I remember my first encounter of meeting a child with a disability. My family and I had relocated from another state and I began fifth grade in at new school. My exposure to people with disabilities prior to moving was non-existent.
Within the first couple months of school, my teacher notified the class that we would have another student joining us periodically. One day, we were going to watch a film in class and our teacher asked if there was anyone who would like to volunteer to meet with the other student at her classroom and bring her back to our class. Happy to help, I volunteered. When I arrived at the other student's classroom, I was intrigued by the individual in front of me. She used a wheelchair and needed my assistance to help get her to the other classroom. As we began our trek down the hall, she shared with me that she had cerebral palsy and some other fun facts about her. When we arrived to begin watching the film, several of the other students appeared to be caught off guard by her. I thought she was great, smart and fun to be around. I felt the other students just needed a few moments to get to know her and learn about my new friend. Needless to say, each time our teacher mentioned she would be joining us; I was the first to volunteer to help bring her back to our classroom.
I was fortunate enough to learn about people with disabilities at a relatively young age. Rather than focusing on my friend's disability, I enjoyed the individual she was and the stories she shared. I saw her abilities and what she brought to the class as another student.
What was your first encounter with a person with a disability? Did you have a similar experience? Did you have the opportunity to get to know the person first?
** To obtain some tips on how to interact with people with disabilities, visit our web site at www.wa.easterseals.com and click on "Resources". **
Charissa Manglona
VP of Human Resources
Easter Seals Washington
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Value of Volunteering
There is so much talk of the meism attitude, the narcistic era, the out-for-number-one phenomenon - it can all be disheartening to say the least.
In an attempt to feel better about our society in these tough times, I pulled up a recent study by the Corporation for National & Community Service. It worked - I feel better! The recent statistics relating to volunteerism in the United States are extremely encouraging.
Over 63 million Americans volunteered in 2009 - up 1.6 million from 2008. These volunteers logged 8 billion hours of service, with a value of $169 billion. The numbers were pushed up due to higher numbers of women volunteering, especially those ages 45 - 54; and many more full-time employed Americans making time to serve.
What are people doing to help out? The number one activity is fundraising, with a close second of collecting or distributing food. Many Americans are also providing general labor and tutoring or teaching.
Bringing these statistics closer to home added to my renewed optimism. Seattle is now ranked the fourth highest large city for rates of volunteerism. Anecdotally, my happiest friends and associates are those that have several volunteer projects going at once! When I ask them what they would cut out of their busy lives if they had to, the answer is never their non-compensated activities.
The bottom line is that volunteering feels good. It allows us to focus on making a difference just for the sake of, well, making a difference. I have ramped up my volunteer involvement over the years, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I also greatly value those that lend their time and talent for the organization that I am honored to lead.
I guess the moral of this story is... if your spirits need a lift, visit volunteeringinamerica.gov to view some awesome statistics about your fellow Americans. Then, get out there and volunteer!
Cathy Bisaillon
President & CEO
Easter Seals Washington
In an attempt to feel better about our society in these tough times, I pulled up a recent study by the Corporation for National & Community Service. It worked - I feel better! The recent statistics relating to volunteerism in the United States are extremely encouraging.
Over 63 million Americans volunteered in 2009 - up 1.6 million from 2008. These volunteers logged 8 billion hours of service, with a value of $169 billion. The numbers were pushed up due to higher numbers of women volunteering, especially those ages 45 - 54; and many more full-time employed Americans making time to serve.
What are people doing to help out? The number one activity is fundraising, with a close second of collecting or distributing food. Many Americans are also providing general labor and tutoring or teaching.
Bringing these statistics closer to home added to my renewed optimism. Seattle is now ranked the fourth highest large city for rates of volunteerism. Anecdotally, my happiest friends and associates are those that have several volunteer projects going at once! When I ask them what they would cut out of their busy lives if they had to, the answer is never their non-compensated activities.
The bottom line is that volunteering feels good. It allows us to focus on making a difference just for the sake of, well, making a difference. I have ramped up my volunteer involvement over the years, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I also greatly value those that lend their time and talent for the organization that I am honored to lead.
I guess the moral of this story is... if your spirits need a lift, visit volunteeringinamerica.gov to view some awesome statistics about your fellow Americans. Then, get out there and volunteer!
Cathy Bisaillon
President & CEO
Easter Seals Washington
Monday, February 28, 2011
Personal Emergency Response Systems
As my Grandmother advances in age her safety is of increasing concern to my family. She wants to live independently and there are no insurmountable barriers to her doing so - but her age and increased frailty have set the family upon a mission to ensure her safety.
At this point, most of us have seen the old commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up"! This ad is for a specific brand of Personal Emergency Response Systems - a sort of assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to help caregivers manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer.
In my research, I found that these alerts can be customized to the particular person's risks - opening the potential for usefulness to a wide variety of persons with disabilities. When the alert is triggered, a message is sent to a caregiver or contact center who can respond appropriately. For example, the device structure can be modified to include gas sensors so that if a person with cognitive disabilities leaves the gas on, the device turns off the gas and notifies caregivers.
This a good example of how the design of a piece of Assistive Technology is critical to its usefulness. People with cognitive disabilities (or any other identified user group) must be involved in the design process to make sure that the design is accessible and usable. In the example above, a voice message could be used to remind the person with cognitive disabilities to turn off the gas himself, but whose voice should be used, and what should the message say? Questions like these must be answered through user consultation, involvement and evaluation.
Fascinating times as these technologies evolve!
Holly Morgan
VP Programs
Easter Seals Washington
hmorgan@wa.easterseals.com
At this point, most of us have seen the old commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up"! This ad is for a specific brand of Personal Emergency Response Systems - a sort of assistive technology that use electronic sensors connected to an alarm system to help caregivers manage risk and help vulnerable people stay independent at home longer.
In my research, I found that these alerts can be customized to the particular person's risks - opening the potential for usefulness to a wide variety of persons with disabilities. When the alert is triggered, a message is sent to a caregiver or contact center who can respond appropriately. For example, the device structure can be modified to include gas sensors so that if a person with cognitive disabilities leaves the gas on, the device turns off the gas and notifies caregivers.
This a good example of how the design of a piece of Assistive Technology is critical to its usefulness. People with cognitive disabilities (or any other identified user group) must be involved in the design process to make sure that the design is accessible and usable. In the example above, a voice message could be used to remind the person with cognitive disabilities to turn off the gas himself, but whose voice should be used, and what should the message say? Questions like these must be answered through user consultation, involvement and evaluation.
Fascinating times as these technologies evolve!
Holly Morgan
VP Programs
Easter Seals Washington
hmorgan@wa.easterseals.com
Friday, February 25, 2011
How Can I Help Eliminate Barriers Confronting People With Disabilities
Myth or Fact?
There is nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting people with disabilities. Answer—MYTH!
* Fact: Everyone can contribute to change.
You can help remove barriers by:
• Understanding the need for accessible parking and leaving it for those who need it
• Encouraging participation of people with disabilities in community activities by using accessible meeting and event sites
• Understanding children's curiosity about disabilities and people who have them
• Advocating a barrier-free environment
• Speaking up when negative words or phrases are used about disability
• Writing producers and editors a note of support when they portray someone with a disability as a "regular person" in the media
• Accepting people with disabilities as individuals capable of the same needs and feelings as yourself, and hiring qualified disabled persons whenever possible
To learn more about disability etiquette and the myths & facts about people with disabilities, visit our web site at wa.easterseals.com and check out the Resources Section. In there you can “Connect to Experts”.
There is nothing one person can do to help eliminate the barriers confronting people with disabilities. Answer—MYTH!
* Fact: Everyone can contribute to change.
You can help remove barriers by:
• Understanding the need for accessible parking and leaving it for those who need it
• Encouraging participation of people with disabilities in community activities by using accessible meeting and event sites
• Understanding children's curiosity about disabilities and people who have them
• Advocating a barrier-free environment
• Speaking up when negative words or phrases are used about disability
• Writing producers and editors a note of support when they portray someone with a disability as a "regular person" in the media
• Accepting people with disabilities as individuals capable of the same needs and feelings as yourself, and hiring qualified disabled persons whenever possible
To learn more about disability etiquette and the myths & facts about people with disabilities, visit our web site at wa.easterseals.com and check out the Resources Section. In there you can “Connect to Experts”.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tolling on SR 520 Bridge in Seattle
The 520 bridge in Seattle will be implementing tolls this spring for all motorists. The cost for crossing the bridge will fall between $1.50 and $4.30 depending on the time of day and the method by which motorists choose to pay. Certain vehicles will be exempt from the tolling. Such vehicles include Metro Transit, emergency, and towing vehicles when removing debris from an accident.
Individuals may also choose to use one of the 130 new bus trips added to the existing 600 trips across the bridge. Tolling is completely electronic and should speed up travel time on the 520. The purpose of this extra fee is to help pay for a newer, and safer, bridge in the near future. With tolling prior to bridge construction the city hopes to make a larger down payment on the project and avoid paying greater interest in the future.
Do you think that tolling will have an impact on low income individuals with disabilities?
Ryan Brown
Philanthropy Intern
Easter Seals Washington
Individuals may also choose to use one of the 130 new bus trips added to the existing 600 trips across the bridge. Tolling is completely electronic and should speed up travel time on the 520. The purpose of this extra fee is to help pay for a newer, and safer, bridge in the near future. With tolling prior to bridge construction the city hopes to make a larger down payment on the project and avoid paying greater interest in the future.
Do you think that tolling will have an impact on low income individuals with disabilities?
Ryan Brown
Philanthropy Intern
Easter Seals Washington
Monday, February 7, 2011
Could My Child Be On The Autism Spectrum?
With autism becoming more and more prevalent these days, one cannot help but wonder if their child is on the spectrum when they display some behaviors that are different from the child's siblings or other children approximately the same age.
Last February, on my son's 8th birthday, we attended a screening to see if he landed somewhere on the spectrum. Based on the information I provided, the clinician's review of that information, and his general observations, my son was screened as mild on the autism spectrum. Although this was only a screening and not a full diagnosis, it did answer so many questions for me and my family. It helped us have a better understanding of why it is so important to provide him several warnings before he transitions from one task/activity to another. Why any slight adjustment to his usual routine could quickly send him into a minor (or major) meltdown. Why his focus is so intense at times that it takes a significant amount of effort to divert his attention. Although these are just some examples, below is a list of the areas or "flags" to look for if you think your child might be on the spectrum.
- Difficulty forming relationships with peers
- Doesn't show empathy toward others
- Inability to understand and participate in give-and-take activities, like sharing toys
- Trouble reading and responding to social cues
- Exhibits extreme distress over minor changes in routine
- Has an overly narrow area of focus when playing or a very restricted range of interests
- Is significantly verbally or developmentally behind for his age
If you have any concerns about your child being somewhere on the spectrum, talk with your pediatrician. There are numerous resources and tools available to help your child be more successful when you learn that they are or are not on the spectrum, than if you had not inquired at all.
Charissa Manglona
VP of Human Resources
Easter Seals Washington
Last February, on my son's 8th birthday, we attended a screening to see if he landed somewhere on the spectrum. Based on the information I provided, the clinician's review of that information, and his general observations, my son was screened as mild on the autism spectrum. Although this was only a screening and not a full diagnosis, it did answer so many questions for me and my family. It helped us have a better understanding of why it is so important to provide him several warnings before he transitions from one task/activity to another. Why any slight adjustment to his usual routine could quickly send him into a minor (or major) meltdown. Why his focus is so intense at times that it takes a significant amount of effort to divert his attention. Although these are just some examples, below is a list of the areas or "flags" to look for if you think your child might be on the spectrum.
- Difficulty forming relationships with peers
- Doesn't show empathy toward others
- Inability to understand and participate in give-and-take activities, like sharing toys
- Trouble reading and responding to social cues
- Exhibits extreme distress over minor changes in routine
- Has an overly narrow area of focus when playing or a very restricted range of interests
- Is significantly verbally or developmentally behind for his age
If you have any concerns about your child being somewhere on the spectrum, talk with your pediatrician. There are numerous resources and tools available to help your child be more successful when you learn that they are or are not on the spectrum, than if you had not inquired at all.
Charissa Manglona
VP of Human Resources
Easter Seals Washington
Monday, January 31, 2011
ADA says Service Animals are only Dogs
I have worked with people with disabilties for the past 16 years, and many of them receive comfort and assistance from animals. We are long past the days of the "seeing eye dog," as animals can now be trained to open doors, smell smoke, remind a person to take medication, and signal an impending seizure. A dog is the most likely species to acquire these skills; however, I have received calls from individuals wanting to take their iguanas on a bus to help navigate terrain, or have their cat in a mall to calm anxiety.
The US Attorney General's staff members comment that they are tired of people abusing the law by taking all kinds of pets into all kinds of establishments. I certainly agree that some definition is needed to prevent zoo-like atmospheres and to maintain health codes. Is drawing the line at just dogs the answer? I am interested in everyone's thoughts about this.
Cathy Bisaillon
President & CEO
Easter Seals Washington
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