Some People Just Don't Understand!

     Some people just don't understand!  Remember DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's "Parent Just Don't Understand"?  In the song from 1988, Will (The Fresh Prince) talks about how parents are all the same, all across the land...they just don't understand their kids. He goes on and on about how his mom made, in his opinion bad choices about the style of clothes and many other things parents and their children did not agree on.  

     This post isn't about parents misunderstanding their children or vice versa.  Like the subject states, "Some People Just Don't Understand".  As we all are pretty much aware, the very arrogant Kanye West went on a rant at one of his recent concerts and basically demanded that everyone in the audience stand in his honor.  He apparently became offended when some patrons did NOT stand, not because they didn't want to but because they couldn't!  This fact had to be verified by his (Kanye's) handlers.  Shameful!  

     No national outrage of this man's ignorance.  This story didn't make it's rounds on the evening news.  However, parents of children with disabilities and adults living with disabilities were very much outraged!  I know I was and still am!  My daughter loves music and I know, if she could she would be dancing and singing to her favorite tunes!  The actions Kanye showed at his concert and the blatant arrogance he showed after the fact is often expressed by many, in more subtle ways.  So many people say things that shows that they have no full understanding of what it is like to live with a disability or to care for a person with one.  

     When you factor that in, it is, as a presenter said at a conference I recently attended, ignorance.  Ignorance is when there is a lack of knowledge.  We have all been ignorant to many things in life.  You have no knowledge of something until you learn about it.  So, why was Kanye still ignorant on the entire audience standing?  That was both ignorance and arrogance.  What do you call it when you're in church(es) and you hear things like "you're not blessed" or "if the Lord's done anything, you should stand..."?  I'm not sure, and I don't care what the world thinks the Lord has or hasn't done for me.  I will continue to sit with and beside my daughter and many others that cannot stand in the face of  those that just don't understand or just don't care!

     So, Kanye and preachers and church folk around the world, the little music lover in the picture below, isn't able to stand on her own right now, she is beyond blessed and loved.  Her mom (me) is her biggest fan and number one supporter...I sit with her and stand for her and I am a voice for her! 

"Momma's daughter :))

Change the Changing Stations!

     You cannot count the times you've been out with your family whether, it was shopping, dining, appointments, entertainment or whatever, you've needed the restroom!  If you haven't that's a new one!  If you haven't it is a guarantee that your little one or the little ones you're traveling with have needed the restroom.  It is a part of life.  Whether it be a newborn or an elderly person...the restroom break is inevitable.  

     For many of us, we are raising children with special needs.  Those needs include having to be changed!  This is NO easy feat when the person needing to be changed is well over the height and weight limit of the very popular "Koala Kare" changing stations that are readily available in almost every restroom I've been in.  You've seen them.

AMC Theaters-Montgomery, AL

Therapy

     There in-lies the problem, the big issue!  Babies and infants are NOT the only people in our society that needs the changing stations or access to a public restroom.  We have preteens, teens and even adults that cannot go into the restrooms and use the toilets or the urinals, my preteen included!  

     I wish you could see the acrobatics I perform when I am in the restroom changing a 75 lbs/ 4 feet whatever inch on a changing station that is only designed for a baby.  I'm usually standing on one leg because my knee is under the station for extra support!  I'm leaning to her chair for her toiletries at the same time keeping a hand on her so that she doesn't come off the side!!! Some of they are higher than others making the process even more challenging!

     I know that something better can be done!!  We have so many family restrooms now.  They too, are available almost everywhere I've gone lately.  I know an adult size station can at least be placed in those restrooms!  Our families deserve that and the privacy!

  

Changing area at Children's Rehabilitation-Montgomery, AL

CRS-Montgomery, AL

     I know a simple table or cushioned bench is not hard to place in restroom and place a simple accessible sign above it is not expensive!  Next stop, Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

More to come...

50 Shades of Hello!

SPEAK!  I will respond... 

      When you are out and about and see a person with a disability do you assume that because they look a little different, they use a wheelchair, they are non-verbal or are blind, they are not worth the effort of a simple "hey"?  Do you stare? Does your children stare?  Do you tell them that it is okay to speak to that person?  Do you speak yourself? When you see a person with special needs, do you see the person or the disability? 

     You know there's a saying that a smile can brightens someone's day?  A simple hello can do the same.  I often think about a song from "Yo Gabba Gabba" that says something like "no one wants to be left out, everyone wants to be included..."  That is so very true!  That is also the case for families, work, school, and community.  No one wants to be left out, or treated like they don't exist. 

     I believe that children reflect their home surroundings before anything or any other influence.  Personalities come early!  I try to speak to everyone I come into contact with.  Verbal or just a head nod or smile.  It could possibly be what someone is needing at that time.  

     Speak to Kerstin, she acknowledges everyone she comes into contact with.  She has not hearing or vision problems.  Ask her her name...we're working on getting her to hold a conversation with her Dynavox, until then, "Mommy" will tell you for her!  Talk to her! She looks UP for yes, she looks away for no and sometimes manages to verbalize or shake her head no.  Speak to her if nothing else.  She is a person too. 

     Hey, Hi, Hello, Hola, Ni hao, Bonjour, How's it going? or a simple kiss on the hand.  My 1 year old niece is adament about kissing Kerstin's hand every single time she sees her.  Now that she is talking she comes over and is speaking to Kerstin before she walks into our home, she makes her way to Kerstin and kisses her hand.  

     She seems to know that Kerstin can't verbally speak to her, but the smile says it all without a word being uttered.  It's love! It's an act of kindness.  Tell others, disability does NOT matter!  It's okay to say "Hi"!


 "A person's a person, no matter how small." ~Dr. Suess