Special Exposure Wednesday

This week I'm not sharing one of my photos. Rather, I am sharing the art of Pete Eckert, photos by a man with blindness. Enjoy...

| Artists Wanted | In Focus : Pete Eckert (Lo-Speed) from Artists Wanted on Vimeo.

AGNES

(Photo by C.J. Gunther for the New York Times)

There was a great article in the Monday New York Times titled, In A Graying Population, Business Opportunity.” Being about three weeks past my hair color appointment and with gray hair emerging, I decided to read it.

Seems some researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have devised a special suit to simulate what it feels like to be 74 years old. The article's author, after donning the suit, discusses the difficulties of getting out of a car and walking up a set of stairs – examples of things people of a certain age face every day.

The suit is an Age Gain Now Empathy System, affectionately known as AGNES. As the author, Natasha Singer, writes:

At first glance, it may look like a mere souped-up jumpsuit. A helmet, attached by cords to a pelvic harness, cramps my neck and spine. Yellow-paned goggles muddy my vision. Plastic bands, running from the harness to each arm, clip my wingspan. Compression knee bands discourage bending. Plastic shoes, with uneven Styrofoam pads for soles, throw off my center of gravity. Layers of surgical gloves make me all thumbs.

Ms. Singer has done an excellent job in the article of discussing business opportunities for marketing products to the graying population. Such marketing has been largely ignored until now, but with baby boomers set to take over the world (we wish!), businesses should no longer ignore the financial boon just waiting for the taking.

I think it would be well worth your time to read the article. Now I’m going to go take my AGNES suit off.

WHAT?? I don’t have an AGNES suit?? Well that stinks, doesn’t it?

Keep 'Em Dreaming

So what was your favorite Super Bowl Commercial. Here's mine:

Finally

I don't know if my school district is getting easier to deal with or if I am giving up the battles...or something in-between. But for today, I am going to go with the thought that the school district is improving.

The IEP meeting for my oldest daughter, Jessica, was held Thursday afternoon. Since Jessica will be 21 years old this year, we're in the home stretch of the educational process and moving into the transition process full throttle. I've had and actually still have issues with the agency that will support Jessica's employment efforts in the future, but I must say that the school district and the IEP team really stepped up to the plate today.

The IEP is good, really good and addresses all my concerns about transition. Though I didn't ask for an assistive technology eval, one was conducted, and the AT representative had a whole bunch of great ideas. And get this - Jessica is getting an IPad provided by the school district! She will use it to develop a calendar, practice some educational skills, and use it to record important information.

Everyone on the IEP team seemed to care about Jessica and what her future holds, and they really listened to my concerns and suggestions.

Why couldn't this have happened 12 years ago, and for all my other children with IEPs? I can't go back and change anything in the past, so I am going to just relish that things are going well now. If I dwell too much on how much further along my children could have been educationally, I will miss out on the enjoyment of the positive things that are happening now.

So thank you IEP team, thank you for proving that we can all care about our children's future.

It's a Launch!

Many years ago, I would go shopping or out to a restaurant without a thought about accessibility. I would walk up curbs without thinking about people in wheelchairs. I would get annoyed with store aisles that were so packed with merchandise that I couldn’t find what I wanted. But, it would never occur to me that some people wouldn’t even be able to move around that same store. And like a lot of other people, I would stare at a blind person using a cane, but I wouldn’t ask if I could assist or direct them to the checkout register.

All that changed when I adopted four children, two of whom are in wheelchairs, one who is blind, and one who doesn’t handle too much sensory input very well. Although those adoptions began 14 years ago, I’ve not seen much progress related to accessibility in my community or other communities my family visits.

So I decided to create a website as a way to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusion. My new site is called US TOO PLEASE.



As my children and I travel through our community, I will review the places we visit. I will write about how physically accessible they are – how welcoming they are to people with disabilities – how inclusive a product or service they offer – and whether or not they make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.

I do not mean US TOO PLEASE to be an exercise in bashing. I will share the good as well as the not so good, but I will always let each establishment know the results of my review. I will offer to publish any comments they may have, and I will inform them of resources that are available for improving their accessibility and inclusive practices.

My sincere hope is that this endeavor will help to improve my community, as well as all communities, for people with disabilities. I want to leave a legacy of inclusion for my children. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of all people, especially those with disabilities.

Please visit my new site and let me know what you think! And if you have any specific places you would like me to review, just send me an email.

p.s. Having a new website does NOT mean I will devote any less time to this blog - my baby that has allowed me to find my voice, to make special friendships, and to keep me sane! I will still be writing here every Monday through Friday as always!

Special Exposure Wednesday

We live on the wild side! How many families do you know that would give their blind child a hammer and nails?



Be sure to check out all the other Special Exposure Wednesday shots at 5 Minutes For Special Needs!

Change in the Air?

Ronnie received a very nice card in the mail last week from our county school's superintendent. I thought I must have been abducted by aliens and transported to another universe where schools really cared about their students.

The card said congratulations and had a personal note that said, "Keep up the SUPER work and effort." It was personally signed by Dr. Pat Russo, the Henrico County School Superintendent. Enclosed was also a copy of the article about Ronnie that appeared in the newspaper at the end of December.




I was very impressed that Dr. Russo took the time and cared enough to send the card. Dr. Russo is the third superintendent that my school district has had since my children started attending school. Neither of the first two superintendents would have even thought of doing something as nice as sending a card.

So, kudos to Dr. Russo, and here's hoping for some more positive change in the school district!