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Imagine…if politicians voted in ways that reflected the concerns of Ohio’s disability community

Imagine…if Ohioans with disabilities had as much power and political clout as the senior population!

A recent television ad for AARP addressed threatened cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
The ad’s speaker pointed out that there are over 50 million seniors in the U.S. and said to Congressmen and Senators:
“You’ll be hearing from us today AND on election day!”

Seniors have power and use it! Politicians know it and listen!

You can help Ohioans with disabilities to become such a powerful voting bloc!

Join Ohio Disability Vote 2012

Build the bloc by distributing the ODVC Voter Registration Campaign 2012 Form (pdf)

Help us reach 2,012 voters in 2012

Return forms to:
The Ohio Disability Vote Coalition
670 Morrison Road, Suite 200
Gahanna, Ohio 43230

Or

Fax to: (614) 861-0392

The mission of the Ohio Disability Vote Coalition is to maximize the political power of Ohioans with disabilities through nonpartisan voter education, registration and participation of all people with disabilities at all levels of the election process. For more information call (866) 575-8055 (toll free).

However, NCPAD has recognized that for most people with disabilities, barriers to physical activity programs such as cost, transportation, and inaccessible features prohibit them from participating in sports, fitness, and recreation programs. In response, the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability has developed a free, online health promotion program for adults with disabilities which individuals can utilize from home with use of little to no equipment. The NCPAD 14-Week Program to A Healthier You is a personalized, web based exercise and nutrition program primarily for people with mobility limitations, chronic health conditions and physical disabilities.

The program will provide information on how to exercise and eat nutritious foods in a way that meets each individual’s needs and goals, as well as provide motivational tools to help participants initiate and maintain healthy behaviors. Additionally, the 14-Week Program offers an interactive interface uniquely designed to every participant’s ability level and interests.

Included in the program are the following features:

o New, personalized weekly exercises
o Physical activity and nutrition tips
o Motivational resources
o Weekly recipes
o Features to help you track your activity and what you eat
o Optional reminders and alerts
o Opportunities to connect with other participants
o Access to knowledgeable 14-Week coaches

What past participants have said about the 14-Week Program:

“I am a 62-year-old, T-5 paraplegic, female. This was just the exercise program I was looking for. I love the cardio workouts most of all! I am now moving and feeling so much better than before I started this program.”

“I thought the program was very good, especially for those who are intimidated by starting a program. It allows you to work at your own pace and you can see your progress as you gradually increase in strength and endurance. I had given up on exercising because of fibromyalgia pain but have found that movement actually helps me to feel better and it challenges me at the level I am currently at.”

“I have lived with MS for almost 30 years and the program provided me with the encouragement and incentive to get more active in accordance with my abilities.”

To join, please visit NCPAD and click join in the upper right hand corner.

Under a new collaboration, Assistance Dogs will become a program of The Ability Center and move its headquarters to a renovated building on The Ability Center’s campus on Monroe Street in Sylvania.

“Our organizations share a strong common mission that focuses on helping people of all ages to live and work independently and in fully accessible communities,” said Pam Howell-Beach, board chair of The Ability Center.

“Combining resources also creates greater operational efficiency, eliminates duplication of functions, and makes an even stronger community impact,” she said.

“The new partnership benefits the region by training more dogs to serve a greater number of people,” said Cheri Budzynski, board chair of Assistance Dogs. “It will also increase public awareness about the possibilities and value of full accessibility for all citizens, and promote internal discussion and planning about new kinds of services and delivery.”

The Ability Center is seeking private funding to renovate the current Housing Resource Center to accommodate the Assistance Dogs programs and move the resource center to a new facility on Skelly Road in Sylvania. The Ability Center expects the completion of both projects by next spring.

The new partnership benefits our community by training more dogs to serve a greater number of people. Governance of Assistance Dogs transfers to The Ability Center Board of Directors immediately, and financial and operational management will be absorbed into The Ability Center’s current staff. Ten current staff members of Assistance Dogs will become Ability Center employees.

A grant from the Strategic Alliance Partnership supported the planning phase of the merger process. The Strategic Alliance Partnership is a collaborative funding pool created by the Toledo Community Foundation, the Stranahan Foundation, and the United Way of Greater Toledo.

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo provides a variety of programs to assist people with disabilities to live, work and socialize within a fully accessible community. Established in 1920 as The Society for Crippled Children, it served as a hospital/rehabilitation facility for children (and later adults) with Polio until the advent of the Salk vaccine in the mid-1950s. It evolved to provide comprehensive services to people of all ages living with disabilities – with an emphasis on independent living. Today, The Ability Center serves seven Northwest Ohio counties and has regional offices in Defiance and Port Clinton.

Assistance Dogs of America, Inc. has helped children and adults with disabilities achieve greater independence by training and placing service therapy dogs to assist with an individual’s daily needs. It has served more than 250 people in more than 25 years of operation. It also launched the PUPPS program, which teaches inmates at the Toledo Correctional Institute to raise and train dogs for ADAI placement.

Walbridge Park Clean-up Crew

The Ability Center participates in the City of Toledo’s park clean-up to fulfill part of its obligation for receiving funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The center uses the funds received to build access ramps for the homes of people with disabilities living in the city.

This year, Ability Center staff and volunteers worked to clean-up Walbridge Park, the City of Toledo’s first park with an accessible playground.

If you would like to participate in the next clean up please email Angie Hiser.

Andrea Stoller helping with the clean-up

Amanda Neal working in the park

Upon hearing the news that my newborn baby had Spina Bifida, I chose deal with it by fighting for a chance at normalcy. I recognized that it was imperative for me to nurture and take care of this little life, whose challenges would be many and great

As a parent, I knew that I had to create a loving and nurturing environment for a child other would see as “different”. The most important thing I learned was to never, ever give up in my resolve to treat him as though he were perfect. To me, he was perfect.

At the time my son Peter was born, I had a toddler at home. Having a child already made it easy for me to include Peter in childhood activities. I enrolled both children in community activities and treated Peter as if he were not born with Spina Bifida. I made sure he did everything his sister did, except become a Brownie. Instead, he was a Boy Scout. I made sure that he only felt “special” because I love him and because he is wonderful.

When Peter was at home and under my wing, he was a normal child. It was when he went to school, that I found it even more important to remain involved and to be his biggest supporter. As Peter got older, my role seemed to change. I had to be his advocate and protector. I was a strong voice in his corner. I was his champion…and he was mine.

As I watched him grow up and go to school, I realized that there was a need for awareness and acceptance in the community. All children, because they are in the process of discovery, should be included and encouraged to feel “whole.” It is hard for children with disabilities to feel that way when no one wants to include them in childhood activities. It was, and is, my strong belief that we must encourage children who are not familiar with disabilities to recognize that everyone has value and purpose.

As Peter grew, a story began to develop in my heart about the importance of awareness, kindness and acceptance in the lives of children with disabilities. I kept that story inside for many years, now I want to share it with everyone. My blessing is Peter. He gives me a special purpose and his experiences give me a story to tell – a story to help make the world a better place. I like to refer to this story as Peter’s Promise – a promise I made to him to “include” him in life’s journey and make him feel “whole”.

By Rogill L. Anderson-Clute is the author of Who Will Hold the Lemonade?, a book about her life as the parent of a child with a disability. Her book is published by Steuben Press and available through Amazon.com.

UT scores first

Sean O’Mara predicted a victory over the UT Footballers in The Blade. This usually does nothing more than incite the opposing team, which may explain the 4 to 1 lead UT held going into the half. (Each touchdown in Wheelchair football counts as one point. There are no extra points).

The second half was a different story. The Toledo Crash held the Rockets to two scores in the second half, foiling a last second pass, while scoring six times themselves to pull off the victory and uphold the prediction. 7 to 6 was the final score of the game, watched by over 100 spectators, a victory that brings the trophy back to the Crash.

Coaches Hyndman and Etzel rally team at halftime

This game, an annual event for over ten years, is hosted by the University of Toledo at the Recreation Center and is sponsored by the UT Recreation Therapy Club. It is intended to be an opportunity for community awareness and, with such a great turnout and an article in the Blade, we’d have to say it was another success.

Chris Clark is open for a pass

“Everyone has such a good time,” said one UT Footballer, “and these guys play with intensity.” He was referring to the Crash players who were full of competitive spirit.

“We learn just how difficult it is to get around in a chair, and also what is possible.” said another, “My arms are burning!”

One of the biggest on the UT squad was heard to say to a teammate, “Watch out for that guy in the power chair. He’s dumped me out of my chair twice! He’s an animal!”

UT Footballers pass trophy to the Crash

That would be Sean. He had a prediction to defend.

Tim Harrington Addresses Audience

ALVA BUNKER, INSPIRATION FOR THE ABILITY CENTER, MEMORIALIZED

It was a cool, blustery day and the sun did not shine but there was a certain warmth enfolding the crowd gathered to honor one man’s life and contribution. It would have been his 110^th birthday and though he died in 1979, it wasn’t until this day that his grave would finally have the marker it deserved.

Barbara Floyd Shares Alva's Story

On April 7^th, about 60 people, representing University of Toledo, Rotary Club of Toledo, the Ability Center and the man’s family, came together to celebrate the difference made by Alva Bunker 90 years prior. Along with the marker on his grave, a memorial was dedicated to his efforts. Those in attendance, including family members, many who, until this moment, had no knowledge of the extent of their relative’s influence or bravery, were moved to tears.

Clint Mauk, historian for the Rotary, honored Mr. Bunker by sharing how he helped to mold and inspire the direction of Rotary’s focus that continues today on an International level.

Bunker Memorial Stone

Barbara Floyd, Director of the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, followed. She, as the person who painstakingly uncovered the truth and extent of Alva’s life and contribution, is the true champion for his cause and this ceremony. She shared an emotional walk through his years, touching on his early life, his bravery and difficult journey, and the millions of children with better lives because of the trail he blazed.

Mr. Bunker’s niece, who, as a child, lived with him in her home, shared a heartfelt thank you on the family’s behalf. The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the memorial.

The stone inscribed with Alva’s story will be prominently displayed on a triangle just off the main drive, in view of every car that enters, a fitting tribute to a quiet, unassuming man who lived an extraordinary life. It was also a worthy event with which to conclude The Ability Center’s 90^th Anniversary year, honoring the man who, just by being who he was, made the Center possible.

Some people’s diets greatly affect them, while others suffer no consequences for eating all of the wrong things. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending upon how you look at it), I fell into the former category and as a result managed to improve my life by changing my diet. I’ll tell you my story, and then you might look into some dietary changes too.

First, some background: I’m a 42 year-old male, happily married (more about that in a minute), employed on a full-time basis, and a person with Friedreich’s Ataxia or FA. A progressive neurological disorder, FA slowly steals some of the physical aspects of life that many people take for granted, like walking, talking, or hearing, to name a few. There are also more serious problems, as FA affects all the muscles in the body and, of course, the heart is a muscle.

Anyway, back to me. As I said, I’m happily married. My wife, who has a C4 spinal cord injury due to of a diving accident over 25 years ago, started seeing a nutritionist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC a number of years ago because of gastrointestinal issues.

My wife’s nutritionist put her on a series of supplements, as well as a gluten-free and sugar-free diet. The dietary changes had positive results. Because my wife spoke so highly of her nutritionist and the positive outcomes of many of her dietary changes, I decided to see her nutritionist.

I began seeing the nutritionist, and I am very thankful that I did. At my first appointment, she had me do a few tests, as well as relate my daily food and vitamin intake. She told me that my diet suggested a lack of certain vitamins and she told me what I should try taking. She likewise directed me to take a couple other tests (that could be done at home as opposed to a hospital) so she could further refine my list of needed supplements.

So, for the last couple of years I’ve been taking things that I never heard of before; things like pantothenic acid, inositol, and cyanocobalamin. During that time, I noticed a significant positive change in my body in general, my energy level, my digestive system, and other aspects of my life!

The changes in my diet were not just adding things, but also taking away things. I cut back on my sugar intake and my gluten intake; neither of them is completely out of my diet, but I consume MUCH less of both of them. I understand that both sugar and gluten can act as “agitators” in your system and, in large amounts, cause problems.

The other change I made was to eat and drink something before going to bed. In my case I have a fiber/granola bar and some form of vitamin water. I do feel like this helps me to sleep and wake up easier; I also get a better start to the day.

Of course, dietary changes are not changes you should make yourself without consulting a nutritionist and/or doctor. But those changes, even though they take self-discipline and may take a while to show positive effects, can really improve the quality of your life.

By Tony Trott is a Peer Mentor at ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia

Joe Monks of Sight Unseen Pictures

Let me get this out of the way. I’m blind. Not legally blind, not visually impaired, not optically challenged. The lights are out. My life is lived in total darkness. When I announced, via a press release, that I was moving from the field of comic book and prose writing into film-making, it took people by surprise. A blind filmmaker? The notion confounded people. Some scoffed. Some offered encouragement. Some posted publicly, telling me that what I was doing was idiotic, or doomed to fail. Why wasn’t I doing the smart thing, and sticking to writing?

All fair points. Honest responses. I didn’t blame the naysayers-not then. I thought I could prove them wrong, but until I did, it was all a matter of opinion. Not fact. So I planned. I worked. I researched. I came up with work-arounds to meet the challenges I would face. For months, to put it bluntly, I busted my ass to make sure I was as prepared as I could be to do what many considered impossible-to direct a feature film.

In 2007, my film, The Bunker, screened at its first film festival, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. The movie has received offers for distribution, both foreign and domestic. I’ve been interviewed dozens of times, for magazines and newspapers, on the radio, internet and television. What the process of making a feature film gave me, though, went beyond a spiffy media story and soon-to-be released DVD. It gave me some perspective and insight on how those of us with disabilities need to go after what we want, especially in terms of employment.

You know, I’ve heard all the politically correct terms you can imagine. Difabled for differently abled, handi-capable, etc. But let’s not kid ourselves. If one of us is looking for a job, more often than not, we’re undertaking an uphill climb. Sure, any want ad can proclaim EOE, but the reality is, if one of us wheels into the office or cane-travels to the opposite side of the interviewer’s desk, we can’t simply rely on a decent skill set. We need to be able to overcome a potential employer’s concerns-whether or not those concerns are merited.

When I scheduled my first cast and crew meeting, I had one of the flats for my main set, which I built myself. I made handouts for people, copies of the script with my copious director’s notes. In my head, I knew that the lure of doing an indie film was enough for most people to come on board. But in my heart, I knew people would be skeptical. Some would have trouble wrapping their head around a director who couldn’t see the product he was producing.
I didn’t mind that. In fact, I embraced it. I understood those concerns, because I had them myself. And, I knew that I would need people who believed in the film, if I was going to assemble a cast and crew who could succeed. So, I had something to show them. I had a plan. Something tangible, a vision which I could share with them. Enough, I hoped, to convince them that yes, I could do this.

I think that’s important. I think those of us with disabilities who interview for jobs need to have something in hand, something concrete, to put on display. If you’re looking for an accounting gig, bring your laptop. Show off how easy it is for you to work with spreadsheets using a screen reader. Find out in advance what software the firm uses, and download some samples. Wow the person on the other side of the desk. I remember going over with my script supervisor how I used JAWS to write my screenplays. How the program enabled me to zip through e-mails and hop onto the internet and do my film research pretty much like any sighted filmmaker would. I sold my cast and crew on my abilities by having tangible examples to show them, and I think that’s exactly the kind of thing we need to do in order to overcome skepticism about our abilities.

The second thing that I had was self-confidence. I used to be sighted. I used to be a hockey player, and I captained many a team. I brought that experience with me into the film. Leading can only be done one way-by example. You need to show people how it’s done by how you do it. Be confident. If you’re sitting in a room with other job candidates, keep in mind, you circled that want ad or clicked on it online and responded not because you didn’t think you could do the job, but because you knew you could despite being wheelchair user, or blind, or deaf, etc. Otherwise, admit it–you wouldn’t have bothered showing up for the interview. None of us likes to be embarrassed, so recognize what you’ve got going for you. Go in confident-not cocky-knowing that you’re not there to convince a potential employer they should hire you, but rather, that your new boss can’t possibly hire anyone else.

Life deals us different cards, and sometimes they’re lousy. That being said, not all lousy hands lose the pot. Sometimes, you just need to bluff, and pretend you’ve got a handful of aces, because trust me, nobody under performs at a job interview and winds up getting hired. A lot of us don’t even try, and that’s unforgivable. If there’s something you know you can do, and you want to do it, then go ahead and make it happen. Have bullets in your gun, and the demeanor of the gunslinger. I made people want to be involved with my film not just because they believed in the project, but because they believed in me as well. Ali was right. Impossible is an opinion, nothing more. Impossible happens all the time. If you think going after the job you want is impossible because of your disability? Sorry, you’re fooling yourself. Only one person can ensure something is impossible. It only takes a mirror to expose that individual.

Joseph M. Monks has been writing horror fiction professionally for more than two decades. Since losing his eyesight, he has branched out into screenwriting, and is the world’s first blind feature film director. His work can be found at Sight Unseen Pictures.

Post title is an original quote from Muhammad Ali.

One out of every five Americans or 20% of our population has a disability. Research has found that the number of health disparities increases significantly in those individuals with disabilities when compared to the general population, individuals with disabilities often have a much higher rate of obesity in both children and adults and 87% experience at least one secondary condition.

There is a critical need to increase participation in physical activity for everyone, this we already know. Physical activity improves cardiovascular and muscular fitness, mental health, and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Though I hope it’s of no surprise, this holds true for everyone. For the most part, the physical activity guidelines for people with disabilities are very similar to the guidelines designated for “active” adults. These guidelines suggest adults should do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate-and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Research suggests performing muscle-strengthening activities that involve major muscle groups performed on 2 or more days per week. The major difference seems to be the incorporation of the phrase “who are able to” into the specific recommendations as well as the removal of the suggestion that individuals should continue to increase or progress activity to reap even further health benefits. There is also an added recommendation for people with disabilities to consult a health-care provider prior to exercising.

But how do you find out how and where to exercise if (for example) you have a spinal cord injury and the only person that you have ever seen for exercise (physical therapy) is at the rehabilitation hospital? In addition, your local gym doesn’t offer easily accessible equipment or staff members who seem comfortable with your disability. Moreover, you have trouble finding proper transportation to and from your local fitness facility. That doesn’t make it sound so easy, does it?

People with disabilities may find more difficulty than most in meeting the recommended Physical Activity Guidelines based on the barriers they may face. Barriers can be architectural (no curb cut), programmatic (chairs are not available in classes), or attitudinal (assumptions based on a diagnosis). In order to overcome these barriers and incorporate physical activity into our everyday lives it is imperative to find the proper resources that will allow you to do so in a safe and effective manner. The added benefits that we ALL receive from physical activity can significantly reduce our risk for obesity, improve activities of daily living and help fend off those secondary conditions. For more information and for assistance in finding programs in your area please visit the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

Jennifer Green, BS in Health Fitness and Rehabilitative and Preventative Programs, MS in Clinical Exercise Physiology, is an Information Specialist at NCPAD in the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jennifer creates and provides fact/information sheets and videos focused on inclusion: adapting physical activity training and program, making fitness centers more inclusive, etc. She is the author of the monthly NCPAD News column, “The Training Corner,” written for fitness professionals who work with individuals with various disabilities and chronic conditions.

If you, or someone in your family has disability and wants to be more active in your community, please contact The Ability Center’s Community Inclusion Program.