Archive for the ‘Climbing Every Mtn Blog’ Category

Writing and Blogging Course| A Game Changer

Want a Writing Coach to help solve your writing and blogging problems?

James Chartrand is an A-List Blogger and experienced Writing Coach and Instructor. You have heard me talk about her many times (yes, James is her pen name).

I have learned so much from her in her award winning blog, Men with Pens, (and yes, my friends who are romance writers the word is “pens”).

The reason I like her is because she cares. She has values we can relate to like wanting to help writers of all ability levels, wanting the next generation of writers to write well (and that means story structure, character development, point of view, sales and business writing, and writing for change).

Plus, James is successful: Writer’s Digest named Men with Pens one of the best blogs for writers; it has over 40,000 subscribers; and she knows how to run a successful online business (and actually make money).

Do you feel like there is so much to learn and wish it was all in one place?

Do you wish you had the confidence to tell your own story?

Does it take you hours to write a blog post?

Do you feel like you’re not good enough?

Do you have a book shelf full of books on writing and blogging?

Do you attend workshops and conferences on How to Write?

Do you want to write guest posts that actually get accepted?

Do you feel like you are wasting your time and getting no comments?

Come and Join Me as we both Up our Writing Game and tell the story only we can tell.

So, instead of precious time driving to expensive conferences this 10 week course allows you:

Learn on your own schedule–new lessons are available each Monday and Thursday.

Each lesson has an assignment which gets individual attention.

The Community Forum allows you to ask questions, meet with other students, interact with James, and submit your writing for critique.

Damn Fine Words“>

Damn Fine Words is a Bargain

Damn Fine Words (Click Here For Course Information) affiliate link

Damn Fine Words starts May 17th

I invite you to join me in the Damn Fine Words writing course with the amazing James Chartrand as we learn how to become better writers and bloggers.

So many people want to give up on telling their stories. Don’t do it. Take this step with me and we’ll figure it out together.

Plus, we get to say “Damn”. Like in “Give a Damn”, “Dare to give a damn”…

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward
Mary

Writing Changes Lives.

Each day we read stories of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities. Today it’s a father telling the story of his ten year old son with autism who wore a wire to school and articles about Dr. Phil’s show on mercy killing.

This blog, Climbing Every Mountain (CEM) is one small voice for the rights, dignity and community inclusion of people with severe disabilities and their families. From an inclusive paradigm, I try to make sense of what is happening to our vulnerable children and friends. I hope to use my writing to tell the story, problem solve, teach, inspire and keep the dream of a good life alive. I hope to change lives.

Whether I like it or not, I feel my life work is to keep writing about my son Aaron, who has the label of autism, and other people on the fringe of society.

Our hope for a better future comes from feeling empowered to make a difference, not waiting for others–if there is only silence or chaotic noise nothing changes.

I’m convinced communication and writing are the tickets to change. So the writing better be damn good. Right?

Damn Fine Words (link) is currently having a writing contest.

Damn Fine Words (link) is a course on how to improve writing skills for blogs and online businesses. So of course, you enter the contest by writing a post on your blog. (Don’t you love functional assignments?) It is taught by the talented James Chartrand of Men with Pens fame. I want to win a scholarship to this class, so this post is about “Why becoming a better writer could change my life” and “Why writing is important to me and my business.”

Adaptation and Accommodation are a Way of Life

CEM readers are important, the focus and integrity of staying on the topic of inclusion is important. I just can’t jump off on a contest tangent. Hey, all that guilt!

But special educators are crafty people *smile* who learn how to adapt, right? So, I’m going to give my contest information in the traditional I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) of Goals, Action Steps and Reevaluation to demonstrate how the I.E.P. Process is useful in not just Disability World, but in real life.

Evolution of my Thought Process about Writing

I.E.P. Vision, Goals, Action Steps, Evaluation

Vision: Write about living in an inclusive world where everyone belongs and individual differences are valued as strengths.

Book

Goal 1: I wanted to write a BOOK about Aaron’s story and talk about inclusion—not just to special education types or the learned choir—but to normal people. Makes sense, how are we going to be inclusive when we only talk to each other, right?

Action steps: Five years ago, I entered a contest with Writer’s Digest. (See a pattern here?) I won a subscription and began to relearn what I knew about adjectives, exclamation points and the basics of grammar. I learned about voice, point of view, plots, storytelling, story structure…. I joined WD’s Forum and learned about editing, publishing, authors and these new things called blogs and social media. I met writers who recommended blogs like Men with Pens. I joined a local writers’ group.

Evaluation: I wanted my writing to be powerful and inspire others. Yet, the more I learned, the more I needed to learn.

Evolution One: Book to Blog

Revised Goal 1: I wanted to share Aaron’s STORY and talk about inclusion with as many people as possible. (Same goal only forget the book format.)

Seth Godin (blogger extraordinaire) suggested writing a blog instead of writing a book: Traditional bookstores and publishing houses were closing; Blogs could immediately reach people around the world; Posts would be available indefinitely; Blogs could become online businesses; and, It’s possible to continually update the story.

Action Steps: I subscribed to about 20 blogs on writing and did an ecological assessment of how to be a good follower, tribe member, “true fan.” I discovered blogging was damn complicated. I put in a Gladstone’s thousand hours of study–I needed to learn about writing sure, but also about branding, design, marketing, small business, technical “backend” systems, and a whole new language of SEO, HTML, B2B, copywriting, white papers, sales letters, analytics, “black hat,” “long-tail keywords”… a new vocabulary and alphabet soup that competes with special education in its complexity.

Evaluation: A blog made sense for a story like Aaron’s, which continues every day. I needed to increase my learning curve and find mentors. So, same goal of spreading the inclusion message with words, different format–book to story to specific blog and potential business.

Evolution Two: Climbing Every Mountain Blog

Revised Revised Goal 1: I want to share Aaron’s STORY and create an online community for people who care about adults with disabilities and pay its expenses. Again, same goal, specific format and possible business.

As Special Education has been attacked and adults with disabilities are given few options, even an idealist like myself knows the hope of an inclusive community has deteriorated and become even more elusive but… the journey continues. We can’t give up; we have to keep climbing that mountain.

Action Step for Aaron’s inclusion: (Walking the Talk) In the last couple months Aaron moved into a new home closer to ours, began a new day program and new residential provider. I made changes in Aaron’s life and showed our county how to start some inclusive programs. This gives me the credibility and authentic voice to share my ideas.

Action Step for blog: After much encouragement (thank you everyone), I finally began my blog http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com in July, 2010.

Evaluation: Most feedback has been positive, but a good friend said she quit reading my blog because my posts were negative and focused on my son’s “sucky life” when I should only be talking about the good things that happen to him—that comment paralyzed my writing.

My previous lack of confidence, self-esteem, courage, technical skills and motivation are nothing compared to that bullet to my heart. Is she right? Is my writing helping or hurting others?

Success Stories:

The good news is:

I’ve had amazing visitors who are leaders in the fields of both Inclusion and Social Media.

Professors from two university special education programs assigned my blog for their classes.

A state autism agency wants to feature my blog on their site.

Statistics:

As of today, I have 135 subscribers and have written 137 posts. I’m proud of my content, but there are few readers with almost no comments or discussion–certainly not the “basecamp community” I had hoped for.

In April CEM averaged about 30 readers a day and visit duration was 1:47 minutes. There is about an 80% bounce rate.

Each post takes me about 6-10 hours to write and format.

I’ve taken online courses, and as I recovered from recent health issues I identified several problems: no niche viability, no products, and I am the most untechy person you will ever meet.

How Damn Fine Words (link) could change my life.

Specific ways DFW would help be become a better writer and change my life:

I want to write powerful and important stories with information which can change people’s lives. DFW will teach me better ways to tell the story and teach information

I have an important story that only I can tell. DFW will give me the external validity that I am on target and my writing does reflect my mission. The members of DWF are not part of special education or Disability World, so their honest objective advice will help me evaluate the success of my message for a general audience.

My story is about the journey, it does not have a typical happy ending (no one is cured or ever will be). So I need to have humor, optimism and inspire others in their own, equally difficult, journeys. DFW will suggest guidelines and give me objective advice regarding finding a balanced approach.

When my friend says my posts are negative, is she right? Am I wallowing in a pessimistic attitude and self-pity? DFW and the student forums could give me a clue. This would change my emotional life.

Because of the complexity of the message, I need to write simply, with clarity and stick to one message at a time. DFW will teach me achieve message discipline.

My blog needs to be technically sound. DFW will give me technical advice i.e. I have no idea how to create bullets or get to be an Amazon affiliate.

I want to have great content for the state website. DFW will help me structure my posts and hopefully speed up my writing process.

I have several articles I could make into eBooks or PDF handouts. DFW could give me advice.

I would like to create some video and other media for my blog. DFW could give pointers and the confidence to stretch my skills.

I would like to learn more about becoming a freelance writer. This new career would significantly change my life. DFW has that information.

I would like to monitize my blog enough to cover expenses and perhaps make purchases like a video camera and document scanner. DFW might be able to help me.

Bottom Line:

In Special Ed lingo, Damn Fine Words would be the related service.

In regular words, Damn Fine Words would help me up my game and ease my anxiety:

Are my current efforts a waste of time and energy?

Am I helping people get the information and encouragement they need to change their lives?

Am I good enough?

How can I get better?

Damn Fine Words would help me answer these questions and move forward.

I think Damn Fine Words (LINK) is the answer. I’d like quick miracles of course, but it would be an honor to mentor with James and learn whatever she thinks is necessary. I like to be around people I consider “THE BEST.” James has great values and experience. I’ve already learned so much from Men with Pens. I like to learn. I like to be in classes where there are high expectations, structureed lessons, deadlines and a teacher who, if needed, will kick butt.

I don’t deny I need the confidence, self-esteem and encouragement to take risks. I don’t deny that I get scared that if I fail in this, I will need to rethink my life goals and start over.

My outcome and true measure of success would be to end the Damn Fine Words (LINK) course with new knowledge, new friends, something to sell on my blog and a guest post ready to submit to Men with Pens. This would indeed change my life.

Dear Readers of CEM,

You might also want to enter this contest. Many of you have talked about starting your own blogs. Need is relative. I have more financial resources than some, less than others. I’m sure there are others who are more worthy.

My thoughts in this post on writing may or may not have been interesting to you. But at least you know I keep trying to get better and see the evolution of my thinking on writing. Only time will tell if I make it from the caterpillar to the butterfly.

I hope you will also keep journals and document the stories in your lives. Our silence gives the power to the people who are lazy, abuse us and reinforces the status quo. Can there be any more important goal for each of us then to tell our story and share the journey? Our children’s future depends on our writing, our voices, our advocacy.

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward
All my best, Mary

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 April, 2012 is Autism Awareness Month

Is Autism just the Disability du Jour?

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day and in the US, the month of April is “Autism Awareness Month.”

Autism and the public service announcements are everywhere on TV:

• 1 in 88 children is now diagnosed with ASD.
• Early Childhood intervention programs help.
• People with autism can be smart.
• A child with autism can happen in any family.
• Many celebrities have children with autism.
• Shows as diverse as Desperate Housewives now have storylines about people with autism.

This is all good, right?

Gone are the days when parents were told their children were withdrawn because they were poor parents and “refrigerator mothers.”

Gone are the days when, with my son Aaron, we were told, “The chances of having a child with autism were 1 in 10,000.”

Gone are the days when we were told Aaron would always be in the “idiot range of mental retardation.”

Gone are the days when anyone who was different was sent to the “state hospital or institution” to make the community safer.

Gone are the days when people with intellectual disabilities were given “radiation” in their oatmeal because they weren‘t really human and were only useful for human experiments.

Gone are the days when, there was no mandate for early intervention programs.

Gone are the days when, we segregated people with autism into separate classes, schools and institutions away from their brothers, sisters, neighbors and community…. But wait!

Gone are the days when no one knew the best educational practices and the children spent hours doing meaningless tasks focusing on “curing” the child. But wait!

As the “autism awareness” campaigns seem to focus on using fear tactics to raise more money and get more segregated “autism-only” programs, I have to wonder if this really is a good idea.

God help us if the current trends toward “autism only” programs undermine everything we have fought for and learned in the last 40 years.

Some of the things we have learned are:

All people are human and have dreams, feelings, and hopes for the future.

All people have gifts and strengths.

All people have personalities and can love.

All people can learn.

All people benefit from early childhood programs.

All people benefit from differentiated instruction and universal
design.

All people need support and to learn to be interdependent on others.

All people have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

All people can communicate and have important things to say.

Behaviors equal communication.

People with autism and other labels can be contributing members of society.

People with the label of autism, are not much different than the label of cerebral palsy, spina bifida, ADHD, cancer… or people who are poor, elderly, sick… er, “normal.”

The real way for the general population to understand and have an “awareness” of people who are different than they are, is NOT just a television campaign or a designated month.

The best way is for everyone to have first hand experiences:

Do you know that person’s name?

Do you see them in the grocery store?

Do you share time with them at Church?

Do your children go to school with them, play on their sport’s team?

Are they invited to your house, to birthday parties?

Do you see them working in real jobs, doing volunteer work, sharing their talents?

Do you enjoy being with them?

Do you allow them to grow up and become adults?

How can we teach self-determination and better communication?

SHOULD NOTS and SHOULDS

Autism Day, Autism Month, Autism Awareness SHOULD NOT be about spreading fear or all about a “Diagnosis.”

It SHOULD be about the difference between having a disability and having a handicap?click here
Autism Awareness SHOULD be about more research, certainly. But, the research should be to ask questions, NOT to provide answers—in 2012 we don’t know enough to have answers.

Did you know that Howard Gardner studied people with autism when he came up with the idea of “multiple intelligences”?

Did you know Vygotsky examined people with severe communication problems when he developed his communication ideas on “scaffolding”?

Autism Awareness SHOULD NOT be about raising more money for those parents, professionals, for-profit and non-profit groups that are on the “Autism: disability du jour” bandwagon. They are no better than speculators benefitting from a war.

Autism Awareness SHOULD NOT be about making more segregated autism-only day programs, farms, residential communities, schools, classrooms, soccer leagues and summer camps.

Who would ever think putting a group of people with communication issues together would be a good idea? What they need most is interactions with others with strong communication skills.

Autism Awareness SHOULD BE about noticing and appreciating ALL people who are part of our human community.

It SHOULD NOT be about charity, pity and sympathy but rather about giving ALL people the freedom to grow up and be the best person they can be—just as they are: able to make their own decisions; be treated as adults; made mistakes; and, loved because of who they are.

Autism Awareness SHOULD be about the concepts of “normalization” and “inclusion.” It SHOULD be about looking at people in the normal lifespan, normal opportunities. Not about fixing them with lots of therapies and aversive methods of behavior control.

Certainly, I have written many times about how Aaron and others need more support and people who are trained to work with them.

Certainly, I agree there is a desperate need for help for parents of adults to be able to find resources for their children.

Certainly, I have written of what a “Dream Plan for Aaron” would look like. And that includes Awareness–But much more.

Is Diversity Beautiful?

Challenge

People with autism have taught us much about love, interdependence, talents and courage.

Can you try to get to know a person individually? Can you listen to them? Can you help them be a bigger part of your life?

If so, then April can be a month of great hope.

The earth’s bounty blesses us with many different kind signs of spring. The flowering magnolias, dogwoods, apple and pear trees each add color and diversity to our world. The tulips, daffodils, crocuses each speak of the beauty of variety and remind us the earth is being reborn. Would we only want one kind of tree blossom or flower? Should we identify, diagnose and separate the trees and flowers and only celebrate the most durable or productive? Or is their beauty even in the most vulnerable blossom?

Can we appreciate and value a great diversity in nature? In people?
Maybe the most beautiful flower in the world, is really the beauty in a person.

Comments

I’m hoping you will share your comments and thoughts about people with autism? What are you doing this month to celebrate diversity in ALL people?

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward
All my Best,

Mary

The “R” Word: A Challenge to Bloggers.

Stop the “R” Word

March 7, 2012 is designated “Stop the ‘R’ Word day. If you go to their website they have many ideas for activities and actions. If we each do one thing, we can make a difference for the future of our children. Please share your thoughts and actions in the comments.

David Hinsburger and the “R” word.

David Hinsburger is an award-winning author and advocate for people with disabilities. His article titled: The People who “ARE” the “R” Word is a must read classic for anyone who doesn’t understand what the fuss is all about.

My Letter to a Major Blogger

As promised in my post “Definitions of “Retarded”, this is the letter I wrote to a major blogger when he used the words “retarded” and “idiot” in one of his posts. It is edited for this post.

Hi _____,

I have followed your blog ____ for a long time and enjoy your stories, ideas and writing style. However, I have issues with your use of the words: “retarded, idiot, moron and imbecile.”

You have made strong statements about using whatever words you want–even if they offend people and hit their hot buttons.

You can use words like “idiot, moron, imbecile, crip, tard…,” but why?

I agree this is America and defend your right to freedom of speech. I agree people who find these words offensive can just unsubscribe. But… you are a smart and thoughtful person. Why would you want to purposely offend vulnerable people?

I would rather believe you don’t understand how much these words hurt.

Mental Retardation–two words that matter.

My son has the label of “mental retardation” now called an “intellectual disability.” Because of those two words, he was not allowed to go to public school.

Because of those two words we had to spend three years in court, costing thousands of dollars. We, along with other parents, had to prove our children were human and had the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” We had to prove in court that our son would benefit from being around other people and his mere presence on the school grounds would not harm other children. Because of those two words he was not allowed to participate in swimming lessons with the other kids in our neighborhood PUBLIC park. Because of those two words our family has been refused to be served in a restaurant and a Doctor refused to have our son for a patient…need I go on?

But our problems were minor compared to people with the label of intellectual disability in the past.Parallels in Time: A History of People with Disabilities

Just a generation ago, because of those two words, people were treated as animals instead of humans. They were sterilized, given doses of radioactive materials in their oatmeal. They were taken from their families (“for their own good”) and warehoused in inhuman institutions. Some were not given clothes and had to sleep on straw. They were denied even the most basic human rights–all because one psychologist in one situation gave them one test and labeled them those two words.

Most history books have made people with disabilities invisible. So, you probably aren’t aware, but the words: “moron, idiot and imbecile” came straight from the medical manuals of less than 40 years ago.

There are still churches which will not allow people with the label of those two words to marry, some churches do not even allow “those” children to attend their services or receive the sacraments. Many private schools and churches legally still segregate and discriminate against our children with those two words.

There are many normal couples who joyfully want a baby–until they hear those two words, and then immediately abort. There are Baby Doe cases where if the baby has Down syndrome and is assumed to have mental retardation, the family refuses to take the baby home from the hospital and refuses to allow the baby to have food. There are cases of “wrongful birth” where the parents sue the Doctors for allowing their child with “mental retardation” for being born.

In 2012 we can add the case of baby Amelia Riveria who was refused a transplant because she had an intellectual disability. The hospital has recently apologized.

“Mental Retardation, retard, retarded” are not funny words”

In Ohio, the state legislature passed a bill in 2009 to remove the words “Mental Retardation” from state agencies and its documents. This was the work of numerous advocates and thousands of hours of public hearings.

This is a civil rights movement where we are fighting for the right of our children to live, work and recreate in the community. The right to be seen as human beings and citizens of this great country.

Sticks and Stones … and words can hurt.

When a label carries enough stigma that the label alone can cause discrimination–the label is a problem.

The civil rights movement of the 60′s laid the ground work for Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act…. and our civil rights legislation, The American with Disabilities Act (1990). If you look at the closing statements in Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) you will see the school district’s argument, (paraphrased) “If you let negro children in the public schools, the next thing you know the school will have to educate retarded children and Indians.”

In 2012, our children have the right to go to public schools, and restaurants cannot refuse to serve us, or ask us to leave because they don’t like “the way we look”.

This is NOT ancient history. This is NOT some group of radical parents and advocates who just want people to be politically correct.

Churches, non-public schools and organizations can still discriminate and decide who they allow in their churches but because so many of our children are going to school and living with their families in the communities, there is not the fear that once existed. And the medical professionals have dramatically changed their low expectations and acknowledge the limits of the IQ test and other measures they used to label people.

Sure this came about because of civil rights court cases and federal legislation, but mostly it happened as decent people decided to give people who were different a chance. I know it is unpopular to say that the Federal Government and Laws are important. Many people say there is too much government. I wish there was more protections and enforcement for vulnerable people.

Challenge to Bloggers

My challenge to all bloggers is:

Will you take cheap shots and continue hateful language which hurts people? Or, will you use respectful language and recognize people with intellectual disabilities are people and at least give us all a chance to build a better world.

Words have power. You have power.

Will you use your power to continue to hurt people, or for change?
I know you didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but for those of us (like me) who have children with IQs below 50, children who were labeled “idiots” by our Doctors and medical professionals and who are struggling every day to try and make a better life for our children, the words: “retarded, idiot, moron, imbecile” are downright offensive. So forgive me that I rant today instead of ignoring it.

I know the words are used everywhere and people aren’t particularly trying to hurt people with intellectual disabilities but I would appreciate your consideration.

Thanks. Mary

The blogger I sent this letter to agreed to not use the offensive language only asking that he remain anonymous. I consider that a victory for all of us, and it has made me a loyal fan.

Rosa’s Law

Rosa’s Law was passed and signed by President Obama in 2009 to use People First language in all Federal documents. Love, NOT Labels| Rosa’s Law

I am hoping other bloggers will take up the challenge and use People First language and the words “intellectual disability” in a respectful way.

This is a fresh start. We can do it right this time.

What about you?

Will you take the challenge to remove the “R” word and other hurtful words from your vocabulary?

Will you help educate others who use the words?

Will you learn more about PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE?

Talk to me in the comments. Let me know what you are thinking.

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward.

All the best,

Mary

Related Posts:

“Retarded” Keywords

Remarkable Parents who Never Give Up

Happy Feet, Retarded Teeth and Carnival Goldfish

Retarded| No More

Norm Kunc| What’s Your Credo?

People First Language| Building Community, “Wheelchair Becky” and Smoky Woods

photo credit: smcgee

Happy First Birthday| Blog for Parents and Caregivers of People with Disabilities

Can you believe it? On July 21, 2011 ClimbingEveryMountain.Com celebrated its first birthday.

Fellow Climbers

Parents, Caregivers, Advocates, Friends

Parents, Caregivers, Friends and Advocates of people with disabilities need each other. Our journey up the mountain is exhausting and treacherous.

We climb, not because we want to, not because we think it is a fun challenge, not because “it is there”—we climb our mountains out of need—OUR CHILD’S NEED, OUR NEED.

For the past year, this blog has been a basecamp where interesting people from around the world add their ideas, personal stories, ups and downs, advice and expertise. To everyone in our Climbing Every Mountain Community, your love and friendship means so much.

There have been 120 blog posts of original content and 1,261 comments. Here are the first posts which explain what this blog is all about. I’ve updated a couple things, but the mission holds true. I hope you agree.

Shouting my Commitment | Is anybody there?

Climbing Every Mountain is a Team Effort| What this blog is about

I am thankful for each of your comments, emails, phone calls and the many other ways you have reached out to our team. Together we are better. Together, we can each work for inclusion in our own way, and the ripple effect will be that our individual efforts will change the world, not only for people with disabilities, but for all of us.

Google Analytic Statistics for July 21, 2010 to July 21, 2011:

There have been 12,184 visits to http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com from 114 countries/territories. The top ten include: US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, India, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand….

3,664 returning visitors. 19,216 Page Views. 1.58 pages a visit.

I’m sure some of these visitors were looking for The Sound of Music or some mountain peak vacation adventure, but I know many were looking for our basecamp for parents, caregivers and advocates. I know Google expects visitors to spend more time on the site and look at several articles each visit, but thank you for a terrific start.

photo credit: hfb

Tech Support

Climbing Every Mountain has a terrific group of people who help with the tech support. I’m a novice blogger and they have held my hand and guided me up the social media mountain. Real mountain climbers need good equipment and guides, thanks for giving me a safety net and strong lifeline:

Tim Gary

Mindcue: Brilliant Ideas Deserve Brilliant Websites (security, tech support, hardware and software issues, fighting off hackers, bad guys, and encouraging a very insecure webmaster.)

Johnny B. Truant

Johnny creates inexpensive websites and helped me with the start-up, plus he coauthored, Question the Rules, a course for non-traditional thinkers.

Cheerleader Team

Alison Golden

The Secret LIfe of a Warrior Women Alison is my blogging partner and has been a terrific source of information and encouragement. We met at Question the Rules. She is a strong advocate for her children. Her gentle spirit and humor are her secret weapons in being a warrior woman.

A special shout-out to my friends at OVRWA. You help me believe in “happy ever afters” and pick me up when I post an article and get more spam than comments.

Learning to venture into the real community outside Disability World is one of the cornerstones of inclusion. If we want this for our children, we need to learn to build community for ourselves. Alison and OVRWA are helping me learn to be “normal.”

Mentor Team

Sylvie and Michel Fortin

Success Chef Academy Every Wednesday night, Sylvie and Michel serve up an “over the shoulder” look at how to create your own success story. In their informal style, they have taught me about the back and front end of an online business. I’ve come to depend on their advice and personal encouragement. Many of my future goals for Climbing Every Mountain are based on what I am learning in the Success Chef Test Kitchen.

James Chartrand

Men with Pens has also been generous in her encouragement. She is working for social justice in her own way, and reminds me each website must have simple design and good writing. It was her gentle push that finally gave me the courage to take the leap into blogging.

Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan has more ideas than anyone I know. He also takes those ideas and makes companies, and they make money. (That’s certainly different than anyone I know in non-profit and disability world.) He has a geek brain, but… he can translate it into everyday, everyman language. Chris made one tweet about Climbing Every Mountain and I got more traffic that one day, than in a month. He is the guru of social media and helps non-profits. Plus, he talks about his kids and parents. Pretty neat.

There are many others, thanks to each of you.

photo credit: Ѕolo

Aaron wouldn’t let us end a birthday celebration without a song. Blake Roberts suggested The Climb as a theme song for our Climbing Every Mountain blog. I would like to ask you to listen to the inspiring words and feel proud of everything YOU have accomplished this year. Enjoy the digital magic created by Blake Roberts and Snoopi Botten using DecTalk, an augmented communication software program.

Pastor Snoopi Botten and Blake Roberts have added their magic digitalized effects to The Climb, (click on link).

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward.

All my best,

Mary

Comments:

What was your favorite post this year? Any suggestions or comments for next year?

Popular articles:

America the Beautiful|Through the autism car window

For more about Blake Roberts and Snoopi Botten, check out Do you hear what I hear, Do you see what I see? for their amazing story.

photo credit: Okinawa Soba

BULLETIN BOARD

 The Climb: New Theme Song for our blog

Attention all music lovers:  Pastor Snoopi Botten and Blake Roberts have added their magic digitalized effects to The Climb, (click on link).

Blake suggested this song become the Theme Song for the Climbing Every Mountain blog.

It’s PERFECT and their effects are pure magic.

You might remember both Snoopi and Blake shared their version of the  classic  Do You Hear What I Hear (click on the link) on Christmas Day. 

Check out their earlier post for their amazing personal stories and the details of their method for helping us all hear and see things in different ways.

Thanks to both Snoopi and Blake for being part of this community.

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Pete Wright, Esq. of wrightslaw.com

Two Workshops in Cincinnati, OH to discuss the educational implications of chronic illnesses/disabilities. These workshops should be great for anyone interested in recent changes in IDEA, 504 et al… and children with chronic health needs.

 APHOES National Conference:  May 5-6 

Special Education Law and Advocacy Program:  May 7

For conference agenda and registration click on links.

If you have any questions, please contact the School Intervention Program at 513-803-0513 or by email (SIP@cchmc.org).

Thanks to everyone who Tweeted, Facebooked (is that a word?) and otherwise shared information about Ed Roberts and his first official memorial day in California

The Ed Roberts Campus at Berekley California is now officially open. The campus uses Universal Design and is built for EVERYONE. Here is an article about how the archetic had to think differently about successful design. It is across the street from a fully accessible transportation system. Win-Win.

Historical Videos for YouTube

We had a great response to reformating the historical videos into segments for YouTube. We are creating a plan for moving forword. As we get news, I’ll pass it on. Thanks to everyone who so generously contributed in any way to this important project.

The Inclusion and Disability Rights Movement has come a long way, yet we have so much farther to go.

Adapting: Becoming a Star

Ed Roberts often joked that in the first 14 years of his life he was “just an ordinary kid.” He was more interested in sports than in school work and wanted to be a professional baseball player when he grew up. That all changed.

In 1953, before the vaccine, Ed contracted polio. Overnight he became paralyzed from the neck down and required an iron lung, which he used the rest of his life.

One of Ed’s greatest talents was being able to look at a situation, and ADAPT.

Ed decided a baseball career was out, and became a straight A student in High School.

When all the students stared at him, he decided this was an attitude problem. Instead of being embarrassed, this was how it must feel to be famous. In time, he reframed the whole experience, adapted, and decided he would pretend to become a famous movie star.

Indeed he did become a star. How fitting we are now trying to get his video on YouTube. I think he would get a bang out of that.

Stares into Stars

This would also be a good tip for people who are being stared out. Parents, Caregivers, Teachers could all adapt this strategy and help “reframe” those stares into stars!

Skype and Technology

I just saw a video (2010) where a teacher and class used Skype to help one of the students who had cancer keep up with what was happening at school.

When Ed Roberts got Polio, (1952) he was quarantined and had to listen to his classes over the telephone. Think of the differences.

Skype would have been amazing to him.

When Ed returned to school after missing almost two years of school, he felt like a stranger. Not only had he changed physically, he was now paralyzed, but he carried the stigma of “polio” and having a “Quarantined” sign on his front door.

At 16, Ed had to start his life and start making friends all over again. Plus, with the stigma of “polio” people were afraid of him and he looked so “different.” If the students could have seen him over “Skype” they would have seen him evolve, and gradually they would have adjusted to his new learning style and physical appearance. It would have been a learning experience for all of them.

It’s nice when students send get well cards, but including the student on Skype shows another dimension of caring.
BTW: home with Skype is the least restictive environment for this child at this time.

The new Technology Act will make other learning opportunities available for people of all ages. Who knows what the future may hold.

Your Turn

Any other tips for reframing embarrassing situations Stares into Stars? Any other uses of technology you would recommend? What would you want if you had to miss school for a long time?

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward.
All the best,

Mary

VIDEO Strategies for Social Change: Ed Roberts speaks at first meeting of Partners in Policymaking .

This is all Ed Roberts’ fault!

Ed Roberts was a civil rights leader for people with disabilities who was called a “prophet for independence.” He challenged each of us to be extraordinary.

This could be Chris Brogan’s fault!

Chris Brogan is a socially conscious social media guru with thousands of readers. He recently challenged his readers to use the oldest form of exchange–barter. Bartering in a Digital Age is about finding a way to get the services or goods you need. No excuses. If you can’t afford or don’t know how to do something, barter.

It’s the MN DD Planning Council’s fault!

The Minnesota Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Planning Council has been documenting the paradigm pioneers in the History of People with Disabilities for over a decade. Parallels in Time I and Parallels in Time II.

Since most history books ignore people with disabilities, these are important historical videos.

Okay, it’s my own fault!

I contacted the MN DD Planning Council and asked if any of their videos were in shorter segments. Dr. Colleen Wieck, the director said she “wished,” but there were no resources to edit or transfer the videos to YouTube.

I knew blog readers want short video segments, so there was the problem.

So now, Ed Roberts meet Chris Brogan meet MN DD Planning Council meet… er, me…meet YOU.

WE NEED YOU

Do you have the technological skills to edit videos like the Ed Roberts video (above) into three or four, 1-5 minute segments?

Could you help us post them on YouTube and the Parallels in Time website?

If you could help us with just one video, that would be significant.

In exchange, you choose a job for me, from the list below.

Let’s Make a Deal

EXCHANGE—an hour for an hour, my services for up to 50 hours.

NO MONEY will be exchanged.

How Can I Help?

I’ve have experience working with individuals and families. I could consult with you by phone (in US) or email. (Check out my “About” page.)

I’m a decent Beta Reader and developmental editor. If you have a novel or ebook sitting in your closet, I can help.

I could ghost write a blog post, review a book or education/teaching product.

I could research a topic (of your choice).

Any other idea we mutually agree on.

Disclaimer: I’ll give you my best, but no guarantees. I can’t cure anyone.

FOR THE SKEPTICS

This is a labor of love. I’m volunteering, no financial gain. Many of the people in the videos were friends or colleagues, many are now gone, but their vision lives.

This is important work. It’s been a long road for people with disabilities and their families, we need to keep moving forward.

Even if you don’t have a family member with a disability, there are good reasons to get involved.

We have knowledge and experience in quality of life issues and long-term care that will help Baby Boomers, seniors and others who are in the “temporarily able bodied” or “yet to be disabled” group Ed Roberts spoke about:

“We’re all getting older. We can’t avoid it, can we? I look around, and I notice that a lot of us are getting gray. As we get older, we realize that disability is just a part of life. Anyone can join our group at any point in life. In this way, the Disability Rights Movement doesn’t discriminate. As those of us who are temporarily able-bodied and working for access and accommodations now get older, the changes we make now will benefit us as well.”

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you are interested: FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. You get to pick the video you will work on.

1. Go to: Parallels in Time II videos or the Ed Roberts Memorial site.

2. Choose a video you would like to edit into three or four, 1-5 minute segments. (I can help you pick out the segments, or you can choose what you think is the most powerful.)

3. Email me at MaryE.Ulrich1@gmail.com and we’ll mutually decide the barter exchange.

4. We both get to work. Deadline March 1st.

Watch Our Progress

Every Friday, I’ll post how things are going. If this is not a good time for you, but you know of someone who might be able to help with this project, please forward this information.

All prayers and best wishes welcome.

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward

All my best,

Mary

Comments:

If you have questions you think would be helpful to the group, please ask here. Otherwise, contact me privately.

What do you think? Will the barter system work? Will these edited videos help spread our message of independence, interdependence and inclusion?

Can you help us, and as Ed would say, “Be Extraordinary?”

photo credit: horizontal.integration

Today is Jan. 1, 2011– or 1.1.11

That’s a lot of ones: Day One; First Month; New Year and Decade.

Could this be a cosmic sign?

Could this be the year of the Power of One?

We can celebrate with fireworks, silly hats, black-eyed peas and sauerkraut. We can dress in yellow (for prosperity) or white (for peace) while throwing pomegranate seeds on the roof and making wishes for 2011. But, this new decade and new year will race forward–with or without us. In 365 days, it will become 2012, and then 2013, 2014…. The cosmic universe doesn’t care about individual people.

Actually, that is a comfort. I don’t want to be Atlas holding the world on my shoulders. I don’t want the responsibility of saving the world, that’s too much.

Systems Theory–Circles of Life

Bronfenbrenner’s systems theory states that what affects one part of the system affects all the parts of the systems. In previous posts on the circle of life and family reunions I’ve talked about his embedded systems (like Russian Dolls). The individual is in the center circle, surrounded by the family, surrounded by the community and “systems.”

Inner Circle: Aaron

When Aaron, my son with the labels of autism and developmental disabilities was growing up, I made specific dream plans and goals to include him in an inclusive community.

They were audacious plans. But we had IDEA and ADA and hope. And Aaron was young and had lots of years ahead of him. I thought the values of ALL people living and working in an inclusive community would keep evolving into a more accepting world. I thought I could count on the professionals, the local, state, national agencies and organizations to help.

But those systems don’t exist for adults with disabilities and/or their families.

Aaron is 36 years old. For adults there is no mandate or law saying he can get services. So we have watched as his behavior and communication have deteriorated. And, frankly, I have even had trouble envisioning a new dream plan.

This past year has been a painful experience watching the residential and vocational companies NOT want Aaron–but want his Medicaid Waiver funds.

The opportunity on 1.1.11 is to dream again. It’s time to use the Power of One.

The Power of One: For Aaron

Aaron recently started a day program with Goodwill/Easter Seals five days a week and they are providing him with a one-on-one staff person three days a week. That is the brightest hope we have had for years. So YEA!

Aaron still has a great roommate and one loving caregiver who has been with them for over 7 years. YEA YEA!

And Tommy (Aaron’s brother) and his family are now living near us, so our family can get together more often. YEA YEA YEA!

That is three wins. As this year ends, those are the blessings I see and celebrate.

Dream plan for Aaron–2011:

Aaron will be happy. He will have people around him who love him. He will have choices and do interesting things. Have friends. He will be able to communicate when he wants/doesn’t want something. He will be safe.

Pretty basic. Nothing specific. But again, these are audacious goals.

So, maybe everything you and I do this year will not make much of a difference in the cosmic scheme of things. But using the Power of One, I can do something to make a difference in my son’s life.

In the example of Goodwill/ES, it was the Power of One times 4. Aaron’s Dad, me, our Support Coordinator, and the leadership of Goodwill/ES. We kept at it, and it happened.

The Power of One: For Community

Using the Power of One, I will continue my blog,ClimbingEveryMountain.com.
I will try to entertain, encourage and give information to grow a community that cares about adults with disabilities.

Thank you for being with me on this journey. It has been an amazing first six months for Climbing Every Mountain. Together we can build a better world and community–one person at a time.

Virtual Circles

Old Bronfenbrenner wouldn’t recognize his embedded systems, but in 2011 we are using the social media tools (blog, Twitter, Facebook) and reinventing his circles of love and support that will ripple out to touch the future. The people in the circles are not our next door neighbors, they might live on the other side of the world.

In 2011, is social media and technology the solution?

Chris Brogan (ChrisBrogan.com) is a social media guru who suggests the future is going to include websites, blogs, forums, videos and online communities which help us connect with like-minded folks to get the information and emotional support we need.

His new company, 501 Mission Place, is helping non-profits use social media and become more effective. Perhaps you know of a non-profit that could use some social media help.

But I wonder if it is too late for many traditional organizations.

Virtual communities are already replacing many of the antiquated national organizations which have huge overhead and an inability to help individuals.

Virtual training is replacing the large conferences, meetings and university classes. Webinars and online courses like Partners in Policymaking are the new “best practice.”

Do you use the traditional phone and agencies in your community, or do you search for people and information in the virtual world of Cable TV, iPods, www, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and …?

Summary: In 2011, we can use our individual power, the Power of One, to make a difference for our children with disabilities. We can do it by advocating directly for the people we love, and we can do it by becoming part of a virtual community like Climbing Every Mountain or other online communities.

In 2011–We’re Number One!

I hope you will sign up (top left) to get notices of new posts. I hope you will add your voice and stories to the comments. I hope you will use the social media of Twitter and Facebook to invite others to join us. The way we are going to build a better world for vulnerable people is to join together. And I hope you have an amazing 2011.

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward
All my best for a fantastic year of ones,

Mary

Use Your Power: Comments Please

How can you use the Power of One? Do you think social media can help? Do you recommend other blogs and/or virtual communities?

I’d love to read your comments and know what you are planning this year.

Hi Everyone,

On Thanksgiving, I wanted to thank each of you for being part of our Climbing Every Mountain community.

It’s been an exciting 4 months of meeting new friends and connecting with people who care about people with disabilities.

More people are subscribing to the “Get Notice of New Posts” in the upper left hand corner of the website. More people are retweeting and sharing the social media love.

Now, there are over sixty articles or posts, a couple hundred comments and visitors from over ten countries. Inch by inch….

I especially want to thank Alison Golden my blogging partner. She really is a Warrior Woman.

I’m hoping to get to know each of you better. We need a team effort to keep climbing our mountains. But we will make it.

But sometimes we need to live in the NOW.

The last couple posts have been about dreams for the future (click here), and rants about the past (click here).

So NOW: I want to ask each of you to concentrate on TODAY and the people who bring you joy.

Right Now! Just for today, we accept that everything is just the way it is supposed to be.

Sure, we can begin the climb up the mountain again tomorrow, but for today we can feel good about who we are and the people we love.

This might be considered heresy for an advocate: But there are many wonderful things we don’t need to change.

I am so thankful for my husband Tom, who even though he thinks there are only space aliens on the web, he still loves me. After 40 years he is still my best friend.

I also want to thank my wonderful children and family: Aaron, Tommy, Ana and Isabella–I hope I haven’t embarrassed you too much. You do give me amazing memories and stories and teach me what life is all about.

Gift: A Song about Autism

It is hard to always look at “the silver lining,” see “the sunny side” or “the glass half full.” So, on this Thanksgiving Day, give yourself a gift and “listen to the music.”

Through My Eyes is a song about what it feels like to have autism. I thought this was beautiful and hope you will too. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Keep Climbing: Onward and Upward
All my best, Mary