me too, Kendall... I started 8th grade at a regular Jr. high on a trial
basis, (my parents were not impressed with the combined Jr and Sr high for
kids with disabilities) and just had math and homeroom in the OH room.
(orthopedically handicapped) I learned  how to advocate for  myself from
watching and listening to my mom fight for my right.. I did very, very well
at that Jr. high,  but  hs was another story. Long story short, I ended up
in an alternative "hippie-style"  high school for 10th grade, but
transferred to another alternative high school within a regular school. It
was actually a gifted program in the worst high school in long beach, but
the program was wonderful with the best teachers I've ever encountered.
After high school I traveled abroad with my family, then came back to start
college, and from college through age 40, I never had a case manager
except the one at in-home services after a car accident. I decided to leave
my husband of 7 years the year I was 40... I signed up for regional center
services because my physical ability was no longer so good.  Today I help
train new personal care/communitty assistants in the philosophy of
supported living. That is they should always listen to the clients, respect
the cl;ient, and do not boss the client around.

Mag

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please ask your Congressperson to vote FOR the MICASSA bill, this
will allow medicaid funds to pay for community supports
instead of isolating the person in a nursing home or institution.
HR 910 is the bill number
Senate version of MiCASSA (S 401).

Oakland Mayor's Commission on People with disabilities
~Tamar Mag Raine~
[log in to unmask]
IM: tamarmag48
Yahoo IM Tamarmag56


> [Original Message]
> From: Kendall David Corbett <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 5/10/2005 3:08:31 PM
> Subject: Re: new member thanks
>
> Fiz,
>
> My wife and I have both have CP, and are in our mid-40's.  Neither of us
> have ever been involved in a situation where a case manager was an
> option.  I'm guessing by your e-mail address that you're in Australia. =20
>
> In the US, outcomes for people with disabilities is largely dependent on
> the amount of a ruckus that we (or our parents) are willing to raise.
> Janet's mom and dad made sure that Janet was included in a regular
> classroom 14 years before there were laws requiring that, and my parents
> did the same. =20
>
> When we graduated from high school, and went on to college, we'd learned
> to advocate for ourselves by watching our parents' examples.  At this
> point, we're able to care for ourselves, but if we get to the point we
> need help to accomplish some of the physical tasks we do independently,
> or by helping each other with, we'll know how to do that on our own.  We
> both work for our state's University Center on Disabilities, so we've
> got the connections to make that happen!
>
> Kendall Corbett
>
> An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)
>
> The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
> persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all
> progress depends on the unreasonable man.
> -George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kathy Jo Pink [mailto:[log in to unmask]]=20
> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 2:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: new member thanks
>
> I have a case manager.  Kathy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Felice Tanya Vaiani wrote:
>
> >Thank you to all for your opinions, I knew this was
> >bound to be an intelligent group. I am open to any
> >questions you may have for me, and always up for a
> >hearty debate.
> > I'm interested how many people in here self advocate
> >as opposed to having case managers and why they chose
> >the option they did. I "bang my own drum" because lots
> >of people have pushed me around in governmental
> >departments.
> >
> >In strength,
> >Felice
> >
> >Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies.
> >http://au.movies.yahoo.com
> >
> >
> >
> >