Mad Pride, Medication & Emotional Support Animals

It all started at the very end of my shrink appointment Tuesday. I'm going to come right out in the open and admit that I've been having serious compliance issues with my meds for a very long time now. So she says (in a non threatening way, completely in passing) "Maybe I should threaten to not treat you. It seemed to work the last time." To which I said "What if I went all mad pride and had a strong philosophical belief against taking meds?" Also, I disagree with her in that although it did work it was very temporarily. I left it at that as I was walking out the door. But I didn't end the thoughts in my head. I chewed on it for hours. I have a stop forced drugging logo on my right sidebar (which leads to http://www.stopforcenow.org ). And I believe that. I don't believe in treatment by way of coersion, which, if I thought she was even the least bit serious, that would be.

I am pro-choice on the medication front. I agree with the Icarus Project that people need to do what works for them. I don't agree with forced treatment. I don't agree with conventional medical beliefs that seem to say that there is a right and a wrong way to cure this "disease," probably because I very strongly believe that I do not have a disease. I don't want that stigma placed on me. In no way am I saying that anyone I come in contact with personally has placed this stigma on me (well not entirely true, there is one person); I feel I need the disclaimer. It's society at large that does this.

I remember the first time I was decently suicidal. I was shrink shopping and having admitted the extent of my noncompliance issues in the past was told by every single one of them that they refused to see me unmedicated. I don't agree with that and in fact now that I'm getting involved in human rights I find it unethical. From what I understand (I got this from an episode of Private Practice) the American Academy of Pediatrics has taken a stance that Drs should not abandon patients whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate. Where is this different? To me, choosing not to vaccinate is dangerous in that it is potentially putting hundreds of children at risk for death from a measles outbreak. Especially children who are imunosuppressed. Choosing not to medicate does not carry that risk. It just so happens that I begged for drugs anyway. I've never really wanted to die (similarly to this, but different in that I've never experienced trauma) so I'd rather not feel like I do. But this was my choice. Again, I am pro-choice.

Medication is just one tool that a person can take or leave when seeking to achieve their own version of balance. But there are many others, like dogs. I've got dogs on the brain again. I don't know how they came up on the drive back from DC on Saturday, I think K brought it up, but we both believe Autism Speaks' gazillion dollars would be better spent on buying kids autism service dogs. We also believe that human health insurance should pay for service dogs as well as vet bills for service dogs at the same reimbursement rate as human doctor visits and/or DME. The pay for powerchairs and powerchair repairs. By extension...

Dogs also came up Monday night with a friend of mine and in my train of thought about Mad Pride. I suspect that if I had a dog and if I was running and if I was doing other things I know I should do I would not need medication. I do not know for fact as I've never had a dog, but from Oreo I do know I would at the very least be able to lower my dosages. However, at the moment I do not have a dog and I do not run and so regardless of tactics I happen to agree with absolutely everyone that I should be taking my meds right now.

[image description: 4 puppies in the grass]

These periodically reoccurring thoughts coupled with Monday nights conversation prompted me to finally look up what a psychiatric service dog does. How is one different from a mobility / seeing eye / hearing /seizure / autism dog? What I found is that there is such a thing as an emotional support animal. Emotional support animals (ESA) are NOT trained anymore then a regular pet dog but with documentation from a doctor or ANY licensed mental health professional you would be covered by the federal housing laws, dept of justice, and dept of transportation. (links to Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) So you cannot be discriminated against when renting or flying on a plane. However you are not covered under title III of the ADA, public accommodations. So you can't bring an ESA into a supermarket for example. For that you need a trained psychiatric service dog.

What is the difference between a trained psychiatric service dog and an ESA? What's distinguishing? Read this GREAT article. It's something to think about...

Wordless Wednesday

A picture from the protest and some linkage to more press

From WAMU, the local NPR news radio Locally-Founded Autism Group Protests DC Walk for Autism

From The Hilltop, Howard University's Student Newspaper Autistic Plea Less Pity

LGBT Long Term Care Survey

Haven't looked at it at all, just passing along from FRIDA.

Dear Colleague:

The National Senior Citizens Law Center, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), are working together to raise awareness of the issues facing older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") and live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. We hope to identify areas where policy changes will improve care, and to find other older adults, advocates and providers interested in these issues.

The survey is only 16 questions. It should take no more than ten minutes to fill it out. The survey completely protects your confidentiality. (However, we are looking for volunteers willing to be interviewed, so please consider checking that box!)

Click here to fill out the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=UPQXC5Gub99IvdRNz83Hwg_3d_3d ; or if you would like to fill out this survey manually, you can print it out from the link above and mail it to:

Nancy Arevalo
National Senior Citizens Law Center

1330 Broadway, Suite 525
Oakland, CA 94612

The deadline for responding to the survey is December 15, 2009.

Whether you are an older adult living in a long-term care facility or a family member, caretaker, social worker or friend, your answers to these questions will help as we work together to fight discrimination, abuse and neglect against LGBT older adults. Specifically, you should fill out this survey if you are:

· A lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender older adult who lives or has lived in a long-term care facility;
· A caregiver of an LGBT older adult who lives or has lived in a long-term care facility;
· A family member or friend with knowledge of an LGBT older adult's experience in a long-term care facility;
· A social worker or other helping professional who works with older adults.

Long-term care facilities include nursing homes, assisted living communities and senior living facilities.
Again, click here to fill out the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=UPQXC5Gub99IvdRNz83Hwg_3d_3d ; and share the survey with your colleagues!

A Blast From the Past Article

I was looking for this exact picture for my postcard and I googled and it was still online here even after over 8.5 years since it was written. The article was written for a local newspaper. I was in MEL from Sept 2001-June 2003 (10th-12th grade) and was interviewed for the article. I think that little bit of hair you can see furthest away is my hair! I owe all my success in disability advocacy/activism to this program and Judy Webster. Oh, and Robert [that's him in the picture along with Jill & Mawadda. I think Carla is the half a face & Keith is the other bit of hair] got in trouble for that remark. Setting a bad example...

Challenged teenagers from Montgomery Exceptional Leaders share their stories

In their own voices or through an interpreter, in halting or quick tones and with or without the help of a temperamental microphone, members of Montgomery Exceptional Leaders made their voices heard last week at a Germantown middle school.

The 10 teenagers represented a contingent of the group, known as MEL, which takes disabled students from high schools across the county and teaches them to share their story with others.

Judy Webster, the program's coordinator, said participants learn leadership and advocacy skills as well as public speaking.

"Because these students, everyone but especially these students, will need to advocate for themselves," Webster said. "[To] let people know what they can do and what they need to do it."

And that is what the students did at Dr. Martin Luther King Middle School.

Lined up on stage, they represented a wide range of challenges. Some were evident, as the students used wheelchairs or interpreters, but others were more subtle, and the assembled eighth-graders were sometimes invited to guess at the particular disability.

The students spoke frankly of the hurt and frustration of being teased and feeling behind in classes, but also about how they had dealt with these issues and what their hopes were for the future.

They explained the accommodations made for them in school, including elevator keys, note takers or a quiet room to take tests, and how all of that helped. But most of all, the students emphasized the significance of being accepted and understood by others and the importance of striving for dreams.

It was that positive message that led parent Brenda Martin, whose own daughter suffers from learning disabilities and Tourette syndrome -- a neurological disorder characterized by outbursts and tics -- to arrange the visit to King.

"These kids are so good as examples because they're cool with their disabilities," she said.

For most of the hour-long presentation, the audience listened quietly but other times the speakers drew laughter, questions and supportive comments.

Robert Tomlinson, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School suffering from cerebral palsy -- a chronic disorder impairing control of movement -- joked with the students. He demonstrated the benefits of his wheelchair -- its speed and reclining back, for example, "that's supposed to help me rest my back," Tomlinson said, "but sometimes I just don't feel like participating in class."

The audience cheered appreciatively.

Montgomery Exceptional Leaders visit about two elementary or middle schools each month once they have their speeches down, Webster said. They also produce a video and conduct workshops with support from the Association of Retarded Citizens.

"The goal is to have schools use a MEL visit in very constructive ways to promote awareness of disabilities and teach advocacy to all students," Webster said. Teachers receive classroom materials to help them follow up on the messages they hear in the presentation, which are aimed at listeners of all kinds.

"Just because I have learning disabilities doesn't mean I don't want to do the same things you like to do," Debra Wilensky of Wootton High told the students.

Said Joanna Yen, a Wootton senior with cerebral palsy: "If you have a disability, don't be afraid, because if I can do it, you can do it too."

King Principal Carrie Miller was "very impressed with the students who came out to visit us. ...You could tell from the audience behavior that they were absorbing."

The teenagers who make up MEL believe they both educate their audience and gain confidence themselves as they share their stories.

"First thing when we had this meeting is that we had to accept this disability," said Carla Mendes, a junior at Churchill High with a speech and language disability. "We had to accept it and realize that it was just nature and that made it easier."

The disabled students then pass that feeling on, Mendes said. "Giving the message to the kids, it's a real eye-opener, seeing how the world is," she said. "It shows them that everyone is normal, they're just different."

"I think they [the audience] walk away with some messages, even if it's just for one day or one week," said Jill Bayder, a senior at Churchill who spoke about her problems with depth perception.

Marci Michael, a teacher for the deaf at Rockville High School, has been involved with the MEL program for five years and has seen it change lives on both sides. She remembered one student in particular who had difficulty dealing with his disability before becoming involved with the group.

"He has absolutely become more comfortable with himself and knowing he can be successful even with a difference," she said.

Eric Payne of Paint Branch High School is in his second year in MEL and said he no longer gets nervous when he speaks from his wheelchair about his cerebral palsy.

"I just share myself," he said.

From the stage, Payne emphasized his abilities rather than his disabilities, talking about his involvement in various groups.

"I think that being active is good because no matter what my limitations are, I try to do my best," he said. "I don't know what 'give up' means -- what that means is just because I can't do something doesn't mean I can't keep striving."

What Does Disability Mean to YOU?

VSA Arts wants to know for their collaborative art project!

Collaborative art project - What is Disability?

What’s the Art Project?

Join people from around the world and send in a postcard documenting your interpretation of disability. All languages accepted. Print the postcard template and create a visual representation of your experiences, impressions, and perceptions. We’re taking a creative approach to investigate how many different ways people will interpret the same word. The deadline for receipt of postcards is February 5, 2010.

Who Should Participate?

You! We’re looking for people of different cultures, ethnicities, geographic locations, and abilities. This is for anyone. You do no have to consider yourself an “artist” to participate.

What’s the cost?

The cost of a stamp! We’ll be creating an exhibition–both online and in Washington, D.C.–to represent your submissions as part of the 2010 International VSA arts festival. Mail to: Disability Postcard Project c/o VSA Arts 818 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20006 USA

To me, one of the main parts of disability is CREATIVITY coincidentally and I already have my design in my head! I do have one problem in that the template does not have measurements and I will be using word to create my postcard and then printing it out on cardstock. Anyone know the dimensions of a postcard?

The picture above is of something I also did on word in July 07. I call it Wheelchair Pop Art. It was also posted here.

Just the Story For Now...

and the commentary later. I didn't get a soundbite (wasn't expecting to) but you can see me at 1:29. From ABC 7 and News Channel 8 in DC:

Autism Walk on National Mall Stirs Controversy

WASHINGTON - Thousands of people converged on the National Mall Saturday for a great cause -- fighting autism.

Several protesters, many of whom also fall on the autism spectrum, used the annual "Walk Now for Autism" event to point out the flaws with the event sponsor.

Michelle Parris came out the Mall ready to walk 2.5 miles for her son Miles. "I just want other people to not have to deal with the same difficulties that my son has dealt with," she said. "If there's a way that we can end it that would be great."

Her cause, along with thousands of others, is for autism, a neurobiological disorder that affects one in 150 children.

"My little boy who turns 8 in two weeks is mildly autistic and I have many friends who have children who are autistic," said Yitbarek Arefeaine.

Early intervention was key for 7-year-old Ahadu Arefeaine who is now making great progress through speech and occupational therapy. He sometimes even teaches his parents a thing or two.

"He can tell you everything you wanted to know about a bee -- more than I ever knew," said Arefeaine.

The annual walk sponsored by Autism Speaks drew families and supporters from all over the D.C. area. Together they raised closed to $700,000.

"This money goes toward research and autism awareness," said Joe Galli, chair of the D.C. chapter of Autism Speaks. "These kids are struggling to get the treatment that they need."

On the other end of the Mall, protesters held an event of their own questioning the practices of Autism Speaks.

"They use fear and stigma and pity to try and raise money off the backs of our people," said Ari Ne'eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

The group says the money raised Saturday and at future events won't all go to help those with the disorder. "Its funding goes overwhelmingly toward things like genetic research to create a prenatal test to end our existence," said Ne'eman.

The protesters were set up where they could be seen, right near the path of Saturday's walk. They said they did get some backlash but most people were receptive and wanted to learn more.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?! (Wordless Wednesday)

Found through someone's facebook album:

On a bus:
"ABLE BODY LABOR"

Now This is Somewhat Creepy

Facebook uses cookies to track everything you do there. They use this data to be able to target ads to you. My profile says I like horses so I get a lot of ads about buying horses or sales on riding boots. It also says I'm single, so I get a lot of dating service ads, usually non discriminatory or Jewish although I get my fair share of christian dating site ads as well, even though it says I'm Jewish. I'm a fan of 3elove so I constantly get there ads too (FYI I want a kelly green hoodie size M if anyone wants to buy me one).

All that I understand. I get. What I don't get is that I just got an ad that I may be eligible to participate in a research study testing the efficacy of investigational pain meds after bunion surgery. Seriously, how do they know I need 2 bunion surgeries in the somewhat distant future (it seems)??? I don't think I've ever mentioned that on facebook or this blog... Creep anyone else out?

[image description: 3 pairs of feet in cute socks]

Another Music Video

Yet another thing found through my facebook newsfeed the other day. I know it's Miley Cyrus, but the Dude's cool and the song kinda grew on me

Another ATLANTA Wordless Wednesday

Hopefully the last Atlanta post
pictures taken from NationalADAPT on Twitpic or various Facebook accounts.

Banner says FREE OUR PEOPLE MARCH & RALLY

The group at the rally

Singing We Shall Overcome to the residents of the Parkview Manor Nursing Facility (which, as previously mentioned, is surrounded by barbed wire)

Marching

I'd be too scared to hang on like that

PhilosopherCrip I believe he's wearing a feisty and non compliant shirt

Banner says FREE OUR PEOPLE