Disability Policy: Clinton versus Trump
In a few weeks will have elected a new President of the United States. Many of us get our information from watching TV. The trouble with this is we only get the information the TV decides is news worthy. Unfortunately, most things concerning disability are not newsworthy. This means that rather than seeing a candidate’s disability policy on the evening news we are more likely to see a candidate’s latest purported scandal whether it is about deleted emails or admitted past sexual abuse. While these things can be informative, I think it is helpful to also understand where the two
“Speechless”: A Comedy That Includes Disability
"Speechless" has been picked up by ABC. "Speechless”, is a new comedy series about a family with three children, one of whom is a teenager named JJ who is non-speaking and uses a wheelchair. Yes, a sitcom on ABC about a family with a child who has a disability and communicates using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). And JJ won't just be featured in one episode to teach the other characters a lesson, but is an integral part of every episode. Just like real life. If seeing a family like yours on a major network wasn't enough, JJ is being played
Normalcy is an Ableist Concept
by Amy Sequenzia Ableism: we know it is everywhere and we know it is the reason why disabled people fight the normative society that chooses to make us invisible. The idea that we should try to fit a pre-determined, arbitrary way of doing things excludes disabled people by default. We are often ignored, many times abused, used as props for inspiration porn, and generally left out - unless we change how we do things, unless non-disabled people feel at least a little comfortable in our presence. Despite laws and general common sense, any accommodations necessary to make a little
Person First Language and Ableism
by Amy Sequenzia If you are not Disabled and you are demanding the use of Person First Language (PFL), you are being ableist. If you are Disabled and you are demanding that other Disabled people use Person First Language, you are being ableist. If you are Disabled and want to use Person First Language when referring to yourself, I will respect that. I will also respect your right to demand that other people use Person First Language when referring to you. But the Person First Language concept is ableist, and I can tell you why. I do know the
Disability History and Pop Culture
X Company is respectfully educating viewers about the ableism, discrimination and elimination of disabled people during the war. Hopefully, it will make more people aware of how disabled people are still discriminated against and abused in unthinkable ways.
Six Questions Before Publishing About Children
Blogging About Children with Disabilities Protecting a child's privacy when parents write about their family's experience . How much information is too much when blogging about children with disabilities? The discussion revolving around #CrippingtheMighty, the hashtag created by Disability Visibility Project's founder, Alice Wong, is so important when considering writing or blogging about children with disabilities. It's imperative to listen to disabled people about their lived experience and the very damaging affects of content that objectifies and marginalizes disabled people like Inspiration Porn. At Ollibean, we believe in full inclusion and acceptance of all people and stories that objectify disabled people can’t exist in the same
14 Dead in Mass Shooting at San Bernardino Center for People with Disabilites
14 people have been killed at The Inland Regional Center, a non profit that serves children, adults and seniors with disabilities. An additional 14 were injured by the masked shooters . The building is open to the public and it has been reported that another group was hosting a Christmas party on the grounds. Police are currently searching the building and surrounding area for the active shooters who were wearing masks . At least three possible suspects fled in a black SUV and remain at large. If you have any information call 180078CRIME Live Stream
Starting With Julius- reCasting Difference-Where Everyone Belongs
We love the folks at Starting With Julius! What They Stand For : We believe that the mainstream media is a powerful tool to stimulate cultural transformation for a world in which people with disability are recognised, respected and valued as equal citizens and unique individuals. We also believe that including people with disability in advertising and media makes commercial sense and work with the advertising and media industries to promote the benefits of an ethos that embraces diversity and inclusion. Starting w/ Julius is fabulous and Catia Malaquias' writing and advocacy will blow you away so check out the blog
A Vibrant Mind Hidden In Plain Sight
Martin Pistorius, author of the New York Times best-seller, Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body delivers one of the most impressive and thought provoking Ted Talks ever. Martin Pistorius' story serves as an urgent call to action to change our assumptions about verbal speech and intellectual capacity. It also reinforces the absolute necessity to treat each human with dignity and respect. How many people are waiting right now for someone to acknowledge their means of communication? How many are waiting for someone to talk to them respectfully and then to listen and watch for subtle movements-
Deaf Teen Filmmakers Interpretation of Phillip Phillips’ “Home”
Acceptance, connection, and belonging. Home. Thank you Deaf Film Camp for making such awesome videos!
Autism and Changing Classroom Strategies
The field of autism is very new – not even 100 years old yet! This means we are constantly learning new things. We now know that what works for most children to learn does not always work for autistic children. In fact, it can be detrimental to their learning. Those of us in the field of autism will likely need to change the way we deliver help to those who seek it and change the way we teach our students.
On Surviving Inclusion
On Surviving Inclusion by Kerima Cevik Three young Black soldiers, bubbling over with the news that the Civil Rights act was just signed into law, and ready to demand a front door entrance and equal treatment everywhere rushed around places where people of color were formerly unseen and unheard. Image is of the first page of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Credit National Archives. I cannot impart on you what this moment in time meant to them. Imagine being told all your life that you were less than others. Imagine approaching your local supermarket
National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion
National Catholic Board of Full Inclusion has a vision of full inclusion in Catholic schools for students with disabilities. Our mission is to inspire schools to begin the process of becoming inclusive, to educate teachers, parents, principals and priests on what it takes to be an inclusive school and to provide the educational research and real life experiences that support it. National Catholic Board of Full Inclusion on Facebook
The Quiet Key to This School’s Success
What do you do when you become the principal of a school with the lowest academic performance and the highest rate of suspension, absenteeism, and teacher turn over? Nothing. Nothing for 15 minutes twice a day to be exact. In 2003, James Dierkean, the innovative principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco, decided to try something unconventional to mitigate the negative impacts that stress was causing for his students and staff. He launched a meditation program. Specifically, a Transcendental Meditation (TM) program called Quiet Time. Principal Dierke and his staff, with the help
How Being Included Changed This Boy’s Life
Having opportunities to learn with everyone could access more opportunities for all.
Isn’t it a Pity? The Real Problem with Special Needs
The Real Problem with Special Needs We love this TEDx Talk from our friend, Torrie Dunlap, at Kids Included Together on benefits of inclusion and the real "problem" with special needs. Isn’t it a Pity? The Real Problem with Special Needs Torrie Dunlap, CEO, Kids Included Together Feeling Good about Casting Someone with Special Needs in the Show In the early 90s I was a student on this very campus, and actually, on this very stage. I was a drama major who had a dream to change the world through arts education. The world, however, had something different in
#IMREADY for Inclusive Media and Advertising
Hey JCREW #IMREADY for change. We want YOU to include models with disabilities in 2015. We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 . 15 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. Note: Changing the Face of Beauty quickly met its #15in2015 so now it's #15in2015 x 2! We want YOU to be part of the #15in2015 x 2 retailers including models with disabilities in 2015. We're thrilled to take part in the #IAMREADY campaign by Changing the Face of Beauty to promote inclusion in advertising. We believe everyone should see themselves reflected in all aspects of their community
Disability Visibility Project
Ollibean is very proud to be a media partner of the Disability Visibility Project. Please join us in spreading the word about this important project dedicated to "Recording Disability History, One Story at a Time".
World’s First Kid-Friendly Wheelchair From Wheelchairs of Hope
It's unacceptable that any child miss out on an education because of not having a wheelchair, and Wheelchairs of Hope is doing something about it. Wheelchairs of Hope is an initiative based on the belief that mobility from early childhood is a gate to education, and that access to education creates a new generation with improved skills, higher self-confidence levels, and more hope for the future. The UN, the WHO, and two Nobel Prize winners are backing the work of Wheelchairs of Hope. With production sites spanning three different regions, Wheelchairs of Hope will be able to guarantee shipment of
ALL Students Should Be Safe at School
I spoke at Hillsborough County School District's board meeting on September 9, 2014 to address safety concerns for students with disabilities after Tamya Johson, a nine year old student on the autism spectrum was left sleeping on her school bus. The day after this meeting, September 10, Hillsborough School Bus Crash sends 21 people to the hospital. Transcript Mrs Elia, Board members, I’ve come to speak to you today to offer my help and the community’s help to do whatever we need to do to ensure all students are safe in our schools. Being safe while at school is the
The Impact of 250 Words on Literacy
Ollibean Literacy Lifehacks : Tools for parents and care providers without education backgrounds to easily provide literacy instruction. Sign up for our free Flashcards of the 250 Words that represent over two-thirds of captioned television.
What’s the Social Model of Disability?
What is the social model of disability and why is it important ?
More on Inclusion on Ollibean
Information and resources on Inclusion for parents, providers and children with special needs.
Students with Disabilities Excel with High Expectations, Access, and Inclusion
"We know that when students with disabilities are held to high expectations, have access to a robust curriculum in the regular classroom, they excel." Secretary of Education , Arne Duncan Until recently, the Department of Education's primary focus was evaluating states compliance meeting procedural requirements- timelines for evaluations, due process hearings and transition services. Under the new framework, Results-Driven Accountability (RDA), the Department will also include educational results and outcomes for students with disabilities in making each state’s annual determination under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “Every child, regardless of income, race, background, or disability can succeed if
How to Improve Literacy Without Even Trying
One of the simplest things you can do to improve your child’s reading skills is already in your home. Closed captioning is free, easy to use, and a natural literacy booster. Research shows that closed captioning increases literacy skills in people of all ages. Simply having the captions on can dramatically improve vocabulary, word recognition, comprehension, and reading . Closed Captioning supports literacy for all. by Lauri Swann Hunt Turn on the closed captioning in your home; on your tvs, ipads, phones, and computers. Many people think closed captions are only beneficial for deaf and hard of hearing people. And,
Accessibility Is a Right Not a Privilege
Accessibility is a right not a privilege. 20 posts on Accessibility, Universal Design, and Inclusion It's Time to Go Beyond Access Creating Equal Opportunities For ALL Students to Participate in School Athletics State Obligations UNESCO Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Inclusion Is A Right Not A Privilege Paula Kluth on The Inclusive Class Roundtable The National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials Why Would We Want Inclusive Education? Ollibean Spotlight: Kerima Cevik Pay It Forward Activist How AAC and assistive tech make classrooms better for all : Paula Kluth The Case for Inclusion Part 3: Sea Change Access to the
What’s Underneath – Jillian Mercado
Jillian Mercado, the 23 year old model and editor and founder of Manufactured 1987 is featured in StyleLikeU 's "What's Underneath Project". The "What's Underneath Project" has select individuals remove their clothes to honor how style is not the clothes you wear, but rather, what's underneath. Transcript Off camera. StyleLikeU: So you should just talk very freely, don’t edit. Just, you know, we’ll edit and just let yourself just roll. You’ll, whoever ask the question you can talk to. At the end of each question you’ll just take a piece of clothing off. Jillian Mercado Voice: Ok, I have one,
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Banning Aversive Shock Therapy at the Judge Rotenberg Center
Thursday, April 24, was a day that I'd been waiting for that day for a long time. An FDA advisory panel finally got to thoroughly hear both sides of the story of what goes on at the Judge Rotenberg Center, and to deliberate, based on testimony, whether what happens to the students there needs to be stopped. And they made the right decision. I just hope that they act on it quickly. I found out about the Judge Rotenberg Center by accident two years ago, doing some research for another post on my blog. I came across an article about
SWIFT on NPR’s “All Things Considered”
by Dr. Mary Schuh: SWIFT Center Recently, National Public Radio’s (NPR) “All Things Considered” aired a story on inclusive education. The story featured Presidio Middle School in San Francisco and SWIFT Filmmaker, Dan Habib. While Presidio Middle School should be applauded for their efforts to educate students with and without disabilities, what was portrayed by NPR would by no means be considered an inclusive school. Students with disabilities placed in a separate basement class learning functional “survival” skills does not make for an inclusive experience. How can students with disabilities learn important “survival skills” such as communication, literacy, following typical
Dan Habib: Disabling Segregation
Dan Habib's Tedx Talk on the importance of inclusion, belonging and disabling segregation. Habib is the creator of the award winning documentaries, Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey, Restraint and Seclusion: Hear Our Stories, Thalia and other disability related subjects . Check out Dan's Tedx Talk on the benefits of inclusive education for students with and without disabilities. Picture yourself back in your grade school classroom. I don't care if it's elementary school, middle school, high school. Just put yourself back there for a second. Look around the classroom. Do you see any kids with and without disabilities studying together
Hashtag Hate and How Pride Can Prevail
Guest blogger Kara Ayers is the Advocacy and Dissemination Coordinator for The University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UC UCEDD) and has been featured on Disability Blog the official blog for Disability.gov. As a child, my family considered "hate" to be a bad word. We're teaching my preschool daughter the same. Someday I will teach her the tragic impact of hate and the freedom that it has stolen and continues to steal from so many. For now-I don't want her vocabulary or her mind limited by slurs and hate-filled language. As someone who works in social
Parents – Acceptance Starts at Home
Parents, home is the single most important place for our children to feel accepted. We must embrace ALL of our children with love and acceptance for being exactly who they are. Home is the first place our kids learn about being accepted and accepting others. It is our responsibility and privilege as parents to create a nurturing environment where each child feels valued, safe, loved and whole. Our children are always listening and picking up on our feelings and attitudes. They're listening to how we speak to them, about them, and closely watching how we react to other people who
#DearFutureMom Video Spreads Awesome Message From People with Down Syndrome
by Emily Ladau Have you seen this #DearFutureMom Video? We love it here at Ollibean and in honor of World Down Syndrome Day, we think it's definitely worth a moment of your time to watch. It's a great reminder of why people of all abilities must work together to celebrate and advocate for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome today and every day - because we are all people just the same.
Kids’ Mobility Devices Just Got Cooler
A Fun Alternative to Children's Mobility Devices
Take Action to Keep All Students Safe at School! || Stop Hurting Kids
Stop Hurting Kids needs all supporters of the Keeping All Students Safe Act to take action and urge members of the U.S. Senate to co-sponsor this bill.
I’m Not the One Who Is Lost
I am thinking you will understand more when you see the feeling . The feeling on my side.
Love Not Fear
Love Not Fear. Henry Frost on Autism Acceptance Two Houses a story of Autism Acceptance. There are two houses. There are two boys that live in these houses. Each house inside has one family living. Each member of each family has different ways of being. House Number One One house has the family that tells the boy he is loved . The family is not a family without the boy. All of the family members are loved as they are. They are loved for being. The boy is loved as he is. He is educated. He is respected. He
Is Your Child Learning How to Code?
We hope all kids are learning to code. If they aren't being taught programming skills in school, there are so many great sites that can help them get started today.
30 Second Message for Bullies
AAPD's PSA features three real students sharing a simple message: people with disabilities are powerful, self-determined individuals—not victims.
Judith Snow ~ Relationships & Inclusion
"The research shows that when a child who is not academically gifted is included in a regular school, not only do the academics improve across the school, and I did say that, I didn’t say “in the classroom”, I said “across the school”, not only do the academics improve, but drug use and violence goes down."
I Got 99 Problems..Palsy Is Just One- Maysoon Zayid on Ted
“People with disabilities are the largest minority in the world and we are the most under-represented in entertainment.” Maysoon Zayid
Doll Diversity Isn’t Just Child’s Play – Dolls with Disabilities
As a little girl, I had a doll collection that took over nearly every inch of toy storage space in my room. I loved them all, especially my two most prized dolls - a My Twinn Doll and a My American Girl Doll, both made to look "just like me." And there was a indeed a striking resemblance between me and the dolls. We had matching brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, and even a matching freckle above our lips. There's just one thing that didn't quite match: my dolls stood upright in their plastic doll stands while I sat in
Pro Infirmis Mannequins Video Shows Bodily Diversity is Beautiful
A trip to the mall bombards me with unattainable ideals of “perfection” everywhere I turn. Mannequins of one standard body shape and size taunt me in each store I enter, all of them wearing clothing that won’t look anything on me like it does on them. Their plastic bodies are tall and thin; I am less than 5 feet with more than my fair share of curves. They stand in casual poses; I am sitting in my wheelchair. To me, mannequins are not always inviting displays. Instead, they’re nothing more than sculptures of a supposedly idyllic body type that I
Worth A Second Look: Haben Girma’s 2010 Speech on 35th Anniversary of IDEA
"One of the treasures of IDEA is that it provides children with disabilities the luxury of just being students. Unfortunately there are still many school districts where students with disabilities are denied their right to an education." Haben Girma
The Importance of Supports
"If we invested a mere one-tenth of the amount of money that we currently pour into causation into empowering Autistic people to communicate, that young man and hundreds of thousands more like him would be able to communicate their needs to us today. I am not here today to speak for every Autistic person – that’s impossible. What I am here for is to argue for every Autistic person to have the same opportunity to communicate that I have come to enjoy thanks to the support that I have been lucky enough to receive in my life." Ari Ne'eman
Meet the Members of the 2013 National Council on Disability
The National Council on Disability works to further equal opportunity, self-sufficiency, independent living, inclusion and full integration of people with disabilities into the civic, social, and economic fabric of American life.
A Typical Son’s mom on “the r-word” and Chuck Klosterman’s apology
Kari Wagner-Peck ,the author of A Typical Son blog, and twitter friend @atypicalson wrote a letter to find out why Chuck Klosterman , of the Ethicist used the r-word. Kari who is 'like Erma Bombeck - in that I write funny about the ordinary and not so much in that I am angry, I swear a lot, and we have a kid who has Down syndrome' wrote an eloquent, thoughtful letter to Klosterman , reached out to folks on twitter and used social media for social good. Pretty cool. You can read the response from Klosterman here,It's fabulous- CK, sincerely apologizes
You are not wrong.
Know you are not a burden or trouble for being. You are a person who has every right to be. A family that is saying love but saying you are so hard so wrong for not being as they wanted. The family is wrong. Not You. A school segregating is wrong. Not You.There are many if the disability community that are here for you.
Inclusion, Communication and Civil Rights
"Learning is easy when the teacher knows you can learn. " Henry Frost
ASAN President Ari Ne’eman on the DOE’s New Stance on Bullying Prevention
Comments from Autistic Self-Advocacy Network President Ari Ne’eman, delivered on August 20th, 2013 during a call with with stakeholders from the education and disability communities on the Department of Education’s new guidance on bullying prevention and IDEA. Presenters on the call included OSEP Director Melody Musgrove and White House Associate Director of Public Engagement Claudia Gordon.
I Am Disabled and I Am Proud
"Polite society often tells us that we need to take the 'dis' out of disability, but maybe... just maybe, we should spend some time putting it back in. Take the "dis" out of disability and you remove the core of what has shaped my life. Disability puts the "D" in diversity, but in order to make that a real difference we've got to own that spot. It took me 35 years to respect and honor that truth. Others shouldn't have to wait that long..." Lawrence Carter-Long
Wanting More and Finding Disability Justice
White House Champion of Change recipient Mia Mingus is writer, organizer, and member of the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collaborative. Disability was always framed as a sad or bad thing, as something unfortunate that happened to me, a tragedy, a flaw. My experience with the medical world was one about “fixing” me and making me more “normal” and less disabled. This of course, echoed my experience of the world at large. I never saw disabled women in the media being desired or living whole complex lives, let alone disabled women of color. The messages always boiled down to: disability is
Closed Captioning Helps All Students
"Not only were students talking about how much having the captions helped them as they took notes, their test scores went up," Collins said. During the first year of a 2-year case study, he showed videos without captions to establish a baseline of student comprehension, then in the second year turned on the captions and began to see improvement in comprehension and grades. "During the baseline year, there were a lot of Cs. In the second years, they went from Cs, Ds and Fs to As, Bs and Cs. It was really significant improvement," he said. "We're living in an
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Third Annual Gala Honoring Henry Frost and Dr. Anne Donnellan
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s third annual gala and celebration at the National Press Club is November 12th. Henry Frost is the recipient of the 2013 Award for Service to the Self Advocacy Movement. Dr. Anne Donnellan will receive the 2013 Outstanding Ally Award. Henry Frost is a young Autistic student and Florida native who launched a successful, nationally recognized campaign to gain access to the public school in his own neighborhood .The campaign, I Stand With Henry, collected thousands of petition signatures and supporters across multiple social media platforms expressing support for Henry’s right to an equal education. Henry won
I Care By
If you care, you act. Do something positive to help a young person with emotional challenges.
Putting Education First by That Crazy Crippled Chick
"First, we must ensure that all children, including and especially those with disabilities, receive a quality education. Inclusion means nothing if a child is not receiving a good education, which is, in fact, the very reason we have schools in the first place. " Cara Liebowitz
Disability Activist Keith Jones on Community
"So let us remember that when we teach, when we educate, we make policy, we make decisions that we do it with a conscience and that we remember that we are leaving fingerprints on forever." Keith Jones
Who Cares About Kelsey
Kelsey Carroll lived with homelessness, self-mutilation, abuse and ADHD. She was a likely high school dropout — until she encountered an education revolution that’s about empowering, not overpowering, teens with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Kelsey’s story, a story of trying to be seen for her potential rather than her past behavior.
11 Year Old Jacob On The Right Thing To DO
I said a long time ago that I would not only be an real student In a school that supports me but also a self advocate for those lost in segregated settings echoing the dreaded lives of people in the world that are like me without the right supports.
I am a person.
Ask me. Don't prompt me. Talk to me. Don't prompt me. Have courage.
5 Ways to Elicit Language from PrAACtical AAC
PrAACtical Suggestions: 5 Ways to Elicit Language Without Asking a Direct Question SLPs love to talk, of course, but sometimes that works against us. Over-prompting. Jumping in to repeat the last question. Re-phrasing the previous comment. Nature abhors a vacuum and sometimes we just can’t stop ourselves.
Judith Snow
Judith Snow, MA is a social innovator and an advocate for Inclusion – communities that welcome the participation of a wide diversity of people. Inclusion is an opportunity for EVERYONE!
The Power of Presuming Competence
"Thasya", a mini film by Dan Habib, highlights the power of presuming competence, differentiated instruction and augmentative and alternative communication. Inclusion works.
Transforming Education to Benefit ALL Students
As part of a 5-year, $24.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. DOE , the SWIFT Center was founded to assist districts and their schools to engage in a transformational process, in order to achieve equity and excellence for all students. Research has demonstrated that inclusive education significantly improves academic and behavior outcomes for all children.
Thank You, Ed Roberts
"And we’re going to develop leadership, that has a fundamental difference and that is, it's inclusive . It believes in people, and in our strengths together . And we are going to change our society. " Ed Roberts
Intersection of Law, Education and Civil Rights
As a deaf-blind student with very limited sight and hearing, Haben Girma '13 learned that you must be a self-advocate and come up with creative solutions to the problems you face. If that fails, she says, then the law can be a strong ally.
Man with Down Syndrome owns “The World’s Friendliest Restaurant”
Tim Harris has a great deal to be proud of. "Tim The Man" to those who know him, he's accomplished more in his 27 years than some people accomplish in an entire lifetime. A Special Olympian, he has dozens of gold medals. He's lived on a sailboat and is well-known in the Bahamas as an excellent sailor and fisherman. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 2008 with certificates in food service, office skills, and restaurant hosting. He's now living independently, and really enjoying the fact that he can walk to work - the restaurant that he owns is
EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America
The Smithsonian's Web exhibit of the history of people with disabilities in America shown through photos.
Senator Harkin Delivers Speech in ASL Upon ADA Passage in 1990
Upon passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 13th, 1990, Senator Tom Harkin delivered a speech on the Senate floor in American Sign Language. Harkin, whose brother Frank was deaf, was the lead Senate author of the ADA, which was enacted later that year. His speech is the first in American Sign Language to be delivered from the Senate floor.
Disabilty and Civil Rights: Standing On the Right Side of History
"If we were to go back to the 1960s and we were to talk to those leaders who were vehemently against desegregation, we would hear the conviction in their voices of them stating why they believe their decisions and what they were doing to those children were just. Just as I believe that some of you and some of the board members that have spoken believe that their decisions are just. But, I fear that the Hillsborough County School Board is standing on the wrong side of history."
Inclusion is a right not a privilege.
Inclusion is not only socially just, but research shows it improves academic outcomes for all students.
I Am Here To Make A Difference For My People
"I am here to make a difference for my people. I hope that you listen to what I have to say. I want people like you to stop judging me." Tres Whitlock
The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education – 07/12/13
This week, Carol Quirk who is the Co-Executive Director for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, will return to the podcast. Carol is going to talk, on behalf of the MCIE, about ways in which we can support inclusive education. The Maryland Co
Ollibean Spotlight: Renee Salas
" Talk to people with disabilities. As many as you can: Adults, adolescents, kids. These people are the real experts on disabilities. These are the people that can tell you what life with a disability is like." Renee Salas
People With Disabilities Practically Absent from Marketing Campaigns
ABC.com reports that despite sporadic appearances in the media and marketing campaigns, people with disabilities are still largely absent, and that many people feel that marketers in particular are losing out because of it. Blaming the absence of people with disabilities in marketing campaigns on "a combination of ignorance, caution, and fear," advocates feel that a concentrated campaign to have people with disabilities included in advertising is necessary, similar to past campaigns to have minorities included in advertising. 57 000 000 Americans have a disability, and as a group their spending power is $200 to $500 billion. They're definitely a
America, the CPRD, and the Global Plight of Disabled Children
A new United Nations report, "The State of the World's Children", finds that children with disabilities are the least likely to receive health care or go to school and are among the most vulnerable to violence, abuse and neglect. With the most recent data available suggesting that 1 in 20 children aged 14 or younger (approximately 93 000 000) has a disability. it's clear that we're in the middle of a child welfare crisis. Not so, according to United States Senators who failed to ratify a United Nations convention designed to ban discrimination on the basis of disability and to
Stop Hurting Kids
Join the Stop Hurting Kids campaign to end restraint and seclusion abuse in schools.The easiest way to make a meaningful contribution is to take a stand.
PrAACtical AAC | Presuming Competence and Using The Least Dangerous Assumption
PrAACtical AAC's latest post on the importance of presuming competence.
Believing in Your Child and Why It Matters
"No one affects a child's day, dreams and future like a mother. Of course we are never perfect, but perfect is never the goal." Tonya Whitlock
Ollibean Mama Spotlight : Ariane Zurcher
"It means living in a society that embraces the diversity of human beings. It means inclusion is a way of life and manifests itself in every aspect of our culture, from the schools and education, to the work place and everything in between… It means paradise!" Ariane Zurcher
Happy Mother’s Day Week : Turn It Up to 11
It's that time of year .... Mother's Day Week! Is there a song that makes you think about why you love being a mom? Or a song that just reminds you of your family? Share it here.
Yoga , Naturally Inclusive
Ryan McGraw is a 30-year-old yoga teacher who has cerebral palsy. He doesn't fit the mold, which is fine, because he's molding yoga routines to fit his needs.
Lawsuit alleges school bus aide slapped autistic boy
A north suburban special education school bus aide slapped an autistic student who cannot speak, according to a lawsuit filed by the boy’s mother, who claims she uncovered the alleged abuse after putting a recording device in her son’s backpack. Nabiha Z
“The Story of Luke” Brings Autism to the Big Screen
But my question is, where are autistic people in the creation of the movie and the movie itself? The representation of autism and disability in film should include the actual voices of autistic people.
Reason # 202 Why You Should Come to See Wretches & Jabberers Next Weekend..
The incredible soundtrack. J. Ralph, recently nominated for an Academy Award for his song, Before My Time, for the documentary Chasing Ice, composed and performed the songs in this incredible documentary, He is joined by some of the most talented folks in music.
A Parent’s Story of Advocacy on The Inclusive Class
Teachers love a great resource! Especially a resource that is free and at their fingertips - literally. That's why I put together a list of... How do we help our children or students who are perpetually losing things, often running late and seem complete
The Arc Responds to the Death of Maryland Man with Down syndrome
This is a moment for us not only to mourn, but we must also learn from this tragedy and encourage proper training in our police departments. The Arc is deeply saddened and shocked by the death of Robert Ethan Saylor, a young man with Down syndrome whose
Family wants answers in son with special needs death
A lawyer for the family of a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome who died while being escorted from a movie theater by security guards says the grieving family is looking for answers after the death was ruled a homicide. Robert Ethan Saylor died Jan. 12 a
Sara Winter,Founder of Squag™ Had Me at :)
Sara Winter answers our Change Leader Questionairre. Sara is the founder of Squag™ - a wonderful curated, online space that offers kids on the autism spectrum as well as other disabilities (and their siblings) a safe, beautiful corner of the web.
A Life Defined Not By Disability, But Love
I love you. You're a good parent, and just because you're disabled doesn't mean that you do anything less for me.
‘Impaired Perceptions’ – Photographer Brian Steel Fights Ableism
"The overall message is that you cannot tell what a person is capable of or what their life is like simply by looking at them. " Brian Steel
The Inclusive Class: Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities
Nicole and Terri are looking forward to interviewing Dr. Sheldon Horowitz about ways classrooms can support children with learning disabilities.
Worth Repeating: Ed Roberts’ 504 Sit-In Victory Rally Speech
Editors' Note: Following is the text of a speech by Ed Roberts, one of WID’s founders, at the 504 sit-in victory rally in San Francisco, April 30, 1977. We have chosen to reprint it to celebrate Ed Roberts Day, which was January 23. Ed’s speech captures his spirit, his vision and his commitment to the disability rights movement that was in its infancy in 1977. The San Francisco sit-in, still the longest such action in a U.S. federal building, was part of a national cross-disability protest to force the Carter administration to sign regulations to enable the enforcement of section
Stephen Kuusisto: Responding to Euthanasia of Deaf Blind Twins in Belgium
The National Association of the Deaf and the American Association of the Deaf-Blind have released a formal statement on the euthanizing of twins in Belgium who preferred death to becoming deaf-blind. Apparently the Belgians would imagine Helen Keller's l
Advice from Someone Who Has Been There
I love Larry Bissonnette- artist and disability rights activist. If you have seen Wretches & Jabberers or My Life as an Artist, or seen Larry present- I'm sure you are right there with me. His paintings are extraordinary, his words brilliant, and his wit and personality beyond wonderful. He is an exceptional person I feel privledged to call friend. We have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Larry; a weekend at our home in Tampa, a week in Vermont (where we were able to visit Larry's studio and watch him create his paintings) and numerous conferences
No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools
No Limits: People With Cerebral Palsy v Condescending Tools.
Changing the Paradigm
Sir Ken Robinson on education reform. "Changing Paradigms in Public Education" covers the importance of thinking differently about human capacity , recognizing the benefits of collaborative learning, and changing the culture of our institutions.
Why is a 13 year old protesting in order to go TO school?
How did we get here? How did we get to a point that our 13 year old son has to fight for the rights that are already his under federal law? How did we get to a place where a pretty reserved kid has the courage, the will, to do this?
Presume My Competence
Really, this is number one. Please presume my competence.
Turner Classic Movies Showcases Films About Disability
TCM to Examine Hollywood's Depiction of People with Disabilities in The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film in October Lawrence Carter-Long Joins TCM's Robert Osborne for Historic Month-Long Film Exploration, Presented in Collaboration with
Perfect Ballet Slippers from Linge Shoes
We are obsessed with these ballet slippers from Linge Shoes. We get the skinny from designer/entrepreneur Whitney Evans about her exquisite shoes- perfect for moms and daughters alike.
Ollibean Baseball Camp July 10th – Aug 2nd
Ollibean Baseball Camp info! From July 10th through August 2nd , 8am to 10am free baseball camp for kids with special needs at Palma Ceia Little League. The amazing sister and brother team of Katie and Sam Martin have put together a great baseball camp for Ollibean ! Thanks to our friends and Challenger League Leaders and Palma Ceia Little League, camp will take place at PCLL Field C this Tues July 10 (from 8am to 10 am ) through August 2nd!! You do not have to attend the entire time but you are certainly welcome to. It is free and
Change Leader: Dr. Charles Price
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? "More acceptance, tolerance and understanding. Everyone is trying to get through life the best way they know how. Some are dysfunctional while others are externally successful. Not everything is as it seems on the surface".
Introducing Ollibean Think Tank Member Nicole Eredics
We are very proud to introduce Ollibean Think Tank member, Nicole Eredics of the Inclusive Class . We know you are going to learn as much from Nicole as we have. She is kind, extremely knowledgeable, and beyond lovely. She really is the consummate teacher. Listen to any one of her podcasts or read her blogs and you'll see what we mean. Nicole is very committed to inclusion and we are grateful to have her share her knowledge with us. Welcome, Nicole! Hello! I’m Nicole Eredics and I’m an Elementary Teacher who has spent over 15 years teaching in an inclusive school
Jedd Hafer of Love and Logic ® answers your parenting questions
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jedd Hafer, of Love & Logic® and asked him some of our questions. Jed's one of those people that you start talking to and feel like you've known him forever.
Sign up and Ollibean gives to a child in Nepal. It’s that easy.
Want to help kids in Nepal? We’re making it super easy. For every person that joins our community we will donate $2 to support children in Nepal.You can also enter for a chance to win an iPad**. Now share this with everyone you know and show the world how easy it is to make a difference.
D-PAN ASL Music Video “We’re Going To Be Friends” by the White Stripes
White Stripes "We're Going To Be Friends" ASL video we love by D-PAN.
On Beauty
We are in love with 'On Beauty" the documentary by Joanna Rudnick. She follows the talented Rick Guidotti as he challenges public perception of difference and beauty through the lives of three exquisite women.
