot to walk again, you better believe this hell-on-wheels blonde will do it.

So let's get this straight: The Lexapro is inducing leg spasms, which aids in the treadmill training, which is the last step in helping people with SCI (specifically incompletes) walk again.

Did you get all that?

- Secondary Condition: Spasticity

- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

- New Approach to Repairing Spinal Cord Injury

Gov 2.0: Transparency without accessibility?

AdvocacyCenter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:42:00 GMT

Nearly 20 percent of Americans need sites such as Recovery.gov and Disability.gov to improve accessibility features

Federal Computer Week
November 16, 2009
By Alice Lipowicz

http://fcw.com/Articles/2009/11/16/POL-accessibility.aspx?

****
Have you found any accessibility issues with the Advocacy Center's website (http://www.advocacyla.org/)? Let us know.
We are planning a redesign of the whole site in the next 6 months or so. What makes a site easier to use for you?

Had another "long walk" for Exercise...

tommy_w8576 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:07:00 GMT

Had another long walk @ the Windham, NH Nature Trail using my loftstrand crutches. my fett & ankles "went to Jell-O" underneath me, doing a "slow" walk of a distance of 2 1/4 miles round trip.

Being on Lipitor, for the past 4+ years straight, I am wondering whether my own legs below my knees have degenerated into "permanent" Statin-Drug-Induced "Neuropathy", which has caused my ankles to neuromuscularly collapse. Last time Dr. Egenolf checked my A1C, I was ok, meaning hidden diabetes is not there. The only other culprits are the central nervous system, & "long-term use" of Lipitor.

Really, for years, I have been slowly losing my ability to walk. It was over a decade ago, when I last was able to run, using my legs. @ this stage in my life, I am also unable to ride a bicycle.

Nate is already raging @ me, about my "difficulty in walking", & "not being very physically strong anymore".

But, Nate is on 4X the dosage of Lipitor, than I am on. If I am now on Loftstrand Crutches, then "with his 4X the dosage I am on", he should be "using a wheelchair"...

Dad can hardly walk anymore, & his problem is severe Diabetic Neuropathy.

What else causes Neuropathy of the lower legs?

Dr. Egenolf, my PCP, checked my cardiovascular circulation in my legs, & it is ok. Both by feet have good blood circulation.

Then why have I been losing my ability to walk? @ first, it has been "episodic", since 1990, & now in the last 4 to 5 years, I have been declining in my ability to walk as an Asperger's/Autism adult, with shorter periods of time, "when I can almost walk normal".

Really, what is happening to my lower body?

Dr. Egenolf checked my knee-jerk reflex, & it is "normal", recently.

Is God really starting to "punish me", for "being a bad boy"?

I am not "not walking very well", "deliberately", which would be indicative of a psychiatric "Neurosis Conversion Disorder", nor indicative of a disassociative bodily dysmorphic disorder, such as BIID. Those people are just plain "nuts".

I just can not walk well any more, & I am pronating so severely, my feet are turned-inwards 45 degrees, & when I am "walking", I am "up on my toes", digigrade, "like a Dog or a Cat".

@ night, I experience "below my knees", "pinprick tingling" all night long, plus random intermittent Myoclonal Seizures, bilaterally in both my legs, & all night long, & during naps on Saturdays & Sundays, once I "lie down", my legs "simply can not move much - if @ all", while I am unconscious or minimally conscious during sleep.

Anyway, all I can feel, is that Nate, my "normal" little brother, is simply going to be "pissed off @ me", & probably already is, regarding my "medically real", & not "fantasy" decline in my ability to walk & "get around".

Dad had a stroke, but wants to keep driving!!

mobility — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT

Need answers to your mobility questions?? Want to know the latest in Assistive Technology? Would you like to learn money saving tips on how to purchase your next van, scooter or lift? Get these answers and more from “The Mobile Lifestyle Advisor” brought to you by Disabled Dealer of Virginia and West Virginia. This monthly column might make you roll with laughter, cringe with fear, or jump for joy, but it guarantees to produce solutions that you can take to the bank. So “Let’s Get Rolling”. Q. My Dad continues to drive even though he has recovered from a stroke which has left him with limited use of his right hand and slowed reaction of his right leg. I have suggested that he get hand controls installed on his car, for safety reasons. He says that the ones he has seen are bulky and make it hard for him to get into the car. Are their different styles that could be bought?? Karen B.—VA.

A Karen, there are various styles of hand controls on the market from which your Dad can choose from. However, Dad needs to see an evaluator before he does anything. He may find there are other solutions that will assist him in staying a safe driver. Evaluators are located through out the state, email me and I will send you a list. I would highly suggest that your Dad find one that can show him different hand control set ups and train him on one that is comfortable and a good fit for his car. As I mentioned, he may not even need hand controls so don’t let him delay on finding a good evaluator, safety is paramount!! As a side note, push/pull and push/right angle are the most popular types of hand controls. Technology has provided our industry various other options and it is worth doing you homework before being evaluated. For those readers that have questions regarding types, evaluations or the part DMV plays, feel free to contact me. It has been a very popular issue and one that many people avoid because they think it will jeopardize their ability to drive, in reality, it could EXTEND their safe driving years.

Q. I am looking at a car topper for my Town car. The gas fill is on the driver side of the car. My question is this; can I pull up to the gas pump, get out of my car and still be able to fill up the gas tank? Chuck E.—VA.

A. Chuck what a great question! The ageless car topper has been on the market for years and is a great way to keep your present vehicle and still become independent using a manual wheelchair. Newer style cars present somewhat of a problem because of weight limitations on roof supports but most cars will accept the carrier with a new style mounting system. For a self driver like yourself, you will require about 38-40 inches to deploy your chair and transfer into it. If your gas fill cap is on the same side of the car, you should have a long enough hose to reach. If you want to make sure, find a pump on the end of the island, pull past it until you have side clearance to get out, you should then easily reach the gas fill. Just a note for all readers, gas stations, by ADA law must provide assistance to motorists who are disabled. The key is finding the button, bell or horn that alerts the inside counter staff.

Q. My mechanic alerted me to the fact that the air bags on my 1993 IMS van were cracking and could start to leak air. I was wondering if I could do away with the air bags since I don’t use the kneel system?? Brian M.—VA.

A. The air bags on your van are used both for suspension and also the kneel function. Consequently, you cannot remove them unless you want to ride without a suspension system. Quite a rough ride and little ground clearance. It is possible to find a speed shop that could totally replace the air bag system with coil springs and struts however I would caution you that the price may be prohibitive. The air bags themselves are not unique to lowered floor vans, so you can still get air bags for your van if you develop a leak. To prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your existing bags, you can turn the kneel function off. It is great to see that the manufactures of these vans realized the limited life of air suspension and all the maintenance involved and decided to develop the mechanical kneel system which did not jeopardize your normal suspension. Great to hear that you found the fuel filter you ask about in an earlier column!!! Stay in touch.

********** Happy Holidays to All and have a very Merry Christmas******** Keep those questions coming in and keep those wheels rolling on! Send your questions and comments and receive a “free gift” from “The Mobile Lifestyle Advisor”, % Richard Baldwin, 2075 W. Main St. Waynesboro Va. 22980, or email him at mobility@ntelos.net . Also catch the latest questions and comments on the Mobile Lifestyle blog at www.disaboom.com.

A bit of a scare for me but still blessed!

Finetooner — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:25:00 GMT

The Finetooner here and missing all of my friends. I'm not dropping out; I just can't get on! ANYWAY..........Last Tuesday, I woke up with my left arm surface numb, weak, and partially paralyzed. I thought it would wear off ( I slept on it wrong?) but when I got to work and still could not keyboard, I called my primary care physician and he told me to go straight to the emergency room. About the time I got there, the paralysis began to wear off. They checked me out and insisted I be admitted into the hospital overnight for "observation." Three days later, after being held hostage, being dragged through countless tests, being bled dry for blood samples, they released me. The tests? Cat scan of the head, MRI of the head, MRI of the neck, intravenous bubble test, echocardiogram, endoscopic echocardiogram, complete neurological assessment, cardiovascular enzyme evaluation, electrocardiogram, etc, etc. All of the tests were inconclusive or negative. A shadow was seen in one of the atriums of my heart and they thought I might have a blood clot which was causing the paralysis. It is what is known in medical circles as a "transient ischemic attack," the precursor to a full-blown stroke. I was put on a "cardiovascular" diet which meant the food was tasteless. I was a virtual prisoner because my committee of doctors said that my insurance would not pay if I left against "medical advice." I still have to go for a cardiovascular MRI of the chambers of my heart to see if this "shadow" is indeed a clot or just an "artifact" or skin tag. Why am I blessed? The father-in-law of one of my dear friends happened to be there at the same time. He had a massive stroke in the hospital and he is dead. I was discharged and am still alive. Is there a lesson here? If all of this turns out negative, I have at least been given a clean bill of health and have cheated death. To God be the glory. One was taken away; one was spared for a purpose. Please Lord, a little more feedback on that purpose.......

TriAngle Newsletter

AdvocacyCenter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:49:00 GMT

The Triangle Newsletter is ready. Please click on the link below to read.

http://www.laddc.org/main/wp-content/uploads/october2009final.pdf
******************
SHARE YOUR OPINION FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN MP3 PLAYER

The TriAngle editorial board would like to know what you think about the TriAngle. Please go to the link below to complete a short survey by November 30th, 2009.

http://www.advocacyla.org/triangle.php

Thanks so much for your input.

Make your wheelchair a weapon, and kick some butt

Tiffiny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:03:00 GMT

I don’t know about you, but ever since I ended up in this wheelchair I haven’t stopped feeling vulnerable. I can’t move my legs (or torso) at all, and my arms only work at 50%. It’s pretty hard to feel strong or empowered. Hell, I can’t even pull a trigger so getting a conceal-and-carry license, or even mace, are out of the question. What are folks like us supposed to do?

I recently read about a wheelchair defense program that definitely got my attention. At the Neuro Core Physiotherapy & Pilates Centre in Richmond Hill (a suburb of Toronto for those of you not Canada-savvy), Grant Murray, a taekwondo black belt, and Rich VanderWal, a recreation therapist at a rehab facility, have started teaching self-defense classes for wheelchair-users.

The classes focuses on making the wheelchair a weapon, not something that‘s just in the way (which I especially like). What would you do is someone came up from behind you and grabbed your shoulder? Shrink and cry for help? Not in this class. They teach you how to balance your chair and keep your balance simultaneously. And joint manipulation, the art of holding someone’s joint in place rendering them helpless (if it works that is), is also a key component of the class.

One of the coolest tips featured in this video is that if you’re attacked in your wheelchair, the attacker will have to lean over to get at you, which will always put them off-balance. And you can use this to your advantage. By simply pulling forward really quickly, you can at least get out of their grips for awhile, hopefully giving you the chance to get away or even better, scaring them off.

- Self-Defense for People with Disabilities

- Self-defense discussion

- Sports and Recreation discussion

Jewelry Making & Aunt Rhetta

Sirona — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:53:00 GMT

That's what it is, this jewelry making. It's a pleasurable madness, a lovely addiction to color, sparkle, texture and design. It was my aunt whose jewelry first caught my eye when I was a child. She was a beautiful and buxom woman who dressed every day in gorgeous colors and clothes made of luscious fabrics and textures. Her makeup was subtle, her hair swept up with strands trailing around her face and neck. I loved the scent of her perfume and of course, I loved her jewelry. If the truth be known, my aunt fascinated me more than anyone I knew as a child. She was larger than life in my eyes. A woman who made spur of the moment decisions that often surprised and delighted me. Living with her every summer was a new adventure. But it was the jewelry and how she wore it that tickled me most. Costume jewelry, bright baubles and sparkling stones with birds in flight, and trees that glittered with emerald green and gold leaves with earrings to match, no less! Pearls than hung in strands and moved as she did. Pins that seemed bigger than my hand and sparkled as if the sun shone on them alone. It was a simple and pure delight to be with her. Her jewelry, her elegance, her wit and her hats - she wore hats long after they were out of fashion - were her external trademark. But I knew well the eccentric and hilarious dimensions of her personality as well. My aunt is gone now. She lived 97 years and for almost every one of those days, she dressed elegantly, perfumed herself subtly and bejeweled herself in a way that I have never forgotten. I am quite sure that if she were living today, she would tell me exactly what to make for her - and it would be spectacular. This blog is dedicated to her and to all of us who love jewelry! This picture, one I prize, since she rarely allowed her picture to be taken, was taken with her husband, standing, and an old friend. The antique locket she is wearing is now one of my treasured possessions.

Sirona: Mid-Life Memoir Introduction

Sirona — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:00 GMT

Hi everyone! My name is Pauline Salvucci. I'm 66 years old and am going to use my blog to talk about a variety of things. Career wise, I'm a former licensed psychotherapist who had a private practice with four family doctors for many years. I became ill, diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica in January of 1999. I have severe osteoarthritis and use a power wheelchair. Now I make jewelry on my good days and write some. My first short story was published in January of 1999. I want to write children's stories and so that's a project on the burner for the new year. I'm an avid reader and music lover, especially of jazz piano!!! I have a wonderful rescue cat. His name is Jack and he's a sweetie. He escaped from his owner's house, was on the street for two months of a very cold Maine winter and his ear tips were frostbitten as was the tip of his tail. I've been writing about people and memories that have importance to me and so that's what I'll focus on in the blog. Your comments are always welcome, both positive and negative. Cheers! Pauline

Feeling Emotionally Better THis Morning...

tommy_w8576 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:29:00 GMT

Yesterday, I was a blue color most of the day. I am feeling better this morning. This morning I already went out in my truck to the Shaw's Supermarket for Soda Pop. Dad ran out of Diet Coke yesterday. Nate has to taxi Dad up to Manchester to another doctor's appointment in the late afternoon. Right now I can hear Nate upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up. Later on, he has to get Dad "ready to go".

What flipped me feeling sort-of sad yesterday, was my own memories of Christmastime long ago. To my Mom's mother, my Grammie Edith, Nate & I seemed to be "afterthoughts". Cousins Joey, Lorie, & Sara got most of the love & attention from her, not us. Even Mom's older sister's kids, my cousins Darrell, Darleen, & Darla, were "loved more", than Nate & I, or our other brother, David, who passed away as a baby.

Dad's Mom, Grammie Carrie & her little sister, Auntie Marjorie, seemed to accept & love me & Nate "more".

A a person, I have always been accepted & loved more, by my Dad's side of the family. Do you realize, that I have "open invitations" to visit my paternal Grandpa Ernie's 1st cousin Susan (Wood) Adam's grandson's wheat farm out in Saskatchewan, & to go visit his brother's family near Etonia, SK. Plus I have open invitations to visit his sister & family out in British Columbia, & to visit other of my Dad's cousins out in Calgary & Lethbridge Alberta, plus to visit another of my Dad's cousins up on Newfoundland.. I also have open invitations to visit my cousins on Dad's side of the family in Delaware & Virginia, around the Washington, DC area.

Not so with my Mom's side of the family. Nate & I (& Dad) are "non-persons" to them.

Nate & I never knew Grandpa Ernie. He passed away before I was born, & I am the eldest brother in our family.

As a person, I look back 4 generations @ the only photograph of my 2nd Great-Grandpa, Richard Wood, who left England & landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, & then migrated to Prince Edward Island, I "see me". Both of us, with our long beards, look "very much alike", & yet, there is something like a time gap between us of 140 years.

One thing I still have a hard time with, is that back in 1985, my "psychotic" Mom, "deceived" & "tricked me" into via "hauling away the trash" "destroying" (& the "evidence" thereof) of her "cutting up & destroying" more than a century's worth of "irreplacable" Family Photographs. In her psychosis, she cut up & destroyed all the photos of her & Dad's wedding, all the photos of her own Mom & Dad, & Grandparents, & all the photographs of our Dad as a baby & boyhood, & a baby picture & a few boyhood pictures of Gramdpa Ernie (Dad's Dad), & Great Grandpa Thomas (Grandpa Ernie's Dad - whom my Dad named me after), "everything", leaving nothing...

She "used" & deceived an autistic person, me, who always "does what he is told", to "do evil". I am supposed to forgive her, since she is dead, but I am both angry & sad @ the same time, "still", decades later, after she "pulled off that evil deed", using me as a "simpleton fool".

Bed

Katinka — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:49:00 GMT

Hospital bed gone. Old bed back. Hospital bed was essential to recovery but never have I been so happy for this bit of comfort returned.

EEOC Town Meeting in New Orleans this FRIDAY, November 20th

AdvocacyCenter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:38:00 GMT

November 20, 2009 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

UNO TRAC Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division announce a full-day Town Hall Listening Session.

* When: November 20, 2009, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
* Where: UNO TRAC Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans

This is one of a series of forums to obtain direct input from the business/employer communities as well as the disability community on EEOC's proposed regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

The event is free and open to the public.

RSVP Is Not Required

Five-minute time slots to address the panel will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Some of the slots will be available on an advance registration basis and some on first-come, first-served sign up basis at the event. Members of the public are also invited to attend and view the proceedings, with space available on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a reasonable accommodation, there will be limited availability to provide public input by telephone. To request this accommodation, you must register in advance.

Sign Language Interpreters, CART, and assistive listening devices will be available. If you need printed materials in an alternative format please email Elisa.gonzalez.ctr@tma.osd

.mil letting her know what you need and that you will be attending the event in New Orleans.

For more information, or to register as a speaker, please contact:
Maple Thomas at 504-595-2827 (TTY 504-595-2958) or at Maple.Thomas@eeoc.gov.

********
Both EEOC and DOJ want to encourage all individuals and organizations who cannot attend this event to make sure you submit comments and attachments electronically at www.regulations.gov the Federal eRulemaking Portal. To submit a comment, you can locate the NPRM by typing in the keyword "ADA Amendments Act." The ID# for the ADAAA regulation is 3046-AA85.

Written comments may also be submitted to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Secretariat, EEOC, 131 M Street, NE., Suite 4NW08R, Room 6NE03F, Washington, DC 20507. Comments may be transmitted by facsimile (``FAX'') machine by dialing (202) 663-4114. (This is not a toll-free number.) Only comments of six or fewer pages will be accepted via FAX transmittal. Comments must be submitted on or before November 23, 2009.

*********
For more information on the amendments, visit:
http://www.eeoc.gov/ada/amendments_notice.html.

Don't go crazy: Advocates for the mentally ill are moving too fast for their clients' good

AdvocacyCenter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:30:00 GMT

"New York is on the verge of a momentous decision that could prove disastrous for thousands of the mentally ill as well as for neighborhoods across the city. ..."

New York Daily News Editorial
November 16, 2009

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/16/2009-11-16_dont_go_crazy_advocates_for_the_mentally_ill_are_moving_too_fast_for_their_clien.html#ixzz0XAdKGKUA

What do you think?

Interviewing Tips for Therapists Part 1: Preparing

Jackiek — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:27:00 GMT

This is a 5 Part series on Interviewing Tips for Physical Therapists a resource available from PediaStaff:

Part 1: Preparing for the Interview.
Part 2: Phone vs. Face-to-face Interviews.
Part 3: During the Interview.
Part 4: Answering & Asking Questions.
Part 5: Following up after the Interview.

You have been offered an interview for a direct hire (permanent) position as a pediatric physical therapist, occupational therapist, or therapy assistant. Congratulations!

This 5 part series will help you prepare for this interview and improve your chances of landing a great job. Please note, that while some of the advice offered here may seem obvious to you, it might not be obvious to everyone, and we would rather share things that sound basic rather than omit something that we assume you know.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Research the hospital, clinic or therapy provider in advance so that you may be as informed as possible about them. Nothing is more impressive or expresses your interest more dramatically than being knowledgeable about the organization with whom you are speaking. Even if you live in the town where the job is located, and think you know all there is to know about the employer and the area, you might do well to do some extra homework.

Here of some of the things you should research. Those items below that you can’t find answers to ahead of time make perfect questions to ask during the interview. Most of this information can be found either by spending time on the client’s website, or by “Googling” the organization’s name and reading articles you find online. Your PediaStaff recruiter will be able to help you collect much of this information, but whatever else you can learn on your own will only serve to help you even more!

THE COMPANY/ORGANIZATION:
• By the numbers - the number of clients served, number of therapists, number of administrators, square footage of the facility.
• Reputation - How is this employer perceived in the city/town compared to other therapy providers?
• Administration - A visit to the organization’s website will generally be quite helpful.
• Recent awards and honors the organization has received.

SPECIFIC JOB QUESTIONS TO HAVE ANSWERED BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
• Why is the job available?
• Exactly where is the position located? Is affordable housing available within a reasonable distance of where you will work? Is the location where you will have to live in a safe environment? Is the location of the job accessible to public transportation?
• What is the client population makeup and caseload?
• Is there a supervisor over your area or will you report directly to the Director or Assistant Director?
• How many hours am I guaranteed (or can I expect) per week?
• Is paperwork done by computer or manually, and will you be provided with all the tools I need to succeed?
• Email address of the interviewer so you can send him/her a “thank you” note.

All of this will not only create a stronger image of you in the interview, but likewise will provide you with a better basis for evaluating the opportunity if an offer is made. In addition, there are some answers that if you have them ahead of time may cause you to decide that an interview is not desirable for you. Again, work with your recruiter to make sure you have all these answers before you decide to accept the interview. Your time and our client’s time are both quite valuable!

Be sure to subscribe to our blog to guarantee that you will not miss Parts 2-5 of this series. This is just one of the many PediaStaff resources available on their website.

Another "last minute change" in my own plans this morning :-(

tommy_w8576 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Felt even sader this morning after 11:00 AM, when Nate "abruptly" needed to go out over to the Rite-Aid Pharmacy next to the Post Office for Dad. The Issue...Dad ran out of "Cod Liver Oil" his Physician, Dr. Brooks told him to take daily for his digestive system. Nate told me, I could "go out in my truck" anyway, but I have always been "programmed", via the decades of my late Mom's mental & physical decline before she died, was that I "have to stay home", to "watch over my elderly parent(s)", & I never had any right whatsoever to "do what I want". My life, as an Asperger's/Autism person, has always been "ruled over by others".

Well, he did get the errand done, & I simply took a ride in my truck up to Bedford, NH, simply to see where Nate had to pick up a special prescription for Dad, prior to his latest vascular surgery of over a month or so ago. I tend to be a sort-of "Walking www.mapquest.com", due to my vast visual rote-memory for remembering where places I have been to as an autistic.

I then drove back to Derry, to the Walmart, where I only purchased 1 single DVD title, the "G.I. Joe Cartoon", 2nd 1/2 of Season #1 for ~ $20.00, & a package of needed disposable bed pads to "piss into" @ night, & during my only 2 naptimes of the week on Saturdays & Sundays.

Do you realize, that I only spent ~ $47.00 for the entire year so far, on "Going to the Cineplex"? Only saw "Star Trek", "G-Force", "G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA", & "Astro Boy". The biggest "rip-off" @ any Cineplex, is the price of "Concessions". Only $22.00 of that cost was $5.50/Senior, which I take advantage of.

Well, I should "admit" to "Holiday Blue Color", as to my internal feelings, given that retailers are pushing the Chritsmas Holiday Shopping Season "earlier & earlier". The Mall @ Rockingham Park's "Mall Santa" is already set up & seeing little kids.

I do not really wish for anything...Except for all the " Ignorant, Hate-Filled Assholes" all over this planet, to stop "murdering each other" - "permanently".

It seems, like @ this stage in my life, I goud care less about getting anything for Christmas. I am well, rather disgusted with parents, who "cave into their kids whims", & "giving them everything they want - & more".

That was the case, with my "Aunt Judy", & her son, "Joey" (my cousin). He always had "tons more toys" every damn Christmas than Nate & I ever had "combined" on Christmas mornings. Nate & I were simply happy, just to get what little we received. Even though our Dad worked for Raytheon Corporation, he was never "made out of money". It is something like 44-45 years, & I think the word which describes how I feel about my "Cousin Joey", is "resentment". He always "lorded it over me", how much "better" he was than Nate & I were.

I had to fully wait until July of 1991, to really "find" "Cousins", who were really more like me & "my values", & I had to drive the 1986 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck I owned (@ that time), all the way up to the Farming Village of Coleman, Prince Edward Island in Canada the area where my Grandpa Ernie was born & raised. Right now, I "miss" seeing my Cousins, Forrest, Lorne, & John Wood, & their sisters & their families. I also miss seeing my Cousin Annie, Forrest, Lorne, John's Mom. Since July of 2001, I had not been back up there, due to "permanent loss of employment", & employers here in NH simply refusing to "give me a chance". It is why I ended-up on SSDI "permanently". I wish I could see my young cousin, Kendall Wood-Profitt, who in his Senior year @ West Isle High School, was on the school's "Student Robotics Competition Design Team", competing in NH Inventor Dean Kamen's yearly FIRST Student Robotics Design Competition. a couple of years ago, their team made it all the way out to the Canadian "finals" for the competition for all of Canada with the robot he helped design & build (with help from the team's mentors & advisors).

My young cousin Kendall wanted/wants to "be like me", & study engineering. Believe me, as an Asperger's/Autism person, who did make it through college, I wish so much, for little Kendall's "dream to come true for him" - & to "be an Engineer".

The planet needs people like my young cousin Kendall, to "design & develop new energy sources, ect.", & other things.

People seeking NOW slots

AdvocacyCenter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:23:00 GMT

The Advocacy Center is looking for people who have been on the NOW waiver waiting list since May, June, July or August of 2001. If you or someone you know has been on the waiting list since then, please let us know and tell us how you (or they) can be contacted. You may send email to nhahn@advocacyla.org. Thank you.

When Polly Gets Flu

Stephen Deal — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:41:00 GMT

Polly has had flu. Now whether this was the infamous Swine flu or your common or garden flu flu we are not sure. In fact no one is sure, not the NHS helpline, our doctor or indeed, the several other people who have suffered similarly.

Now I love Polly. She is wonderful in so many ways I do not have time to list them all. She (and by extrapolation the children) is absolutely the best thing ever to have happened to me. She is kind, clever, caring and funny. But she is rubbish at being sick. Firstly she believes she is completely indispensable to the running of the universe and that the whole of creation will fall apart if she takes any time off. If she is enforced to go to bed for a while she gets annoyed if the world manages to continue orbiting the sun without her personal assistance and guidance. If, however, the universe somehow manages to struggle on without her, she gets incredibly annoyed if it doesn't tidy the living room in exactly the way she would have done.

Polly has to feel really ill before she relinquishes control of the cosmos. On this occasion she was ill enough to go to bed during the day which is something she begrudges deeply because she 'should be doing other things'. 'Doing other things' means doing all the things that mummies do, children's entertainers do, clown doctors do and rulers of the universe do.

Polly being ill is nothing compared to Polly feeling a little bit better. Polly very reluctantly cancelled a gig at the Royal Marsden but only because flu, cancer, chemotherapy and sick children are a volatile combination. However, Polly feeling a little bit better essentially means Polly catching up with all the things she feels she hasn't done as well as continuing to do all the things she would normally be doing and perhaps a few other things in case anyone suspects her of idleness. Lesser mortals, such as myself, are left wallowing in her wake as she bakes cakes for cub fund-raisers, manages my sisters house restoration, entertains at 4 year-old boys parties, makes Christmas cards and oversees the middle-east peace process. Suddenly she will complain of being tired and look at me as if it is entirely my fault.

At night, my usually delightful bedtime companion becomes an irritable, tetchy, scratchy sleepless nightmare. I cannot move, breathe or mumble sweet nothings without bringing about the kind of reaction that is usually a precursor to all out war. Every creek, every variation in light, every child's nightmare, is my fault. Will no one let her sleep? Don't I realise that she is sick?

The problem for Polly, and no doubt mothers everywhere, is that just because she is ill does not mean that life stops to compensate and allow her time to catch up. I do my best to help make things run smoothly but honestly, is it too much to ask that we don't run out of proper coffee? I've had to drink instant. Yes, when Polly is sick we all suffer. Thank God it's only woman flu.

Until next time.

Sad This Morning...

tommy_w8576 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Not sure why I am having sad feelings. Yesterday I did walk around the Mall @ Rockingham Park using my loftstrand crutches. Already, all the stuff for sale for the Christmas is out. But, being on a very low SSDI income, my money is really only for simply for paying my bills & purchasing diapering supplies, & my needed medications. With the economy the way it is, Christmas is a "frivolity". Not that I am being likde a character in a Charles Dickens story, but there are more important things to do with money, other than "blowing it on Christmas Gifts". One "sees things differently", when one like myself, is on a "poverty level income". Nate already blew money on me back in August, purchasing this HP Mini-Laptop computer for me.

I did already go out in my truck over to the grocery store, & to purchase Nate his darn daily cup of Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee.

David Gallegos Named to Expert Panel on Disaster Case Management

AdvocacyCenter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:49:00 GMT

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), has named David Gallegos, Advocacy Center program director, to its Expert Panel on Disaster Case Management.

For the past 4 years, Mr. Gallegos has managed the Advocacy Center’s disaster case management programs and has collaborated with other agencies to ensure the needs of people with disabilities and seniors are considered in the planning and implementation of disaster case management programs.

Panel members will help federal agencies, including the ACF Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response, to better understand the role of case management before, during and after a disaster and to make recommendations in the development of guidelines for case management implementation in disasters.

******
Do you have any suggestions for David?

Disability News & Events – Nov. 15-21

Erin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:36:00 GMT

2009 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting – Nov. 18-21
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) is hosting the 2009 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting in Ft. Worth, TX to celebrate the innovations and accomplishments of professionals in the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) industry.

The expo, which marks NAHRA’s 40th anniversary, allows members of the EAAT community to network with each other, participate in seminars hosted by industry leaders, attend demonstrations and the banquet, and more.

For more information about therapeutic equine professionals, check out the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and discover the community of equine therapy professionals, equine assisted activities, therapy centers and more.

See Related Equine Therapy Articles
Equine Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Quadriplegic Horse Gentler, Healer, Tames Inner Fears

Horses and Disabilities: A Rewarding Match

2009 WCD Expo – Nov. 19-20
The World Congress on Disabilities Expo will be held in Jacksonville, FL at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, and is “dedicated to improving the lives of those with developmental and physical disabilities, their families and professionals who work with them,” according to WCD Expo.

This event features: an Expo – a chance to discover new products and services; and a Conference – experts discuss issues facing the disability community.

Admission to the event is $10; Conference passes are $195. For more information about admission or registering for this event, visit WCD Expo Registration.

If you’re in the area and have a chance to attend, don’t miss out on this event – a great opportunity to network, gather the latest information from industry experts and demo new technology for living with a disability. Guests are encouraged to bring their children, and the event is completely accessible.

For more information, visit the 2009 WCD Expo website.

Check out the Assistive Technology section on Disaboom for more information about products and tools for living with a disability.

(Image courtesy of WCD Expo)

Vote for CNN Hero of the Year: Brad Blauser - Voting ends Nov. 26
CNN is allowing readers to vote for CNN Hero of the Year and will award the winner with $100,000. Brad Blauser said if he wins, he will buy another 285 children wheelchairs. Vote Brad for CNN Hero of the Year.

Check out CNN Hero: Providing Wheelchairs to Kids with Disabilities to learn more about Brad and his special project Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids.

(Photo courtesy of CNN.com)