I am not "Disabled"

Language impacts people with disabilities so much but as culture changes language does.. Does it depend on how we use it? Yes it does
As I grow up I didn't pay much attention to the language that is being use to relate to people with disabilities.
Now not only do I have a disability but I am an advocate for people with disabilities things become more clear in my work.
Every morning or evening on the news I hear such phrases heavy traffic and delays or a disabled vehicle is on the left side of the highway
Cars
Truck
Buses..etc because a "Disabled" vehicle so how can people who are human be Disabled too.
I am not broken
I use a wheelchair for mobility so how does that make me disabled? I am still able move
I am still in the learning process of using a communication deceive so people can hear me in large groups louder. But that does not mean I can not talk
People uses walkers, canes etc to be an assistant   to them. They are not disabled.
We are give aids to live an independent life and allow equal access to what makes us be labeled Disabled...
I am not disabled..
Define Disabled
#nolablels
   

Disability Awareness and Cerebral Palsy Month

Its March its disability awareness month and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month as we celebrate this awareness I will like share how I feel the disability community should Unite and not be separated just based on disability. I feel the disability community should unite for many reasons I feel it will allow us to grow as a population to come together. My point of views as a person with a disability and a self advocate I believe that understanding one another difference, become aware and be educated about each other. I think this will avoid issues towards one other with disabilities no one should think that that because I am in a wheelchair and you use walker or you walk without any devices you should not think you are better than anyone. Cerebral Palsy awareness month wear green for myself and those who I love very much that live up to the challenge I am grateful that I am able to speak, hear, see or do anything for themselves but many of my little friends can do very little without assistance or without a voice and I am inspired to watch them grow as indivduals I blessed to be able to understand indivduals who have speech delays very well. I am also interested in learning a second language and sign language to increase my opportunities in the field of advocacy.. So what are you planing on doing to increase disability and CP awareness<3
Stay tune for upcoming blogs!

Its just a simply "Hi"

Over the years of being such an passionate advocate for myself and those who don't have a voice for themselves.

Being an active person despite my disability I enjoy being out and about shopping, going out to eat and being in my community put it has given me an eye opening that there is a need that perception changes towards people with disabilities.

While out in the community I face with a list of things that to me expresses a list of things.

1. Rolling around in my wheelchair they look at me like omg why is alone..when little do they know they are right behind me

2. The stares.. as if I am in pain and the pity sorry for..don't feel sorry for me I will tell you that I am totally happy.

3. When people talk to who ever I am with regarding  me before they speak to me first.

4. When people ask while can "she talk"

5. When people think whatever I am doing something I am struggling I someone must do everything for me no matter what it is  I get around my barriers an ace it successful.

6. People are afraid of people with disabilities..don't underestimate our disabilities..

7. When people talk to me like I am sitting on my brain.

Experiencing the winter with a disability

During the 2016 Blizzard in NYC
The City was shut down to provide safety and better serve the community in order to recover from the snow storm successfully and begin our week correctly but yet in my community they are yet to come and plow,businesses are yet to clear path ways on the side walk for people to walk especially for the elderly who uses walkers,cane and wheelchairs like myself. The curb sides are not even clean so that I can get into the streets to take my Access A Ride. The bus stops are full of snow so there is no where people in wheelchairs can get on the bus at least to go no where. I reported this issue to the 311 I am yet to get an email update from them but the only great opportunity is that I requested that I need assistance in shoveling the snow because I use a wheelchair and my dad is a senior and two volunteers came to help shovel my area..
Besides all of this its a shame on sanitation they never have people with disabilities especially wheelchair users and seniors we need to get out to complete daily activities especially work, school, doctors appointment, therapy etc  
Because of this I have been stuck home for 4 days straight...and I have so much to get done!!
Going to post pictures if I can soon

How do you cope with a child with a disability?

Growing up I always witness people asking my parents how do cope to care and raise a child with a disability. My parents thought it was just them so during the holiday I went to visit my little friend who has a disability an my dad ask his mom did anyone ask you this question before.. How do you cope with your child with a disability and why do not you put him or her in a home ? It really shock me that this mindset continues as we have come a long way but still have a long way to go. Back in the days people with disabilities was placed in mental institution or never came out the house because they were considered a disgrace to the family which is apart of history I will never forget.  They were mostly put in a place called Willbrook State School were they were treated unfair, etc.  My mom told me this story when she found out I had a disability doctor's told my mom they could leave me in the hospital or take me, my parents said I am God child so they would take me as I am. The raise me as a normal child as a baby when I was born until this day but my parents had to adapt to a brand new life being that I have a disability but one thing I told them when I was younger I need them to treat me like everyone else..treat me no different..
We are human too. It takes a courage and faith and hope to raise a child with challenges but its worth it at the end and forever we come with gifts and talents..  Sacrifice is a word I would give to all parents of children with disabilities because all what you do well worth it when you look back with the doctors appointments,diagnosis, the therapies, the IEP's, the sleepless nights,the judgments,the picky eating etc..Yes to my mother dear mom you have done it all until this day you deal with some of these moments still occur today some you proud to say I can handle on my own..You are so proud mom and dad these are moments you remember how much I grew.

My experience in Canada

 My experience in Canada 

How can you enable yourself in an inaccessible place? 

Many people tells me I have an "advocate eye" where ever I go I find a reason to have a "voice" to speak out, my parents often try to get me to stay quiet when we encounter with an issue that they know I am passionate about, I explain to them that we must not only be seeing rolling in a wheelchair, walker, cane etc but our voice must be heard. This past weekend I traveled to Toronto, Canada to spend time with family for their Thanksgiving holiday but I also went there with an advocate eye because every year  I travel to Canada and been wondering why I don't see such an high population of children and young adults with disabilities exposed in Canada I wonder if their put in homes or Institution like Willbrook "I hope not. Not only did I go there with an advocate eye but I encountered with accessibility issue at the Burger King. I also met with another individual who is a wheelchair user as well. When I went to eat lunch with my sister, mom and dad we had an accessible parking space but there were no flat surface for my wheelchair to get above the ground so my dad had to lift my manual wheelchair up from the street parking lot on to the sidewalk then we entered the restaurant to later noticed their were no assigned wheelchair seating area, me and the another customer who utilized a motorized wheelchair had no choice but to sit at the edges of the tables in between walls  and the walkway so we decided that we are not going to keep moving for abled body customers they will just have to walk around the other side, when my mom questioned the manger on why they are not accessible she came up with excuses saying "they can't do anything about". We even ask the customer who is a wheelchair user about accessibility issues and the population of people with disabilities in Canada to make sure I am not the only one just seeing these things as issue in my eyes and so passionate to make a difference, they responded I am tired of fighting my mom who is a strong advocate for these issues as well she told the customer "Keep fighting if not who will" and I handed her my business card.  Until this day I wonder how that customer who uses a wheelchair for mobility entered and exit the restaurant because according to my view they were no flat platform. Later this week on social media there was a pictured post that was shared on one of my group page member share an status from a Facebook user that  she received a phone call from her husband asking her to pick him up at the airport. She states that she was confused because her husband was supposed to be on a plane flying out of Rochester for a conference in Vancouver  Instead Air Canada refuse to let him board because he is quadriplegic and is unable to walk and made up several excuses on why you can't board, neither of these excuses made sense to me because he has Traveled all over the world even recently to Africa and did indicated on his ticket that he was  a wheelchair user that’s what caught my eye in this story that something is wrong, because I know customers who are wheelchair users probably pay more for their plane ticket just to have that accommodation, that’s total discrimination and a shame on Air Canada but from my experience this past weekend it doesn't surprise me with their reaction towards an passenger who is an wheelchair, their expression can tell me that they employees have the mindset that people who uses a wheelchair for mobility are not able enough to travel on their own not only people who have disabilities minds are affected. Air Canada  I hope you change your employees perceptions and make it right next time we earn the American Disability Act law 25 years ago, we recently celebrated history of the ADA law but look how far we have come with so much to be done. Canada government, business, restaurants etc let your individuals with disabilities be counted for.

The reason I created this blog

When I created  this blog it was in honor of my dear friend and sister Chelsy Blake who left me, her friends, her family and all who loved her dearly unexpectedly in September of 2014 to gain her wings in heaven, it was the saddest day for all of us but she will always be remembered for her love all who she loved, her smile,her happiness and passion to make a difference for those who are differently-able like herself, we had so much things planned to accomplish before she left my side. She even e-mailed me he business plan to work on it for her before her passing so I found it again a few days ago after looking through my email and I have deiced to find time an edit it and hope to be able to but some action to it I do plan on creating a business benefiting people with disabilities in the future  but what I do want to share is I am working on the draft of my first book about my life and Chesly although you are in heaven you will be apart of it. I love you girl I will always continue working for people with the vision you had for all of us.
Its us against the world I will never forget these words you spoken dailly