In this post I will have two major topics.
Freedom!
Some of you might think that I have a lot of freedom now that I am living on my own, yes I do but the most satisfying freedom for me is one in which I can explore the world of dance without the confines of my wheelchair. You might ask how do you do it? Well to be honest we are so in tune with each other’s bodies that if my partner senses that I am unstable he/she will adjust me accordingly and I will support them where needed in return. This kind of freedom is amazing for me. I am one with the world. Today I experienced a different kind of freedom. One in wich I was running for my life. I was studying with my new tutor Elyse, who by the way is a wonderful person and I will talk about her in future posts.
Anyway, I was beginning to get stressed out because it is nearing the end of the semester and I have three papers due on Monday and this is Saturday. When all of the sudden we hear buzzzzzzzz. The fire alarm went off. Luckily the elevator still worked! It is always an adventure at 607. I also lost my freedom today when my chair broke down. Thank goodness for my back up chair. My parents have lost a little of their freedom as well ever since they started taking care of my cousin Justin but just like everything else in life they are looking at the situation with the cup half full even when times are tough and I honor them for that. One of the things I have learned from the PATH Training I just went to and from my friends/sisters Hannah,CC and Emily, is that just like in dance you have to listen with more than your ears to allow someone their freedom of speech and expression. Thank you for teaching me this valuable lesson that I believe has helped me become a better person and listener, thus a better person in many aspects of my life. This poem is an example of what I mean.
Christine Mayer's poem:
If you are going to work with me,
you have to listen to me.
And you can't just listen with your ears,
because it will go to your head too fast.
If you listen slowly,
with your whole body,
some of what I say will enter your heart.
Finally thank you to all of you who helped plan and/or came to Mary Poppins with us. It was a lot of fun and something I will never forget! Here is a song from it that I really liked before that I must say it is almost as good as Wicked!
Go see it if you can!
Anything Can Happen If You Let It
Mary POPPINS] _Anything can happen if you let it _Sometimes things are difficult but you can bet it _Doesn't have to be so __[JANE] _Changes can be made __[MICHAEL] _You can move a mountain if you use a larger spade __[MARY POPPINS] _Anything can happen, it's a marvel __[MICHAEL] _You can be a butterfly __[JANE] _Or just stay larval __[JANE & MICHAEL] _Stretch your mind beyond fantastic _Dreams are made of strong elastic __[MARY POPPINS] _Take some sound advice and don't forget it __[WINIFRED, JANE & MICHAEL] _Anything can happen if you let it __[WINIFRED] _I wonder... __[ALL] _Anything can happen if you let it __[WINIFRED] _You won't know a challenge until you've met it __[MICHAEL] _No one does it for you __[WINIFRED] _No one but yourself _Vacillating violets get left up on the shelf _Anything can happen, just imagine __[MARY POPPINS] _That should be epitaph _I wear the badge in _Honor of this world's free thinkers __[WINIFRED] _Those who see beyond their blinkers __[JANE & MICHAEL] _Jelly isn't jelly __[WINIFRED, JANE & MICHAEL] _'Til you set it _Anything can happen if you let it __[MARY POPPINS] _Anything can happen if you let it _What good is a whistle __[BERT] _Unless you whet it __[MARY POPPINS & BERT] _Broaden your horizons __[BERT] _Open different doors __[MARY POPPINS & BERT] _You may find a you there that you never knew was yours __[BERT & MRS CORRY] _Anything can happen __[MRS CORRY] _Raise the curtain _Things you though impossible __[BERT & MRS CORRY] _Will soon seem certain _Thought at first it may sound clownish _See the world more upside-downish _Turn it on its head then pirouette it __[BERT, MRS CORRY & LAMP-LIGHTERS] _Anything can happen if you let it __[MARY POPPINS] _If you reach for the stars _All you get are the stars _But we've found a whole new spin _If you reach for the heavens _You get the stars thrown in __[ALL] _You get the stars thrown in __If you reach for the stars _All you get are the stars _But we've found a whole new spin _If you reach for the heavens _You get the stars thrown in __Anything can happen if you let it _Life is out there waiting so go and get it _Grab it by the collar, seize it by the scruff _Once you've started living life you just can't get enough __Anything can happen, it's official _You can choose the super or the
Superficial _Sally forth the way we're steering _Obstacles start disappearing _Go and chase your dreams you won't regret it _Anything can happen _(Anything can happen) _Anything can happen __[MARY POPPINS, JANE & MICHAEL] _Anything can happen __[ALL] _If you let it
I hope you let it!
-Jess
School’s out for the summer!
Yes school is out for the summer and I have a lot of fun things to look forward too. One of my best friends Hannah is coming home from college and I can’t tell you how excited I am! I also can’t wait for my trip to Israel. It is a dream that I have had for a long time and it is finally coming true on June 8th.
For those of you that don’t know my cousin Brent is getting married on July 11th. I am so happy for them and I wish them all the best! Brent, Kristina is so sweet and she already feels like family to me. I also am looking forward to taking lots of bike rides with my Dad, Brian and Justin. I am also looking forward to doing activities with TotalLink2.
I wouldn’t have been able to have another successful semester at Oakton if it wasn’t for these peoples guidance and support
First I would like to thank the librarians at the Des Plains library for helping me and treating me like a regular college student who needed help with research. Next I would like to thank Elyse for stepping in the middle of the semester and doing whatever you could so that I could do my work as independently as possible and be a good student. You are amazing! I do want to thank my note-taker, Ashley, for always being there. Knowing that I can count on her was always a good thing because I have not always been able to count on my note-takers in the past. I think Ashley and I have become really good friends and I hope that I was helpful to you just as you were helpful to me. Towards the end of class, it was hard for me to focus on the information because we had become such good friends and I wanted to talk to you.
Also I would like to thank Jacki for driving me to class on crazy Thursdays and helping me with homework when needed. Brenda thank you for driving me to class on Mondays and Wednesdays. Barb thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to go with me to Weight Watchers for six weeks. I couldn’t have done it without you. I wasn’t trying to lose weight, it was for a school project on group dynamics. LOL…when my dad found out he totally lost it. Finally I want to thank Brian and Sarah for helping me in this crazy week of finals and Mom even when you had a hard week you never let me down. Mom and Dad thank you for supporting me in my schoolwork.
Goals for next school year!
1.Become a better writer.
2. Work with Dragon Naturally Speaking.
3.Work on a PC
4.Be as independent as I can at my internships.
5. Work a lot at TotalLink2
Have a good summer!
-Jess
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What's Important?
As I sit here and reflect on the events of this week I am reminded that life isn’t easy.
However I believe that going through hard times makes us stronger people, No matter the severity of the issue.
When I am able to look past my particularly difficult issues I soon realize that I have got it a lot better than a lot of people. I have a loving family that will always be there for me through the good times and the bad. I know that my friends will always be there for me too and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends. Three of which I was lucky enough to see this week.
I am also very fortunate to be able to afford food and water and never have to worry about an empty fridge or not having a warm place to sleep at night like many people all around the world do. I am also grateful that I can have fun whenever I want to. In addition I am thankful that I have a wheelchair that helps me to get around and experience the world, for without an electric wheelchair I would be like a prisoner with in my own body. Lastly I am blessed to have Junior, my dog. Even though I don’t really live with him anymore I still really enjoy the time we do spend together and I think the bond we have will never go away, no matter how far I move. No one is perfect! However I think the fact that I dance and now go to yoga classes weekly, has helped me to re-center myself and figure out what is really important.
So what is really important to YOU?
However I believe that going through hard times makes us stronger people, No matter the severity of the issue.
When I am able to look past my particularly difficult issues I soon realize that I have got it a lot better than a lot of people. I have a loving family that will always be there for me through the good times and the bad. I know that my friends will always be there for me too and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends. Three of which I was lucky enough to see this week.
I am also very fortunate to be able to afford food and water and never have to worry about an empty fridge or not having a warm place to sleep at night like many people all around the world do. I am also grateful that I can have fun whenever I want to. In addition I am thankful that I have a wheelchair that helps me to get around and experience the world, for without an electric wheelchair I would be like a prisoner with in my own body. Lastly I am blessed to have Junior, my dog. Even though I don’t really live with him anymore I still really enjoy the time we do spend together and I think the bond we have will never go away, no matter how far I move. No one is perfect! However I think the fact that I dance and now go to yoga classes weekly, has helped me to re-center myself and figure out what is really important.
So what is really important to YOU?
Belated February Love Blog
For those of you that haven’t seen my debut on ABC 7 news here is the link if you are interested. http://www.youtube.com/user/gettoknowtheblue
Please spread the word! The power of hope. For those of you that do not know I also have a learning disability that is sometimes harder for me to deal with than my physical one because I have felt like no one really understands or could relate to this part of me. I have been lucky enough to have friends with CP but no one with a learning disability. Now that you know, my hope is that you won’t judge me or think of me differently because of it. I am extremely self-conscious because of it. That was until today. When I met Samantha Abeel, she has difficulty in math with her basic skills such as money management, addition, subtraction, multiplying and dividing. She also struggles with spelling and the passage of time while on the other hand her vocabulary and creative writing got her to go extremely far as to write two of her own books. One is entitled Reach for the Moon and the other, My Thirteenth Winter. Like her, I struggle with my math skills, the passage of time and spelling but do well with writing, get good grades and have a good vocabulary. She even has a degree in Social Work. As I listened to her speak at the Board of Jewish Education, I was amazed at how similar we are. After her presentation, we talked and she signed a book for me. She even took a picture with me and gave me her e-mail and said if you have any questions e-mail me. Samantha gave me newfound hope and reminded me that I can do it too! A few days after I met with Samantha it just so happened that I had an appointment with my counselor to talk about places I could transfer to. I was thinking about National Louis University (NLU) and had a whole plan in mind. We talked and talked but he couldn’t find what I was looking for. I knew it existed because I had seen it just days before. My counsler said to me why don’t you call this person at NLU and see if they can help you. So I did and it turned out she was on leave and wouldn’t be back until April. I called back and they put me in touch with someone else but she didn’t answer either. So I decided to look for it again myself and sure enough within a very short time I found it.
Also I am very grateful to the copy shop at Oakton because they were willing to scan my books and bind them back together. When the special services office was not responsive to my accommodations. Both of these stories have shown me the power of persistence and as Dance Detour integrated dance troop says, We take an alternative route. That is what I had to do and very often find myself having to do.
Norine’s birthday and other fun times.
I feel so blessed that me and Norine have reconnected to become roommates. I believe we complement each other in many ways and it is great to have someone there for the lonely times when I miss my family. Now that I have been living with her, I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate. We make each other laugh, stay up and watch my Tivo together, and just plain joke around. It was her birthday this past Saturday, and me and Jacki took her out to Comedy Sportz. We had a good time and lots of laughs. The week before her birthday we also went to Medieval Times.. Before I talk about Mom and Dad I would like to congratulate my friend Chava and her family because she is getting married this month! My blessing for you is everything in this song, so I would like to share it with you!
Rascal Flatts My Wish Lyrics
Songwriters: Steele, Jeffrey; Robson, Steve
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’? til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
(My wish for you)
This is my wish
(My wish for you)
I hope you know somebody loves you
(My wish for you)
May all your dreams stay big
(My wish for you)
I definitely believe this is the month for love!
Big news from Israel!
I am going on my Birthright trip. I am so excited and will tell you more about it in future posts! Yahoo!
Authors note as a tribute to my parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary I would like to share with you the speech I wrote for them back in October at their surprise party. I would also like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to live on my own in this wonderful apartment because it wasn’t in my speech before. Thank you for leveling the playing field for me in this way. For those of you who were at the party you don’t need to read it and thank you for coming. It mean’t a lot to my parents and I know it is something our family will never forget.
Mom and Dad,
You have been faced with many challenges but whatever they are you have both looked at the cup half full and taught me and Brian to do the same even though it is sometimes hard for us. You take what you have and run with it. I think of our family as a tree with you both being the trunk and the rest of our family and friends the beautiful flowers because without you I would be nowhere. You both are my number one advocates. You both want to see me run a self-determined life and help me with this every single day. You both were my first teachers. You both over see that I have fun. You both love me and want me and my community to live as normal of a life as possible. That is why Mom is on the committees she is on. Dad you always want me to have the same opportunities as other people my age. For example, when I was little you always would carry me up on the roller coasters no matter how heavy or big I was becoming because you always wanted me to ride the roller coasters like any other kid. And when we were on vacation without mom, even though you made me look like a clown, you were willing to try to put make up on me because you wanted me to be happy. You both wanted me to have an opportunity to go to camp and though it was a different kind of camp, you wanted to try to level the playing field for me. The most recent experience I can think of is this summer when my dream came true when I went to access dance company’s summer dance workshop. It was like camp in the same respect that I felt like I could be myself there. Despite my disability, I was like a normal person going to an intensive for something I really cared about. It is very apparent in everything that you both do that you both want the best for me and I couldn’t ask for a better trunk or better parents. So this day is for you to say thank you for all you have done for me and the people that care about you. Here’s to another 25 years of love and Commitment now that I can drink. Thanks for all that you do in supporting my life and our family. You are a terrific start to my tree and I couldn’t ask for better. Happy 25th anniversary, love, Jess.
Please spread the word! The power of hope. For those of you that do not know I also have a learning disability that is sometimes harder for me to deal with than my physical one because I have felt like no one really understands or could relate to this part of me. I have been lucky enough to have friends with CP but no one with a learning disability. Now that you know, my hope is that you won’t judge me or think of me differently because of it. I am extremely self-conscious because of it. That was until today. When I met Samantha Abeel, she has difficulty in math with her basic skills such as money management, addition, subtraction, multiplying and dividing. She also struggles with spelling and the passage of time while on the other hand her vocabulary and creative writing got her to go extremely far as to write two of her own books. One is entitled Reach for the Moon and the other, My Thirteenth Winter. Like her, I struggle with my math skills, the passage of time and spelling but do well with writing, get good grades and have a good vocabulary. She even has a degree in Social Work. As I listened to her speak at the Board of Jewish Education, I was amazed at how similar we are. After her presentation, we talked and she signed a book for me. She even took a picture with me and gave me her e-mail and said if you have any questions e-mail me. Samantha gave me newfound hope and reminded me that I can do it too! A few days after I met with Samantha it just so happened that I had an appointment with my counselor to talk about places I could transfer to. I was thinking about National Louis University (NLU) and had a whole plan in mind. We talked and talked but he couldn’t find what I was looking for. I knew it existed because I had seen it just days before. My counsler said to me why don’t you call this person at NLU and see if they can help you. So I did and it turned out she was on leave and wouldn’t be back until April. I called back and they put me in touch with someone else but she didn’t answer either. So I decided to look for it again myself and sure enough within a very short time I found it.
Also I am very grateful to the copy shop at Oakton because they were willing to scan my books and bind them back together. When the special services office was not responsive to my accommodations. Both of these stories have shown me the power of persistence and as Dance Detour integrated dance troop says, We take an alternative route. That is what I had to do and very often find myself having to do.
Norine’s birthday and other fun times.
I feel so blessed that me and Norine have reconnected to become roommates. I believe we complement each other in many ways and it is great to have someone there for the lonely times when I miss my family. Now that I have been living with her, I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate. We make each other laugh, stay up and watch my Tivo together, and just plain joke around. It was her birthday this past Saturday, and me and Jacki took her out to Comedy Sportz. We had a good time and lots of laughs. The week before her birthday we also went to Medieval Times.. Before I talk about Mom and Dad I would like to congratulate my friend Chava and her family because she is getting married this month! My blessing for you is everything in this song, so I would like to share it with you!
Rascal Flatts My Wish Lyrics
Songwriters: Steele, Jeffrey; Robson, Steve
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin’? til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
(My wish for you)
This is my wish
(My wish for you)
I hope you know somebody loves you
(My wish for you)
May all your dreams stay big
(My wish for you)
I definitely believe this is the month for love!
Big news from Israel!
I am going on my Birthright trip. I am so excited and will tell you more about it in future posts! Yahoo!
Authors note as a tribute to my parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary I would like to share with you the speech I wrote for them back in October at their surprise party. I would also like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to live on my own in this wonderful apartment because it wasn’t in my speech before. Thank you for leveling the playing field for me in this way. For those of you who were at the party you don’t need to read it and thank you for coming. It mean’t a lot to my parents and I know it is something our family will never forget.
Mom and Dad,
You have been faced with many challenges but whatever they are you have both looked at the cup half full and taught me and Brian to do the same even though it is sometimes hard for us. You take what you have and run with it. I think of our family as a tree with you both being the trunk and the rest of our family and friends the beautiful flowers because without you I would be nowhere. You both are my number one advocates. You both want to see me run a self-determined life and help me with this every single day. You both were my first teachers. You both over see that I have fun. You both love me and want me and my community to live as normal of a life as possible. That is why Mom is on the committees she is on. Dad you always want me to have the same opportunities as other people my age. For example, when I was little you always would carry me up on the roller coasters no matter how heavy or big I was becoming because you always wanted me to ride the roller coasters like any other kid. And when we were on vacation without mom, even though you made me look like a clown, you were willing to try to put make up on me because you wanted me to be happy. You both wanted me to have an opportunity to go to camp and though it was a different kind of camp, you wanted to try to level the playing field for me. The most recent experience I can think of is this summer when my dream came true when I went to access dance company’s summer dance workshop. It was like camp in the same respect that I felt like I could be myself there. Despite my disability, I was like a normal person going to an intensive for something I really cared about. It is very apparent in everything that you both do that you both want the best for me and I couldn’t ask for a better trunk or better parents. So this day is for you to say thank you for all you have done for me and the people that care about you. Here’s to another 25 years of love and Commitment now that I can drink. Thanks for all that you do in supporting my life and our family. You are a terrific start to my tree and I couldn’t ask for better. Happy 25th anniversary, love, Jess.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
My Mark on the City of Destiny
My mark on The City of Destiny.
Aide update!
A new chapter is beginning in my life. Jaclyn Ellis is not only doing Tuesdays and Thursdays during the day but she is also taking over the night shift, which is Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday day and night, Monday Tuesday Wednesday nights and Thursday evening until we are done with school. Thank you Jaclyn for signing on to help.
Brian’s Birthday
My brother Brian turned seventeen over the break and in honor of his birthday I would like to dedicate this blog to him. We went to Comedy Sportz in Chicago which is improv competition club. We all loved it. It was perfect for all ages. I really recommend it. I could tell that Brian was enjoying himself. . For someone who has a hard time expressing or recognizing his feelings he does a great job at telling a joke or cheering people up. I can always count on him when I am having a bad day. I also think he is fantastic at fixing spelling mistakes. Many people call him the family comedian I think that we are like a ying yang because he helps me with the physical stuff and I help him with the social stuff. He said he is proud of me for living on my own with a self-determined life. He said he didn’t know I could do it and I think the fact that I am living in an apartment, gives him hope that his future could bring opportunities for a life of choice like mine with similar supports. I love you Brian!
ABC Channel News!
Yes you read that correctly! I want to thank ABC channel 7 News and the Illinois Council on Development Disabilities for allowing me to share my views on freedom of choice for people with disabilities. I think that the more people see productive people like me living in environments just like anyone else, the more we are looked at like a neighbor and not like someone who belongs in a segregated community. I feel it is important work to speak up for those who might not have a voice to communicate these basis human wishes and needs. I enjoy doing it and I hope my work is heard by many people who care to make a change in our great state. It is something I enjoy doing and consider an honor every time I am asked to speak on behalf of people with disabilities and I plan to continue advocating now and in the future because I believe that it can only do good. The show will be on Sunday February 8th, at 8:00 am. If you miss it… Check out the reporter, Karen Meyer’s website on Channel 7 News for her archived segments.
The City of Destiny
When my friend Rebecca told me that she found out that Des Plaines was The City of Destiny, I almost fell out of my chair from laughing. It was one of those kinds of laughs that I make with my whole body and no sound coming out of my mouth. Then people start to wonder if I am breathing! You get the picture! Which brings me to my final stories for the month. I was on my way to the library, which is right by my apartment, and I got stuck in the snow. I called Jaclyn but for some reason I couldn’t hear her so, I decided to put my flashers on to see if someone would come and help me sure enough they did. I guess my flashers aren’t just for fun after all. After all that the funniest part was when I came upstairs and Jaclyn said to me who was that man you were talking too? I guess she heard our conversation and I didn’t even know it. Then another crazy thing happened to me the other day. I went to get my bangs straightened at the nearby hair salon but before doing so I wanted to dry my wheels off because they were really wet and I thought it would be good to have them nice and dry. Little did I know, my wheels got extremely stuck in the carpet. And after 45 minutes of Brenda, her daughter Kathy and the whole salon working to get my chair out of the carpet, we decided to call the non-emergency police and sure enough I made a huge hole in there carpet. I have definitely made my mark on the city of destiny but not the way I wanted too. LOL! I would like to leave you this month with something that really hit home for me from our newly elected precedent. It reads,
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DISABILITIES AGENDA
"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and
discrimination.... policies must be developed, attitudes must be
shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure
that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live
independently as full citizens in their communities."
-- Barack Obama, April 11, 2008
Barack Obama and Joe Biden have a comprehensive agenda to empower
individuals with disabilities in order to equalize opportunities for
all Americans.
In addition to reclaiming America's global leadership on this issue
by becoming a signatory to -- and having the Senate ratify -- the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the plan has
four parts, designed to provide lifelong support and resources to
Americans with disabilities. They are as follows:
First, provide Americans with disabilities with the educational
opportunities they need to succeed by funding the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, supporting early intervention for
children with disabilities and universal screening, improving college
opportunities for high school graduates with disabilities, and making
college more affordable. Obama and Biden will also authorize a
comprehensive study of students with disabilities and issues relating
to transition to work and higher education.
Second, end discrimination and promote equal opportunity by restoring
the Americans with Disabilities Act, increasing funding for
enforcement, supporting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination
Act, ensuring affordable, accessible health care for all and
improving mental health care.
Third, increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities by
effectively implementing regulations that require the federal
government and its contractors to employ people with disabilities,
providing private-sector employers with resources to accommodate
employees with disabilities, and encouraging those employers to use
existing tax benefits to hire more workers with disabilities and
supporting small businesses owned by people with disabilities.
And fourth, support independent, community-based living for Americans
with disabilities by enforcing the Community Choice Act, which would
allow Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in
their community rather than having to live in a nursing home or other
institution, creating a voluntary, budget-neutral national insurance
program to help adults who have or develop functional disabilities to
remain independent and in their communities, and streamline the
Social Security approval process .
Autism
President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to supporting
Americans with Autism Spectrum Disorders ("ASD"), their families, and
their communities. There are a few key elements to their support,
which are as follows:
First, President Obama and Vice President Biden support increased
funding for autism research, treatment, screenings, public awareness,
and support services. There must be research of the treatments for,
and the causes of, ASD.
Second, President Obama and Vice President Biden support improving
life-long services for people with ASD for treatments, interventions
and services for both children and adults with ASD.
Third, President Obama and Vice President Biden support funding the
Combating Autism Act and working with Congress, parents and ASD
experts to determine how to further improve federal and state
programs for ASD.
Fourth, President Obama and Vice President Biden support universal
screening of all infants and re-screening for all two-year-olds, the
age at which some conditions, including ASD, begin to appear. These
screenings will be safe and secure, and available for every American
that wants them. Screening is essential so that disabilities can be
identified early enough for those children and families to get the
supports and services they need
Best wishes for 2009!
Love
-Jessi
Aide update!
A new chapter is beginning in my life. Jaclyn Ellis is not only doing Tuesdays and Thursdays during the day but she is also taking over the night shift, which is Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday day and night, Monday Tuesday Wednesday nights and Thursday evening until we are done with school. Thank you Jaclyn for signing on to help.
Brian’s Birthday
My brother Brian turned seventeen over the break and in honor of his birthday I would like to dedicate this blog to him. We went to Comedy Sportz in Chicago which is improv competition club. We all loved it. It was perfect for all ages. I really recommend it. I could tell that Brian was enjoying himself. . For someone who has a hard time expressing or recognizing his feelings he does a great job at telling a joke or cheering people up. I can always count on him when I am having a bad day. I also think he is fantastic at fixing spelling mistakes. Many people call him the family comedian I think that we are like a ying yang because he helps me with the physical stuff and I help him with the social stuff. He said he is proud of me for living on my own with a self-determined life. He said he didn’t know I could do it and I think the fact that I am living in an apartment, gives him hope that his future could bring opportunities for a life of choice like mine with similar supports. I love you Brian!
ABC Channel News!
Yes you read that correctly! I want to thank ABC channel 7 News and the Illinois Council on Development Disabilities for allowing me to share my views on freedom of choice for people with disabilities. I think that the more people see productive people like me living in environments just like anyone else, the more we are looked at like a neighbor and not like someone who belongs in a segregated community. I feel it is important work to speak up for those who might not have a voice to communicate these basis human wishes and needs. I enjoy doing it and I hope my work is heard by many people who care to make a change in our great state. It is something I enjoy doing and consider an honor every time I am asked to speak on behalf of people with disabilities and I plan to continue advocating now and in the future because I believe that it can only do good. The show will be on Sunday February 8th, at 8:00 am. If you miss it… Check out the reporter, Karen Meyer’s website on Channel 7 News for her archived segments.
The City of Destiny
When my friend Rebecca told me that she found out that Des Plaines was The City of Destiny, I almost fell out of my chair from laughing. It was one of those kinds of laughs that I make with my whole body and no sound coming out of my mouth. Then people start to wonder if I am breathing! You get the picture! Which brings me to my final stories for the month. I was on my way to the library, which is right by my apartment, and I got stuck in the snow. I called Jaclyn but for some reason I couldn’t hear her so, I decided to put my flashers on to see if someone would come and help me sure enough they did. I guess my flashers aren’t just for fun after all. After all that the funniest part was when I came upstairs and Jaclyn said to me who was that man you were talking too? I guess she heard our conversation and I didn’t even know it. Then another crazy thing happened to me the other day. I went to get my bangs straightened at the nearby hair salon but before doing so I wanted to dry my wheels off because they were really wet and I thought it would be good to have them nice and dry. Little did I know, my wheels got extremely stuck in the carpet. And after 45 minutes of Brenda, her daughter Kathy and the whole salon working to get my chair out of the carpet, we decided to call the non-emergency police and sure enough I made a huge hole in there carpet. I have definitely made my mark on the city of destiny but not the way I wanted too. LOL! I would like to leave you this month with something that really hit home for me from our newly elected precedent. It reads,
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DISABILITIES AGENDA
"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and
discrimination.... policies must be developed, attitudes must be
shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure
that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live
independently as full citizens in their communities."
-- Barack Obama, April 11, 2008
Barack Obama and Joe Biden have a comprehensive agenda to empower
individuals with disabilities in order to equalize opportunities for
all Americans.
In addition to reclaiming America's global leadership on this issue
by becoming a signatory to -- and having the Senate ratify -- the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the plan has
four parts, designed to provide lifelong support and resources to
Americans with disabilities. They are as follows:
First, provide Americans with disabilities with the educational
opportunities they need to succeed by funding the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, supporting early intervention for
children with disabilities and universal screening, improving college
opportunities for high school graduates with disabilities, and making
college more affordable. Obama and Biden will also authorize a
comprehensive study of students with disabilities and issues relating
to transition to work and higher education.
Second, end discrimination and promote equal opportunity by restoring
the Americans with Disabilities Act, increasing funding for
enforcement, supporting the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination
Act, ensuring affordable, accessible health care for all and
improving mental health care.
Third, increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities by
effectively implementing regulations that require the federal
government and its contractors to employ people with disabilities,
providing private-sector employers with resources to accommodate
employees with disabilities, and encouraging those employers to use
existing tax benefits to hire more workers with disabilities and
supporting small businesses owned by people with disabilities.
And fourth, support independent, community-based living for Americans
with disabilities by enforcing the Community Choice Act, which would
allow Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in
their community rather than having to live in a nursing home or other
institution, creating a voluntary, budget-neutral national insurance
program to help adults who have or develop functional disabilities to
remain independent and in their communities, and streamline the
Social Security approval process .
Autism
President Obama and Vice President Biden are committed to supporting
Americans with Autism Spectrum Disorders ("ASD"), their families, and
their communities. There are a few key elements to their support,
which are as follows:
First, President Obama and Vice President Biden support increased
funding for autism research, treatment, screenings, public awareness,
and support services. There must be research of the treatments for,
and the causes of, ASD.
Second, President Obama and Vice President Biden support improving
life-long services for people with ASD for treatments, interventions
and services for both children and adults with ASD.
Third, President Obama and Vice President Biden support funding the
Combating Autism Act and working with Congress, parents and ASD
experts to determine how to further improve federal and state
programs for ASD.
Fourth, President Obama and Vice President Biden support universal
screening of all infants and re-screening for all two-year-olds, the
age at which some conditions, including ASD, begin to appear. These
screenings will be safe and secure, and available for every American
that wants them. Screening is essential so that disabilities can be
identified early enough for those children and families to get the
supports and services they need
Best wishes for 2009!
Love
-Jessi
Friday, December 12, 2008
2008 "Wrap Up"
This is what the holidays mean to me!
1. A time to share
2. A time to give of ourselves
3. A time to be with family and friends
4. A time to enjoy beautiful things
5. A time to love
6. A time to be grateful
7. A time to eat great food
8. A time to sing
9. A time to pray
10.A time to have fun.
What do the holidays mean to you?
School!
Well I have completed another successful semester at Oakton and am off for five glorious weeks. I would like to thank Jennifer Schroeder my tutor for helping me get through my first semester in my own place. She has a degree in social work and I am proud to know her. Who would have thought that my mom would have found such a wonderful person at Panera Bread? Thank you so much!
Aide updates:
Brenda who most of you know because she has worked with my family and I for eight years, now helps me at my apartment on Mondays and Wednesdays. She has definitely adjusted well to her new role in my life and has a can-do attitude. Thank you for all that you do!
Big News!
Amanda my nighttime aid who I talked about last month is staying with me and Norine through this new semester but then is leaving because she is pregnant. I have mixed feelings about this because I am happy for her that she will be moving on and starting a family of her own but I am also worried about finding someone good to take her place. I am also a little sad because I will miss her. Until Amanda leaves I am sure we will have fun with her and enjoy watching the baby develop. I want to thank mom ahead of time for looking for someone to take Amanda’s place. I know it isn’t easy and I appreciate it. If any of you can think of a possible candidate for the job I would appreciate it if you let my mom and or me know. Thank you in advance! You never know, the person just might be someone who already works for me…
Sleepover:
A few weekends ago my friend and sister Annie came over to the “purple goodness” for a sleepover. We had dinner and cocktails with our friends Eric and Phil at a nearby Mexican restaurant and then we came back and made ice cream sundaes at my place. That feels so cool to say, by the way. After they left we jammed to Tayler Swift’s new CD which is amazing and played Disney’s Scene It! We had so much fun that we lost track of time! I really recommend it! Annie, I hope you had a great time like I did and I hope we can do it again soon!
Follies:
I was supposed to go to the Follies with Norine, which is a talent show that the teachers put on every two years at my school around this time. It is so funny! Anyway since Norine couldn’t go I wanted sit with my lunch friends but there was no more accessible seating on their side of the auditorium so, Dr. Hammel this really nice professor helped me walk to a regular seat. On top of a great show, a big thanks goes to Dr. Hammel for helping me out so I could enjoy it with my friends, plus hewas really cute. I don’t normally think about having angels but in this case, he was one! Thank you all for reading and Happy Holidays!
Love
-Jessi
1. A time to share
2. A time to give of ourselves
3. A time to be with family and friends
4. A time to enjoy beautiful things
5. A time to love
6. A time to be grateful
7. A time to eat great food
8. A time to sing
9. A time to pray
10.A time to have fun.
What do the holidays mean to you?
School!
Well I have completed another successful semester at Oakton and am off for five glorious weeks. I would like to thank Jennifer Schroeder my tutor for helping me get through my first semester in my own place. She has a degree in social work and I am proud to know her. Who would have thought that my mom would have found such a wonderful person at Panera Bread? Thank you so much!
Aide updates:
Brenda who most of you know because she has worked with my family and I for eight years, now helps me at my apartment on Mondays and Wednesdays. She has definitely adjusted well to her new role in my life and has a can-do attitude. Thank you for all that you do!
Big News!
Amanda my nighttime aid who I talked about last month is staying with me and Norine through this new semester but then is leaving because she is pregnant. I have mixed feelings about this because I am happy for her that she will be moving on and starting a family of her own but I am also worried about finding someone good to take her place. I am also a little sad because I will miss her. Until Amanda leaves I am sure we will have fun with her and enjoy watching the baby develop. I want to thank mom ahead of time for looking for someone to take Amanda’s place. I know it isn’t easy and I appreciate it. If any of you can think of a possible candidate for the job I would appreciate it if you let my mom and or me know. Thank you in advance! You never know, the person just might be someone who already works for me…
Sleepover:
A few weekends ago my friend and sister Annie came over to the “purple goodness” for a sleepover. We had dinner and cocktails with our friends Eric and Phil at a nearby Mexican restaurant and then we came back and made ice cream sundaes at my place. That feels so cool to say, by the way. After they left we jammed to Tayler Swift’s new CD which is amazing and played Disney’s Scene It! We had so much fun that we lost track of time! I really recommend it! Annie, I hope you had a great time like I did and I hope we can do it again soon!
Follies:
I was supposed to go to the Follies with Norine, which is a talent show that the teachers put on every two years at my school around this time. It is so funny! Anyway since Norine couldn’t go I wanted sit with my lunch friends but there was no more accessible seating on their side of the auditorium so, Dr. Hammel this really nice professor helped me walk to a regular seat. On top of a great show, a big thanks goes to Dr. Hammel for helping me out so I could enjoy it with my friends, plus hewas really cute. I don’t normally think about having angels but in this case, he was one! Thank you all for reading and Happy Holidays!
Love
-Jessi
Friday, November 14, 2008
Giving Thanks 3x
I am thankful for many people in my life but there is one in particular person that I am thankful for. Her name is Amanda Huff. She is my nighttime aide during the week Saturday through Wednesday. However it is one thing to have a job and another to own it. Amanda definitely owns it. She has a good heart and wants the best for Norine and me. She has a great sense of humor and is always there for the good times and bad. As my mom says she has a can-do attitude and as my Nana says she is a doll. Now you feel like a real roommate even though you are hired to help us. Thank you for all that you do! You are helping my dream of living on my own become a reality and I appreciate it because I know it isn’t always easy
There are a lot of mean people in the world but apparently not on November 4th 2008. On election day, I started my day with my mom as my aide for work, because at this time we hadn’t yet hired a Tuesday PA. I roll in to the polling place to vote for only my second Presidential election. I have only seen these people four times in my life and before I can tell them what my name is, they seem to say in unison “Hi Jessica.” As if I have known them for years. Then they ask me, pointing to my mom, “Is this your aide?”
“No” I reply with a smile, “She is my mom.” When it is time for me to sign my name they ask me if I had my name stamp? At this point I want to laugh so hard. I replied, yes and mom pulls me up to the table so I could reach the table because I am holding the stamp and mom bumps my knees! One of the election judge sees what is going on and offers to put a book under the paper so it is easier for me. When I leave they give me a sticker and tell me that I am a good citizen and said they would see me next time. At first, I thought it was a little funny how friendly they were but then I thought how much nicer our world would be if people were just a little nicer to each other everyday. I think Mom could not believe it either because instead of walking out the exit door she walked through the door with the pews instead. If you haven’t figured it out, our polling place is in a church.
Thank you mom for working your butt off to find Jacklyn. So now I have Brenda on Mondays and Wednesdays and Jaclyn on Tuesdays and Thursday. Since we have been without help on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this has been hard on my family and especially my mom and me but I am hopeful that things work out well with Jaclyn and me. Brenda, next month I will talk about you.
Love
-Jessi
There are a lot of mean people in the world but apparently not on November 4th 2008. On election day, I started my day with my mom as my aide for work, because at this time we hadn’t yet hired a Tuesday PA. I roll in to the polling place to vote for only my second Presidential election. I have only seen these people four times in my life and before I can tell them what my name is, they seem to say in unison “Hi Jessica.” As if I have known them for years. Then they ask me, pointing to my mom, “Is this your aide?”
“No” I reply with a smile, “She is my mom.” When it is time for me to sign my name they ask me if I had my name stamp? At this point I want to laugh so hard. I replied, yes and mom pulls me up to the table so I could reach the table because I am holding the stamp and mom bumps my knees! One of the election judge sees what is going on and offers to put a book under the paper so it is easier for me. When I leave they give me a sticker and tell me that I am a good citizen and said they would see me next time. At first, I thought it was a little funny how friendly they were but then I thought how much nicer our world would be if people were just a little nicer to each other everyday. I think Mom could not believe it either because instead of walking out the exit door she walked through the door with the pews instead. If you haven’t figured it out, our polling place is in a church.
Thank you mom for working your butt off to find Jacklyn. So now I have Brenda on Mondays and Wednesdays and Jaclyn on Tuesdays and Thursday. Since we have been without help on Tuesdays and Thursdays, this has been hard on my family and especially my mom and me but I am hopeful that things work out well with Jaclyn and me. Brenda, next month I will talk about you.
Love
-Jessi
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Warm House
Hi everyone
I want to start by thanking Chi Chi for coming in for not only my party but the holiday as well. it was so nice to have you Alli and Scott join us. I hope you got home safely!
For those of you that came to my party thank you very much. I feel so blessed knowing that I have such a wonderful family and group of friends that only want the best for me and want to see me succeed in all that I do. When I am having a bad day I just think of the fantastic relationships I have created with all of the people in my life and I just smile. I am so grateful to have met so many different people from so many different walks of life. You all care about me and have enriched my life for the better when I am at a party and you all are there in one room I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside because this is yet another reminder of how lucky I am and I start to squeal with happiness and excitement. Therefore, I don’t just think of you when I am having a bad day,you all are very important to me and thank you for sharing yet another milestone with me. For those of you who couldn’t come to this party I promise you there will be more to come in the very near future.
Lots of love!
-Jess
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