The Disability GrapeVine
Issue #1
******************************************************
Title of Article:
Author: Michelle Guppy

Article:
This is for all the Bernard Rimlands - those who have devoted 30 plus years
to putting behind us old myths and theory's of "refrigerator moms" and
replacing them with the new emphasis on the medical aspects of autism.  This
is for all the Shelley Reynolds out there - women of great faith and  sheer
determination to "Open a Nation's Eyes to Autism" by blazing new trails of
parent centered bio-medical research organizations to further the effort
started.    This is for all the Victoria Beck's out there boldly "Standing
Up, and Speaking Out and Letting their Voice be Heard"  in challenging the
medical establishment and pursuing what they believe is a scientifically
valid treatment for their child.  This is for women like her who have
replaced "Good Housekeeping" with stacks and stacks of medical journals and
abstracts on Autism.  This is for all the people who started and are part of
the ASA's, ARI's, CAN's, AAI's, NAAR's, the MAT's, and the MAX Foundation's,
and The Flutie Foundations and all the other privately based organizations
and foundations - - - - for putting their volunteer time and dedication and
resources into helping put the pieces together for our children.  This is
for all the Carol Fruscella's with "The Dream" of Autism Awareness,
inspiring other mothers that they can make a difference!  This is for all
the Joanne Fradkin's out there starting grass-roots efforts to raise
awareness -  like the rally April 8th in Washington, so that the Nation can
"Hear~Their~Silence", refering to individuals with Autism.  This is for
Nancy LeGendre who is at home stitching together the "A Call to Action"
Quilt for Awareness.  This is for all the mother's too numerous to name and
thank who have devoted the last year to Autism and promoting this rally for
awareness.  You know who you are.  You counted down for us, you counted
hotel rooms for us, and you counted registrations for us, and you loaded
buses for us.  You are the ones who sacrificed time with your own family to
make a call, send a letter, and contact your legislatures.  Instead of
folding clothes, you were folding fabric to assemble ribbons.    You are the
ones who did not take no for an answer in talking to your newspapers and
media to do a story.  You are the ones who organized the fundraisers, mailed
out flyers, took time - made time - and stole time  - - - to spread the word
to and seek donations from anyone you could contact.    This is for those
who can't be a part of going to D.C., so instead you support us, cheer us
on, and pray for us.    This is for all the dad's who play a major role in
Autism.  Instead of running away from the responsibility, you are out there
with the rest of us trying to find your way.  You are few and far between
and you are appreciated.  This is for all the doctors and professionals, who
have taken us seriously and have set up websites of information for all of
us to learn from.  This is for all the list moderators who started the
discussion and support lists and news lists that are really our only source
of information,  help, and support.  This is for all the members on the
lists.......without ever having met - one has the sense of "family" that can
only be understood by those who have been there and done that.........you
willingly and honestly and unselfishly share your information, expertise,
and advice, for all of us to benefit.   This is for all the unknown mothers
of Autism out there struggling to make sense of it all.  You are the women
with unshaven legs, unfiled nails, and you have split ends.  You haven't
been to the doctor in years for yourself, but you take you child to any
doctor you can, in hopes that they  could maybe help you in your attempts to
get answers.  You never remember to take your own vitamins - but yet you
never miss a day of your child's supplement regimen.  You pack GFCF lunches
every day of every year.  You are late everywhere you go, but early to every
ARD meeting - and you come prepared for battle!  You've given up your
careers and hobbies, as well as late night movies and intimate evenings for
precious time on  your computer, reading, searching, praying  for answers.
You  write and forward poems that touch our heart and allow us to release
the tears that cleanse our soul and refresh us.  This is for the mom's  who
never give up.  Who have become a better person as a result of the journey.
You somehow manage a smile as you drive your child to therapy, knowing
inside that you wish you were driving him to soccer, or her to ballet.  You
are doing the best you can to help your special needs child,  and trying to
somehow make life as normal as possible for your  typical children.  You are
exhausted from managing your career, your house, and your marriage.   This
is especially for all the mother's who have lost their marriages as a result
of the enormous pressure and strain of Autism.  I wouldn't even know how to
thank a single parent for all they do in raising a special needs child
alone!  This is for those Angels in our lives that God has put there to help
us on our journey.  Be it  family members who help as best they can, the
teacher who goes above and beyond, the therapist trying to reach your child,
or the friend that takes your child for an afternoon.  Last but not least
this thank you is for our children.  For teaching us and reminding us daily
the meaning of the most important Biblical lesson of all:  "Faith, Hope, and
Love..... with the greatest of these being Love."



*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl
Richard Roehm

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine
Issue #1
******************************************************
Title of Article: Personal Story
Author: Kathleen Polkabla

Article
Dear Pope John Paul II,   My Name is Kathleen Anne Polkabla, a 45-year-old
poor blind woman currently living in New York City.  Please bear witness
to my personal story involving discrimination against me perpetrated by
members of the Society of Jesus.  The Jesuits operate Fordham University
located in New York City, inwhich I am a law student.  Because of the
university's failure to properly hear my package of grievances, I have
been forced to confront New York City's powerful legal establishment.  I
am asking Your Eminence, no, begging Your Eminence, to forward my package
to the Society of Jesus so that their university will stop violating the
United States federal law entitled "The Americans' With Disabilities Act."
Because of the university's failure to properly hear my package of
grievances, I have been forced to take Fordham School of Law to federal
court.  The docket number assigned to my federal discrimination lawsuit is
99 CIV. 4309.  It can be found in the U.S. Federal Court Record presided
over by The Honorable Alvin K. Hellerstein.  Judge Hellerstein released
the documents to the public on March 9, 2000 when he dismissed my lawsuit
by granting Fordham's motion for summary judgment.  Fordham University
School Of Law discriminated against me based on my physical disability.
The law school faculty, staff and administration repeated over 20
substantial acts of discrimination against me for almost five years
(August 1993 to June 1998).  I was forced to drop out of the law school
four credits shy of graduation, because the law school failed to
reasonably accommodate me in my studies and to properly process my
numerous grievances.  Because Fordham University has denied me a law
degree and the ability to sit for the New York State Bar Examination, the
school has damaged my potential law career.  The final act of
discrimination was committed by law school Dean John Feerick.  Dean
Feerick, on June 4, 1998, sent a letter to blind State Senator David
Patterson containing false and misleading claims of reasonable
accommodation.  Senator Patterson had eariler asked Dean Feerick to
investigate my package of claims.  It took six months for Dean Feerick to
reply to Senator Patterson's letter of inquirey.  The facts of my
allegations against the law school are contained in a 56-page handwritten
chronology detailing the acts of discrimination.  The chronology forms my
original complaint which I filed with The United States District Court in
the Southern District of New York on April 15, 1999.  I was forced to go
to the federal court system after the U.S. Department of Education
rejected my case on technical grounds.  The case number listed in the
D.O.E. Office for Civil Rights is 02-99-2001.  I simultaneously took my
package to U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler whose district includes my
neighborhood of Chelsea, Manhattan. Nadler's aid Lisa Ruben inquired on my
behalf to the D.O.E. After the D.O.E. rejection, I and Ruben
conference-called the U.S. District Court in Manhattan and we asked the
court to send me the application forms necessary to file the lawsuit
against Fordham University.  More disturbing, Your Eminance, is the
possibility that a law school assistant dean may have knowingly stated
false and misleading claims of accommodations in a sworn affidavit
presented to the federal court.  I and my reader's aide, Lester Callahan
have reported this possible crime to the U.S. Department of Justice
Southern District of New York State.  Please contact Eileen at (212)
637-2200) and the D.O.J. Office for Civil Rights Disability Rights Section
(located in Washington D.C. at Sandra Pinckney: 202 307-0818).  Your
Eminance, please bear witness to my serious charges against the Society of
Jesus and their university President Father Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. I have
attempted to voice my package of grievances to Father O'Hare.
Unfortunately the university president has failed to respond to me.  He
has also discriminated against New York City's blind community in his
capacity as president of The N. Y. C. Campaign Finance Board for failing
to make the Voter's Guide available in Braille, large print or on tape.
The Voter's Guide is only published in print and in Spanish, and other
languages.  But it is not available in Braille.  During his entire tenure,
Father O'Hare has never discussed accommodating blind people.  Your
Eminance, please accept my plea on behalf of all disabled people, not only
in the Catholic Church, but in all democracies.  God Bless you and thank
you for your audience.

*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

CONTACT:
Phil Smith, Interim Director
Vermont Self-Determination Project
Tel:    1-888-268-4860
Fax:    (802) 241-2614
email:  pjbanana@... <mailto:pjbanana@...>

Disability Advocates Remind Governor About Commitment

Waterbury, Vermont, March 3, 2000 - A press conference to celebrate "A Day
In Remembrance of Those Who Lived At Brandon Training School", to be held at
11 AM on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 in Room 11 of the State House in
Montpelier, was announced today by Paul Nichols of Burlington. Nichols is
President of the Vermont Peer Support Network, an organization made up of
local self-advocacy groups for people with developmental disabilities. Along
with participants in the Vermont Self-Determination Project, a grant-funded
systems-change organization, they plan to march to the State House at 10:30
that day, to bring what Nichols called "The Light of Community Supports" to
the legislature and to Governor Dean. They hope to get legislators to help
bring candles representing this light into both the house and senate.
     Amie Murray, a self-advocate from Bennington who uses a
wheelchair,spoke about the importance of reminding legislators: "They owe
people who
lived at Brandon. They owe them big time. And they owe this same commitment
to people who live in and have lived in our communities all their lives."
She urged policy-makers to abide by the commitment the state has made to
provide services for people with developmental disabilities in their home
communities.
     Self-advocate Patty Grassette from Morrisville called on Governor
Dean: "We need to remember the promises that were made to us. Promises that
there would be better places for us, stronger places for us, in the
community. And that there would be support."
     However, current budget plans for the Department of Developmental
and Mental Health Services fall short, said Peter Youngbaer, executive
director of Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, speaking at a reunion
of former Brandon Training School residents on Saturday February 26. He
noted that an additional $4.3 million is needed to maintain adequate
community services for people with developmental disabilities.
     Representatives from the Peer Support Network noted that following
the press conference, they plan a lunch of soup and bread at Christ Church
on State Street in Montpelier. And they hope to meet with Governor Dean
during the day, too. They called on advocates and allies for people with
developmental disabilities around the state to "Celebrate with us a day in
remembrance of the heritage of those who lived their lives at Brandon
Training School, and our responsibility for keeping the light of community
supports shining!"

The Disability Junior Grapevine
Issue #1

Author: Sally Meyer
******************************************************
Title of Article: Jimmy And His Wiggly Tooth

Article:

When Jimmy got a wiggly tooth
he didn't know what to do.
He climbed up to the mirror
to get a better view.

He sat there in the bathroom
for many many hours,
while his parents hammered on the door
wanting to take their showers.

Poor Jimmy wiggled it all day long
it caused him so much pain
but just when he had pulled it out
it fell softly down into the drain.

Jimmy sat and hollered,
and screamed with misery
for now there would be no reward
from the fabled tooth fairy.

All night long he lay awake
feeling sorry for himself,
for he wanted to get a dollar
from that tiny fairy elf.

At last he fell so sound asleep
and dreaming, saw his prize
sailing down the drainpipe
right before his bleary eyes.

And wishing himself tiny,
as one can only do in dreams,
he climbed down the slippery drainpipe
it was a very crazy scheme.

Then when he got inside the pipe
he saw an awesome sight,
a million teeth a gleaming
it gave him such a fright,

He turned to climb back up again
but couldn't get a grip,
and though he held on tightly
he began to slide and slip.

And sliding down at such a pace
he landed with a thump,
and fell out of his bed of dreams
with a loud and painful bump.

His mother ran to pick him up
and tuck him back in bed.
And covered him with blankets,
"Now go to sleep," she said.

When Jimmy woke up bright and fresh
he looked underneath his head
and found a dollar and a note
and this is what it said.

Thank you Jimmy for your tooth
I found it by your tree
it fell out of the drainpipe.
where I could find it easily

And Jimmy smiled and went outside
to see if it was true
and in the lawn he saw footprints
of the tooth fairy's magic shoe.

Now when his teeth get wiggly,
he sends them down the drain,
then slipping into bed he waits
for the fairy to come again.
*****************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

The Disability Junior Grapevine

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************

To send The Disability Junior Grapevine, contact us at DGVEditor@a...

***************************************************
If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,'
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@a... The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.
****************************************************

The Disability Junior Grapevine
Issue #1

******************************************************
Title of Article: For Autistic Children Everywhere, And Their Mommy's And
Daddy's
Author: Sally Meyer

Article:

Mommy, don't you cry now
and Daddy, don't you weep.
I want to whisper in your ear
before I go to sleep.

I know that when I came here
I seemed perfect in every way
and you were so proud Daddy
when you held me on that day.

And Mommy when you kissed me
and wrapped me up so tight,
I felt as if I belonged here,
and everything was right

When things got really scary
and I began to slip away
I saw your face, dear Mommy
as you knelt by me to pray.

And Daddy, I always notice
when you wipe away a tear,
or watch the other little boys
as they run and laugh and cheer.

I may not be able to tell you
how much I love you so,
or even show you how I feel
and what I really know.

But when you hold me Mommy
at night when all is still
I hear your soft heart beating
and I know that all is well.

And Daddy when you take me
to the park and we run and play
I know that you still love me
though the word's I cannot say.

So Daddy don't you cry now
and Mommy don't you weep,
I want to tell you something
before I go to sleep.

I may be sort of different,
and you may not understand
I know that I am not that child
that you and Daddy planned

But I love you both so very much
and I know you love me too
and one day when this life is done
You will feel my love for you.

I know the future is unknown
and you will always have to be,
the ones who love and listen
and take good care of me.

The road we walk is rough sometimes
and you cry a lot of tears,
but one day we will turn and laugh
as we look back over the years

So Mommy don't you cry, now
and Daddy please don't weep
I want to say, I love you
before I go to sleep.
*****************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

The Disability Junior Grapevine

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************

To send The Disability Junior Grapevine, contact us at DGVEditor@a...

***************************************************
If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine',
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@a... The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.
****************************************************

The Disability Junior Grapevine

THE PRINCESS' WHEELS
by
Paul Cannaday


In middle of time, when abilities were being tested. There was a young and
beautiful Princess named Samantha. When she was born she had no movement in
her legs. It was hard on the King and Queen to have a child with no abilities
in her legs. They blamed each other for the child's problems.

The King and Queen sent their only child to castle of the prophet, Sir Maka,
was a prophet to the King and Queen for many years. Sir Maka helped the King
and Queen to understand the future.

They were embarrassed of the Princess. The Princess grew up knowing this and
felt sad but Sir Maka was a friend before she was sentenced to his castle. He
could make her laugh and forget all her troubles. The legend had it that he
could see far into the future.

Sir Maka's castle was a strange castle. First, there were no stairs, he did
not believe them. This castle was not from stone, wood or brick. Sir Maka's
castle made from books. Hundred of thousands of all the books he had read.
The interesting thing about this house of books is you could remove any of
the books and read it without the house falling down.

Sir Maka was a very tall and thin person. He was a kind and friendly sort.

Today, the two were finishing up breakfast when Samantha asked Sir Maka,
"What were you doing in shed for the past month?"

Sir Maka answers, "It is a birthday present for you and because it is your
birthday today, you will see it tonight. What would you like do today my
Princess on your birthday?"

The Princess shouted, "Can I see my Mother and Father? Oh please let me see
them."

Sir Maka said, "My dear Princess I would love to bring your family back
together. Until your parents, my King and Queen, understand you are a
beautiful and wonderful Princess and not an embarrassment, I cannot have you
see your parents."

The Princess asked, "Do my parents love me?"

Sir Maka replied, "Yes, of course they do. They just do not understand. Let
us do something you really like. I will tell you your future or anybody's
future you wish. Let me take you to the magic room." She climbed on his back
and wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her to the magic room.

The magic room was all black books for the walls and for the ceiling and for
the floor. The was a table and chair in the middle of the room. On the table
there was a candle in a glass ball and when the Princess and Sir Maka enter
the room the candle lit magically.

Sir Maka placed the Princess in the chair and asked, "Who's future would you
like to hear yours or someone else's."

The Princess answered, "Because it is my birthday, I would like to hear both."

Sir Maka grabbed a book from the floor and took from the cover a powder. Puts
the powder on the ball of candle and smoke came from ball. Sir Maka said,
"Yes your Majesty, what is your question?"
Samantha asked, "Will I fall in love? Will he be handsome? Will he love me?
Will we marry? Will we have a long life together? We will we have children?"

Sir Maka says, "Only ONE question, please."

The Princess laughing says, "Oh yes my dear friend, I apologize. Do you see a
husband for me?"

Sir Maka looks deeply into the smoke and said, "The smoke says that you have
a husband beside you."

The Princess asked, "Will there ever come time when people like me are not an
embarrassment?"

Sir Maka looks deeply into the smoke and said, "The smoke says, it will be
long time before your wish comes true."

The Princess asked, "What does the smoke say my present is?"

Sir Maka looks deeply into the smoke and said, "The smoke says, wait a
moment, you trick me." He laughs "Come with me and I will show you what you
want."

Sir Maka took Samantha to the shed and sets her on the ground in front of an
object, with a cape over it.

Sir Maka takes the cape off and says, "Happy Birthday Your Majesty" the cape
came off and under it was a chair with wheels on the sides.

The Princes asked, "My dear friend what is it?"

Sir Maka replied, "I saw this in thing in the future it is called a
wheelchair."

The Princess asked, " What an obvious name, what do I do with a wheelchair?"

Sir Maka demonstrated and says, "You sit in it like so and with your arms and
hands you move around, like this." He propelled himself around the grounds.

The Princess shouted with joy, "My dear friend thank you from the bottom of
my heart and the top of my head."

Sir Maka picks Samantha up and puts her in the wheelchair and the Princess
tested the wheelchair out and says, "I can get around myself. I can do
anything I want now. Anything. OH Sir Maka thank you."

The Princess tried out her wheelchair all day and evening until she fell
asleep in the wheelchair and Sir Maka put her to bed.

The next day, The Princess was learning how to use wheelchair while she had
played. She went all over the castle.

She wanted to see how the wheelchair did outside. She decided to leave the
grounds of the castle. She was rolling down a path by a pond and the path
went right next the pond. She found herself touching the water with her front
wheel. A funny thing happens to the front wheel, it sank into the mud. The
Princess thought to herself, I can get out of this. She tried and she tried
but she could not work herself free. She thought to herself, "Sir Maka will
find me, but wait I forgot to tell him I was going anywhere." There she sat
for a while until she felt that she was sinking, the wheelchair and herself,
into the mud.

She screamed, "Help, help, help me, Sir Maka help me, help me, help, help."

In the distance she heard two persons and voices were getting closer.

She screamed, "Help, help, help me, help me, help me, help, help."
A voice said, "Master I hear someone in need of some assistance."

The other voice said, "We do not have time save people, I have to marry and
become King."

The Princess screamed, "Help, help, help me, help me, help me, help, help."

The first voice said, "I see someone over there by the pond, I am going help
her."

The second voice said, "Fine there might be some money in it."

A man came up to the Princess and said, "Madame, My name is Christopher a
peasant to Sir Bart up on the hill over there, My friends call me Chris. How
can be of assistance to you?"

The Princess said, "I cannot move my legs and I was given this wheelchair by
a friend. Unfortunately, I have gotten myself stuck in the mud. If you could
just back me up and get me on dry land I would greatly appreciate it."

Sir Bart said, "What has she gotten herself into?"

Chris said, "She is stuck in the mud?"

Sir Bart said, "Why does she not get out of the chair and walk away."

Chris said, "Master she cannot move her legs." Chris backed the Princess out
of the mud.

Sir Bart said, "She is one of those half-human and she will give it to me. I
feel my foot go numb."
Chris said, "She is not a half-human and you cannot catch anything from her.
It is our duty as gentlemen to help her."

Sir Bart said, "There will be no reward from her family so let us leave. I
have got to find Princess Samantha and marry her."

Princess Samantha said, "You are going to marry the Princess Samantha?"

Sir Bart said, "That is right, I will marry the Princess, kill her parents
and become King."

Chris asked, "Should everyone know your plan to become King?"

Sir Bart said, "Who is she going to tell? The Princess. HA HA She probably
has never met a royal person in her pitiful life, beside me of course."

Chris asked, "Are you all right Madame?" She nods. "What may I call you?"

The Princess said, "Uh, Chris you may call me Muddel. But your friend may not
speak to me."

Sir Bart said, "That is gratitude for you. I help you out of the mud and all
you can say, I could not want to talk to you." He starts on his way.

Chris says, "He is not my friend he is my master."

The Princess asks, "How could he own you?"

Chris says, "As a child, my parents gave me to him for tax payment. My family
owed him 30 gold pieces in taxes. I must work for him for 15 years. A gold
piece for a year I will work for him for another 15 years." He starts to push
her home.

The Princess asks, "Are you going to help him with his deed of killing the
King and Queen?"

Chris says, "No I will not. I love my King and Queen and the Princess. What
he is going to do to the Princess is criminal. He is going to lock the
Princess up in a dungeon and keep her there, until she gives him a son, then
he is going to kill her also."

The Princess says, "What are you going to do while he is becoming King."

Chris says, "I am going to tell the King and Queen of his plans but I do not
know how to speak with them."

The Princess asks, "Is not Sir Bart going to miss you?"

Chris says, "No, he is rounding up an army to destroy the King and Queen."
The Princess says, "It is fun when someone else pushes me. You are a very
honorable man, Chris, do have a wife?"

Chris says, "Just the Princess, I like to pretend that I am married to the
Princess. It is a worthless dream, but I am only a slave to someone who is
going to try to kill her. She is the Princess, with royal blood and with a
lot of suitors. But I did get to her see once."

The Princess asks, "When, where, how?"

Chris says, "I was a young boy and the King called me to take a package for
him to a tree with eight arms and set the package down. When I got the
package out of the castle and it began to cry. Opening it up it was a baby
with a ring on a chain. The ring had the royal seal. I assumed it was the
Princess going to relatives and the only safe way to get her out of the
castle was to send her as a package. Her eyes saw deep into your soul, but I
am boring you."

The Princess says, "No you are not."

Chris says, "That was it. I found the tree put the baby under it. I hid in
the bushes to see who picked her up. I waited and waited and an old man
picked up the baby and that was the first time and last time I ever saw the
Princess."

The Princess asks, "Why do you dream about the Princess, you could have any
young lady?"

Chris says, "I cannot marry until I am a free man. So I dream of the most
beautiful person. Someone I could not ever marry."
The Princess asks, "If the Princess was right here, what you say to her?" She
thinks to herself, he wants somebody who could use both legs. I cannot tell
him I am the Princess.

Chris says, "Your Majesty, I have loved you from a far. No, that is not it. I
would not have courage to say anything to her. I would probably just stand
there thinking to myself how unimportant I am and how important she is."

The Princess asks, "Let us pretend that you are a Prince, now what would you
say?"

Chris says, "I would walk up to her and say I have loved you from a far and I
need you as much as anything to have my life to go on. If I speak wrongly I
take my dagger and thrust it into my body until I died. Then I would kiss
her." He bends down and kisses her. Then he realizes what he has done, and he
says, "I apologize."

The Princess says, "No apology needed."

Chris says, "Here is your home. I must go now to inform the King of Bart's
evil plan."

The Princess says, "I will tell my friend where I am going and I will join
you, because I can help you get to the King and Queen."

The Princess goes into Sir Maka's and tells him the whole story. He wished
her well but begged her to be careful. The Princess and Chris head out to the
Kingdom of the Princess' parents. Chris pushed her over rocks, sand, steep
hills and mud. It was becoming dark, so the two decide to stay at an Inn. The
Inn was familiar to Chris and there was at least a half a day to the kingdom
more.

The Innkeeper says, "Welcome, welcome all is welcome. Oh, Greeting Chris
where is your master?"

Chris says, "Rounding up an army."

The Innkeeper says, "Is his plan going to go, I thought he was crazy when he
told me of his plan."

Chris replies, "Do you have two rooms, for the lady and myself to stay in,
tonight?"

The Innkeeper says, "Yes I do. What a strange looking chair what is for, my
lady."

Chris answers, "She cannot use her legs and with these wheels she can move
about by herself."

The Innkeeper says, "She is one of those half-human, she cannot stay here."
To the Princess. "Nothing against you my lady it is just that your illness
might be contagious and I do not want any one of my other guests to get ill."

Chris says, "She is not contagious and I will vouch for her."

The Innkeeper says, "On your word, Chris, I will let her stay."

The Princess says, "Thank-you kind gentleman."

The Innkeeper says, "I will put the lady in room with the water basin, and
you, Chris, in the one without the basin."

Chris and Princess walk to her room and Chris says, "Can I help you with
anything?"

The Princess says, "I can manage, thank-you for asking. I will see you the
morning."

Chris says, "Goodnight and see you in the morning."

The next morning the two headed for the Kingdom of her parents.

After a while they heard a lot of people marching, it was not until it got
closer and closer that they saw an army of a thousand men. In front was Sir
Bart.

Sir Bart says, "We are going to take the Kingdom today, Chris carry my sword."
The Princess says, "How much do you owe this rogue."

Chris says, "Fifteen gold pieces."

The Princess says, "Here is 20 gold pieces." She gives Sir Bart 20 pieces of
gold. "Now leave us because you make me ill."

Sir Bart says, "He is not worth one silver piece. You got taken fool."

Chris says, "She is my master, now, you are the fool and if you want live
until tomorrow I would apologize to her."

The Princess says, "I do not need an apology. Let us leave."

Sir Bart says, "Your master has brains even if she is a half-human, now I
have bigger plans today so leave my sight."

Chris says, "I will leave, if you want to, master."

The Princess says, "Yes, Let us leave."

Sir Bart says, "A wimp, look everyone a wimp."

Chris says, "I will see you later that is a promise."

The Princess says, "We will both see you later."

Sir Bart says, "Let us leave."

The army and Sir Bart marches on to the castle.

Chris says, "Why did you not let me take care of Sir Bart right here, Master"
The Princess says, "I am not your master. I set you free. I just need you to
live more than to die."

Chris says, "Thank-you for my freedom. Instead of slave-master now we can be
friends. If only the Princess will be as kind. If she had your bravery, I
would tell her, I am in love. If the Princess has your beauty, I will marry
her.

The Princess says, "Silly man, how can you love a person that you do not
know." She thinks to herself. I hate my legs.

Chris says, "If she was just you, I do not need her and her royal blood, I
love you, Muddel."

The Princess says, "You could love someone like me without use of my legs.

Chris says, "I could and do. But you probably do not have the same feelings
towards me. Do you?"

The Princess says, "I do, I have loved ever since you defended my parents."

Chris says, "Your parents?"

The Princess says, "Yes my parents are the King and Queen, I am Princess
Samantha.

Chris says, "No!!!"

The Princess says, "Yes, here is my ring with the royal seal." She shows him
her ring and he is so shocked that he faints.

The Princess says, "Chris, Chris are you O.K.?"

Chris says, "Just very embarrassed, Your Majesty."

The Princess says, "Please do not call your Majesty. Call me Samantha. I
still love you. Have your feelings change since you know I am the Royal
Princess?"

Chris says, "I still love you."

The Princess says, "Let us hurry to the castle and stop Sir Bart. I know a
short cut"

Chris says, "Let us go."

The two hurry to the castle by the way of hidden tunnels. When they reach the
thrown room Sir Bart's army was on the other side of the mote. Yelling to
lower draw bridge. In the thrown was Sir Maka.

The Princess says, "Where are my parents?"

He takes her to the window and Sir Maka says, "Your parents called me here to
help them escape. There they go."

A hot air balloon was taking the King and Queen higher and higher.

The Princess says, "Will they ever come down?"

Sir Maka says, "They will be okay but they will never live in this Kingdom
again. As they banished you to my castle, I banished them to another Kingdom
in that contraption that I stole from the future. Now you have an army
outside your gate. You have 300 men in the castle who are loyal to the crown
and about 1000 men who are opposing you."

The Princess says, "Sir Maka do you have my armor?"
Sir Maka says, "Yes."

The Princess says, "Give me a sword and meet at the top of the tower."

Sir Maka says, "Yes my lady."

The Princess says, "Chris, can you wheel me up to the Tower."

Chris says, "You are not giving up are you?"

The Princess says, "Trust in me." They two go into a very narrow hallway with
steep ramp to climb. While they were climbing the steep ramp. Chris felt a
hand come out and touch him, he looked and the hand is attach to the wall. It
was moving and then he saw another hand on the wall and he looks up the to
the top and he saw thousands of hand on the walls on both sides of this
narrow hallway.

Chris asked, "What are the hands for?"

The Princess answered, "They are all my friends that sir Maka created when I
was younger they used to passed me from each other and that is how I would
get the top."

As Chris passed the windows he knew he was in the hallway up to the top of
the tower.

Chris says, "What are we doing up here" As they reached the top.

The Princess says, "My army is in the dungeon safe from harm."

Chris says, "Safe from harm, they should be protecting you."

The Princess says, "Nonsense."

They meet Sir Maka up in the tower room. Sir Maka dresses her in a very heavy
metal plate of armor, and gives her a sword. She looks out from the window
and shouts to Sir Bart, "I am the Princess Samantha, who ever kills me will
be the next King." Then she tells Sir Maka, "Go down and let our guest in and
then hide." He does what she asks.

Chris shouts, "Are you crazy?"

The Princess says, "No I have a plan!" Then she shouts to Sir Bart and army,
"Come on in boys." The door is opens.

The army charges the thrown room and starts up the tower ramp. The Princess
then instructed Chris to push her and tells him to wait in the tower until
she calls him. "There are one hundred men on the ramp, now two hundred,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, one thousand. Here I go" She
starts down and because the ramp is so narrow it steers her chair. She puts
the big sword in front of her and she pushes the first soldier she comes to
into the hands, where the hands hold all four limbs tightly. She continues to
do this to all the soldiers all the way down the ramp until she reaches the
bottom. At the bottom there is just one person left, Sir Bart.

The Princess orders the royal guards to show themselves. The guards showed
themselves and she says, "Take them all to the dungeon."

Sir Bart says, "I have been beaten by a half-woman."

The Princess says, "This half-woman now has more freedom than you do. Take
him away."

Sir Maka and Chris come down from the tower.

Chris says, "I should have trusted you."

Sir Maka states, "If you have not realized it yet, your Majesty, you are the
Queen. All hail the raining Queen, Queen Samantha.

Queen Samantha says, "You once said he loved me once. How do you feel now?"

Chris states, "I feel, exactly how you want me to feel, your majesty."

The Queen asked, "That is no answer, again, how do you feel?"

Chris answers, "I love you." A big gasp comes the guards.

The Queen states, "Would you be my King?" Another gasp comes from the guards.

Chris answers, "I will love you forever, my Queen, as your King."

The Queen states, "For my friend, Sir Maka, I will make you, my high adviser."

Sir Maka says, "Thank-you my Queen and King. What is your first proclamation
your Majesty?"

The Queen states, "From now on, I would like everyone to use a wheelchair, in
my sight."
Sir Maka says, " Very good for your first one."

The King and his Queen lived and loved for all time.


THE END

The Disability Junior Grapevine
Issue #1

******************************************************
Title of Article: Liam's Journey
Author: Sally Meyer

Article:
In the shade of the trees by the banks of a lake, Liam was born.  He
started his life in a

nest along with six other eggs.  Liam was the first to hatch, and he
pecked away

furiously at the shell, until he managed to squeeze out into the
sunlight.

His mother stood admiring her new son, and waited patiently for his
siblings to hatch.

It took a little while but eventually there were seven little ducklings
standing on the

lakeshore.

"Oh my goodness" the mother duck exclaimed, "What a wonderful family I
have".

she looked over her babies with pride, and gathered them about her.

As time went by, the mother duck taught her babies to swim, and they
followed behind

her on the crystal waters.  They stayed in a straight line behind their
mother, if she went

to the left, they followed, when she stopped to admire the beauty of
their world, or to dip

her head beneath the water to catch a tasty grub, they swam beside her in
a circle,

hoping to be the one to share her tasty treat.

Liam always liked to be the last in line, he seemed to enjoy watching the
other

ducklings, as they stayed in formation.  When one of them got out of
line, he quacked

furiously, and cried great big ducky tears.

The mother duck watched Liam, she noticed that he was different from her
other

babies.  He looked just exactly like the rest, with his sweet little
beak, and his snowy

feathers, but there was something about Liam that worried her.  She
stayed up at night,

in the shade of the willow tree, and pondered about her little son, and
what could be

-2-

wrong.   Who was this little duckling, and why did he act so strangely?

As time went on, Liam didn't quack anymore, he refused to swim in the
lake, he didn't

like the way the water felt when he put his head beneath the surface to
hunt for food.

He liked to stand on the shore looking out into the blue water, tapping
his little webbed

feet over and over.  Some days he walked along the shore and played alone
in the

rushes.  Other days he spent his time sitting quietly, arranging the
pebbles in long lines.

His mother was worried about him, he did not like to eat the green shoots
that the other

children loved.  He only ate one particular grub, which were hard for his
mother to find.

The other children avoided Liam, he always wandered off and got lost.
Mother always

sent  Lucy and Leroy to look for him, and they got tired of wasting their
days searching

for him.  Lila and Lester wanted to play with the other ducks, but had to
baby-sit Liam,

even though he was really the oldest one, because he had hatched first.
But somehow

Liam didn't understand danger, and he had to be watched constantly for
fear he would

get into trouble.  "We are tired of taking care of Liam," they wailed.
"We want to go play

with our friends across the lake, why do we have to stay and watch him
all the time?"

Liam's mother wanted to spend the evenings with her friends, for they
would gather

together in the middle of the lake discussing the latest gossip.  She
missed these

moments, but she had to stay close to Liam during the long night hours.
Liam had a

hard time going to sleep, and sometimes if he woke during the night he
wandered off

into the darkness.  Papa Duck often stayed up late with her, talking
about their son, and

what they were going to do about him.


They missed the old days when they could visit with  friends while the
children slept.
- 3 -

All night long they stayed close to  Liam,  sometimes he would let Mama
put her wing

around him, and she told him stories about the lake, and about the world
and how

wonderful it was. Other nights, Papa told him stories about when he was a
little

duckling.  Liam  did not speak, but they knew that he was listening, Mama
stroked his

downy head and wept for the little white duckling, who sat so still
beside her.

"Why is he so different?"  she wondered, "Why did I have such a child?"

When Liam fell asleep, she tucked him in with all the other children, and
lay beside

Papa, but sleep did not come easily for the parents of Liam.

Liam didn't notice that he was causing any problems.  He was happy, he
smiled at the

flecks of dust that made rainbows in the sunlight.  When the other
children teased him

he didn't seem to care, he  created his own happiness,smiling at them
cheerfully.  Life

for Liam was always the same, and he liked it that way.  Each day he woke
and ate two

grubs that his mother had found for him.  Then he liked to go to the
shore and watch

the sun rise.  It was wonderful to him, that every day when he came to
the edge of the

water, the large sun rose slowly and higher into the sky.  It made him
feel good that he

could depend on this every day.

One day Liam woke up early, went outside and to watch the sun rise.  As
he walked to

the shore he felt something he had never felt before, a cold breeze
ruffled his feathers

and made him shiver.  As he stood waiting for the sun to rise, he tapped
his foot

impatiently, for the sun could not be seen on the horizon.  Liam  waited
for a long time,

he became anxious. Where was the sun?  Every day of his life he had
watched it rise,

and that was how he started his day.

- 4-

After a minute or two, a large cloud loomed overhead and the wind blew
colder.  Liam's

feathers became chilly,  he stood shivering, and then began to cry.

Liam decided that if the sun would not rise, maybe it was lost.  He
decided to venture

out to find the sun, that would make everything okay again.  He started
waddling along

the shoreline determined to catch the sun and tell it to rise.

When the Mama and Papa duck and the other children woke a few minutes
later, they

noticed that Liam was missing.  Lester and Larry hurried to the shoreline
to see if he

was there, but they ran home to tell mother that Liam was nowhere to be
found.

Mama duck's heart began to flutter and she quickly went out herself to
check the shore.

No one was there, no little white duckling waiting for the sun to rise.
Liam was gone

leaving a trail of footprints going eastward.

Mother Duck panicked for a moment, she knew that Liam did not know his
way around

the lake, he had stayed close to home, preferring to sit quietly and
play.  Where could

her little son be?

The other ducks on the lake gathered together, and formed a search party,
to try and

find Liam.  Some flew overhead, trying to spot the him, others searched
the rushes and

soggy marshes near the lake.  Papa duck joined the others, while Mama
duck stayed

home with her children, they huddled around her sadly, hoping for good
news.

As the day wore on and Liam had not been found, the children began to
cry.

We miss Liam"  they cried,  "We should have been nicer to him"


As night fell the children finally went to sleep, their little bodies
huddled close together.


- 5 -


But Mother Duck could not sleep, she stood on the shoreline, quacking
plaintively,

calling for Liam.  She thought back to the times when they sat together
in the evening,

and her wings ached to hold her little son.  "He was not a burden, "  she
thought, "he

was a blessing"  She no longer wanted to be with the other mothers,
chatting about this

and that.  All she wanted was to have Liam next to her, as they always
did.  She

realized how much she loved him, and how special he was to their family.


She laughed when she remembered how he loved to have his neck tickled,
right in that

certain spot.  She cried when she realized that she had often wished he
were just like

the others, so that she could have her freedom.  She sat on the edge of
the water,

during the long long night.  But Liam did not return.

The next day as the ducklings woke up, the waddled to find their mother,
and found her

sitting sadly on the rocky beach.  They gathered beside her, and she
tucked them

under her wings.

Lucy and Lilly began to sob quietly,  "We miss Liam"  they cried,  "we
miss the way he

smiles at us when we give him a new pebble for his collection"

Lester and Larry joined in,  "Oh yes, and the other day when we took him
to the water,

he put his foot in for the first time in ages! and he even gave a tiny
quack"

Leroy and Lila continued, "We have to find him, our family is not the
same without

Liam"

Mother Duck smiled at her children, and for the first time the worry and
sadness left,

they were a family and one of them was missing.  It was time to take
action.


- 6 -


They walked along the shore, each one quacking loudly, calling for Liam.
Usually he

ignored the calls but it made them feel good to be doing something, so
they continued

their journey.  At lunch time, they ventured into the water to eat and
gather some of

Liam's favorite grubs,  he must be awfully hungry by now, for his mother
always found

his food for him.  He would never be brave enough to go into the water to
find his own.

Late in the afternoon,  the little family began to falter worrying that
they would never find

Liam.  They had searched high and low and had been unsuccessful.

Lucy had swollen feet, and wanted to turn back, and Mother decided that
if they didn't

find him in one more hour, they must turn back.

At that moment, the sun came out from behind a large cloud, and shined
down on the

little group.  It was a welcome warmth, for the air had been chilly for
most of the day.

As the children sat resting in the sunshine, a small figure walked out of
the dense

rushes, and waddled to the shoreline.  It was Liam!

He stood there flapping his wings joyfully, greeting his beloved sunshine
that had been

hidden behind the clouds of fall.

All of his brothers and sisters quacked loudly, and hurried over to him.
Mother duck

stood back for a moment, enjoying the wondrous sight of the seven little
ducks, dancing

in the sunlight.  Then she too, rushed towards Liam and wrapped her wings
around him,

joyfully.

Liam seemed surprised to see his family, and smiled shyly at all the fuss
that was being

made of him.  Mother duck gave him the grubs she had collected for him,
and he ate


- 7 -


them greedily, which was a change for  Liam.  He usually only ate two
grubs three times

a day.

The little family of ducks hurried homeward, and saw Papa coming towards
them.  His

face was sad and tired, but when he saw Liam, he rushed to him and
gathered him

close.  The children had never seen Papa cry before, and Liam looked up
into his

Papa's face and for the first time, reached to brush a tear away.


The happy family  sat together in the moonlight.  Liam was carefully
tucked in between

them all.  Together at last, together forever.

*****************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

The Disability Junior Grapevine

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************

To send The Disability Junior Grapevine, contact us at DGVEditor@a...

***************************************************
If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine',
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@a...  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.
****************************************************

Dear All:

Saturday's issue is for and about children with disabilities. There is no
news or ads.

Paul Cannaday

Letters To The Editor

Letter 1
Subject: No Braille census forms for blind people, only print ones are,
available.
Author: Kathleen Polkabla

Hello I am sending this piece of news from a blind member of this list,
Well I got my census form and guess what it was in print. I called the
census bureau and I gave them a piece of my mind. The person that I
talked to after I had told him that I was totally blind, asked me if I
could read the print number on the form that identifies it. I told him
that again I was totally blind. I also told him that I wouldn't allow him
to fill out the information that they wanted. I again asked him when they
would get around to giving the blind community Braille or large print
forms. I am wondering if there is a way to take the census bureau to task
for this discriminatory act.


kathyann@...


Letter 2
Subject: Re: # 1 TYING UP LOOSE ENDS--Very good article, thank you
Author: coco paz


Letter 3
Subject: Re: [DisabilityGrapeVine] PR Census Information
Author: Lara Johnson

The Census is very important.  We should fill it out and not use that as a
form of protest.  We could, of course, register complaints with our
Congressmen/women and with the Bureau of Census.  I'm on SSI (disability) so
I feel sure I'm counted in that. I agree that should be on the forms, but
that census is used for other important things too.

The Disability Grapevine
Issue #1

******************************************************
Title of Article: Disability Community Targeted
Author: Ruthee

Article:
It is not particularly paranoid to say, out loud, the disability
community is being targeted.  The latest attack came on March 3, 2K when
John Stossel decided to do a hit piece on person's with disability
demanding their civil rights.  We are under attack in the Congress with
HR 3590.  We are under attack for having jobs because we get
accommodations (i.e., special treatment) for our disability, we are under
attack for not being employed (i.e., we are welfare slackers), we are
under attack because of the financial cost of caring for us within the
medical setting.  Mr. Jody Dunkel of Cal State Monterey told people to
place car bombs on the scooters of person's with disability because we
get preferred parking while he has to walk the length of a football field
  to go shopping.  It matters not what the argument is.  It is our fault
for something.  It is our fault for everything.

I look at the historical context of the civil rights movement of the
1960's and compare the timing of actual acceptance of civil rights to the
place of the disability community today.  I believe the African-American
place in society about 1965 (1 year after the Civil Rights Act of 1964
was adopted and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was being adopted) is where
the disability community is today.  We are 8 years out after adoption of
the Americans with Disabilities Act which simply added person's with
disability to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ad the Voting Rights Act of
1965 but we are years away from full acceptance in society.  We do not
have drinking fountains, neither did they.  We have few lunch counters as
did they.  We do not have full and equal protection of the law under the
14th Amendment, neither did they.  We do not have equal accessible
polling places, neither did they.  We do not have equal housing
opportunities, neither did they.
This is not to say that the minority communities have gotten all of the
above for they certainly have not.  Better still, the disability
community is part of the minority communities protected under the
original Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for a
double dose of discrimination.

Placing the disability rights struggle in the context of the
African-American civil rights struggle is not meant to diminish the
impact of either group.  I am simply attempting to put a finite dimension
to what is happening to us in the disability community and give some ray
of light at the end of the tunnel that may (or may not) be an oncoming
train.

We will prevail.  We will have a level of equality and some semblence of
equity.  It is a long way off and we must not be discouraged.  We were
successful with the Denver bus boycott a few years ago.  We have been
successful with sit-ins in Chicago and Washington, D.C.  The fight must go
on and the likes of John Stossel should ignite us to fight harder and
with more publicity, not less.  If that publicity means more lawsuits,
then lets do it.  It took more years than 8 before the African-American
community found that fighting in the courts was a very short route to
enforcing civil rights.  No one dares tell the African-American community
they should tell Denny's to stop discriminating before filing a lawsuit.
Neither should we!  The same for our governments, community businesses,
transportation companies, etc.  They already know they cannot
discriminate but until a judge orders them to stop, they won't stop.

We must keep fighting the good fight.  Our mantra should paraphrase Moses
"Let My People In!

*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

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local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
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****************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine
Issue #1


******************************************************
Title of Article: Guardianship Issues for Older Adults with Communication
Barriers
Author:  Marijo Cannaday

Article
Problem Statement
The United States, according to the 1997 Census Brief, has approximately 1
out of 5 Americans with a disability and 1 out of 10 persons have a severe
disability.  As our population grows older the occurrence of disabilities
increases.  It is suggested by the Census Bureau that 16 percent of the 35
million older Americans (65+) are disabled and that number is expected to
increase to at least 20 percent by the year 2030.  Questions arise regarding
this population's ability to competently handle their daily affairs.  This
problem is compounded when the disability involved impairs the individual's
ability to communicate on what society deems as a normal level.
Specifically, the ability to talk.  Many individuals have a decrease in their
ability to communicate due to a congenital disability (something present at
birth, like Cerebral Palsy or Muscular Dystrophy) and may worsen with age.
Some individuals acquire a communication disability due to an accident or a
disease process like a stroke.  In many instances whether the disability was
acquired or congenital, the individual's ability to think and reason is still
intake.  They may require accommodations to communicate effectively.  The
accommodations maybe as simple as a home made board with the alphabet on it
and the person points with a stick in their mouth or as elaborate as a
talking board that actually speaks for the person.
Informed consent is a requirement of many federal and state guidelines,
(e.g., Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987,
Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990). The assessment of a person's decision-making
capacity or ability to give informed consent has become of importance to the
medical society and to many agencies designed to protect older adults, like
Adult Protective Services.  The right of persons with disabilities to refuse
or accept medical, physical, and mental health treatment and to manage their
own lives weighs heavily on the individual's ability to communicate their
understanding of informed consent. Many physicians wish to involve their
patients in the medical process. In addition, doctors are increasingly aware
of their liabilities for treating patients without obtaining informed
consent.  In the Michigan Mental Health Code Section 100 a (15)
Administrative Rule 330.7003, it relates information on Informed Consent as
follows:
     You must give informed consent:
· To receive treatment or,
· To have any confidential information about your case provided to others by
the agency from which you are receiving services.
     In order to be able to give informed consent:
· You should be told about the risks, benefits, and available alternatives to
a course of treatment or medication (KNOWLEDGE)
· You should be able to reasonably understand the information including the
risks, benefits, available options or alternatives, or other consequences.
(UNDERSTANDING)
· You should not be forced or pressured into a decision. The choice you make
should be a decision. (VOLUNTARY)
     This consent must either:
· Be in writing and signed by you, your legal representative, or
· Be your verbal agreement to something that is witnessed and put in writing
by someone who is not treating you at the time.
·
The problem arises for individual's with communication barriers when the
medical profession, social services, or in some cases their own families may
feel that they cannot make informed consent or manage their daily affairs.
For persons with communication disabilities they may give the appearance of
diminished mental capacity if their disability is not completely understood
and accommodated.  Many of these individuals find themselves facing
Guardianship hearings.  From what this author has researched, many Probate
Courts in Southeastern Michigan and this is probably true for most of the
Country, do not have a clear understanding of the issues facing an individual
with a disability, nevertheless an individual with a communication barrier.
The court appoints a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the recipient, after the
petition for Guardianship has been made. Many judges appoint a GAL to
investigate the circumstances surrounding the petition and file report with
the court. This type of GAL will gather all of the relevant facts in the case
and present them to the court in the form of a written report. The report
will also contain the GAL's recommendations. The report is usually admitted
into evidence and the GAL is subject to cross-examination. This independent
investigator is usually an attorney and while they may know the law, they
receive no special training regarding the special needs of an individual with
a communication disability.

Analysis
Most adults enjoy the freedom to exercise free choice when faced with
important life decisions. They are free to consult with friends and relatives
before they decide, but the ultimate selection of a plan of action remains
with the individual. The law assumes that all adults disabled or not possess
the capacity to make decisions. Competent adults are even free to make
irrational decisions without interference. However, there are situations when
a person's decision-making ability is questioned.  These situations involve
questions about an individual's ability to control their property or money,
or to make basic decisions about their personal affairs. It is usually
friends, family members, or persons or agencies acting as an "advocate" for
the individual that may identify a need to involve themselves in the person's
life decisions. They may feel because in their eyes, the person is making a
poor decision, or simply acting in a way that is contrary to the wishes of
the friend or family member. Incompetent people cannot make appropriate
decisions about life events. However the concept of incompetence is difficult
to define and lacks meaning unless it is viewed in context. Legal competency
is frequently confused with a clinical diagnosis of mental illness, mental
retardation; Alzheimer's Disease, and other conditions affecting mental
functioning, yet not all people with such conditions are legally incompetent.
  There for it is wrong to assume that someone who cannot verbally communicate
is incompetent, yet in many Michigan courts that is a basis to begin
Guardianship proceedings. An individual may be incapable of speech or writing
as a mode of communication, but remain capable of adequately communicating
intent on a number of other, nonverbal levels, this could possible include
sign language or eye movements.

A guardianship proceeding is considered a benign procedure that will provide
a disabled person with a guardian who will look out for their "best
interests". It is important; however, to note that the person under
guardianship suffers a substantial deprivation of their basic civil
liberties, unless the probate court limits the powers of the guardian.  If
the power is not limited, the person can lose their right to make important
life decisions including: the right to consent to medical care, to contract,
to vote, to manage bank accounts, and other personal property, to spend
money, to associate with friends, to choose to live in a nursing home or not
to, to sell property, and many other rights which are generally take for
granted.

Guardianship is the most common legal procedure that is utilized to protect
persons who are unable to care for themselves because of a disability.
Guardianship is also the most comprehensive and most intrusive method for
taking control of an incompetent person's affairs and may not be necessary in
all cases. However, a guardian is needed in most cases when the person is
incapable of providing informed consent to medical treatment. A person may
only be placed under guardianship by a judge of the Probate and Family Court.
  The petitioner has the burden of proving the existence that the person is
unable to care for himself or herself. The petitioner must be either a
parent, two or more relatives or friends of the alleged incompetent person,
the Department of Mental Health, or a non-profit corporation whose charter
allows it to act as guardian. The petition must be accompanied by a
physician's certificate that describes in detail the nature of the person's
illness. The certificate requires the physician to describe in detail the
diagnosis leading to the opinion that the person is incapable of caring for
themselves or is unable to make or communicate informed decisions due to
physical incapacity. A finding of incapacity is a legal decision made by the
courts, as opposed to a medical decision, which is made by a physician,
psychiatrist or other medical specialists. Incapacity is measured by the
degree with which a person can provide for, manage, and communicate decisions
regarding their personal needs for health care, shelter, and/or property.
Guardianship is intended as a last resort, but it receives little if any,
public scrutiny. As the national population ages and the life span increases,
more people are potentially subject to being judged incompetent in court and
having a guardian appointed as a surrogate decision-maker.  Older adults with
communication and/or physical disabilities have to be accommodated in the
courtroom or they risk not performing at their full potential.  The Blue
Water Center for Independent Living suggested that the court is required by
the Americans with Disabilities Act to accommodate all persons in their
courts, however, this is not always the case.
Problem Solutions
Objective
The main objective regarding any guardianship procedure is to maintain the
civil rights, dignity of the individual in the petition, and their safety and
well-being.  The Michigan Mental Health Code lays a good foundation for both
Civil Rights and Dignity of clients within their system.  The codes are as
follows:

Civil Rights Mental Health Code Sec. 740; Administrative Rule 330.7009
Even though you are receiving mental health services, you cannot be denied
your civil rights. You have the right to an education, the right to vote*,
and the right not to be discriminated against because of your:
· Age
· Color
· Height
· National origin
· Physical or mental disability
· Sex
· Religion
· Race
· Weight
Information about registration and voting may be obtained from the Recipient
Rights Office.
As A person with mental disability, your rights may be additionally protected
under:
· Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· Fair Housing Amendments Act
· Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
· Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
· Rehabilitation Act, Section 504
· Michigan Handicapper Civil Rights Act
Knowing about these laws will help you exercise your rights and prevent
discrimination.

Dignity and Respect Mental health Code Section 704,711
The law requires all mental health service providers to assure that you are
treated with dignity and respect. Examples of staff not showing respect
include calling you names, making fun of you, teasing, or harassing you.
Your family members also have the right to be treated with dignity and
respect. In addition, they must be given:
· An opportunity to provide information about you to your treating
professionals.
· An opportunity to request, and receive, general education information about
the nature of mental disorders, medications and their side effects.
Information about available support services, advocacy groups, financial
assistance, and coping strategies.

These codes could effectively be developed into a standard practice for
courts governing over guardianship cases.

Program Development
It is this author's opinion that the same procedures adopted by Community
Mental Health (CMH) in determining Guardianship for younger developmental
disabled individuals be used to determine guardianship for older adults,
especially those with communication barriers. CMH does an extensive
investigation of the young adult to determine what level, if any a guardian
will play in that person's life.  The Associate Director of the Blue Water
Center for Independent Living stated that unless the older adult with a
communication barrier was a current client of CMH, CMH would not be involved.
  The Macomb County Associations for Retarded Citizens (ARC) concurred with
this statement.  They added that each Michigan County develops its own
procedure for determining guardianship for an older adult.  This is
inadequate, but there are also hints of discrimination against the older
adult due to their age and possibly due to their disability.  However, many
older adults may not be aware of their rights during this process if the
courts do not take an active role to assure that the person's right's are
protected.  Set guidelines and procedures for each and every guardian review
of an adult would allow the court to be more effective and guarantee the
protection of the individual.  Of course, there will always be situations
that warrant emergency action. Guidelines for emergency action to should be
in place and developed.  As an Adult Protective Services worker in Sanilac
County stated, each court has its own way of handling guardianship cases.
What goes on in Sanilac County, may differ greatly in Washtenaw County.  This
worker also stated that set guidelines would help him do his job more
effectively.

Positions
There are many professionals positions that should be a party to a
guardianship review case for an older adult with a disability and for this
example one with a communication disability.

Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
The GAL must be a lawyer who is specially trained in doing GAL work for
persons with disabilities. He or she is appointed by the court and is not
chosen by a particular relative or friend who has a specific interest in the
outcome of the proceeding.  The GAL interviews potential witnesses, does
legal research and puts together a case.  The GAL is not a judge, and will
not make final decisions. The GAL is likely to spend time with family
members, friends, neighbors and medical personnel familiar with the proposed
incompetent individual in order to come to a conclusion about what is in the
person's best interest.

Medical Professional
The individual being review should, if willing, be seen by a doctor to make
sure there are no medical problems that may need immediate attention.  The
doctor should make a confidential report to the court.

Physical and/or Occupational Therapy (PT/OT)
This may be something that many courts over look.  However, the PT/OT may
identify areas in regards to accommodations that may allow the individual
more independence.

Social Worker
A social worker may already be involved with the individual and their family.
  It is important that the social worker help the GAL understand the family
dynamics and if there might be underlying motives of family members to seek
guardianship.
The Individual Being Reviewed
It is important to always include the person being reviewed.  It is never, in
this author's opinion, that a meeting take place that decides the fate of
another human being, without that person being present no matter what the
assumed mental state is.

Committee
The above positions should meet on a regular basis prior to the hearing date
in order to gather appropriate documentation regarding the individual's
competency.
Action Plan
Organizations Involved
The following agencies and organizations can be important advocates for the
individual being reviewed.  This list by no means is exhaustive.
     Probate Court
     Community Mental Health
     Centers for Independent Living
     Family Independent Agencies
     Other community based organizations, such as church groups
     Area Agencies on Aging

Mission Statement
The guardianship review process will up hold the dignity and civil rights of
every individual that passes through its process.  It will not discriminate
based on sex, age, race, national origin, disability, sexual orientation,
religion, or political affiliations.

Action Process
The Michigan Mental Health Code establishes a person-centered planning
process regardless of age, disability or residential setting for all
individuals. This process is familiar to most social service agencies;
however, the courts in regards to guardianship reviews have not adopted this.
  This person-center planning could effectively be incorporated in to the
guardianship review process.  Person-centered planning could help to retain
some dignity for the individual being reviewed.  Part of the person-centered
planning is to develop an Individual Plan of Service. The Individual Plan of
Service may include a treatment plan, support plan or both.  Person-centered
planning directs the planning process with a focus on what the individual
wants and needs. Professionally trained staff plays a role in the planning
and delivery of treatment and may play a role in the planning and delivery of
supports. The development of the treatment or support plan, including the
identification of possible services and professionals, is based upon the
expressed needs and desires of the individual.

As outline by the Michigan Mental Health Code, person-centered planning is
highly individualized and designed to respond to the needs/desires of the
individual.

A. Each individual has strengths, and the ability to express preferences and
to make choices.
The individual shall be given ongoing opportunities to express their needs or
desired outcomes. This would include:
Making accommodations for communication to maximize ability for expression;
The identification of outcomes of value for the individual; and
Expectations of the service delivery system.
B. The individual's choices and preferences shall always be considered if not
always granted.

C. Professionally trained staff will play a role in the planning and delivery
of treatment and may play a role in the planning and delivery of supports.
Their involvement occurs if the individual has expressed or demonstrated a
need that could be met by professional intervention.

D. Treatment and supports identified through the process shall be provided in
environments that promote maximum independence, community connections and
quality of life.

E. A person's cultural background, as well as age related characteristics
should be recognized and valued in the decision-making process.


Follow Up
The individual should be given the opportunity to make choices. This would
include:
a. Choices and options shall be clearly explained.
b. To the extent possible, the individual shall be given the opportunity for
experiencing the options available prior to making a choice/decision. This is
particularly critical for those persons who have limited life experiences in
the community with respect to housing, work and other domains.
c. Individuals who have court-appointed legal guardians shall participate in
person-centered planning to the maximum extent possible and shall have
authority not otherwise specifically delegated to the guardian.
Individuals will be provided with opportunities to provide feedback on how
they feel about the service, support and/or treatment they are receiving and
their progress toward attaining valued outcomes.

Alternatives to Guardianship
Lastly, guardianship as mentioned before should always be a last resort.  Any
individual, at any age, or with, or without any type of disability may need
help at some point in their life. Many agencies offer services to reduce
undue interference in the life of older adults and to assist the individual
to maintain a lifestyle of choice consistent with their personal values and
background.  In addition, they strive to maximize their participation in
financial or other personal decisions.  Alternatives to guardianship consist
of daily money management (DMM) services or surrogate financial management
services. DMM services might include: assistance with bill paying; credit
management; applying for government and pension benefits; submitting health
insurance claims; and banking. DMM services are commonly distributed as part
of case management provided by a social service agency. Financial management
services might be durable powers of attorney and/or springing powers of
attorney (powers which take effect in the future and are conditional on a
special circumstance, such as an illness); trusts; or joint bank accounts.
These alternatives have in common that they are initiated and executed
voluntarily when the individual has the mental capacity to do so, much like
an advance directive for health care decisions. Another surrogate service,
which may be voluntary or involuntary, is representative payeeship under the
Social Security Administration or the Veterans Administration, an arrangement
in which a third party receives the monthly government benefit check on
behalf of the beneficiary.  These services cost less than going through court
hearings to get guardianships.  They also help to preserve they dignity of
the individual.

******************************************************

Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
RevRus
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas:  Maggie

Children Issue
Stacie
Sally

(please tell if you want your whole name here or handle)

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:

Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html


(Any member of the staff can put advertising here, everyone else must
advertise in our classified section)

*********************************************

The Disability GrapeVine Classified Ads

The Disability Grapevine does not endorse the products in these classified
ads.

******************************************************
We will accept any classified ad dealing with disabilities.  No graphics or
formatting i.e. centering, bold, underline, or italics because some e-mail
publishers do not process formatting the same way.  Basically, just use
words.  No more than 500 words per ad.  Two weeks is the maximum running time
for each ad.  Tell us, the dates you want the ad to run.

No chain letters
No get rich quick schemes
No pornographic ads
No spamming

The use of Grapevine advertising is free.  Do not abuse it.

To submit an ad, please use: DGVEditor@...  In the subject line put the
word, "AD."
****************************************************


Subject: Re: [DisabilityGrapeVine] Classified Ads
Author: Drdako@...
WANTED; SCOOTER ACCESSIBLE VAN WITH HAND CONTROLS either lift or ramp.
Author: Drdako@....


****************************************************
~ Homecoming Crusade ~

Featuring: Reverend T. J. Mayhue, the Handicapped Evangelist,

in Charleston West Virginia

at the Charleston Civic Center April 11 and 12. Churches, ministries,

individuals interested in ministry participation, organization and fund
raising,

~call Crusade Director, Stanley Harrison, Jr. -

304-756-3725.

********************************************************
http://www.taconicresources.net
TRI Online! is a wealth of disability-related information.  TRI Online! has
thousands of links, news, books, art, sign language interpreters, parent
advocacy, support groups and more!  Taconic Resources for Independence is an
Independent Living Center.

Thanks!
Marguerite Loskowitz, Resource Advocate
Webmaster, TRI Online!
Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc.
82 Washington Street, Suite 214
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(914) 452-3913 Voice
(914) 485-8110 TDD
(914) 485-3196 Fax
tristaff@...  e-mail
http://www.taconicresources.net  TRI Online!
********************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE

Published in the Federal Register March 9, 2000
ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD
36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191
[Docket No. 99-1]
RIN 3014-AA20

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings
and Facilities; Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Guidelines;
Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.
SUMMARY: On November 16, 1999, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board (Access Board) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
revise and update its accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities
covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA). The comment period was scheduled
to close on March 15, 2000. The Access Board is extending the comment period
until May 15, 2000 to allow the public additional time to prepare comments
on the proposed rule.
DATES: Comments should be received by May 15, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of Technical and
Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board, 1331 F Street NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Fax number
(202) 272-5447. E-mail comments should be sent to
mailto:%20docket@.... Comments sent by e-mail will be
considered only if they include the full name and address of the sender in
the text. Comments will be available for inspection at the above address
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on regular business days.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Mazz (on the ADA Accessibility
Guidelines) and Jim Pecht (on the ABA Accessibility Guidelines) Office of
Technical and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC
20004-1111. Telephone numbers (202) 272-5434 extension 121 or extension 128
(voice); (202) 272-5449 (TTY). E-mail address: TA@.... These
are not toll free numbers.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Copies and Electronic Access
Single copies of the proposed rule may be obtained at no cost by calling the
Access Board's automated publications order line (202) 272-5434, by pressing
1 on the telephone keypad, then 1 again, and requesting publication S-36
(ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines Notice of Proposed Rulemaking).
Persons using a TTY should call (202) 272-5449. Please record a name,
address, telephone number and request publication S-36. The proposed rule is
available in alternate formats upon request. Persons who want a copy in an
alternate format should specify the type of format (cassette tape, Braille,
large print, or Ascii text). The proposed rule is also available on the
Access Board's Internet site in HTML, Ascii text and PDF formats
(http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/guidenprm.htm).
Extension of Comment Period
On November 16, 1999, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board (Access Board) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
revise and update its accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities
covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA). 64 FR 62248 (November 16, 1999).
The comment period was scheduled to close on March 15, 2000. The Access
Board is extending the comment period until May 15, 2000 to allow the public
additional time to prepare comments on the proposed rule.

Dear All:

I will be changing the time that I post all articles.  This is due to the
Internet congestion at 5 PM.  I will post articles at 11:30 PM EST.  For
tonight only you will receive today's articles and ads, as well as tomorrow's
articles and ads.  For then on the next day's article(s) will be post at
11:30 PM EST the prior night.  For example, Saturday's articles will be
posted on Friday at 11:30 PM EST.

Dear All,

We are going to start running personal stories.  A personal story is a story
about yourself or a family member.  The person must have a disability.  The
length of the story will be, how much you can write in one e-mail.  Friday
night at 11:00 PM EST is the deadline, when must be in.  For your story to be
printed that week. Use DGVEditor@...  Sunday your story will be posted.
Try not to use abbreviations because people will not what you are talking
about.

Paul Cannaday

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE
-----------------

The short census forms do not have any disability related questioning.
I
called the local census office today and asked if they can give me the
long
form they said there is no way this can be accomplished.  The long form
is
sent to 1 in every 6 households in the region where I live at.

THE POINT IS WE ARE NOT BEING COUNTED, WHILE RACIAL MINORITIES
ARE BEING COUNTED!  ITS TIME TO ACT!

Here is a few ideas we can do, but before action is taken lets
see if we can work a satisfactory resolution with the Census Bureau
first:

1) Ask a neighbor who has the long forms to include any neighbors with
disabilities in their count.

2) Start a campaign to discourage filling out the short forms.

3) Start legal action to tie up the results of the short forms.

4) Start legal action to force Bureau of the Census to send out long
forms to the households who received the short forms.

It is very important we are counted so a proper allotment of disability
funding goes to place where it's needed.  We're not going to have our
population size interpreted differently by different entities like
FOR EXAMPLE, A senator could go on saying we don't need to fund this
program because the number of people with disabilities reported by the
Census Bureau do not justify the need....blah...blah...SCARY SCENARIO
ISN'T IT?

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! WERE NOT GOING TO WAIT ANOTHER 10 YEARS BEFORE
WE'RE PROPERLY COUNTED!

Lets communicate with our local, state, and federal representatives and
tell them that the disability community is not being counted on the
short
forms going to most of the households.

("--")
=====================================================
Bruce robb@...
======================================================
http://homepages.go.com/~wbrjr/wbrjr.html
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/disability_advocacy
http://www.suite101.com/join.cfm/6406
======================================================
ADA IS EMPOWERMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
======================================================

The Disability Grapevine Classified Ads

The Disability Grapevine does not endorse the products in these classified
ads.

******************************************************
We will accept any classified ad dealing with disabilities.  No graphics or
formatting i.e. centering, bold, underline, or italics because some e-mail
publishers do not process formatting the same way.  Basically, just use
words.  No more than 500 words per ad.  Two weeks is the maximum running time
for each ad.  Tell us, the dates you want the ad to run.

No chain letters
No get rich quick schemes
No pornographic ads
No spamming

The use of Grapevine advertising is free.  Do not abuse it.

To submit an ad, please use: DGVEditor@...  In the subject line put the
word, "AD."

****************************************************
~ Homecoming Crusade ~

Featuring: Reverend T. J. Mayhue, the Handicapped Evangelist,

at the Charleston Civic Center April 11 and 12. Churches, ministries,

individuals interested in ministry participation, organization and fund
raising,

~call Crusade Director, Stanley Harrison, Jr. -

304-756-3725.

********************************************************
http://www.taconicresources.net
TRI Online! is a wealth of disability-related information.  TRI Online! has
thousands of links, news, books, art, sign language interpreters, parent
advocacy, support groups and more!  Taconic Resources for Independence is an
Independent Living Center.

Thanks!
Marguerite Loskowitz, Resource Advocate
Webmaster, TRI Online!
Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc.
82 Washington Street, Suite 214
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(914) 452-3913 Voice
(914) 485-8110 TDD
(914) 485-3196 Fax
tristaff@...  e-mail
http://www.taconicresources.net  TRI Online!
********************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability Grapevine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability Grapevine
Sharing Ideas
Article # 1
Author: Maggie

Have you commented on the redesigned regulations? See below for details.
Time has run out, today's the day that can make a difference in your life
and that of our community's. The following information was cut and pasted
from several sources: Justice for All, DREDF and straight from DIZBIZ. I
much prefer commenting by email than going to the sites where hearings are
held. Now that we have this easier access there can be no reason for us not
to comment. If you are not so inclined to comment on all the issues, pick
one, use a personal reason why you are commenting. I commented on
segregated entrances and side reach issues and reaching over
objects...where should that soap dispenser be placed...or that towel
dispenser...should we be expected to enter a building with others who have
business in the building or be referred by an "accessible entrance" sign
and go in to the building with the building deliveries only to wind our way
through the bowels of the building? I don't think so!

Reminder: Today, March 15th is the *last day* for you to comment. *Please*
take a few minutes in your busy day to comment...

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES ARE OUT FOR
COMMENT!  IT WILL BE TEN YEARS OR MORE BEFORE THE COMMUNITY HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT SOME OF THE GRAVE INJUSTICES PERPETUATED BY THE
FEDERAL ACCESS STANDARDS!


DATES: Comments should be received by March 15, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of Technical and
Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance
Board,1331 F Street, NW., suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Fax number
(202) 272-5447. E-mail comments should be sent to docket@....

Comments sent by e-mail will be considered only if they include the full
name and address of the sender in the text. Comments will be available for
inspection at the above address from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on regular
business days.

Issues:
Critical issues are at stake: How extensively must employee work areas
provide access to people with disabilities? Must small theaters provide
dispersed seating for wheelchair users (rather than all in one spot)? How
can the problems of stadium-style theaters be overcome? How high should
accessible elements be allowed to be placed? How large should elevators be?

      Just as important, the proposed Guidelines make many improvements over
the current ADAAG, but these improvements are sure to be attacked by the
business community. Your letters must express the disability community's
need for the increased numbers of TTY's, automatic teller machines (ATM's)
which are more accessible to people with visual impairments, requirements
for accessible lines of sight and other improvements in assembly areas,
accessible windows and laundry facilities, several improvements in access
to restrooms, and other such features. Without our support, these
improvements will not appear in the final ADAAG.  MENTION SPECIFIC ACCESS
PROBLEMS YOU ARE AWARE OF IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE
EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE PROPOSAL (E.G. ACCESS OBSTACLES IN
RELATIVELY NEW BUILDINGS SUCH AS INACCESSIBLE EMPLOYEE WORK AREAS,
"ACCESSIBLE"
ELEMENTS WHICH ARE STILL OUT OF REACH, OR PROBLEMS WITH THEATER OR STADIUM
SEATING SUCH AS FEW ACCESSIBLE SEATING OPTIONS OR UNCOMFORTABLE LINES OF
SIGHT).

      The FAX number is (202) 272-5447. FAXed comments should be addressed
to the Office of Technical and Information Services. The e-mail address for
comments is <docket@...>. Remember: Comments sent by e-mail
will be considered only if they include the full name and address of the
sender in the text. REMEMBER...the time difference. 5 p.m. is 2 p.m.
CALIFORNIA TIME...5 p.m. EST ends the comment period.

                                                       *****

SSA's REGIONAL FORUMS ON NEW FEDERAL PROGRAMS...attend the forums as they
come your way. If you can not leave home call your Region and ask for a
"reasonable accommodation" to attend by phone conference call...and ask if
your Region will be holding the forum via an Internet hookup, if not why
not? If they will, let us all know as some Regions have been reluctant to
consider this means to communicate with our community.


The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 ...aka (also
known as, TWWIIA...there's one for alphabet soup glossery!).

Regional trainings will use Panels formats; they will focus on
implementation of the new Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement
Act, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and One Stops, new state Medicaid
options for health care and other Federal employment initiatives.


Tentative Schedule for Public Forum Meetings

-   March 9, 2000 in Raleigh, North Carolina
-   March 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona
-   April 2000 in New York City, New York
-   May 2000 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-   June 2000 in Austin, Texas
-   July 2000 in Seattle, Washington
-   August 2000 in Columbus, Ohio
-   August 2000, Denver, Colorado.

The dates may change so check with your SSA Region folks.
(Note: My thanks to Alana R. Theriault for the schedule info so it can be
used here)

                                                  +++++

The is the first, not the last...I'd love to hear from you, your opinions on:
-What makes a good *senior* advocate? You know the seasoned sort...
-What do you think we can do to improve advocacy
-Do you support Physician Assisted Suicide? If so, why? If not, why not?

I'm open to questions. If I don't know...and I have lots to learn, but may
know where you can find out or ... if I don't know, maybe you will share
your knowledge stating your source(s). I love to cut/paste so by responding
to this column you must know that your opinions may be shared in future
columns.


*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability Grapevine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

Regarding the announcement below:
Maybe I just haven't  thoroughly read the background info for this list,
but, since email is international, it would be good if ads listed more info,
such as WHICH Charleston Civic Center Rev. Mayhue will be crusading at.  I
used to live in Charleston, IL, e.g.

Thanks.

Sue


> ****************************************************
> ~ Homecoming Crusade ~
>
> Featuring: Reverend T. J. Mayhue, the Handicapped Evangelist,
>
> at the Charleston Civic Center April 11 and 12. Churches, ministries,
>
> individuals interested in ministry participation, organization and fund
> raising,
>
> ~call Crusade Director, Stanley Harrison, Jr. -
>
> 304-756-3725.
>
> ********************************************************
>
> Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday
>
> Editorial Staff
> Ruthee
> Dr. Dave
> Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
> Marijo Cannaday
> Jewl
>
> Sharing Ideas: Maggie
>
> Children Issue
>
> Stacie
> Sally
>
> *****************************************************
>
>
> To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children
issues,
> or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...
>
> ***************************************************
>
> The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state
or
> local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
> http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html
>
>
> Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...
>
>
> ******************************************************
>
> To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to
>
> http://www.ownspeed.com/
>
> If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or
the
> disability culture go to:
>
> http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html
>
> ****************************************************
>
> If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
> please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff
is
> an unpaid position.
>
> ****************************************************
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds!  Get rates as low as 0.0%
> Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees.  Apply NOW!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/937/4/_/699277/_/953073603/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Community email addresses:
>   Post message: DisabilityGrapeVine@onelist.com
>   Subscribe:    DisabilityGrapeVine-subscribe@onelist.com
>   Unsubscribe:  DisabilityGrapeVine-unsubscribe@onelist.com
>   List owner:   DisabilityGrapeVine-owner@onelist.com
>
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>   http://www.onelist.com/community/DisabilityGrapeVine
>

The Disability GrapeVine
Issue #2
Article # 2

******************************************************
Ten Ways To Improve the Quality of Your
Alleged "Health" Alleged "Care" Alleged "System"

Author: Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda


1) When you call your doctor's office because you have gotten "worse" in some
way, you will probably get the receptionist first and then the appointments
secretary. When they tell you that the next available opening is sometime in
2001, say this phrase in your most quivery voice to get in to see the doctor
that day:

"That's okay. By that time I'll be dead or well."

They will not want your possible death on their shoulders. So, they make you
the doc's responsibility as fast as possible.

2) When you get to the doc's office there will be a wait because they are
squeezing you in. If you have room and the ability, recline across two or
more waiting room chairs. You'll get taken out of the waiting room even
faster if you lie down on the floor.

Lying on the floor after you've been in an emergency waiting room for hours
is also a guaranteed way to get service.

3) In the examining room, keep the lights on and the door open. Don't let
staff forget you are there.  Keep going out in that icky half gown (with your
behind hanging out) to ask how long until you are seen. You can stay in the
room and yell this question out, too.

You have to have guts to do that. But it works.

4) Get your chart from the box by the examing room door and start reading it.
Make loud comments like, "Hmmm....well, I never....wow!" They will see you
just to get the chart out of your hands.

5) Pick a time and tell staff you have to leave by then. They will call your
bluff the first time. This means you have to leave at the first time you
state to establish credibility. After that first walk, they will remember
that you put them on your schedule for a change.

6) Suck up to the office staff: cards on the holidays (even Halloween and
Easter) and candy after they have been especially "nice" The "patients" they
like get much better service.

7) If you are going to be hospitalized, bring in a watch. For that first day,
at the start of each shift ask a nurse for the correct time. Make a big deal
of resetting your timepiece while they are in the room.

These nurses will share in their shift report that you can time the delivery
of services like pain medication. As a result, you will get everything faster.

8) Bring paper and pen for a journal with you. Again, make it obvious to
staff that you are writing something. Ask for a name or drug spelling once or
twice.

My nursing career family says that knowing a patient might be recording their
requests and the time it took to get them filled with the names of the people
doing them, will gurantee you the best nursing possible.

9) Buddy up with both the Chaplain's Office and the Patient Liaison Office.
They have the oomph to get things changed while you are still in the hospital.

10) Finally, WORK TOWARD BETTER HEALTH CARE SO THIS LIST IS NO LONGER NEEDED.


*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine Classified Ads

The Disability Grapevine does not endorse the products in these classified
ads.

******************************************************
We will accept any classified ad dealing with disabilities.  No graphics or
formatting i.e. centering, bold, underline, or italics because some e-mail
publishers do not process formatting the same way.  Basically, just use
words.  No more than 500 words per ad.  Two weeks is the maximum running time
for each ad.  Tell us, the dates you want the ad to run.

No change letters.
No get rich quick schemes
No pornographic ads.
No spamming

The use of Grapevine advertising is free.  Do not abuse it.

To submit an ad, please use: DGVEditor@...  In the subject line put the
word, "AD."

****************************************************
~ Homecoming Crusade ~

Featuring: Reverend T. J. Mayhue, the Handicapped Evangelist,

at the Charleston Civic Center April 11 and 12. Churches, ministries,

individuals interested in ministry participation, organization and fund
raising,

~call Crusade Director, Stanley Harrison, Jr. -

304-756-3725.

********************************************************

Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On April 8, 2000 the Autism Resource Konnection will be hosting a rally in
Washington, D.C to promote National Autism Awareness.
The rally will be held on the Mall, between 3rd and 4th streets from
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects more than 500,000 American
citizens and is now occuring in as many as 1 in 500 if not more.    We
want to bring the Nation together to confront the issues surrounding the
epidemic numbers being reported in some states.  We hope to raise the
Awareness to ensure increased government spending for research into the
causes and possible cures, obtain support for legislation to make that
possible, and to better the services provided to educate and serve this
ever-growing population.

As  one of the focal points of the  rally, Unlocking Autism will be
presenting their
"Open Your Eyes to Autism" project.  They will be displaying thousands of
pictures
of individuals with Autism on 3' by 6' boards with the
first name of the person and their state.

For more information on the rally, please contact the Autism Resource
Konnection at
877 - NO AUTISM or visit their web site at www.ark-inc.org.
For more information about the "Open Your Eyes to Autism" picture project
contact Unlocking Autism at 877-769-6736 or visit their website at
www.littleangels.org.

The Disability GrapeVine
Issue #1
Article # 1

******************************************************
Title of Article: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS IN AN EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY WAY
Author:   DrDave

For most all of us, at some point in our lives, we became disabled.  I say
"most all" because of the fact that some of us were disabled from birth. It
is to those of us who went through (or might still be going through) the
transition from able bodiedness to disability that this article speaks.
GRIEVING- We must love ourselves enough permit the full, free expression of
our grief. We might mourn the loss of our ability to walk or stand, do fine
work with our hands, have unbounding energy, speak eloquently or the like,
but, at the moment that's how it is and railing against it and being angry at
our legs, hands or any malfunctioning body part only serves to make things
worse.  It can make us sicker over time.  (It adds a stress such that even
heart disease and cancer have been known to result).
In other words, no matter how good we USED to be(I used to mountain bike 75
miles after treating upwards of 100 patients a day as a Chiroprator) that was
in a  "prior life" and, as the SERENITY PRAYER goes, "Give us the power to
accept the things we cannot change" carries with it the promise of serenity.
The second part of the prayer asks for the strength to "change the things we
can". That's one thing that every one of us in this Disability Party are
embarking on.
And we must always allow for the hope of cure and medical conquest of our
particular conditions, but we will be a lot happier and healthier in the
meantime if we just let ourselves grieve our loss and then "get on with our
lives "as best we can.

As Paul McCartney said years ago,  "Life flows on within you or without you!"


*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability Grapevine
Calendar of Events

Every Monday we will post Calendar of Events.  Events are what is happening
in the disability community.  If you wish to add an event to the Disability
Grapevine Calendar of Events use: DGVEditor@...

Subject: Brain Injury Survivors Day - March 15, Brisbane Australia
Author: markdsherry@...


*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability Grapevine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability Grapevine Classified Ads


******************************************************
We will accept any classified ads dealing with disabilities.  No graphics or
formatting (i.e., centering, bold, underline, or italics) because some e-mail
publishers do not process formatting the same way.  Basically, just use
words.  No more than 500 words per ad.  Two weeks is the maximum running time
for each ad.  Tell us, the dates you want the ad to run an exactly what you
want the ad to say.

No chain letters.
No get rich quick schemes
No pornographic ads.
No spamming

The use of Grapevine advertising is free.  Do not abuse it.

To submit an ad, please use: DGVEditor@....  In the subject line put the
word, "AD."

******************************************************
Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability Grapevine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

The Disability Grapevine
Issue #1
Article # 1

******************************************************
Title of Article: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS IN AN EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY WAY
Author:   DrDave

For most all of us, at some point in our lives, we became disabled.  I say
"most all" because of the fact that some of us were disabled from birth. It
is to those of us who went through (or might still be going through) the
transition from able bodiedness to disability that this article speaks.
GRIEVING- We must love ourselves enough permit the full, free expression of
our grief. We might mourn the loss of our ability to walk or stand, do fine
work with our hands, have unbounding energy, speak eloquently or the like,
but, at the moment that's how it is and railing against it and being angry at
our legs, hands or any malfunctioning body part only serves to make things
worse.  It can make us sicker over time.  (It adds a stress such that even
heart disease and cancer have been known to result).
In other words, no matter how good we USED to be(I used to mountain bike 75
miles after treating upwards of 100 patients a day as a Chiroprator) that was
in a  "prior life" and, as the SERENITY PRAYER goes, "Give us the power to
accept the things we cannot change" carries with it the promise of serenity.
The second part of the prayer asks for the strength to "change the things we
can". That's one thing that every one of us in this Disability Party are
embarking on.
And we must always allow for the hope of cure and medical conquest of our
particular conditions, but we will be a lot happier and healthier in the
meantime if we just let ourselves grieve our loss and then "get on with our
lives "as best we can.

As Paul McCartney said years ago,  "Life flows on within you or without you!"


*****************************************************
The Author's views reflect only their opinion and do not necessarily reflect
that of The Disability Grapevine.
*****************************************************


Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
Rev. Rus Cooper-Dowda
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability Grapevine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

Press Release
Subject: Brain Injury Survivors Day - March 15, Brisbane Australia
Author: markdsherry@...

You may be interested to know that a group of brain injury survivors
(Myself included) are organizing a "Survival Day" function this
Wednesday. We are having a few speeches by survivors on the topic of
"What a brain injury means to me". Then we are having a tree planting
ceremony to recognize, encourage and support those who have survived,
and to remember those who do not survive.

This is the start of a campaign by us to increase pressure on the
government so that people are not placed in nursing homes or other
inappropriate institutions and so that we can have support which will
enable us to lead a life in the community.

Messages of support would be appreciated!
They can be sent to me at markdsherry@...

Thank you.

Dear All,

Welcome to the first issue of The Disability Grapevine.  This is your
newspaper. You send the news stories and we post them at 5 PM EST, daily.  It
can be national news, state news, or local news as long as it is about
disability people or issues.  The newspaper will come to you by e-mail.  We
will send out one article per e-mail.  We will try to tell you what the
article is about in the subject line of your e-mail.  Please go to
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html for the guidelines
to submit articles or to become an Editor.

If you need to get in contact with me for any reason, please send emails to
DGVEditor@...

This is a moderator post only mailing list.  Do not try to post anything.
You can talk back to Editorial staff by sending a Letter to the Editor.
Letters to the Editors are posted on Fridays.  Please use DGVEditor@...
to send a Letter to the Editor.

Send us your press releases also at DGVEditor@...

Enjoy the news!

Paul Cannaday
H.U.M.A.N.

*********************************************

Executive Editor: Paul Cannaday

Editorial Staff
Ruthee
Dr. Dave
RevRus
Marijo Cannaday
Jewl

Sharing Ideas: Maggie

Children Issue

Stacie
Sally

*****************************************************


To send Letter to the Editor, Classifieds, articles to the children issues,
or feedback to Sharing Ideas, contact us at DGVEditor@...

***************************************************

The Disability GrapeVine needs your news stories, be they national, state or
local.  To send us your news stories please read the guidelines at:
http://members.aol.com/disablegrapevine/Main/GPHome.html


Then send them to us at: DGVEditor@...


******************************************************

To hear the disability movement as it happens.  Go to

http://www.ownspeed.com/

If you need information about disabilities or the disability movement or the
disability culture go to:

http://members.aol.com/disablenet/Main/DisableNet.html

****************************************************

If you with to be on the Editorial Staff of, 'The Disability Grapevine,"
please contact Paul Cannaday at: DGVEditor@....  The editorial staff is
an unpaid position.

****************************************************

Dear All,

The disability community is about to get its own daily newspaper called, "The
Disability GrapeVine."  It will be published and sent out via e-mail each
day.  As the name suggests we are counting on you to do the stories.  We do
have an editorial staff, an advice column, a children issue, and we will have
classifieds ads.

The idea of The Disability GrapeVine appeared obvious when checking a lot of
mailing list of different disabilities groups, each mailing list had a lot of
news.  If we get one person who writes the news from each disability group we
will have a newspaper.
If you want to write the news or just read news from all the different
disability groups and keep abreast of what is happening in the disability
community sign up.


The Disability GrapeVine is free all you have to do is to join the mailing
list at:

http://www.onelist.com/group/DisabilityGrapeVine

The first issue of, The Disability GrapeVine comes out this next Monday,
March 13, 2000.


Enjoy the news,

Paul Cannaday
H.U.M.A.N.

<A HREF="mailto:Drdako">Drdako</A>, <A HREF="mailto:UUDRE">UUDRE</A>