_______________ PEACE ON EARTH..GOODWILL TO MANKIND _______________
THE BEACON for [dis]ABILITY™
World Association of Persons With Disabilities [WAPD]
A Non-Profit, Non-Political-Association
The Beacon of Knowledge & Refuge for the World's Largest Minority
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December 21 , 1998 BOOKMARK: <http://www.wapd.org>
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A FREE newsletter sent to 23,000 subscribers around the world.
Feel Free to forward this newsletter to interested associates.
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"Let us be among those who renew this world
and bring prosperity & solace to creation"
_ Zarathushtra.. about 1738 B.C. _
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WAPD NOTE: We were referred to ALAMOCITYPC.COM
by an IBM technical representative!
They cannot design webpages, etc. But really know PC hardware!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
You Are Your Environment
1. LETTERS TO EDITOR..
2. International Parent to Parent Conference
3. Resources
=========
A. Search 100 Top Psychiatry, Meds & Support Sites
B. Initiative2000.Org
C. Specially Adapted Manufactured Homes
4. About WAPD
==========
A. Exciting New Changes!
5. Better To Give!...
6. WAPD Apology/Correction
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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YOU ARE YOUR ENVIRONMENT...
The first step toward getting somewhere
is to decide that you're not going to stay where you are.
You make the world you live in and shape your own environment.
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambition.
Small people always seem to do that.
Place yourself in the presence of successful people
for they will make you feel that you, too, can become
successful.
Your environment is the mental feeding ground
from which the food that goes into your mind is extracted.
Choose your environment with care, one that is positive,
one that lifts you up and empowers you to achieve.
We first shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.
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IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME!
_________________________________
[-Letters To Editor-]
Dear Editor,
What a sad legacy to further handicap the desires
and needs of persons with disabilities in Dublin,
as these buses will be around for 25~30 years or
more. With regard to accessible, double-decker
buses, or supposed lack thereof, I know for a fact
this is not so. BC Transit–Victoria (Canada), which
is now approx. 50% accessible, since beginning to
add low-floor, ramped buses to their fleet
(since 1991), is adding some new, low-floor, ramped
doubled deckers to its fleet the spring of 1999.
These buses, I believe, are from England (maybe
this is where the problem lies!), and I also
understand they are the only manufacturers of such
buses. These will be the first double deckers in
the BC Transit fleet, though we have plenty of DD
ex-London buses serving the tourist tour/sightseeing
industry here.
I don't know all the details, re the above additions
to the fleet, but I do have contacts at BC Transit
who do, so I could find out for all concerned.
Even if the fact were true (No such buses being
manufactured), it would then be prudent to bring the
mfgs. to task re this oversight, and human rights
violation.
As for trams–trolley in NA–yes, they, too, can be
and are, accessible (Honolulu, Vancouver, and many
cities stateside). Ooops, I'm sorry, I'm talking
about replica trolleys, the ones on bus platforms,
not the real, light rail variety, sorry! I recently
did a net study on this very subject, prior to
filing a rebuttal on a human rights complaint I
filed on a local bus tour–London DD & tourist
trolleys–company, and there are at least 5~6 mfgs.
of wheelchair accessible trolleys/trams in North
America alone.
Further afield, our mates in Australia sure could
use our help (am already advocating accessibility
issues there, as my Aussie wife and I plan to move
there by 2001) re their access to transport battles
raging nationwide. Many transport operators called
for transport standards to guide them through their
DDA (the Oz ADA), and now that these same standards
are near completion, these same companies are
fighting it tooth and nail. Suppressers rarely
volunteer dismantling their powers of suppression,
as we all on this list, are most clearly aware.
I hope I've been of assistance.
Season's Greeting,
Dave Davis, member
Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee:
BC Transit–Victoria
<[log in to unmask]>
P.S. Unfortunately, I didn't save all the URLs I
checked out, but they can be found on major search
engines, however, these are a few I did save:
<http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks&gardens/shuttle.htm>
<http://www.specialtyvehicles.com/welcome.html>
<http://www.sandag.cog.ca.us/sdmts/senior.htm>
<http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/index.html>
<http://nz.com/webnz/ability/dis/lowbuses.htm>
<http://www.newflyer.com/>
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Dear EDITOR:
Thank you for listing NAMI Nevada's announcement on
our summit on mental health parity for Nevadans.
The summit was a "rave" to put it in some one's
words. It was well attended, (over 100 people), the
keynote speaker, Susan Dore was exceptionally
excellent due to her experience as a legislator for
Maine for 10 years, and now as a senior legislative
staffer for NAMI national; plus her own trials and
tribulations as a child of a parent with mental
illness. Our Senator Townsend, who is introducing
our parity bill, gave a speech of support and
encouragement. The Senator received a beautiful
plaque for his statesmanship and his work in the
legislature for the mentally ill during the 1997
session.
NAMI Nevada wants to hear from folks who want to
work with us to get parity passed in 1999.
Sincerely yours,
Rosetta Johnson
President, NAMI Nevada
(Nevada's voice on mental illness)
<[log in to unmask]>
-----------------
Dear Editor,
I have been receiving this newsletter for over a year now.
In October, 1997, I was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic
Dystrophy. It's a reasonably uncommon disease with totally
uncommon affects. I won't go into the details. Anyone who
is curious about the disease or suffers from this yourself
can become more acquainted with it at :
<http://www.rsdhope.org/index.asp> I went through all the
usual: denials, pity trips, anger, and futility. "Why Me?"
I remember asking, and from somewhere came the answer,
"Why Not You?"
When I finally realized that I had been "given" an
opportunity to do something really different in my life
(you know, get out of the rut of everyone else's life),
I decided to do something I had always dreamed of but
never could break free to try it. We started our own
e-business and purchased Distributorship rights to some
good quality programs from a reputable company. It is
easier now then ever with the advent of the Superhighway
Internet right here in my home at my fingertips.
My husband will be retiring the end of this Month (12/31)
and we plan to sell our home, buy a truck and 5th Wheel
Trailer, and travel this great country of ours until I
can't travel anymore. We'll use the income from our
e-business to supplement our income. My life is nothing
like I had envisioned, but I'm not sorry. I am proud to
annouce that I am a Partner with this great organization
[ WAPD ] and you can see my exciting new business at:
<http://www.sysop.com/dajack/> Part-time Wealth Web Mall.
May God Bless all of us This Holiday Season. May the New
Year bring you wonderful poss-Abilities.
Kathy Anderson
Dajack Enterprises
P O Box 553
Lawrence, KS 66044
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD NOTE: Kathy & J.D. Anderson will be part of the
exciting "WAPD Rolling Caravan" that will visit most
of the WAPD chapters throughout the North-American
continent ( Canada, Mexico, USA ) during the next 24
months. It will be loaded with info./goodies that will
assure empowerment of PWD's everywhere.
(More on the WAPD Caravan in January newsletters)
--------------
Dear Editor,
This agency (Mississippi Emergency Management Agency) is
doing research on persons with special needs dealing with
disaster response and disaster evacuation. Can you provide
me/us with information on the matter ?
Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Jim Wingrove, AICP
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
Post Office Box 4501
Jackson, MS 39296-4501
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD Note: Hopefully someone out there can help them.
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IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME
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INTERNATIONAL PARENT TO PARENT CONFERENCE 2000...
"Pioneer Spirit - Blazing New Trails" Nevada will be the
host for this 10th biennial "Parent to Parent" Conference,
one of the largest conferences of parents and families in
the world. It has enjoyed the attendance of individuals
from Russia, India, South Africa, Afghanistan, Norway,
New Zealand and Japan as well as many other countries.
Again it will bring parents/families and professionals
from around the world together to share and learn from
each other about how best to support families and develop
best practices for people with disabilities as we
transition into the 21st Century.
Research has shown that families connected to a peer
support network are more knowledgeable about resources,
have a sense of empowerment, feel more hopeful, and have
a more positive attitude about their lives and the future
of their children's lives. Parent groups can serve many
purposes, but primarily they offer parents a place and a
means to share information, give and receive emotional
support, and work as a team to address common concerns.
This Conference acknowledges and celebrates Parent to
Parent models and philosophies and will provide an
opportunity for participants to share their experiences,
broaden networks, strengthen friendships, gain new and
innovative information and ideas.
The theme of this conference embraces the growing
recognition that it is important for families with
children with special needs to know where we've been,
why we are here, and where we are going. The conference
will feature presentations from program leaders, family
advocates, family members, individuals with special
needs, case managers, administrators, policymakers,
service providers, researchers, educators and others.
Some topic areas will be:
Family-professional relationships and partnerships
Innovative programs and strategies
Grants, community resources and collaboration
Leadership building for family members
Strategies for addressing challenges of diversity and culture
Advocacy, legal rights and the system
Fathers
Technology
Medicine
Education
When: May 4 - 7, 2000
Where: Reno Hilton Casino and Resort in Reno, Nevada
( Information on the Hilton at: www.renohilton.net )
Call for Papers and Exhibitors will be on the Web site soon.
CONTACT: Cheryl Dinnell
Nevada Parent Network Coordinator, and
Director - Nevada Partners in Policymaking
UNR - COE, REPC/285
Reno, NV 89557
(775) 784-4921, ext. 2352
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
URL: <http://www.unr.edu/repc/npn>
FAX (775)784-4997
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KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
_________________________
[-RESOURCES-]
A. Search 100 Top Psychiatry, Meds & Support Sites
<http://www.schizophrenia.com>
B. Initiative2000.Org
<http://www.initiative2000.org>
C. Specially Adapted Manufactured Homes
<http://www.samh.com>
________________________________________
SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION
________________________________________
ABOUT WAPD...
A. Several exciting changes/programs will be announced by
the Board of Directors of WAPD for 1999!!! You will not
want to miss your issues of THE BEACON for [dis]ABILITY..
and, remember, you can feel free to pass it along to your
friends and others that are striving with their Abilities
to be.. "The Best That They Can Be".
_____________________________________
NOT dis....BUT...ABILITY!
_____________________________________
[-BETTER TO GIVE!-]
The Gold Slippers
It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of
the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though
cars packed the parking lot of our local discount store.
Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and
last minute shoppers jammed the aisles.
Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost
as much as my head. My list contained names of several
people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their
feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything.
Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the
high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything
but fun.
Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute
items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked
the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least
a 20 minute wait. In front of me were two small children
-- a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. The boy wore a
ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes
jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He
clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands.
The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head
was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening
meal showed on her small face.
She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers.
As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system,
the girl hummed along, off-key but happily. When we finally
approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed
the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they
were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill.
"That will be $6.09," she said. The boy laid his crumpled
dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He
finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put
them back, " he bravely said. "We will come back some other
time, maybe tomorrow."
With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl.
"But Jesus would have loved these shoes, " she cried.
"Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll
come back," he said. Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier.
These children had waited in line for a long time. And,
after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came
around me and a small voice said, "Thank you lady."
"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the
shoes?" I asked.
The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven.
Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus."
The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets
in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't
mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these
shoes?"
My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face.
"Yes," I answered, "I am sure she will." Silently I thanked
God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit
of giving."
Tis the Season!! Remember that it's better to give than
receive so pass it on... That's the WAPD Philosophy!
__________________________________________________________
THOMAS FETTERMAN, INC.
Makers of High-style,
High-function, Custom-made forearm Crutches,
travel underarm Crutches and Canes,
Hard-to-find crutch accessories.
<http://www.fetterman-crutches.com>
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WAPD APOLOGY/CORRECTION...
The below letter was received on December 16 and we are
very happy that the gross mistake and printing of "Adult
humor" for 11/23/98 has been called to our attention since
it certainly should not have been used in the BEACON.
Labeling and name-calling certainly does NOT have a place
in this publication and we do, sincerely, apologize.
Dear Editor,
As a gay disabled male I find your adult humor section
(November 23, 1998) most distasteful. In your Newsletter
the word " fag " is used to describe a redneck (also
distasteful description) that doesn't own a weedeater.
I am requesting an apology in your Newsletter immediately.
Please be advised that I will be forwarding a petition
regarding Hate Crimes in the United States of America.
I would hope that you will post this in your next
Newsletter. I ask you and your responsible personnel
how can we change the attitudes of millions when we use
words such as "fag" to describe others?
I await your response and apology.
Sincerely,
Chuck C.
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD NOTE... Again, we thank you for pointing this out
to us and can only state that it does not represent the
attitudes of the staff and directors of WAPD. Any type
of name-calling is very negative and damaging to the
things that we espouse. We, again, stand corrected!
_____________________________________
Be Proud Of Who You Are!
_____________________________________
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE...
The WAPD BEACON for [dis] ABILITY is a newsletter
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Addresses are NOT sold, traded, or loaned.
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Copyright© 1998 World Association of Persons with Disabilities
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