"No Shame, No Fear"

The Motto of the Disability Rights Movement in Regards to Stigma, Stereotypes and Labels



So, to all my Brothers and Sisters of the Human Race who have some kind of disability; whether that be physical, mental health issue and/or a learning disability, I ask you this: Aren't you tired of people continuing to consider us as second class citizens? Aren't you tired of people giving us those words of pity, or condescending and patronizing statements that continue to make us look like we are not worth very much? Aren't you tired of the nonsense coming from candidates that just want to end all the services, all the assistance and all the programs that at least give some support and some modicum of choice to people with disabilities?


The stigmas and stereotypes and the labels that come with having a disability are some of the main reasons that we continue to have the problems we do when it comes to becoming valued citizens in a society that is far too afraid of people who are different.


Until all of us start to speak out and start reminding society and our government that

people with disabilities are not only equal human beings, they also want to be treated as such. They want to have choice, have options and make their own decisions. They may need assistance, they may need a personal care attendant or a just want to stay in their own home community so they can be an active member of that community, or they may simply need an accommodation to help them be independent.


If you want to get the things you need, if you want equality, if you want choice and independence, then you need to speak up and speak out. All of us together will be the catalyst of that change and so to make that change it must begin with having No Fear and No Shame about being a person with a disability. No Fear and No Shame is exactly what it sounds like: Not ashamed to have a disability and not afraid of being able to talk about it.


All of us are role models when we are out in the day to day living we do. We need to show society that we are responsible, active and valuable people. We need to have No Fear and No Shame.


Want to know more? Want to have No Shame and No Fear. Give us at DACNW a call, or contact your local Center for Independent Living. www.dacnw.org 


Peace.

The Beginning, and an Intro into the mind of an Advocate.

So, what will this semi-regular blog entry be about? What will you come to expect from these entries? Will anything I say make a difference to you and your life?


Well, first off, the entries I will put onto the blog will be about whatever comes to mind; whatever I think is relevant, interesting, important, cool, fascinating and lots of times, irreverent (just because that's my nature).


Secondly, what to expect: Well I am not the kind of person to "pull punches" or "beat around the bush" when it comes to issues that effect my Brothers and Sisters with disabilities.


And lastly, I hope that these entries will have a positive effect upon your thinking, your attitude and maybe your outlook. At the very least, I hope that something said here will engage your mind and encourage you to do your own research and then get active in whatever issue or issues are concerning your life and your community. 




Who Is the Shameless Advocate?

My real name is Patrick and I am a person with a disability! (Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn's Disease) And I am PROUD to be a member of the Disability Community, PROUD to be an advocate for people with disabilities and PROUD to do the work of a Disability Rights Advocate. I am a former teacher, a life long civil rights and social justice activist, a full time motivational/inspirational speaker, and a certified "rabble rouser" and troublemaker.

6 New Gadgets Helping People With Disabilities

The 27th Annual International Tech and Persons With Disabilities Conference in San Diego.

 At the convention, tech companies unveil gadgets that help people living with disabilities in their daily lives.

Mashable got an early look at some of the latest assistive tech products on display at the show, hosted by the California State University, Northridge. Check out the products above, which help alleviate conditions such as hearing loss, vision loss, and loss of hand motion.

There are plenty of big names in the house. IBM, Google, Adobe and Microsoft will all be hosting events at the conference. Google will be discussing accessibility in some of its most popular products, such as Chrome, Google Docs and Android.

(full story HERE)

The U.S. government is also making a strong showing, with sessions hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Transportation, the Access Board and the Department of Labor.

SEE ALSO: 4 Ways iPads Are Changing the Lives of People With Disabilities

March 2012 - Disability Accommodations Do Not Include Creating Light Duty Assignments

In an unpublished Appellate Division opinion, Hernandez v. MW Manufacturers, Docket No. A-2071-09T2 (Feb. 1, 2012), the Court reaffirmed that employers are not required to create a “light duty” position for a disabled worker.

In this case, Hernandez was injured on the job and was unable to come back to work as a machine operator. She exhausted her Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) benefits and when she failed to return to work, MW Manufacturers terminated her. Hernandez filed a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, alleging violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. She alleged she was discriminated against due to her disability since her employer did not accommodate her disability by offering her a “light duty” office position when she could not fulfill the requirements of a machine operator position. The employer had allowed her to work a light duty position for three weeks before she went out on leave. Hernandez argued that the employer had in the past offered her a light duty position and therefore the employer should be required to offer the position to her indefinitely.

The Appellate Court upheld the decision of the Division on Civil Rights that no cause of action existed. The Court found that the temporary availability of a light duty position did not require the employer to continue that position indefinitely, and the employer was not required to create a light duty position for an employee where none otherwise existed.

http://www.lcrlaw.com/disability-accommodations-do-not-include-creating-light-duty-assignments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=disability-accommodations-do-not-include-creating-light-duty-assignments

Utah's Disability Law Center helps people with disabilities live a life of dignity

Adina Zahradnikova, executive director of Utah’s Disability Law Center, says her big, “pie in the sky goal is to close the doors of the Disability Law Center." To her, that would mean, "that the world is free of discrimination and all people have access to necessary services." She has seen a lot of progress toward that goal, but says, "There are still a lot of battles to fight."

In 1978 the federal government designated that each state was required to have a protection and advocacy agency to esnure the rights of people with disabilities. Utah’s agency is the Disability Law Center, on 205 North 400 West in Salt Lake City. The directors work to make sure that everyone, regardless of abilities, is treated with dignity and respect. They do this through a variety of methods and focus on problems with abuse, transportation, education, employment and access.

The Disability Law Center is a private, nonprofit organization headed by a board of directors and a consumer-driven advisory board made up of attorneys and mental health professionals. All of the people there are working under a mission statement that says, “The mission of the Disability Law Center is to enforce and strengthen laws that protect the opportunities, choices and legal rights of people with disabilities in Utah.” Their vision states, “We envision a just society where all people are treated with equity, dignity and respect.” That is a big mission to take on, but the people who work there are dedicated, as indicated by their progress.

There are many laws already in place to protect the rights of the disabled under the American with Disabilities Act, but new situations can arise that are not covered. In those cases, it is the job of the Public Policy Team to lobby for new protections with the legislature. It is also necessary, at times, to involve the courts in discrimination matters, but Zahradnikova says, "Less 2 percent of what we do involves formal litigation." When they do involve themselves in litigation, it is to change systems that impact a lot of people and generally not for individual issues.

Finding alternative solutions to existing problems, educating people about the law, training in life skills and overseeing outreach programs form the bulk of their services. Anyone with a disability is free to contact the Disability Law Center and receive the help they need at no cost. Once they contact the office, they may be referred to an agency that can help them. They may be directed to training programs to teach them a life skill and ultimately how to be a self-advocate. In some cases, they will be sent to one of the attorneys if it appears rights have been violated. Cases like this usually involve being passed over for promotion or terminated in the work place, or a lack of accommodations. (see the rest of the story HERE!)