Ableism and Pity. Reject Them, Be Awesome

I have written about how I had to unlearn ableism.   I have written about my uncooperative body.   I always state how generally happy I am, and that I am comfortable being me.   All this is true but frustration shows up, and grows, every time I meet ableism.   I meet ableism a lot.   Ableism brought forth by pity. Pity directed at me by people who seem to believe I am “trapped” inside my body, that I suffer, or that my life is so hard, they can’t understand how I can even have goals and aspirations.  

Inclusion, Communication and Civil Rights

"Learning is easy when the teacher knows you can learn. " Henry Frost

  • .There’s none exempt from this disability community, and as a matter of fact we’re the cool community, because we accept everybody.” Keith Jones

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

  • op one fourth of book cover is a white background" Black and White" written in black text with capital letters in large font "A Colorful Look at Life on the Autism Spectrum"Beneath also in black text with capital letters written in small font . Middle section contains a color photograph of blonde light skinned woman in profile . Text in right hand corner reads A Book by S.R. Salas Bottom quarter of bookcover has a black background with white text, small font that reads "Renee provides a fascinating insight to autism, I highly recommed (her) book..."- Dr. Tony Attwood "Black and White provides an inside positive view of autism..." - Dr Temple Grandin

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

  • Photograph of woman with brown skin and dark brown shoulder length hair looking down smiling while holding her baby.

Ollibean Spotlight: Kerima Cevik Pay It Forward Activist

"Equal access, level playing field, dignity, respect for my son and all his community. No separate classrooms separate doors or isolation from others. See I’m a woman of color. When I began my education you could still see the Colored Only bathrooms in the Deep South. If you put my son in one room and say he is not good enough to be where the law says he should be, with his peers, then red flags of segregation fly up at me. Many parents of color feel the wrongness of it organically, but they have been convinced that their neurodiverse children are not good enough for their neighborhood school and that their children are a distraction or threat to typical children in some way. The different operating system in their child’s brain throws them off, particularly when maladaptive behaviors are in the mix. It leaves them feeling guilty, helpless, afraid their kids will come to harm, and they listen to anyone, even if their gut tells them the advice is unjust. I am and advocate of Universal Design for Learning. I think my son can be with his peers in age as well as ability and everyone can benefit." Kerima Cevik

Much Needed Resource: “We Are Like Your Child”

"We are like your child. Your child is like us. And we may have difficulties, we are disabled--but there is no denying that we are also awesome."

Because I Stood With Henry

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

‘Autistic People Are’ by Amy Sequenzia

Autistic People Are   Awesome!   Autistic People are the real experts on autism.   Autistic people are not more complicated than non-autistics. Autistic people are misunderstood and mischaracterized by non-autistics.   Autistic people are artistic and we don’t need speech to show our talents.   Autistic people are your friends your co-workers your children.   Autistic people are parents siblings grandparents.   Autistic people are not tragedies we are not burdens.   Autistic people are not sufferers because of autism we suffer discrimination from non-autistics.   Autistic people are “different but not less”.   Autistic people are not “Rain

  • Photo of girl kicking with balloons in background. Text reads: RESOURCES we love. Ollibean logo.

SoulTouchin’ Experiences

Keith Jones & SoulTouchin' Experiences  SoulTouchin' Experiences is a Resource We Love! SoulTouchin' Experiences is an endeavor founded on the belief that in order to build a stronger community, there must be a heart and soul commitment to those who need assistance in order to begin caring for themselves and in turn caring for others. This is achieved through collaborative partnerships and progressive advocacy efforts, aimed at community empowerment along with systemic policy change for persons with and without disabilities on a local and national leve.l Keith P. Jones, started SoulTouchin' Experiences to bring a perspective to the issues

The Loud Hands Project

Love this video published by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Share it, Post it, Donate at http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Loud-Hands-Project?a=351448 so they will make more:)

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