By Guest Blogger Anne Laurie, Content Manager for GoNannies.com. Reposted from GoNannies.com

Whether it’s a casual remark tossed aside by a childcare provider or an earnest discussion with a teacher or coach, there’s nothing quite as painful as hearing negative feedback regarding your child’s intellect, developmental pace or abilities. Everyone wants to believe that their child is Mary Poppins “practically perfect in every way,” but that’s simply not the case. Children, just like adults, have their own individual strengths and weaknesses. Before you allow a poor evaluation to upset you and spoil your attitude, it’s wise to look for a course of action that will be both productive and reassuring.

Be Honest With Yourself
When you hear a teacher or childcare provider openly discuss a weakness that you know your child possesses, your natural instinct may be to cling to denial. It’s important to remember, though, that denying a problem exists will not make it go away. The first step to proactive and productive problem management is to accept the news you know is true, even if it’s something you don’t want to hear. After all, how will you begin to go about correcting an issue if you refuse to acknowledge it out of pride and fear?

Listen Carefully
The news that your child has not reached developmentally appropriate milestones for her age, that she may be exhibiting signs of a learning difference or that there are signs of a burgeoning behavioral problem is never easy to hear. Rather than tuning out when the negative words are spoken, force yourself to listen carefully to the assessment you’re receiving. You won’t be able to provide your child with the help that she needs if you’re too upset or afraid to listen closely, ask the appropriate questions and engage in a dialog with the professionals providing the evaluation. You also don’t want to jump to conclusions, falling under the misapprehension that the situation is far worse than it actually is, simply because you stopped listening when the conversation took a turn for the negative.

Focus on the Positive
You may learn that your child is struggling with her reading skills, or that he has a behavioral disorder that will make it difficult for him to thrive in a traditional environment. Rather than latching on to the negative aspects of a poor evaluation, try the old trick of looking on the bright side. Do what you can to mitigate the effects of a poor evaluation on you and your child by celebrating her strengths. Focusing on more positive aspects of an evaluation doesn’t mean that you’re ignoring the negative issues at hand, only that you’re keeping her positive progress in perspective, too.

Know When to Seek Help
All too often, parents faced with a negative progress report or a poor evaluation of their child’s abilities will be so entrenched in their avoidance of the issue that they resist finding professional help. In the long run, the only person that’s being harmed by this avoidance is your child. If educators or medical professionals advise consultation with a specialist, don’t allow your pride to stand in the way of your child getting the help she needs. Work with those educators and medical professionals to determine what she needs in order to thrive to the best of her abilities, rather than sweeping the issue under the rug or trying to deal with it alone.

Don’t Play the Blame Game
When you’re faced with the news that your child is not progressing at the same pace of his peers or that there are indicators of a developmental delay, it’s important to understand that this negative assessment is not necessarily a reflection of your abilities as a parent. If you’re actively working with your child and are providing a safe environment in which she can learn and play, you’re doing a great job as a parent. Realizing that a poor evaluation is not a personal affront to you, your parenting abilities or the parenting style you’ve chosen is essential. When you blame yourself for things that are absolutely not your fault, you’re only wasting energy that could be more productively applied in the area of helping your child to flourish in her own way. Rather than blaming yourself, your spouse or your environment, spend time looking for the most effective ways of boosting your child’s abilities.

Anne Laurie is the content manager for GoNannies.com. She loves writing on various topics, especially those related to child care and parental issues.

By Guest Blogger Stanley Holbrook, President and CEO of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living and Diversity Chair of National Council on Independent Living

In spite of startling evidence of health disparities among people with disabilities and the inherent costs to treat preventable conditions, current federal law does not consider individuals with disabilities as a “medically underserved population.” It also does not include disabilities under requirements for cultural competence and fails to recognize disabilities under any federal program that addresses health disparities.

Overall, people with disabilities have been reported to experience fair or poor health approximately four times more than their peers without disabilities. In addition, a disproportionate percentage of people with disabilities experience the social determinants of poor health (CDC Health Disparities and Inequities Report United States 2011).

Disability Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity and Percentage with Fair or Poor Health

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report-United States 2011; Rationale for Regular Reporting on Health Disparities and Inequalities-United States, MMWR 2011 (Suppl):3-10.

There are three dimensions of health intervention:

• Access and quality of health services;
• Addressing the social determinants of health; and
• Addressing the social determinants of equity.

If health equity is the assurance of the conditions for optimal health for all people, we must value all individuals and populations equally, recognize and rectify historical injustices and provide resources where and as needed. If this is achieved, the other levels of health intervention will take care of themselves.

In addressing the social determinant of access and quality of health services, I want to call attention to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Healthy People 2020 initiative. Provisions in that law and initiative can serve as important tools to bring awareness of the health status of people with disabilities who experience health disparities to health care providers, as well as offer opportunities for many to receive access to quality health care.

Section 4302 of the Affordable Care Act includes provisions to invest in the improvement of health data collection and analysis strategy to capture information such as race, ethnicity and disability status. Health reform has the potential to end these health disparities by ensuring:

• Access to affordable coverage for Americans with all forms of disabilities without regard to pre-existing conditions;
• Inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the definition of “medically underserved populations” and “cultural competence”;
• Equal treatment of the population of individuals with disabilities in all policies, programs and research designed to decrease health disparities; and
• Inclusion of individuals with disabilities in prevention and wellness programs.

The Affordable Care Act has provisions written in the law that, if enforced, can begin to bridge the gap and break down barriers contributing to health disparities for people with disabilities. It provides opportunities for people with disabilities to take responsibility for their health and the health care services that are delivered to them. It also clarifies areas of focus for advocacy efforts (individual and systems) that can improve the design of health care systems so they better fit the needs of people with disabilities.

It is our responsibility to advocate and ensure the enactment of the ACA to the fullest extent. This is the first step in beginning to achieve the health equity we all deserve.

Stanley Holbrook is the president and CEO of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL) in Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Holbrook has had more than 20 years of experience in the field of Human Services. 

Mr. Holbrook is also extremely active in the community, serving on committees and boards, such as the American Society on Aging and the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL). He was instrumental in NCIL’s development of a diversity initiative and is still actively leading the caucus in strategic planning. He is vice-chair of the governor-appointed Statewide Independent Living Council. Mr. Holbrook also served as a delegate to the White House Commission on Aging in 2005.

By Guest Blogger CJ Lange, Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales and Marketing, Industries for the Blind, Inc. – Milwaukee 

Americans with disabilities confront and overcome many challenges in their day-to-day lives, but one of the most troubling issues remains finding steady employment. Too often people with disabilities are denied a chance to work because they are defined solely by their disability.

Most of us are aware of the grim statistics.

People with disabilities account for just 21 percent of labor force participation and have an overall unemployment rate of 13.6 percent, compared with a rate of 7 percent for those without disabilities, according to the most recent figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor.  

At Industries for the Blind – Milwaukee, increasing employment for people who are blind or visually impaired is our top priority. We’re equally passionate about creating well-defined paths for advancement, giving our talented professionals a clear path to upward mobility.

Our organization has grown into a multi-million dollar in sales business, offering quality products and services that equal any for-profit competitor. Meanwhile, we’ve developed strategies that allow us to employ people who are blind or visually impaired in virtually every area of our operations. In all, more than 150 professionals who are blind or visually impaired make their way to our company every day, whether in our offices, manufacturing facilities, warehouses or retail centers.

Can our success be duplicated by other organizations working with people with disabilities? Absolutely.

Here are three tips for increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities that can be applied to any business.

1)    Keep an Open Mind – Many employers don’t know where to start when it comes to hiring people with disabilities. It’s important to keep your options open and consider potential employees with all types of disabilities.

For more than 60 years, our company has focused solely on the employment and advancement of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, but recently we’ve also opened up opportunities for helping wounded servicemen and women returning from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, where many have suffered injuries. These wounded warriors have served their nation honorably, yet they often find it extremely difficult to find good jobs when they return home.

Keeping an open mind when exploring your options for hiring employees with disabilities is key to the success of your business and more importantly, your employees’ careers.

2)    Invest in Tools and Technology – Through investing in the appropriate tools and technologies, you can help your employees with disabilities do their jobs successfully and maximize their potential. What can you do to help make their jobs easier? What can you offer them to ensure their success? 

In our case, for our staffers who are blind, we invested in software that reads emails aloud to them on one side of the earphones they wear, while allowing them to listen to customers on the telephone through the other side. This type of adaptive technology has allowed our company to offer the highest level of service to our customers, while making our employees’ jobs easier. It’s a point of pride to all of us that many of our customers never realize they are doing business with someone who is blind or visually impaired.

3)    Mentor and Offer Advancement Opportunities – After identifying and hiring employees with disabilities, it’s just as important to give them the tools and opportunities they need to advance. Offer them the kinds of opportunities for professional advancement they likely would not receive at other companies.

For example, one of our top information technology employees began on our manufacturing floor, but we recognized his interest and expertise in computer technologies and put him on an upward career path.

Much work remains to be done to help people with disabilities fully participate in the American dream. But it’s important, vital work that must be done. Our citizens with disabilities deserve nothing less than our best and most prolonged efforts.

In his role as Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales & Marketing at Industries for the Blind, Inc. – Milwaukee, CJ Lange directs a talented team of industry experts in Sales, Furniture, Marketing and Inside Sales. Since joining IB Milwaukee in 2000, his innovative ideas and successful programs have helped grow the organization’s pool of resources for investing in adaptive technologies, in turn, growing the number of positions available to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. 

By Guest Blogger Theo Braddy, Executive Director, Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania

Whether caused by a sudden accident or the progression of a disease, a disability diagnosis can be confusing and, at times, even a bit frightening. Where should you go for support in your community? Who can provide appropriate home modifications? How do you continue living independently and experiencing life to the fullest? What does that even look like?

These are the questions we often hear from people who seek our services, and they’re the reason why we launched Living Well With A Disability^SM in 2007 through the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania. The program provides one central resource for people with any type of disability. By contacting the Living Well With A Disability hotline, people with disabilities can take part in an in-depth survey conducted face-to-face with a Living Well Specialist. Together, they determine the person’s goals, dreams and needs, and find the resources to meet them – some of which the individual may not have known existed.

This summer, we are excited to join with our partners, the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) and Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL), to host a premier disability event in the mid-Atlantic—the Living Well With A Disability Conference & Expo.

The event will be held from August 23-26, 2013 at the Lancaster Marriott and Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pa. It will challenge people with all types of disabilities to discover their very best lives, whether testing the latest assistive technology, diving into the action of accessible sports, exploring arts and cultural opportunities and much more. Attendees will also hear the motivating stories of celebrity guests with disabilities who are achieving their dreams on the national stage.  A few of the must-see presentations include:

Tiphany Adams demonstrates an exercise.

• Tiphany Adams, a fitness and wellness advocate, who uses a wheelchair and is a star of Sundance Channel’s original docu-series “Push Girls,” will lead a conference session on nutrition and creating a healthy and active lifestyle. She will also meet with expo attendees.
• Josh Blue, known as the comedian who puts the “cerebral in cerebral palsy” and the winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” television show, will keep attendees laughing with a premier presentation during the conference.
• Christina Ha, author and winner of “MasterChef” Season 3, will lead a conference session on her cooking journey as a chef who is blind and detail the motivation behind her book. She will also have a book signing at the expo.
• 4 Wheel City, a hip hop musical group from the Bronx, New York, will share its story of pursuing music to overcome spinal cord injuries caused by gun violence. The group will perform a concert at the conference and meet guests at the expo.
• Deborah Pierce, an architect and critically acclaimed author of “The Accessible Home,” will show how to remodel a home for people who are aging or living with a disability. She will also autograph books and greet guests at the expo.
• The Employment Forum will focus on pressing issues that impact people with disabilities who are seeking employment. Currently, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 12.9 percent, which is almost twice the rate for people without disabilities (6.9 percent). Facilitated by Stacy Kyle of AHEDD and the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network, the Employment Forum will offer voices from across the industry and state, including: Renee Holloman, director of workforce development and retention for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts; Stan Holbrook, president and CEO of Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL) in Pittsburgh, Pa.; Stevie Hopkins, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of 3E Love; John Miller, vice president of AHEDD; and Keith Williams, director of advocacy at the Center for Independent Living Northeastern Pennsylvania in Scranton, Pa.

The expo, held August 24 and 25, is free and open to the public, and attendees can register online. A list of exhibitors dedicated to mobility, assistive technology, home modifications, adaptive vehicles and more can be found on the Exhibitors page.

Conference registrations will be accepted until July 26, 2013, and people can find more information on the Registration page. For full details about the Living Well With A Disability Conference & Expo, visit www.livingwellwithadisabilityexpo.org. For the latest updates on presenters and activities, connect with the Living Well With A Disability Conference & Expo on Facebook and follow updates on Twitter (@LivingWell2013).

We hope to see you there to take Living Well with a Disability to the next level!

Theotis W. Braddy graduated from Temple University with a Master’s degree in Social Work in 1988. He also attended Edinboro University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. Mr. Braddy has taught at Temple University as an Adjunct Professor teaching Social Welfare Policy I & II at the Temple University Harrisburg Campus.

At the age of 15, Theotis W. Braddy became a person with a disability due to a high school football accident. For more than 25 years, Mr. Braddy has advocated on behalf of persons with disabilities. He was hired in 1989 to establish and administer the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP). As executive director, Mr. Braddy has created an independent living center that has become a strong and growing voice for persons with disabilities.

In addition to his continued commitment and service as executive director of the CILCP, Mr. Braddy serves as president of Arms Around Communities, a nonprofit faith-based service ministry  in Middletown, Pa. Mr. Braddy has a Masters degree in Social Work from Temple University and a  Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Edinboro University. He and his wife Rovenia have two children, a daughter, Kimmi, and a son, Theo II.

By Guest Blogger George Matysik, Director of Government Affairs and Policy and Planning, Philabundance

As employees of Philabundance (the local Feeding America food bank and the largest hunger relief organization that serves Philadelphia and the surrounding eight counties in Delaware Valley), we task ourselves not only with providing short-term hunger relief for today, but also creating opportunities for long-term solutions for tomorrow. Nowhere is this more important than for the most vulnerable populations, children, seniors and those living with disabilities, in our region.

At Philabundance, we pride ourselves on effectively providing our neighbors in need with reliable access to healthy food staples. We see people from many walks of life looking to us for food, and we sometimes depict those who benefit from our services with broad brushstrokes to simplify the picture of need within our region. However, we would like to take this opportunity to paint a more nuanced portrait of what need truly looks like for many of the families we serve.

Because the factors that lead a person to seek food assistance differ widely from person to person, we look at a variety of aspects when trying to understand “need.” Income plays an important role – can a person or a family make ends meet?

However, income is not the only qualifier. We think about resources not just in the monetary sense, such as income, assets, and other financial means, but also in a more abstract sense – what other methods does a person have to access the goods and services that they need in order to survive? Does a family have health insurance? What about access to government benefits? If they have kids, do they have childcare? If they are unemployed, how difficult would it be for them to find work? Can a person draw upon a strong social network? Some or all of these considerations, along with a myriad of others, come into play when a person makes the decision to seek out our services.

Often, people with disabilities within our region utilize our services, because their access to a variety of resources is severely restricted. Consider this hard data from the U.S. Census Bureau:

• There is a stark difference between average yearly earnings of those with and without disabilities. While individuals without disabilities averaged earnings of approximately $38,000 per year, those with disabilities earned about $22,000.
• While just 5 percent of all individuals across the Greater Philadelphia region received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, in 2011, nearly half of all individuals with disabilities received them.[i]

Since nearly one-fifth of households within Philabundance’s service area include one or more individuals with disabilities, the realities of high medical costs, low wages and underemployment present tremendous economic hurdles. Furthermore, as an individual’s age increases, the probability that he or she will have a disability increases substantially; while nearly one out of every 10 individuals in our region has a disability, nearly one out of three seniors has a disability. As the Baby Boomer generation hits retirement age, social service organizations will begin to see increasing numbers of elderly clients with disabilities and chronic medical conditions.

Philabundance and other Feeding America hunger relief organizations throughout the United States are committed to healthy food access to those in need. If you or someone you know is looking for resources geared towards people with disabilities, please visit www.FeedingAmerica.org. For more information on Philabundance, visit www.philabundance.org.

By Guest Blogger Kendra Gottsleben, Social Media Director, University of South Dakota School of Medicine’s Center for Disabilities 

When you hear the familiar quote, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” what comes to mind? Personally, this saying reminds me to turn obstacles in my life into opportunities. In fact, I have put my own special twist on this common phrase, “When life hands you lemons – turn right around and squeeze those lemons to make the BEST lemonade possible.” My belief in this motto has encouraged me to accomplish one of my biggest dreams: writing an autobiography, which is entitled Live Laugh Lemonade: A Journey of Choosing to Beat the Odds. In my first published book, I share how I’ve overcome the many challenges in my life in order to accomplish my goals.

My story began in 1984 as my parents anxiously awaited the moment they had envisioned for nine months – the birth of their daughter. I was born healthy and strong with no signs of future health challenges. Like any new parents, mine saw endless potential from the first day we met. Little did they know, only a few short months later, we would begin a lifelong journey of choosing to beat the great obstacles and challenges that would accompany my (then undetectable) medical condition.

When I was six months old, my mother noticed a bump in the middle of my back that was later diagnosed as kyphosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. As a teacher, she knew this was not typical and she became very concerned about my physical development. Months later, still as a baby, I had corrective surgery. As I learned to walk, my mother noticed that I had bent knees and short, curved fingers. An orthopedist told her not to worry and that this was typical for some children. However, because of my mother’s persistence, we were finally referred to a geneticist.

Initially, my parents were told that there was a high likelihood that I would regress intellectually and probably die before reaching the age of 10. This prognosis was unimaginable and heartbreaking for my parents. Nonetheless, my parents refused to accept what the geneticist said and optimistically, continued searching for answers. One month later, they learned that I had been misdiagnosed, and they were finally able to receive my accurate, official diagnosis.

At the age of four, I was diagnosed with a rare enzyme disorder called Mucopolysaccararidosis Type VI (MPS VI). One in 215,000 people are diagnosed with this condition. The new diagnosis substantially improved my chances of living a somewhat healthy life. Additionally, it meant I wouldn’t revert intellectually and there would be no age-related death sentence.

Twenty-four years later, I live life with the same optimistic outlook my parents had when they were faced with that heartbreaking news. I refuse to be defined by my MPS. I define my life by my positive outlook and success in overcoming obstacles!  As a college graduate with a double major in sociology and psychology, I currently work as the social media coordinator at the Center for Disabilities at the University of South Dakota. My profession blends the two worlds that I grew up in – medicine and education.

It is my hope that I can help others realize that who we are or what we look like does not have to stop us from reaching our dreams and goals. MPS has presented many obstacles for me, such as poor vision, a constrictive airway and an inability to walk long distances, to name only a few. However, I am determined to not let a diagnosis limit my achievements and inhibit my dreams. I believe that each experience that we have in our lives, good or bad, is a learning opportunity from which we can choose to grow.

Having MPS has also given me many incredible experiences that I would not have had otherwise. As one example, I was a participant in a clinical enzyme research trial in Oakland, California in 2002 that sought to replace the enzyme that my body doesn’t produce. Through this experience and others, I have been able to get to know some of the most wonderful nurses and doctors. At times, they’ve felt more like family than care providers.

As I continually strive to learn from my experiences, I also enjoy the opportunity to learn from other’s experiences. In particular, I feel blessed when I have the chance to meet with others to share my positive outlook on life. Everyone’s life is tough at some point or another – that’s a fact. It doesn’t matter how different each of our lives are. These obstacles are what make us who we are. I feel that limitations are only barriers to break down; we must not be defined by them.

I always try to approach my struggles with a positive outlook. At a young age, I learned that I cannot choose my obstacles, but I can choose my attitude, which determines my success and happiness in life. It’s also important to me that others find their self-confidence in the face of their challenges. The truth is that with hard work and a positive attitude, our potential is endless. Life’s greatest successes result from diligence and never giving up.

The lemons in my life have led me to be a dreamer of big dreams and an achiever of even bigger dreams! I choose to make lemonade every day. Next time a challenge comes your way, ask yourself, “If obstacles never occurred in my life, where would I be today?”, and start squeezing!

Kendra Gottsleben was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. She stands nearly three feet tall and gets around primarily using a motorized wheelchair. Despite her physical limitations, Ms. Gottsleben refuses to be defined by her disability. She is most passionate about working with families and children with disabilities and spreading her message of optimism and not letting one’s physical appearance or things one cannot control limit her dreams. At 28 years old, she is a college graduate and has found full-time employment at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine’s Center for Disabilities. She recently became a published author. For more information about Kendra, find her on Facebook  and Twitter (@Kegottsleben). For information regarding her book, please visit http://kenimagine.storenvy.com.

By Guest Blogger Teresa Neal, Lead for the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) Public Education Program, Prevention and Information Branch

Summer is an exciting time. I am looking forward to spending time outside, going to the pool or beach, enjoying picnics with friends and family and, of course, vacation.

However, fire never takes a vacation. Even in the festive summertime, you need to test the batteries in your smoke alarms every month and practice your home escape plan. Know two ways out of every room. If you have trouble hearing the alarm, there are alarms available with strobe lights and bed shakers to ensure you wake up when the alarm sounds.

If you stay in a hotel, make sure you become familiar with where the exits are located. Count the doors from your room to the exit. Know where the stairs are. If you are unable to use the stairs unassisted, consider requesting a first floor room and let the front desk know that in case of an emergency, you may require some additional assistance.

Summertime also brings fires and injuries due to fireworks and outdoor cooking. Knowing a few fire safety tips will help you enjoy these activities safely.

The best way to protect your family is not to use fireworks at home. Leave that to the professionals and enjoy a community display. Fireworks are very dangerous. The tip of a sparkler is hotter than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit; this is hot enough to cause third-degree burns.

Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs are my summertime favorites, but before you start that grill this summer, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Make sure the fuel lines don’t have any cracks or holes in them. Once you know your grill is in good working condition, make sure you use it safely. Always open the grill lid before lighting. Do not add lighter fluid to an already lit fire and keep a three-foot safety zone around the grill. Use long handled utensils to keep your hands and arms away from the heat.

Summer is a time for fun and happy memories, but don’t forget to practice fire safety. Remember, Fire is Everyone’s Fight™. We all have a role to play in keeping ourselves and loved ones safe!

Teresa Neal is the lead for the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) public education program, as part of the Prevention and Information Branch, and manages the “Fire is Everyone’s Fight” campaign. Teresa has been a liaison with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, on the public education and communications group for the Indian Health Service and with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Educational Messaging Advisory Committee.

Teresa plays a vital role in building the USFA team who track and report the daily Civilian Report on Fire Fatalities, and is one of the authors of outstanding monthly content for the Focus on Fire Safety.

Teresa is a U.S. Army veteran who served as an interrogator and Russian/Serbian linguist in the 1990s. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business and international business from The Pennsylvania State University. She and her family live in Waynesboro, PA.

By Guest Blogger, Stephen Wampler, Founder, The Wampler Foundation

My name is Steve Wampler. When I was born in 1968, I got stuck in my mother’s birth canal and was deprived of oxygen for a time. As a result, I have cerebral palsy. Having said that, I was the first-born child of parents who, after absorbing the initial blow, educated themselves about my condition and its severity and worked with doctors to try to understand all that I would face. They also got very thorough evaluations from medical establishments to determine what my life would be like, physically and mentally.

Once my parents had all the answers they needed, they were armed with information and ready to educate me. What they were told was that I would need to use a wheelchair my entire life, but that my brain function had not been impaired – basically I would have no balance or coordination, but I could be educated “normally.”

I would say that, given that knowledge, my first memories of my parents were both the love they had for me, as well as the expectation that in spite of my physical limitations, I would excel in my life and make the most of it in every imaginable way. Fast forward to today. I’m 44, have been married to my wife Elizabeth for 17 years, and we have a 13-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. Life is good.

I went to the University of California at Davis and have a degree in Environmental Engineering. However, in 2002, I gave up my engineering career to start The Wampler Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides one of a kind wilderness experiences to children across the country with physical disabilities. I really learned a lot by going to camp as a kid, so much so that I was compelled to give back so that the kids of this generation could learn for themselves what the camping experience can do to challenge and teach youngsters with physical disabilities. My camp is called Camp WAMP (Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs), and we’ve been at it for nine summers now.

In 2009, I decided I wanted to put our foundation on the map.  I needed to do something very challenging, as difficult as I could find.  So I trained for a year-and-a-half, and then climbed the biggest rock face in the world, El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.  I did 20,000 pull-ups and slept on a mountain for five nights.  But more about that in my next blog post!

My biggest request of anyone who might read this, whether you have a disability, love someone who has a disability or want to know more about the real lives of people with disabilities, is that you ask me ANY questions you can think of.  BE BRAVE – I can take it!  I know people have questions, and I am excited to see some incredible dialog generated.  What do you think?  Are you in?  I am!  Let’s have some fun! Here is my email address: steve@wamplerfoundation.org.

With your permission, I will post and answer questions you ask. Come on, let’s do this! Thanks for reading. Stay tuned – more is coming soon!

Born with a severe form of cerebral palsy, Stephen Wampler started The Wampler Foundation in 2002 with his wife Elizabeth so that children with disabilities could be active participants in programs and activities that are centered around the great outdoors. They have since enabled thousands of kids with physical disabilities, and often economic limitations, to experience the joys and camaraderie of programs that push each child to discover how capable they really are and to expect a big life ahead. The Foundation plans to expand its youth programs nationwide and internationally in order to help more kids with physical obstacles lead full and ambitious lives.

In 2012, Steve Wampler set out to climb the biggest rock face in the world, El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. At twice the height of the Empire State Building, Steve became the first person with cerebral palsy to reach its summit.  The grueling trek required Steve to do 20,000 pull ups over a six-day period, sleep on the sheer face of the mountain and overcome his enormous fear of heights in order to accomplish this monumental task. In addition to all the other obstacles he faced, Steve has the full use of only one limb, his right arm.  A documentary about the climb, Wampler’s Ascent, has just been released, and has already garnered 33 film awards, including most recently the Golden Palm Award at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. For more information, visit The Wampler Foundation website at www.wamplerfoundation.org.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month

By Guest Blogger Stephanie Orlando, Member, National Council on Disability (NCD), with the assistance of Robyn Powell, NCD’s Attorney Advisor

May is recognized as both National Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.  What most people do not realize is the overlap that often occurs with these populations.

In the United States, there are more than 400,000 children and teens in foster care.  Research reveals that children and teens in the foster care system have disproportionately high rates of psychiatric disability. 

One study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that nearly half (47.9 percent) of youth in foster care were found to have clinically significant emotional or behavioral problems.  Likewise, researchers at the Casey Family Programs estimate that between one-half and three-fourths of children entering foster care exhibit behavioral or social competency problems that warrant mental health services.

Youth who have “aged out” of foster care also show high rates of psychiatric disability.  According to a study by the Casey Family Programs and Harvard Medical School, a high number of former foster children have psychiatric disabilities as adults.  Over half of foster care alumni had mental health diagnoses, compared to 22 percent of the comparison group.  

The disproportionate level of mental health diagnoses is perhaps most evident with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Thirty percent of foster alumni are diagnosed with PTSD, which is about twice the rate of U.S. combat veterans.

In 2008, the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policy, issued a comprehensive report entitled, Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions.

In that report, NCD found that, “While the federal investment in the multiple systems with which these youth come in contact is significant, the disconnectedness and lack of coordination across programs and agencies call into question the effectiveness of government efforts.” 

Five years later, the problems remain. The mental health needs of children and teens in foster care continue to be overlooked and inadequately addressed, often with detrimental consequences.

A significant number of the estimated 20,000 young people who leave foster care each year face inordinately bleak futures.  According to researchers, just over half of these young people – 54 percent - earn a high-school diploma, and a quarter of them become homeless.  On average, youth who age out of the foster care system with psychiatric disabilities fare even worse.

In 2003, researchers at Georgetown University estimated that only 42 percent of students with mental health diagnoses graduate from high school.  As such, foster care youth with psychiatric disabilities find themselves at a double disadvantage.

As we acknowledge both National Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, NCD renews its call to action. We urge legislators, policymakers and service providers to direct significant attention to the needs of children and teens with psychiatric disabilities in the foster care system by following through on these recommendations:   

• Increased flexibility for states and communities so programs and services can be most effectively structured to meet the needs of children and teens with disabilities in foster care;
• More federal support for research and demonstration projects to identify effective policies and practices that lead to positive outcomes for children and teens with disabilities in foster care;
• Improvements in the quality, availability and affordability of mental health services and supports;
• Better training for foster care parents and increased recruitment of individuals willing to foster children and teens with disabilities;
• Greater access to individualized, comprehensive transition services, including mental health care, for children and teens with disabilities aging out of foster care; and increased collaboration among the education, juvenile justice, child welfare, labor, dependency court, health and mental health systems.

Furthermore, NCD applauds the President’s new budget proposal to fund mental health initiatives.  The proposed $205 million to help identify mental health problems, improve access to mental health services and support safer school environments, if adopted, will fill an important void for many children and teens in foster care who have psychiatric disabilities.

The goal for America’s youth to live healthy, happy lives and to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society is achievable, but we should not — and cannot — forget those young people who face significant barriers to reaching these goals. 

Our nation must make a strong commitment to support children and teens with psychiatric disabilities throughout their time in foster care and take the steps necessary to ensure that a safe, healthy and positive transition to adulthood is planned for as the end goal.

This can only happen if we include youth with psychiatric disabilities in the planning process and in our communities going forward.  The foundation we, as a society, build for children and teens in foster care during their formative years will likely become the basis for the future they create. Let’s build it on solid ground.

Stephanie Orlando is the Director of YOUTH POWER! of Families Together in New York State, a state advocacy network comprised of young people with disabilities with experience in state child-serving systems. After receiving children’s mental health, special education and residential services herself, Ms. Orlando has become a strong advocate for youth with disabilities on county, state and national levels.

She has served a term as Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Committee to the National Council on Disability, and currently serves on the New York State Commissioners’ Committee on Cross-Systems Services for Children & Youth, the New York State Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Special Education Services, the New York Mental Health Services Planning Council and the Board of Directors of the Children’s Mental Health Coalition of Western New York. Ms. Orlando earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2005 from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

By Guest Blogger John Quinn, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and Author of Someone Like Me – An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy

There are approximately 22 million veterans in the United States today.  Chances are you know someone who served or is active in the Armed Forces.  The latest statistics also show that there are over 800,000 people with cerebral palsy in the U.S.  But have you ever met someone who served in the military while battling cerebral palsy? 

You have now. 

My name is John W. Quinn and I was born with cerebral palsy.  I couldn’t walk on my own until the age of four, due to being partially paralyzed on one side of my body and my left foot being two and a half sizes smaller than my right.  I wore eye patches to help correct my vision and heavy orthopedic shoes to straighten my spine, and endured grueling physical therapy sessions all throughout grade school to build up my “pipe cleaner” limbs. 

I kept this all a secret in order to join the United States Navy. In fact, I maintained the secret of my disability during my entire 20-year military career.  No one knew I had cerebral palsy as I served onboard battleships, destroyers and aircraft carriers.  I stood every watch, participated in every drill and fought every fire.  I performed at the highest levels and retired in 2002 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer – the second highest enlisted rank you can hold in the Navy.  It was an honor to serve my country.

It wasn’t easy. I failed my first attempt to pass the military entrance physical when I couldn’t execute what’s known as the “duck walk.” We were made to get down into a catcher’s squat and then told to hold our arms out straight in front of us.  We then proceeded to walk around the room while down in a squatting position.  My body was not strong enough and I fell over.

I couldn’t meet the standard of fitness that the military needed from their recruits.  So what did I do?  I went home and started doing that duck walk exercise down in my basement. I did it every day for a year. Then, I went back and took the physical again.  I was the best duck walker in the building and passed with flying colors.  It took hard work, sweat, determination and a big lie, but I was finally able to gain inclusion into the Navy and have the career of my dreams. 

When I use the word “inclusion” in relation to the working world, many people believe that I’m asking for a lowering of a standard to fit a need.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Inclusion to me is the opportunity to hit the same standard as anyone else.  Sadly, many people, especially those with disabilities, do not even get the chance to show what they can do. 

Why is this?  I believe it’s because many employers are afraid of what they do not understand.  They see someone who stands differently, speaks differently, uses a power wheelchair or breathing device, and automatically assume that this person has nothing to offer.  This assumption is wrong and needs to be changed – today. 

“Different” does not mean “less than.”  Everyone has ability, something to offer this world. We just need the opportunity to showcase what we can do, and that’s why including us in a work environment is so important.  It provides the chance that we need to prove ourselves to the world.  Inclusion brings us together, strips away labels and helps reveal a simple fact: that people with disabilities are, first and foremost, people.  

John W. Quinn is a retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and author of Someone Like Me – An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy.  He now travels the country as a motivational speaker. You can learn more about him at http://www.johnwquinn.com/.