Celebrating 23rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Life is about self-fulfillment and achieving goals. Whether it is as simple  as tying your shoe or running for president, we all have different goals in life. What if someone told you that assembling packages is like becoming president? For some individuals it is.

Today marks the 23^rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Without this civil rights legislation, there are many individuals that would not be able “to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services.” Easter Seals’ mission mirrors the ADA and what it stands for: To provide exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.

If the ADA did not exist we wouldn't have our Vocational Services, which offers individuals with disabilities and special needs the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to deliver high quality work to companies in the community.

Today I want to remind you of this significant legislation that allowed people with disabilities to have the equal opportunities of employment. I want to share an article that lists the top 10 inspirational novels about disabilities and reality:

1. “Under the Eye of the Clock,” by Christopher Nolan (Skyhorse, 1987). This autobiographical novel by the late Irish poet Christopher Nolan, who had cerebral palsy, is a gorgeous and insightful book about the expansive life of a man who seemed entirely trapped in his chair. He pecked out this story with a pencil attached to his forehead. My wife and I have given away more copies than we can count.
   
2. “Lark and Termite,” by Jayne Anne Phillips (Vintage, 2009). This powerful, complex novel moves between two stories: the No Gun Ri massacre during the Korean War in 1950 and a devastating flood that confronts a West Virginia family in 1959. Termite, a profoundly and multiply handicapped boy, is cared for by his aunt and his devoted 17-year-old half-sister, Lark. Theirs is one of the most affecting sibling relationships in American literature.

For more novels see article: 10 Books to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Dando es como recibimos

It’s better to give than to receive (English). 

Can you image being in another country and you don’t know the language? I must say it was difficult for me to communicate when I was in Hungary four summers ago, and I think the most difficult part was expressing my needs. Have you ever considered how this would feel on a day-to-day base? Sara Osleger does.  

Sara Osleger who is a mother of 3 year old twins and a volunteer at Easter Seals Florida’s Adult Day Break at the Miller Center, gave back to our members by going above and beyond. Upon her volunteering she found the need to break the language barrier between the staff and the clients. Seeing the need, she started a fundraising campaign, which raised the money to purchase four iPads, four iPads cases, and various apps. 

“I might have been the catalyst for this fundraiser but it’s the donors who directly impacted the center and made the difference," said Sara.                                                                

Bert playing a matching game app called Smiley Fruit.

This gave our staff the opportunity to communicate to those who are bilingual. Needless to say this was an amazing gift to our members and to the staff. For over 100 years Easter Seals has had countless volunteers give back to our members and over thousands of volunteer hours logged in. Sara is the definition of volunteerism. Giving back to the community and enriching the lives of others. She said: 

“I try to maintain a balanced life and that is why Easters Seals is a part of it. I’ve always been taught through my family and church how important it is to give back, and there is nothing more gratifying.” 

Whether it be a language barrier, disability, or a special need this could help Easter Seals members feel more involved and listened to because it’s better to give than receive. #VolunTweet  #DoGooder 

Dreams and Dementia

We've all known people that walk and talk in their sleep. It is a fascinating occurrence that is difficult to explain. Recently though, the Mayo clinic found that men who act out in their sleep are more likely to develop dementia. By no means is acting out in ones sleep a direct sign of dementia, but there has been a strong correlation. Seventy-five to eighty percent of men with dementia with Lewy bodies (a specific type of dementia) at the Mayo Clinic experience acting out in their sleep.

 

(Photo Credit: Health Guidance)

"So it is a very powerful marker for the disease," says lead investigator Melissa Murray, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Mayo Clinic in Florida. There will be future studies to determine more about this information. Below is a list of additional signs and symptoms that have been linked to dementia:

Dementia Symptoms:

1.      Frequently falling

2.      Mismanaging money

3.      Loss of humor

4.      Missing social queues

5.      Staring in space

6.      Eating strange objects

7.      Loss of memory

8.      Never embarrassed

9.      Lack of empathy

10. Hoarding

11. Difficulty speaking

12. Decrease in motor skills

13. Neglecting personal care

14. Hallucinations

If you suspect a loved one may be suffering from Dementia, it is recommended that you immediately contact your health care provider. There are many home preparations, medications, counseling and care options available for assisting individuals with dementia, including care at Easter Seals Day Break. 

(Easter Seals Day Break)