By MAYA SALAM
Judy O’Connor had no idea a surprise awaited her when she pushed her son, who uses a wheelchair, onto a stage at the commencement at Chapman University on Saturday.
Category Archives: Respectful Engagement
Teaching Children About Inclusion
Starting a conversation with “Please don’t take this the wrong way” or “I hope this doesn’t upset you” doesn’t mean that you can then go on to be cruel, insensitive or intolerant. It just means that really you know you are about to make a wrong decision but haven’t bothered to find an alternative.
Hosting Happy Endings: How To Create an Accessible Wedding
I recently attended weddings for two wonderful young couples. Both affairs were beautiful and joyful, though very different. One was a rustic event in the country, and the other a formal affair held at an old courthouse in the city, each spectacular in their own way. Guests raved about the careful attention to detail to the menu, music and elaborate decorations, all of which added a great deal to the events. Both couples felt extremely fortunate to have grandparents and great-grandparents in attendance. So, you might ask, what’s the problem? The one important detail overlooked was comfortable accessibility for the guests with mobility issues.
Exceptional Mother’s Day Gifts for Moms with a Mobility Disability
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and you may not be sure what to give your mom who has mobility issues.. You want a thoughtful and unique gift to make sure she knows she is loved and appreciated.
Does Your Business Cater To ALL PATRONS?
As approximately 50% of small businesses fail annually, great customer service for a diverse customer base can really give you a leg up. Catering to people with disabilities seems to be the new “green” and business owners are recognizing they are catering not only to this population, but to their friends and families as well.
Disability and Tokenism: Why No One Can Speak On Behalf of Everyone
By Burgandi Rakoska
Why is it that so many people look at a single person from a minority group and automatically assume that they represent the group as a whole? Nowhere does this issue, known as tokenism, seem more prevalent than in higher education. In my experience, it’s been a huge problem.
Ted Talk: I Got 99 Problems…Palsy is Just One
“I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time,” Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it’s hilarious.) “I’m like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali.” With grace and wit, the Arab-American comedian takes us on a whistle-stop tour of her adventures as an actress, stand-up comic, philanthropist and advocate for the disabled.
12 Martin Luther King Jr Quotes That Relate to Disability Awareness
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest civil rights leaders. What made him such an exceptional leader was his ability to make the civil rights movement a universal acceptance of values. He didn’t speak solely about African-American rights, but for all human rights. He had a vision of justice and equal rights that included all human beings.
Not Every Disability is Visible!
We all know people who have some type of invisible disability, yet wake up every morning with a smile and put on a brave face. These people do not need everyone to know they are in pain, and want to live life as “normally” as possible. They do not want their pain to define them.
Let’s Talk About the Menu
Eating out in a restaurant is one of life’s pleasures. My mom, an elderly wheelchair user in poor health, still loves to go out, read through an interesting menu and served a meal someone else cooked. This activity is one we try to do fairly regularly. Generally some advance planning about the accessibility of the venue is needed, but eating out is definitely doable for us. So, you might ask, what’s the problem?