A recent trip to Sweden allowed me to do a cursory comparison of cultural issues, in part based on my interest around equity and inclusion in education/society. Integration seems to occur more frequently and naturally in Sweden, of course, not without challenges.

Sweden manifests economic equity by:

• Differential in pay between a CEO/Director and lowest paid staff is reasonable, the majority of citizens are middle class, educators and other public servants are respected and paid well, • Human rights include second generation immigrants with professional jobs, 14% of the click here to read more

Naturally, living with a disability and being wheelchair bound causes people to stare at you from time to time. I have become used to this by now in my life. It does not affect me negatively anymore, unless I am extremely tired or grumpy. Other than those times, I could care less if someone stares at me. I actually find it quite entertaining because I continuously make the other person more click here to read more

There are times when so-called natural supports or just friends seem to make sense over the professional, clinical, or rule bound approach to life. Living circumstances are one of the most common places in which the disconnect between being a client and being a neighbor can be evident.

Bernie and Jeanette were great friends and had been roommates for three years, since Bernie’s liberation from the SONYEA (the State of New York Epilepsy Asylum), known as regional centers in Colorado. Bernie and Jeanette went to movies, took hikes in the click here to read more

On April 8, 2014 the U.S. Department of Justice announced “a landmark settlement agreement between the United States and the state of Rhode Island, vindicating the civil rights of approximately 3,250 individuals across the state with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD).” This case constitutes the nation’s first statewide settlement involving the unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities in segregated sheltered workshops and day facilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is well known that these conditions exist in every state of the union and in the District click here to read more

Kara Brouhard was five years old when she was hit in the head by an out of control skier which shattered her skull. She had multiple brain surgeries and was in a coma for for two months. Because of this severe traumatic brain injury she was left with many challenges. She has some cognitive challenges which include inability to tell time, manage money and minimal reading skills. She is legally blind and has click here to read more

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is an employment training program serving people age 55 plus and 125% of poverty level. SCSEP’s goal is to assist participants in becoming gainfully employed in unsubsidized employment.

Participants enrolled in SCSEP have multiple barriers to employment. SCSEP provides supportive services and works with participants to upgrade their employability skills. Some of the supportive services include transportation assistance, food assistance, clothing, physicals, computer training, job search assistance, and other services as needs arise.

Training for participants is provided by host agencies, click here to read more

I THINK I NEED TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE THINGS I GET TO BE PART OF BECAUSE I LEARNED ABOUT ADVOCACY. I HAD THE CHANCE TO BE IN THE PARTNERS IN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. I LEARNED ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE, AND HOW RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES COULD BE TAKEN AWAY. I LEARNED FROM LEADERS LIKE ED ROBERTS AND JEFF STRULLY THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING UP click here to read more

The leaves fluttered on the trees that bright autumn morning in October, just as the winds of change blew through the annual DD Council Retreat. The DD Council members arrived at the offices of the Arapahoe/Douglas County ARC ready to focus on the future of the DD Council and the future of rehabilitation.

As people gathered around the coffee and bagels and readied themselves for the two-day strategic planning session facilitated by David Hasbury, national consultant and facilitator, questions floated among those in the community room.

David’s provocative question to click here to read more

The creation of accommodations for people with disabilities is full of a wide range of possibilities, depending on the creativity of the team as well as that of the individual involved or the agency or corporation that creates accommodations for the general public.  The following are examples of what happens when either creativity or logic have evaded the creator.  Please send in more examples!

An unnamed fast food restaurant, after being sued for hot coffee in the lap, created a coffee lid with Braille on it that read, “Hot, do click here to read more