______________________ HAPPY NEW YEAR 1999!__________________________
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 28, 1998 BOOKMARK: <http://www.wapd.org>
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A FREE newsletter sent to 26,000 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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*INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS*
We Increase Mobility for Children
Real Bowling for Wheelchair Users
Innovations for the (dis)Abled is our Business
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IN THIS ISSUE:
GIVING OPENS THE WAY FOR RECEIVING...
(Can you understand this basic fact?)
1. LETTERS TO EDITOR..
2. The Little Girl who Dared to Wish
3. Resources
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A. Free Email Lottery
B. Daily/Hourly Updates DisAbility News; Views; Alerts
C. Daily Chat With Folks from all corners the of world.
4. How Much Are You Worth?
5. The Best That "WE" (WAPD/You) can Do!
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GIVING OPENS THE WAY FOR RECEIVING...
In giving to others, you will find yourself blessed.
It's a universal law, you have to give before you get.
You must plant your seeds before you reap any harvest.
The more you sow, the more you will ultimately reap.
The givers harvest is always full... Be a giver!
Everything worthwhile in life will come to you freely,
when you learn to give as freely.
Nature does not give to those who will not give/spend.
It's a very simple law that, for most, is hard to grasp!
You can Help! Contribute! It will Return to You..TenFold!
Can you understand this very basic fact?.......
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IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME!
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Dear Editor,
I have worked for over thirty years and have found that
I am now facing a brick wall with no way up, around or
through this wall. I am a 48 year old woman.
I was injured on the job in 1994 when a the bottom of a
large filing unit fell on my left leg hitting me on my
tibia bone. I later developed a noncancerous lipoma and
a thrombosed vein was also removed via surgery in July
of 1997 and I have not worked since. Before I went to
this job I was declared disabled in 1989 because of
surgery that I had on both of my legs in 1984. The state
vocational rehabilitation office made the determination
and assisted me in securing the job that I was injured on.
Since the surgery have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic
Pain Syndrome/Localized Traumatic Pain Syndrome because
of possible of possible microfiber nerve damage. Because
of this I am in constant pain.
My neurologist and the Department of Labor Office of
Federal Workers Compensation went round and round about
my returning to work. The Office of Workers Compensation
made a decision in May of this year to terminate my
medical benefits and monetary compensation. I appealed
and am now waiting for a hearing date. In the mean time
I spent a month in a hospital physical medicine and
rehabilitation and pain management. This was paid by my
private insurance or at least some of it. Because I have
no money and my medical benefits have been cut off I am
unable to purchase the pain medicine, the depression
medicine, the hand held massager and go for water
aquatics therapy three times a week, high blood
medicine, hormone medicine, and allergy medicine. I
still am in constant pain but have learned to live with
it better.
Everyone just shifts me over to the other. I received a
severance pay check of $2.87 on December 11, 1998.
My last day on the job rolls was November 20, 1998. I
was informed that there here will not be an offer for
retraining since there were not that many people that
were let go because of reduction in force. I am so far
behind in debt, the creditors call every day all day.
I applied for unemployment insurance and was told that
I probably would not get it since I have not worked
since July of 1997.
Being caught up in the bureaucratic system is awful.
I need information on how I can retrain, work at home
or start a home business with non funds. It is going to
be even more depressing to see everything that I have
worked so hard for over the last thirty years disappear.
Any suggestions or assistance you could render me would
be greatly appreciated.
Evangeline Johnson
106 Ashwood Drive
Summerville, SC 29483-2001
(843) 875-3740
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD NOTE: There are ways through, around or up this
seemingly..."Brick-Wall". WAPD has many readers with
excellent abilities to help this tragic situation. WAPD
telephoned Ms. Johnson and fully verified her, above,
letter. Please some of you "activists" and experts in
solving these types of situations..Contact her and lend
your support and talents to HELP solve the problem.
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Dear Editor,
I am writing for Therisa Privett, 2000 Aspen Drive, Apt. #1,
Drumright, OK, 74030. She has been on assistance for the
last several months due to not being able to work as she has
Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Heart problems, seizures, back
and neck problems. She was informed today by her social worker
that her assistance benefits are being terminated since she
isn't working.
Excuse me!!.. but how do they expect her to work. She has
seizures, and with the MS, there are days she can barely
raise her arms from her sides. She doesn't have transportation,
can't drive, has access to no type of assistance where travel
arrangements can be made to get her to the proper doctors that
are willing to fill out the proper forms for her disability
to be okayed. The doctor she is going to won't do the proper
forms as he doesn't want to be connected to "disability" people.
IF there is anything you can do, please, PLEASE let her know.
Her telephone number is 918-352-9132. If there is any other
agency that might be of assistance to her, please have them
contact me thru email as she has most of her email blocked
due to her seizures.
Thanking you and praying for help,
Beth Hoover
318-856-8509
Lafayette, LA.
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD NOTE: WAPD confirmed this case with a call to
Beth Hoover in Louisiana. Ms. Privett, a former
therapist, has been very supportive to many persons
for several years. She NOW needs our help. Please
contact Beth, above, and assist all you can...
Drumright, Oklahoma is not far from Tulsa and
we are awaiting the name of the doctor that will
"not have anything to do with disability people"
It'll be a nice story for the Tulsa newspapers &
One-In-five people that have a disAbility.
Another GREEDY Doctor!!!!
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Dear Editor,
Update on Kelly Dillery and plans for a Walk for Justice
in Sandusky to be held at 11:00 a.m. the morning of Dec.
29th at Jackson Street Pier in Sandusky, Ohio. The more
people we have,the better it will be.
Last Wed. two of us (from two different CILs in Ohio)
spent the afternoon with Kelly. She does NOT have a prior
record (of receiving citations for jaywalking or other
charges). She is a young mother, without a car or van,
who is trying to take her daughter to the Library,
playground, store, etc. like ANY OTHER mother. Below is
my account of our visit and our trip to Sandusky today to
map out our route for the walk on Dec. 29th. We met her
brother (who is her personal assistant) who was fixing
her dinner, and her Mom, who lives closeby Kelly and who
stopped in for a few minutes. Her family is very
supportive of her.
We (my husband, Bob, & I and my support dog, French-fry)
were out in Sandusky today writing out the path to be taken
and timing it. I will get more specifics to you as soon as
they are "for sure". I am working with a lady, Shona (also
my friend), from the Sulvania CIL. Shona & Bob & I were at
Kelly's home last week and went for a walk with her. (We
traveled the original route she took when she was arrested
for child endangerment---and she lead the way.) She goes
into the road when the sidewalk is in bad condition or there
are no curb cuts. Bob guessed that at least 75% of the curb
cuts were NOT put in correctly (with anywhere from 1 to 2+
inch dropoffs). We are guessing that the city does NOT
enforce sidewalk repairs that are needed. There were
sections of sidewalk that had lifted up "inches" (heaving
with freezing and thawing, we think).
They are persecuting her. One of our consumers who lives
in Sandusky, (I will NOT use her name to protect her), has
a police scanner and heard the police talk about trying to
find Kelly to give her another ticket. They did not know
where she had gone. Our consumer called Kelly the next day
and asked her if she had gone out the day before. Kelly
said that she had gone to the Library. That was the area
they said she had been seen in, but they didn't look in
the library! (Kelly does not even know this as it was
felt she has enough to deal with now--without more. She
was just warned that they will be looking for her.)
Kelly's speech has been affected by her disability. We
think that is part of why she is being persecuted.
Kelly makes the person withOUT a disability uncomfortable.
She is a really neat lady--"fiesty", as Shona says, but
very quiet (not boisterious). There have been people from
Sandusky (among them "lawyers") that have been heard
saying "Why doesn't she just stay home?"
I would like to request everyone who can not be in Sandusky
to write another letter or email and send it to the
Sandusky Register and/or City Hall. Even to the Police
Department! There seems to be two specific policemen who
are "hounding" and "harassing" her. One tells her to go on
the right side of the road (with traffic) and the other
tells her to go on the other side (against traffic). One
tells her to go OVER the railroad tracks and the other
tells her to go by way of the underpass. She is wrong
no matter what she is doing!!
(Kelly did not show up at her last hearing date because
SHE WAS TOLD SHE DID NOT HAVE TO! Her lawyer was there
representing her. As it was, the judge did not show up
for hearing her case and it was postponed to another
time.)
We had a Statewide conference call last Thursday
(with ADAPT & CIL people from all over Ohio & PA also).
People took responsibility for parts of the walk and/or
preparation. I will send more when more plans are
firmed-up. If I can give you anymore information, feel
free to call me at LEAP/CIL: 1-800-410-5327.
Mary Butler, LEAP/CIL
<[log in to unmask]>
WAPD NOTE: If you cannot attend send an e-mail that says.
"LEAVE Kelly Dillery Alone!"...to: The Sandusky Register
Publisher, Mr. Jim Hofmann: <[log in to unmask]>
or Editorial Director: Don Lee <[log in to unmask]>
Telephone: 419.625.5500
Get 50 friends to do the same thing!.. Make them hear it!
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IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME
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THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DARED TO WISH...
As Amy Hagadorn rounded the corner across the hall from
her classroom, she collided with a tall boy from the fifth
grade running in the opposite direction.
"Watch it, Squirt," the boy yelled, as he dodged around
the little third grader. Then, with a smirk on his face,
the boy took hold of his right leg and mimicked the way Amy
limped when she walked.
Amy closed her eyes for a moment.
Ignore him, she told herself as she headed for her
classroom.
But at the end of the day, Amy was still thinking about
the tall boy's mean teasing. It wasn't as if he were the
only one. It seemed that ever since Amy started the third
grade, someone teased her every single day. Kids teased her
about her speech or her limping. Amy was tired of it.
Sometimes, even in a classroom full of other students, the
teasing made her feel all alone.
Back home at the dinner table that evening Amy was
quiet. Her mother knew that things were not going well at
school. That's why Patti Hagadorn was happy to have some
exciting news to share with her daughter.
"There's a Christmas Wish Contest on the radio
station," Amy's mom announced. "Write a letter to Santa and
you might win a prize. I think someone at this table with
blond curly hair should enter."
Amy giggled. The contest sounded like fun. She
started thinking about what she wanted most for Christmas.
A smile took hold of Amy when the idea first came to
her. Out came pencil and paper and Amy went to work on her
letter. "Dear Santa Claus," she began.
While Amy worked away at her best printing, the rest of
the family tried to guess what she might ask from Santa.
Amy's sister, Jamie, and Amy's mom both thought a 3-foot
Barbie Doll would top Amy's wish list. Amy's dad guessed a
picture book. But Amy wasn't ready to reveal her secret
Christmas wish just then. Here is Amy's letter to Santa,
just as she wrote it that night:
Dear Santa Claus,
My name is Amy. I am 9 years old. I have a problem at
school. Can you help me, Santa? Kids laugh at me because of
the way I walk and run and talk. I have cerebral palsy. I
just want one day where no one laughs at me or makes fun of
me.
Love,
Amy
At radio station WJLT in Fort Wayne, Indiana, letters
poured in for the Christmas Wish Contest. The workers had
fun reading about all the different presents that boys and
girls from across the city wanted for Christmas.
When Amy's letter arrived at the radio station, manager
Lee Tobin read it carefully. He knew cerebral palsy was a
muscle disorder that might confuse the schoolmates of Amy
who didn't understand her disability. He thought it would
be good for the people in Fort Wayne to hear about this
special third grader and her unusual wish. Mr. Tobin called
up the local newspaper.
The next day, a picture of Amy and her letter to Santa
made the front page of The News Sentinel. The story spread
quickly. All across the country, newspapers and radio and
television stations reported the story of the little girl
in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who asked for such a simple, yet
remarkable, Christmas gift-- just one day without teasing.
Suddenly the postman was a regular at the Hagadorn
house. Envelopes of all sizes addressed to Amy arrived daily
from children and adults all across the nation. They came
filled with holiday greetings and words of encouragement.
During that unforgettable Christmas season, over two
thousand people from all over the world sent Amy letters of
friendship and support. Amy and her family read every
single one. Some of the writers had disabilities; some had
been teased as children. Each writer had a special message
for Amy. Through the cards and letters from strangers, Amy
glimpsed a world full of people who truly cared about each
other. She realized that no amount or form of teasing could
ever make her feel lonely again.
Many people thanked Amy for being brave enough to speak
up. Others encouraged her to ignore teasing and to carry
her head high. Lynn, a sixth grader from Texas, sent this
message:
"I would like to be your friend," she wrote, "and if
you want to visit me, we could have fun. No one would make
fun of us, cause, if they do, we will not even hear them."
Amy did get her wish of a special day without teasing
at South Wayne Elementary School. Additionally, everyone at
school got an added bonus. Teachers and students talked
together about how bad teasing can make others feel.
That year, the Fort Wayne mayor officially proclaimed
December 21st as Amy Jo Hagadorn Day throughout the city.
The mayor explained that by daring to make such a simple
wish, Amy taught a universal lesson.
"Everyone," said the mayor, "wants and deserves to be
treated with respect, dignity and warmth."
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KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
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NOT (dis)....BUT...ABILITY!
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HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?
The man came home from work late again, tired and irritated,
to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door.
"Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, sure, what is it?" replied the man.
"Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?"
"That's none of your business! What makes you ask
such a thing?" the man said angrily.
"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do
you make an hour?" pleaded the little boy.
"If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour."
"Oh," the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking
up, he said, "Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?"
The father was furious. "If the only reason you
wanted to know how much money I make is just so you
can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other
nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your
room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so
selfish. I work long, hard hours. Everyday and don't
have time for such childish games."
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the
door. The man sat down and started to get even madder
about the little boy's questioning. How dare he ask
such questions only to get some money.
After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and
started to think he may have been a little hard on
his son. Maybe there was something he really needed
to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn't ask for
money very often.
The man went to the door of the little boy's room and
opened the door. "Are you asleep son?" he asked.
"No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy. "I've been
thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said
the man.
"It's been a long day and I took my aggravation out
on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for."
The little boy sat straight up, beaming. "Oh, thank
you daddy!" he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow,
he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man,
since the boy already had money, started to get
angry again... The little boy slowly counted out his
money, then looked up at The man.
"Why did you want more money if you already had some?"
the father grumbled. "Because I didn't have enough,
but now I do," the little boy replied.
"Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
---------
WAPD NOTE: Several at WAPD have invested considerable
time and money to buy some of your time to say:
"If It's Gonna Be...It's Up to You/Me!!"...ABILITY!...EMPOWERMENT!
__________________________________________________________________
"PART-TIME WEALTH WEBMALL"
Let Kathy....from her wheelchair, show you a way to Independence!!
She learned how to make a living...
<http://www.sysop.com/dajack>
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The Best That "WE" (WAPD/You) can Do!
WAPD needs your volunteer help and membership donations to continue
in 1999. Please do the best that you can, and rest assured that we
will do the same........ Happy New Year!
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Be Proud Of Who You Are!
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Copyright© 1998 World Association of Persons with Disabilities
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