December 2010
Reaching Higher What is in this issue: Editor’s Letter Accessibility Page Living with a DisabilityDonald A. Minor Breaking down the barriers Definition of Disability
ŠNadia Adalath and Family
Reaching Higher
Facts about me!
I love workin g hard.
I love readin g fantasy gen re books.
I love watc hing movies.
I love writin g profiles about indiv iduals. ŠFont used- Cha lk Squeeky Sound. http://w ww.1001fonts.c om
Table of Contents
Reaching Higher Page 4 ......... Editor’s Letter Page 5 ........... Living with a Disability Donald A Minor page 6 and 7 ....... Breaking down the barriers Page 8 ......... Definition of Disability Page 9...... Accessibility Page 10 and 11 ..... Puzzle Page
ŠNadia Adalath and Family
Reaching Higher
Reach for your dreams, reach for the sky, know that anything is possible! Welcome to my first issue of Reaching Higher. It means a lot to me that you the reader have taken the time to read my Ezine. As some people know I have a physical disability but that doesn’t mean that my disability has taken over my life. In fact having a disability is a blessing in disguise since I probably wouldn’t be who I am today without my disability. My disability is a part of me and it is so important for me to embrace it. Having a disability has allowed me to face many obstacles and make me a stronger person. Sure I need help now and again but that’s okay. There are people that are kind and caring to give me the help that I need to succeed. Throughout the pages of my ezine you’ll find out about disabilities.
le Nadia and her Unc
The message that I want to send to you fellow readers of my Ezine is that you should never give up when life becomes challenging. Keep reaching for your goals and push yourself, as you never know what you are actually capable of doing.
Growing up with a disability has been hard, there have been times in which I couldn’t go places with my friends since it wasn’t accessible and I did feel left out, however as time went on I began to realize that even though I can’t go everywhere with my friends I’m still important to them. Anything is possible, so never give up your dreams and goals. I hope you enjoy my ezine. :) Sincerely,
Nadia Adalath Editor in Chief
© Nadia and Family
Disabled or not we can rock the world! Big dreams
do an Internet radio show, become a
affects a person let’s get to know
Like most young people Donald has big
inspirational public speaker and write a
someone with a disability.
plans for his life and career.
book.”
Donald Minor is a 22-year-old who lives
“My dream is to become a
What his girlfriend has to
his life with cerebral palsy.
successful entrepreneur.
say about his personality
This dream motivates me. I
Donald’s girlfriend is supportive of his
Written by Nadia Adalath
To further understand how a disability
am currently taking steps to goals.
CP is a physical disability that affects
become one.
Chelsea Thorpe, has been with Donald
those who have it differently.
I have a Facebook group/
for 8 months and just because she is
CP affects some people mentally, others
page and Twitter page called able bodied, doesn’t mean that she
physically, and some people are
“People with Disabilities
treats Donald any differently.
affected both ways.
Rock.”
“Donald is amazing. He’s determined
“I’m very fortunate that my CP is mild CP, ”
The group currently has 6,000 members
to make something of himself and help
said Donald, whose experience with the
while 2,500 follow him on Twitter.
people along with the way. He has a big
disability hasn’t impacted him cognitively.
How he’s promoting the
personality with an even bigger heart. At
How the disability affects
group
times he’s stubborn but it’s because he
his life
He is also selling People with Disabilities
knows what he wants in life and he’s not
CP affects his daily life in several ways.
Rock wristbands.
going to stop until he gets there,”
It causes difficulties in his ability to walk.
They are $3 US dollars apiece. The
said Chelsea Thorpe.
Donald uses a walker as his primary
bands are blue and say
means of mobility when he goes out.
“People With Disabilities” on the front
However Donald uses an electric
and the word “Rock” at the back with
powered wheelchair for long distance
the handicapped
commutes at college. When he’s indoors
symbol.
and only walking short distances
To place an order people can
at home he uses a cane.
email him at pwdrock@yahoo.com.
Reachibg Higher
Donald was born and lives in Maryland.
In the future
Donald explains the disability by talking
Donald hopes to grow “People
about being born premature, weighing
with Disabilities” into a successful
very little at birth and how his disability
business in many different fields.
affects him.
“I hope to create a website,
Photo Cur
teousy of Don ald Min
or
Afterward, I deleted the Plenty of Fish account and him and I would text each other. I honestly didn’t know he had a disability until about two days later.
They may forget that a person with a disability doesn’t need sympathy, but support. People with disabilities are still able to do things for themselves, many are remarkably independent. People with disabilities do need help now and again but many are able to take care of themselves, and to think for themselves. Chelsea Thorpe is a person who is able bodied and has learned many things about people with disabilities. “I don’t see people with disabilities I just see people. I have learned there are so much more to people, than what’s on the outside. The heart and soul of any individual is the most important thing. You always have to look past the outer appearance to find a place in their heart and get to know their soul.” Advice to people who have the wrong impression about people with disablities “Be patient and to never underestimate anyone. Sure it may take longer for someone with a disability to get dressed in the morning, maybe he or she walk a little slower, but that doesn’t mean they’re not capable. It also doesn’t mean they’re not intelligent. I’ve actually met quite a few people with disabilities who are very bright. Again, I’ve got to look on the inside.” A good example of this is when she met her boyfriend Donald.
Donald wanted me to get to know him, not know him has Donald with CP, but just as Donald, and I respect that. When he told me, I didn’t treat him any differently, didn’t talk to him any differently. I still very much enjoyed talking with him. I may have asked him questions every now and again about CP. I was curious and wanted to expand my knowledge, but at the end of the day, he became a really good friend. Now, he’s my other half, and he’s still just Donald.” Breaking the down the barriers even though one has a disability People who have disabilities can also break the various barriers that they face by pushing themselves to reach their goals. Payal Gupta a third year ECE student at Sheridan has a disability that limits her control over her body movement but to over come her challenges she asks for help when needed. She also shared what inspires her the most to keep going. “What keeps me going each and everyday is the feeling that I have something important to do that will be worth while in the near future. I am in an ECE program, at Sheridan and I love working with kids. Just because I use a power wheel chair doesn’t mean I can’t follow my dreams.”
Adalath
Reasons for the barriers There are a variety of reasons for these barriers such as: the person that is able bodied doesn’t know how to act around a person that is disabled. Sometimes they feel sorry for the person with a disability.
Nadia
“I met Donald on the website Plenty of Fish. I was bored one night and figured I’d make one. Donald found me and sent a message, and we started talking.
by
People with disabilities sometimes have various barriers put in front of them when it comes to developing a relationship or even just a friendship with a person who is able-bodied.
T
Written
Breaking Down
The Barriers © Photo courtesy of Payal Gupta “What keeps me going each and everyday is the feeling that I have something important to do that will be worth while in the near future. I am in an ECE program, at Sheridan and I love working with kids, just because I use a power wheel chair doesn’t mean I can’t follow my dreams.”
Payal Gupta ˙© Photo Courtesy of Cheslea Thorpe
“I don’t see people with disabilities I just see people. I have learned there are so much more to people, then what’s on the outside. The heart and soul of any individual is the most important thing. You always have to look past the outer appearance to find a place in their heart and get to know their soul.”
Chelsea Thorpe with Friend
© background image http://creativity103.com/collections/Patterns/ gates.jpg
What Disablity Means disabled after an accident. The word disability can mean many different things to Donald Minor was born with his disability however he
word ability in the word disability. On a much more personal
shared one piece of advice that he constantly gives to
basis people that have disabilities often see this as
others who are disabled.
strength, not a weakness.
“Never give up on your hopes and dreams, and never feel
Wri tte n by Nad ia Ada lat h
people but if you break up the word, then you’ll see the
any different then anyone else. Disabled or not we can all
Jon Greenaway is the transitions coordinator at the Erinoak
rock the world with our talents.”
Kids Treatment Centre at the Mississauga South Millway site shared what the word disability means to him.
Even though he is not directly involved with his community
The academic definition of disability always seems to
he is involved with the online world, notably facebook.
focus on what an individual cannot do and how it limits the
His facebook group has touched many lives across the
individual with the disability.
world and has helped individuals with disabilities become
“My definition of disability would focus on what the
comfortable in their own skin.
individual with a disability can do and that their opportunities can be endless.”
The key would be that the individual with
the disability would need to know what the disability is and how it affects them. This would be very important, as they would need to let the people who they come into contact with know what they need and how they need it. A person with a disability should not have to beg
Accommodations should not be perceived as a luxury but as a right, he said. There are also many reasons why a person can be disabled. They can either be born with a disability, or become
er k l a W y M
or feel awkward because of an accommodation.
The importance of Accessibility lives in Connecticut U.S.A. was struck
In addition it can be a huge safety
consider in a disabled person’s life.
with polio when she was a child. She is
concern if a person’s home isn’t ac-
Can you imagine going through each
a huge advocate for independence
cessible. In my home, I have to have
of your days where places aren’t
and making sure that those who are
grab bars in the bathroom in the
accessible? Just because a person
disabled not allow that disability to
bathtub area, since it helps me get
is disabled doesn’t mean he or she
bring them down. She lives her life day
out of the bathtub without slipping,
doesn’t have a right to live in com-
to day in a powered wheel chair and
and falling.
fort as opposed to someone who is
accessibility means so much to her.
Written by Nadia Adalath
Accessibility is an important factor to
able- bodied.
When my family moved into our apart“Accessibility is the key to our free-
ment seven years ago my mom reg-
Having access to places is just
dom,” she stated with confidence. “It
istered me with our local fire depart-
another thing that a person with a
is one of the many things that allow us
ment. In the case of an emergency
disability has to take into account
to be safe in case of an emergency
the fire department would know that
whether it’s for applying for a job,
and for us to live our lives.”
I am a person with a disability that
going to the movies, or even going to school.
needs assistance to get out of the There is a feeling of disappointment
apartment.
when you can’t go to places that
“Accessibility is very important. We all
aren’t accessible and should be.
When people understand the impor-
should be able to access places
Payal Gupta has been in this pre-
tance of accessibility, that knowledge
and services, we are all part of the
dicament.
can be used to help someone else.
a small thing may be a big barrier to
“Whenever I can’t go somewhere be-
a person with a disability,” said Debo-
cause of places being inaccessible I
rah Galama–– an accessible learning
get disappointed. Sure there is a way
services advisor at Sheridan College.
to work around it by getting assistance to walk, but my independence
Accessibility brings a sense of inde-
gets taken away because I have to
pendence to disabled individuals.
rely on someone else to help me get
Lorraine Ofiero, an individual who
around.”
©background image from coolclips.com
More info http://www.ebility.com/
same community and what seems like
(this is an online resource for people with disabilities) http://www.abilities.ca (This is a magazine for people with disabilities http://www.disabled-world.com/ disability/accessibility/
Reaching Higher
Rocking out puzzle Page! Have Fun!
Disclaimer- this background image is only used for design purposes, and not for making profit off my ezine
Š http://freedesignmagazine.com/
The End Background images were from the following sites: Http://www.creativity103.com Where it is located in my ezine: Pages 6 and 7. http://www.clker.com/ Where it is located in my ezine: Page 8 Http://www.Coolclips.com Where it is located in my ezine page 9 Http://www.freedesignmagazine.com Where it is located in my ezine: Page 10 All other images were taken by me and my family/ and conributed by my interviewee’s.