EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ARE GOOD THINGS

Our schools and communities need to do a better job and I think we just might find some consensus with that statement. Of course, where that consensus breaks down is in how we define "need to do a better job." As someone who supports social justice and equality for all persons (including gays and Muslims – the favorite victims for contemporary bullies) I got my hands on an equity and diversity quiz today. (Thanks to a Jack operative.) I thought I would share some of the stats. The quiz and the answers come from EdChange.org.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of U.S. schools with NO teachers of color on staff is 40%.

According to a study by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, 52% of physicians report witnessing a colleague giving reduced care or refusing care to lesbian, gay or bisexual patients.

Power cocain (largely used by wealthy people) and crack cocaine (largely used by economically disadvantaged people) contain roughly the same amount of drug per gram. Under federal law, an individual must possess 500 grams of powder or only 5 grams of crack to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

84.5% of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered high school students report that their teachers "never" or "rarel" respond to homophobic remarks made by other students, according to a national study by GLSEN.

Less than 1% of U.S. government budget goes to welfare while 20% goes to Social Security.

I do believe we need more teachers representing minority populations. We should not ever condone the bullying of a student, any student. We should never condone the compromise of health care based on someone's sexual orientation. When physicians report seeing this (not patients but physicians) then we have a real problem on our hands. Don't let anyone ever fool you. The rights of the people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community are violated, usurped and stomped upon every day.

These individuals have a right to the same opportunities and advantages just like we straight, married, parentified, White, Christian folks do.

(Bold and uppercase emphasis is mine all mine.)

(In the interests of transparent reporting, the quiz states the stats were taken from the following entities: Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality; American Association of Physicians for Human Rights; American Civil Liberties Union; Economic Policy Institute; Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network; The Immigrtion Policy Center; National Center for Education Statistics; UNICEF; and U.S. Census Bureau.)

WOMAN WITH BI-POLAR DENIED ACCESS TO CHURCH OF HER CHOICE

I'm offering the following stories without much comment. Mostly because we have little information, not enough to make an educated and informed decision. Cases involving mental illness are very complicated. I know this first hand as I have been connected to three persons with bi-polar disorder. None of them were family members, but they were friends or family of friends.

First, the woman in question, Barbara Gingrich, was found incompetent by a judge and was appointed a legal guardian. According to the story, Gingrich was not taking her diabetes or other medications, lived in filth including mold and dog feces. She has also had involuntary holds in a mental health facility. Typically, that means someone was a danger to themselves or others, but I cannot speculate if that was the case here because there is not enough information.

Gingrich was thenmoved into a nursing home by her public administrator. The PA then denied Gingrich access to her home church. The PA stated the nursing home had a church.

There are three stories from the St. Joe News. It makes for interesting reading and subsequent discussion.

Before advocacy

During advocacy

After advocacy

(By the way, it was an evil government agency that fought for this woman's rights and obtained hfor her the right to go back to church.)

DOES THE NEWSPAPER NOT CONSULT THEIR AP STYLEBOOK?

RE: Changes in parking places upset some

I stopped counting the number of times the reporter used the word "handicap". It caught my eye because I am certain the AP Stylebook specifically states not to use the word "handicap". I consulted the Internet.

I went first to AP Stylebook Online, but I don't have a membership any longer. That was ages ago. I did find "Beyond the AP Stylebook: Language and Usage for Reporters and Editors".

DISABLED" AND "DISABILITY" TERMS OF CHOICE
Most people involved in disability issues today see "disabled" or "disability" as terms of choice. Many want journalists to write "person with a disability" rather than "disabled person." A number of groups issue pamphlets explaining that the "person should come first." The terms "handicap" and "handicapped" have been used in much legislation concerning disabled people. During the 1960s and early 1970s, it was the word of choice. It fell into disrepute, however, when leaders of the disability rights movement insisted it was a term coined by special education professionals and not a term the movement chose. Today, most disability groups are changing the "handicap" in their titles to "disability."

It was 1987 that the AP Stylebook first had an entry under the heading of "handicapped". The word has been out for 20 years, so I am left wondering why she choose such language when her stylebook clearly states otherwise. What of the editors?

A SWEET SHAFT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Greene County prosecutors have decided to defer prosecution of Mickey Martin if he keeps clean for two years and pays back $7,500 of the $45k he allegedly stole from the Springfield Association of the Blind.

The group had to close its doors because of lack of funds. What the Hell?

I'm too disappointed to comment further.

Citation
KY3

COMIC BOOK SAVES AUTISTIC BOY'S LIFE

I've often said that comic books are powerful, but never considered this possibility. In a far away time I also worked with persons who had disabilities, including Autism. For many folks who have that disability, running away from home/school/church/anywhere is a serious and dangerous threat. Compound that with the fearless nature that many children with disabilities have and we have a cocktail for danger.

Here's the lowdown which comes to you from the BBC:

• Boy with Austism climbs onto a third floor balcony
• Teachers are unable to get him back in
• Fire fighters cannot convince him either

Then, a teacher recalls the boy's mother commenting about his love of … comic book superheroes. Firefighter and super geek, Somchai Yoosabai, went back to the fire station where he kept a (can you believe this?) Spider-Man costume in his locker. Apparently, he uses the costume to spice up the local schools' fire drills.

That's all it took. The child threw himself into Spidey's arms and all was well.

Tip of the pen to EN/SANE.


In related news:
Project Lifesaver, which I helped bring to a rural county sheriff's department, offers a tracking device for those who wander or run. Good for children and adults, those with disabilities and those with dementia or Alzheimers, Project Lifesaver allows your loved one to stay in his or her home safely.

WHAT'S UP WITH THE TWO PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT?

There are two initiatives on the upcoming ballot that I know nothing about. All I have seen are commercials supporting both propositions.

One is about more casino money going to schools. The other is about money for senior citizens and persons with disabilities to stay in their homes. I support money for schools and for persons to stay in their own homes. But that is not enough information to make an informed decision about either proposition.

Any articles about these in the local media? I've not seen any. Perhaps I missed them. I would appreciate any information or knowledge that my readers might have. Post links in the comment section, if you don't mind.

Church Gets Restraining Order Against 13-Year-Old Autistic Parishioner

Time and again we here at Fat Jack’s Erratic Rants have addressed the issue of church and disability and the conflict that arises in many churches across the nation when it comes to accommodating and accepting persons with disabilities in the faith.

One church obtained a restraining order, prohibiting one family from bringing their 13-year-old son with Autism, Adam, to church. The issue is complicated and is further muddled by the dissimilar claims on both sides. You should read the stories for yourself before chiming in. I will give a quick overview:


THE CHURCH CLAIMS:

• Adam wet his pants in church.
• Adam almost knocked down an elderly person.
• Adam hit a child.
• Adam got into a parishioner’s car, started it and revved it up.

THE FAMILY CLAIMS:

• The church’s claims are exaggerated.
• Adam has never urinated on anyone.
• Adam has never spit on anyone.
• Adam has never knocked anyone down.
• Adam has not injured anyone.

THE HEADLINES:
Mom Fights Church Ban on her Autistic Son
Autistic Kid’s Outbursts Stir Furor and Guilt
Court Sides with Church on it’s Ban of Autistic Teen
Mother of Autistic Teen Gets Symbolic Support as She Prepares for Court



Previously, we ran an agency for persons with disabilities. More often than not, we encountered discrimination, intolerance, and disgust toward persons with disabilities. I have related before many stories from many parents who were asked by their churches to leave because of a child with Autism or another disability. People who are ignorant of Autism and other disabilities, simply assume that the child is not being disciplined properly.

There are churches who have made changes, developed accommodations, and educated the congregations so that people are more accepting and understanding. In most cases, this education fixes the problem so that everyone is welcome in worship.

More contemporary services can be especially good, as the services tend not to be so quite, but more celebatory, which creates an environment where a persons who has Austim and has verbal outbursts is not distracting. My friend, Clay, runs a church in the area. He has several persons with Autism and other disabilities. He has related to me several times that he and his congregation understand that those outbursts are this persons’ way of communicating with God and the service.

Having worked in the field, we do know that some persons can be very difficult. Some families do not seek out the required training needed to raise a child with Autism. There is not enough information in the stories to determine if that is the case with Adam. He is over 6-feet all and 225 pounds. That makes for a monstrous 13-year-old boy. Puberty does crazy things to children with disabilities, and violent tendencies can and do occur.

However, a loving church, in most circumstances, can create an environment where the issues are minimized. For instance, the elderly persons may choose to wait until Adam has left his pew, before getting up. If families do not leave their keys in the ignition, then neither he nor any other child will be able to start an automobile. The parents may need to remember that they must keep a closer watch on their son at all times.

Perhaps an organization like Springfield’s Judevine could intervene and assist both the church and the family so that everyone’s needs can be met. The congregation can learn about the brain disorder and the family can learn how to work with the church and empathize with the church’s concerns.

Education, acceptance and understanding takes time, patience and love. Churches can, in almost all instances, learn to adapt to the growing needs of the diverse community and be more accepting of all persons who need to worship. It seems to me that the churches need to accept the challenge of meeting the needs of the less fortunate. I seriously doubt that Christ would advocate for a restraining order against a child, banning him from church. Churches can begin that process now by talking about this issue.

My pastor sent me the links in this story. It came to him through our participation in The Wired Word, a weekly Sunday School curriclum that uses contemporary culture to discuss Christ in the 21st Century. The very issue of Adam and the push-pull of accommodating challenging populations is the subject of this week’s discussion. How do we as a church handle such a situation if it were to arise. What does the Bible say? It is this proactive approach that makes churches accessible to the people it serves.

John McCain Kicks the ‘Least of These’ in the Grapes. It’s Nothing New for People with Disabilities

Sen. John McCain’s chief disability policy staff person (unnamed) announced to the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) that the senator was changing his position on the Community Choice Act. The group rejoiced. Then at the Disabilities Issues Forum in Ohio, during the anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act, he swapped sides again. Right after the group announced his previous plans otherwise. All this according to a letter from the NCIL we obtained from an operative.

You see, those pesky retards and handicaps, cripples and helmet-wearers keep getting in the way of the almighty dollar. Those people! They want freedom; you know the freedom that is awarded to all. These persons with disabilities want to live in the least restrictive environment possible, rather than the dungeons and dung heaps of the institution. Not great places, institutions. Lots of abuse and neglect happens inside those walls. I mean really, who among us would want to live in an institution?

Some persons with disabilities need to reside inside the walls and structures that an institution provides. There are just cases where persons cannot live in other environments, but those make up a very small amount of the population. We have seen many a person come out of the institution (because of the Olmstead Act) despite the cries of families or others, and those persons have been very successful.

Sometimes that means a person lives in a nursing home, group home, an individualized supported living arrangement (with or without a roommate), or with family. All of these scenarios usually require staff members who assist the persons with daily needs. This may nothing more than helping the individual with finanaces, or may be as in depth as providing daily hygiene, and cooking all meals.

I have written many times about my friend, T-bone, who was paralyed from the shoulders down, much like Christopher Reed. He lived on his own, had staff, and worked part time. He paid taxes and contributed to society in many ways. He did receive Medicaid, which provided for his health care needs. Changes in the laws forced him to quit and live completely off the state.

On the heals of the recent presidential forum at Saddlebrook church, I am reminded of Matthew 25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Somehow we protect the sanctity of life when it is a fetus, but not when it is a person with a disability. They are all milkers, fakers, liars, system suckers, teat juicers. Don't you just love bias and hatred, especially against people with Autism, Down Syndrome, spinal cord injuries, and the like?

Unfortunately, the so-called Maverick has abandoned his independent streak and sided with the Republican party line. People with disabilities tend to be the poorest of the poor and one of the smallest voting blocks. Who cares about them when you can garner votes instead. Disability bias is pumping through the veins of American society.

People with Disabilities Get the Screw at the Pump

Despite what Michael Savage blathers on about, persons with disabilities most simply need a little help in order to live an independent life. However, life is full of disappointment and discrimination especially when it comes to people with disabilities. In short, they get the shaft. Oh yes, they may qualify for the best parking spaces but having worked in the disability field for 8 years I can tell you that life is hard and painful for persons with disabilities.

Just pumping your own gas is a feat as this NBC undercover news report discovered. People with disabilities, such as Clayton Porter (who has no arms with which to pump his own gas) rarely get assistance at the pump despite that pesky law requiring it. Watch the videos to see how pump attendants assisted him. Hint: Sometimes they don’t; customers help out instead.

Now you may be wondering how a man with no arms can drive. That really is a valid question and I am going to answer it for you. Technology is such that a person may be unable to brush their own teeth but they can drive their own car.

I have a friend and former co-worker (I’ll call him “Cowboy”) who is paralyzed from the shoulders down. Larry at Simple Thoughts knows him. There is so much that Cowboy is unable to do on his own. Being paralyzed will do that to you, but Cowboy owns his own van and drives himself all over. Thanks to computer technology, he uses a zero-effort mini-wheel, and a mouth joystick. That idea may scare you especially if you have not worked in the field. Don’t feel bad. That is understandable. I have ridden with Cowboy and he is an excellent driver. It took time, months in fact, for him to learn how to drive. A special company from Louisiana installed the equipment and taught him how. Cowboy took his driver’s test and passed with flying colors.

Cowboy cannot pump his own gas. He either has to find someone to go with him, which is hard as he lives on his own. Or he relies on the goodness of gas station attendants (and the law) to pump his fuel for him.

Incidentally, Cowboy was an excellent employee of mine, working for me for nearly six years until Governor Blunt cut Medicaid and prevented Cowboy from working and also receiving Medicaid health care. A person whose situation is similar to Christopher Reeves’ needs Medicaid health insurance just to pay for medicine and equipment. Our small, non-profit business had two employees and could not offer health insurance. So rather than work, pay taxes, and contribute to the community, Cowboy has to sit at home and draw completely off the taxpayer. Cowboy would rather work, and did work for me as long as he was allowed. We don’t hear much from Michael Savage about that do we?

Christian nation, indeed. There is nothing Christian about screwing people with disabilities.

Classrooms Designed for Success: Missouri Summit on Inclusive Education

The Missouri Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities is hosting a summit for educators interested in inclusion of children with disabilities into the regular classroom.

Classrooms Designed for Success!
October 15-16
Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center
Columbia, MO

Participants will take home tools, resources, and information that can be used in their classrooms. As well, a Call for Investment (grant) will be available for school districts that wish to implement collaborative teaching methods district-wide. In order to be eligibile school districts must send at least three team members (regular ed, special ed, administrators and parents) to the summit.

The Real Fraud with Medicaid and Medicare

It’s the disabled and the elderly who are burdening the costs of health care in the state. You betcha. It’s not the health care industry itself, engaging in fraudulent business practices who rape the sick, the poor, the elderly, the disabled. It’s always the most vulnerable of society who is the problem, not the big, power bosses of industry. They are squeaky clean.

And good old Matt Blunt, the young and inexperienced, the job-hopper, ripped these vulnerable citizens a new one just to save the state money, when he could have just as easily taken the greedy bosses to task and stopped the real fraud.

Seems someone didn’t turn a blind eye to the fraud committed by hospitals.

US Perception of Disability Not Good

Yahoo! News reported last week on a survey that demonstrated a majority of American’s real perceptions about living with disabilities: They would rather die.

A brief of the findings:

Ages 35-44: 63% prefer death
Ages 55-64: 50% prefer death
Ages 65 and older: 56% prefer death

Earnings of $25K or less: 45% prefer death
Earnings of $75K plus: 59% prefer death

Southerners: 45% prefer death
Westerns: 61% prefer death

No High School graduation: 30% prefer death
College grads: 57% prefer death

Of course, this is all predicated on one’s definition of “severe disability” and “independence”. My friend Tim was injured in a car accident. Now he is paralyzed from the shoulders down. He requires assistance, but is his life not worth living? My nephew has Down Syndrome; is his life not worth living? My wife was burned significantly as a child and she is restricted because of it. Is her life not worth living? What about Terri Schivo? Was her life worth living? Where do we draw the line? How much disability is too much disability?

This all leads to a more important question. How does one’s perception of disability affect our treatment of persons who have a disability?

17-Year-Old Boy with Disabilities Missing

A boy with disabilities, who looks much younger than his real age, is missing, according to the News-Leader. Caleb needs medications and he is also very trusting of strangers. Too much trust can be common among persons with disabilities. A picture of Caleb can be found on the News-Leader website.

Name: Caleb J. Barnes
Nickname: CJ
Age: 17
Height: 5-feet 6-inches
Weight: 95-100 pounds
Hair Color: Blonde

If you have information, call 9-1-1.

A little known program exists designed specifically for persons who are in danger of wandering off. Project Lifesaver is a national program that works with law enforcement. Participating counties will place a tracking band on the wrist or ankle of the individual. When a loved one escapes, a call is placed to the sheriff's department. Officers are dispatched (by car and/or plan). They use technology that looks like the tracking wand from Wild Kingdom. Typically individuals are found in minutes or hours rather than days or weeks – can make the difference between life and death. Greene County does participate in some capacity, but it is Webster County that is the supervising agency for Missouri.

The program is very beneficial for many citizens including: children, adults, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. Many children with Autism are prone to wandering away (or running away).

If you have questions, I suggest you contact Webster County first or Project Lifesaver. It is not available in all counties, but many times a neighboring county will accept you.

Pregnant Woman with Disabilities Tortured by Roommates

From CNN:

“Dorothy Dixon ate what she could forage from the refrigerator upstairs, where housemates used her for target practice with BBs, burned her with a glue gun and doused her with scalding liquid that peeled away her skin.”

That’s right my friends. Five adults and one minor were charged with her murder. They used her for target practice, beat her, burned her, banished her to the basement, and eventually killed her. Sons-a-bithces one and all. They were happy to give her a cold spot on the basement floor and steal her monthly Social Security checks.

Having worked in the developmental disability field, I was aware of some cases of abuse. One especially egregious case involved a national chain that owned group homes. One woman was bathed in bleach and died as a result of the chemical burns. Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are common among persons with disabilities. A majority of the time the abuse is cause by someone close (family member or care giver). At the time of the my leaving the field, the percentile was in the upper 70’s. Who knows what it is now.

Click here to read the story.

(Hat tip to Jason)

Deputy Dumps Man with Disability Out of Wheelchair

That headline is not hyperbole. The Deputy Sheriff wheeled the man onto the station and told him to stand. He informed her that he was a paraplegic and could not stand. She upended the wheelchair and dumped him into the floor, then she frisked him.

You can see the story on the Today Show. Check out the video. I know law enforcement is a tough job, but come on. The deputy has been placed on leave without pay pending investigation.

Obviously, she did not believe him. Believing persons with disabilities are faking is a major stereotype and quite problematic. I've seen it before when I ran an agency for persons with disabilities. You really need to check out the video.

Some Kind of Mad

Holy Crap! What is in the water to cause all these shootings in the last 48 hours? It takes some serious mental illness issues to just walk into a school and stab/shoot your soon-to-be ex-wife. For the love of Pete, what does it do to 11-year-old children to see a man walk into their room and stab/shoot their teacher?

Thank you President George Bush and Gov. Matt Blunt for cutting those unnecessary services that help treat and provide support for persons with mental illness. It was the right thing to do. All those people with mental illness didn’t really need it. Brittany is just a faker. Michael Layne was just weak. I’m sure Christ is quite pleased that we have cut those services just so we can have lower taxes. Lower taxes, you know, is all part of the greater Biblical plan. It’s right there in the book of … of … oh it’s not there at all. So much for family values. Screw the poor and call it Christ. Good for us. Good for us. At least I am getting that rebate check soon.

Skinny Kitty would like to remind everyone that mental illness is a real illness just like diabetes or cancer, it is treatable in most cases, and that most persons with mental illness are not dangerous. She points us all to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for more information.

Governor’s Council on Disability Awards Local Woman ‘Educator of the Year’

Yesterday, the wife of Fat Jack was awarded the Educator of the Year in a ceremony at a local university. It was part of the Governor’s Council on Disability’s 16th Annual Inclusion Awards. Read that to mean that she makes sure the classroom includes everyone, regardless of disability.

Classy. Powerful. Smart. She’s a keeper, that one. And a proud liberal woman. Can you hear her roar? I’m going deaf from it, but I carry on. Love will do that to you.

I stopped by to watch the awards between classes, but I only stayed a minute (long enough to have some cake). I really wanted to be there for the whole thing, but school got in the way.

A Year of Blogging in Review

I the ought it might be fun to go back through the archives and pull out some of my favorite FAT JACK blog posts from the past year. Just for kicks and giggles. You can take them or leave them, read them or skip them. These are listed by month starting with January.

God is a Hermaphrodite

The Apple iPhone: It's Finally Here!

What We Need is a New Law

Vote YES on the Litle Anti-Fornication Law
Can you believe that I originally misspelled my good friend's last name? This argument is over, so don't bother emailing him with hate email. This was all in good fun.

A Fun-Filled Night on Non-Learning

In Memory of the Dirty Old Bastard
I sure do miss blogger buddy John Stone.

A Rose by any Other Name
Thoughts on anonymous blogging

What My Mother Taught Me
Thoughts of Mommy on Mother's Day

Quagmire of the Incidental

Special Schools for Special People

Poo Cheerleaders

Teachers Who Teach Teachers
(can be the worst teachers)

What Teachers Make
(Great YouTube video)

The Modern Church

The Religious Right
(You might be a member of the religious right or a redneck …)

Christians and Bigotry

Christians and Bigotry Part 2

Every Child Left Behind

Church of Christ is Not a Protestant Church
(It is the one real church set up by Christ himself, or so say the crazies.)

Just Admit You Are Wrong Already!

Sometimes School Beats the Education Out of Students

Snapping Mad: Beating the Education Out of Students Part 2

Every Child Still Left Behind: Part 1

Dear God …

JUST an Elementary Teacher?

Muslims Seek Reconciliation, Peace with Christians

Governor’s Inclusion Awards: Educator of the Year

Kathy Staeger-Wilson, Director of Disability Services at Missouri State University (MSU), was named Educator of the Year by the Governor’s Council on Disability. I just so happen to know this fine lady and she is a dandy.

From the Press Release:

“Her efforts for inclusion have extended beyond the University by expanding her reach into the community. Ms. Staeger-Wilson advocates for principles like full inclusion and Universal Design on campus and locally. Together with MSU student with disabilities, she worked on making Universal Design a top priority for MSU’s new recreation center. She started a poster campaign titled “Chaning How We Perceive Disability”, pertaining to disability pride and invisible disabilities. She initiated the first Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society at MSU for students with disabilities and recruited volunteers to work with the Southwest Center for Independent Living’s youth transition program to act as members. Ms. Staeger-Wilson sees youth with disabilities the future for creating a more inclusive world.”

Good job, Kathy. We are proud of you. I’m sure your students are very happy.

Sen. Obama Lays Out Agenda for Persons with Disabilities

The title says it all. On Dec. 3, Sen. Obama released a statement, which you can read here, where he promises to try to break down barriers excluding Americans with disabilities by next week. He says he will accept nothing less.