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    <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1624856</id>
    <updated>2009-11-25T13:24:45-05:00</updated>
    
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        <title>Action Alert: Stop Any Cuts to Services to People with Developmental Disabilities Between Now and January 2010</title>
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        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e2012875d9b67c970c</id>
        <published>2009-11-25T13:24:45-05:00</published>
        <updated>2009-11-25T13:24:45-05:00</updated>
        <summary>Help ensure that services to people with developmental disabilities don’t get cut in this year’s budget! We need your help know to ensure that there are no cuts to services. The Governor has announced $400 million in mid-year budget cuts....</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
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        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="developmental disabilities" />
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uqb-wYubaO-rIRV8nfbqfUsXdx4/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uqb-wYubaO-rIRV8nfbqfUsXdx4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uqb-wYubaO-rIRV8nfbqfUsXdx4/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uqb-wYubaO-rIRV8nfbqfUsXdx4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;blockquote&gt;   &lt;p&gt;Help ensure that services to people with developmental disabilities don’t get cut in this year’s budget! We need your help know to ensure that there are no cuts to services. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Governor has announced $400 million in mid-year budget cuts. Each Department is being asked to come up with its share of the cuts. The Department of Human Services is the largest Department in the State. It is unclear how much the Department or the Division of Developmental Disabilities is being asked to cut.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;We need to let the Governor and the Department of Human Services know that DD services cannot be cut!!!&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;We are urging: No Cuts to Services for People with Developmental Disabilities. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;It is easy- use this link to send your email: &lt;a href="http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/ABCD/Advocacy/?IssueID=19830&amp;amp;SiteID=-1 target="&gt;Action Alert&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;If the link does not work by clicking on it, cut and paste it into your web-browser. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;Department of Human Services Announces Regional Budget Forums&lt;img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.abcdnj.org/new.bmp" width="28" height="11"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Department of Human Services announced its Fall Regional Budget Forums. It is imperative to let the Department/Administration know that Budget decisions should be based upon values and that all decisions have a human and personal impact. There should be no cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities. The Budget Forums will take place on November 19th and 30th and December 3rd. To view the Flyer which lists the dates, times and locations of the Budget Forums click on &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/Regional Forums.pdf"&gt;Department of Human Services Budget Forums&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;For ABCD's Talking Points for the DHS Budget Forums click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/Talking Points for DHS Forums.pdf"&gt;Talking Points for DHS Budget Forums&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;Action Needed-No Cuts to Services for People with Developmental Disabilities: Send Letter before October 15th&lt;/h4&gt; ABCD as a member of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition is urging everyone to send letters to the Gubernatorial candidates as well as to Assembly candidates that requesting that there be no cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities.     &lt;p&gt;To read the Action Alert &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/wordpubs/No cuts Action Alert.doc"&gt;Action Alert on No Cuts to Services to People with Developmental Disabilities.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;To read the Flyer from Developmental Disabilities Coalition &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/wordpubs/No Cuts Flyer.doc"&gt;Flyer from the Developmental Disabilities Coalition on No Cuts to Services to People with Developmental Disabilities.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;For a Sample Letter to send to candidates&lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/wordpubs/Sample Letter.doc"&gt;Sample Letter to Candidates on No Cuts to Services to People with Developmental Disabilities.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;State Legislature Passes FY' 2010 Budget;Governor Expected to Sign. Please Send Thank You Letters to the Legislators&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Legislature passed the FY 2010 budget with minimal changes to the initial budget proposed by Governor Corzine. Services to people with developmental disabilities were spared significant cuts. It is important for Legislators to hear from you now to thank them for the budget. Below are some highlights in the budget for people with developmental disabilities. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The budget included funds for approximately 100 people who were living at home with their families who were on the Waiting List to receive services and funds for approximately 62 individuals to transition from the State's Developmental Centers to the community. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Governor's initial budget did not include funds for new May 2009 graduates from special education programs. However, the Governor agreed to use funds in the Division of Developmental Disabilities' budget to fund adult programs for new graduates of special education.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;Co-pays for Medicaid and the AIDS Drug Distribution Program have been eliminated from the budget. This is the seventh year in a row that advocates have successfully eliminate Medicaid co-pays from the budget.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;Medical Day Care Reimbursement rates will be reduced to $78.50 a day from the current rates of $83 and $92 a day for free-standing facilities and hospital based programs. This is a victory because the Governor's initial budget included a cut to $70 a day. ABCD has advocated for many years that it costs more to serve people with multiple and physical developmental disabilities in Medical Day care than it does to serve the general elderly population.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The $3.7 million cut to services for individuals with disabilities in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services were not restored. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;This year, once again, the State is using federal reimbursement from the Community Care Waiver (New Jersey's Home and Community-based Services Waiver for people with developmental disabilities) for purposes other than for services for people with developmental disabilities. The Division of Developmental Disabilities has been maximizing its federal revenue, including new amendments to the Community Care Waiver. However, all of these funds are not being re-invested into community services for people with developmental disabilities. • The developmental disabilities community infrastructure is in need of significant repair. Services and supports for people in the community are needed for medical care, psychiatric and behavioral services, and accessible housing. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Governor's budget included $1 million in additional funding for the Early Intervention Program, for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. However, these funds are not enough to account for the estimated 5-7% increase in estimate growth due to the number of eligible children and families entering the program. ABCD and its Early Intervention Providers Association are pleased that the Governor understands the financial needs of this program. The initial budget proposed, and the final budget passed by the Legislature included, budget language which allows for additional funds if needed for the progra without formal Legislative review and approval.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;For the second year in a row, providers of community services did not receive a cost of providing care increase, despite the fact that health insurance, workers compensation, gas and other energy costs are increasing dramatically. Agencies are experiencing difficulties as a result of the national economic crisis including difficulties recruiting and retaining quality staff and meeting the rising costs of providing care to the most vulnerable. ABCD continues to call upon the Governor and the Legislature to provide an annualized cost of providing care increase, based on the Consumer Price Index, to community-based provider agencies. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;History of Successes in FY 2008 Budget, It Does Make a Difference.&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;We had a number of sucesses in this year's budget for people with developmental disabilities (See below on Medicaid co-pays and the Cost of Providing Care. These successes only occured due to the efforts of individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, staff, Board members, and advocates. ABCD is a member of several coalition that have worked together on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and others. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Cost of Providing Care Coalition, of which ABCD served on the Steering Committee, is thankful for your work. The Coalition appreciates your work and has put together an Alert to thank you. Please click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/COPCthanks.pdf"&gt;Cost of Providing Care Thank You&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;Victory on Medicaid Co-pays: Coalition for Moral Budget Applauds Legislators for Eliminating all Medicaid Co-pays &lt;img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.abcdnj.org/new.bmp" width="28" height="11"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The budget negotiated between the Legislature and and Governor that will be voted on by the end of June eliminates all Medicaid Co-pays. This is a great victory and we should thank the legislators and the Governor for hearing us on this important issue. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;For more information related to national research showing why Medicaid co-pays will harm beneficiaries click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/MedicaidCopays.pdf"&gt;Medicaid Co-pays Harmful to Beneficiaries&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;Cost of Providing Care Receives 3% increase (beginning in January)in Budget&lt;img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.abcdnj.org/new.bmp" width="28" height="11"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Legislature and Governor included in their final budget, to be voted on by the end of June, a 3% increase beginning in January 2008 for community providers, which is in effect a 1.5% increase. This increase is appreciated given that the Governorn's proposed budget had proposed 2% beginning in Janaury, which in effect was a 1% increase. However, the increase is not enough. Providers have seen substantial increases in fuel costs, health insurance, workers compensation, and other costs of doing business. Providers are asking for an annualized cost of providing care increase using the Consumer Price Index for Northeast Urban Wage workers. This year's increase using the index is 4.1%&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;More than 1,000 people came to the State House on May 31st to let the Governor and the Legislature know that community providers needed a 4.1% increase in the budget for their contracts. Keep up the advocacy on the Cost of Providing Care with your Legislators. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Cost of Providing Care Coalition has compiled data from a state-wide survey on the need for a Cost of Providing Care increase. For information on the survey click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/COPCinfo.pdf"&gt;Data on the Cost of Providing Care.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;The Cost of Providing Care Coalition has developed charts showing the actual cost of providing care increases for providers since Fiscal Year 1996 and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Workers in the North East along with what the Cost of Providing Care increase would have been if A 1996, a bill requiring that the Governor's budget include a Cost of Providing Care increase was enacted. For the table click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/ChartCPI.pdf"&gt;Table on the Consumer Price Index and the Cost of Providing Care.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/ChartCPI.pdf"&gt;ABCD's Budget Testimony on FY 2008 Proposed Budget&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/ChartCPI.pdf"&gt;ABCD had the opportunity to testify at the Assembly Budget Hearing on March 13th and the Senate Budget Hearing on March 14th. ABCD's testimony focuses on: 1) the Cost of Providing Care; 2) Reinvestment of Federal Medicaid revenues from the Community Care Waiver into DDD community services for Olmstead, the Residential Waiting List, and Family Support; 3) Need to Eliminate Medicaid Co-Pays; 4) Long Term Financing for Early Intervention including reimbursement rates for EI Providers; and 5) Medical Day Care for People with Developmental Disabilities. To view our testimony click &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/Testimony.pdf"&gt;ABCD Budget Testimony on FY 2008 Budget.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;Governor's FY 2008 Budget Proposed&lt;img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.abcdnj.org/new.bmp" width="28" height="11"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;On February 22, 2007, Governor Corzine proposed his FY 2008 budget. The budge includes a 2% cost of providing care increase, effective in January 2008, $10 million in additional funds for the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and proposes co-pays for prescription drugs for Medicaid beneficiaries. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;For more information on the budget click &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/FY08budget.pdf"&gt;Governor Corzine's Proposed FY 2008 Budget (updated on February 27, 2007)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;State Fiscal Year 2008 Budget&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;p&gt;In February 2007, Governor Corzine will propose his FY 2008 budget (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008). In preparation the State Departments are developing their plans. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;ABCD's advocacy for the budget focuses on issues at the Department of Health and Senior Services and at the Department of Human Services. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p&gt;ABCD has provided testimony at the Department of Human Services' Budget Forum. To read our testimony &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/ABCDTestimonyDHSBudgetForum.pdf"&gt;ABCD Testimony at Department of Human Services Budget Forum.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;ul&gt;     &lt;li&gt;       &lt;p&gt;ABCD also has a brief budget paper related to the Division of Developmental Disabilities' budget. To read the paper &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/DDD-08.pdf"&gt;ABCD Budget Brief on the Division of Developmental Disabilities.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;/li&gt;   &lt;/ul&gt;    &lt;ul&gt;     &lt;li&gt;       &lt;p&gt;ABCD also has a brief budget paper related to the Early Intervention Program at the Department of Health and Senior Services. To read the paper &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/EI-08.pdf"&gt;ABCD Budget Brief on the Early Intervention Program.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;/li&gt;   &lt;/ul&gt;    &lt;ul&gt;     &lt;li&gt;       &lt;p&gt;A Medicaid Buy-in for Children with Disabilities is a possibility in New Jersey. For more information see the brief paper that explains the Medicaid option that New Jersey may choose to cover children with disabilities whose family's income is too high for Medicaid Eligibility. To read the paper &lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/pdfpubs/MedicaidBuyin.pdf"&gt;Medicaid Buy-in for Children with Disabilities a Possibility in New Jersey.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;     &lt;/li&gt;   &lt;/ul&gt;    &lt;hr width="75%"&gt;&lt;/hr&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.abcdnj.org/action.html"&gt;Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens With Disabilities&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


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    <entry>
        <title>http://www.healthdirectorymoz.com - Health Information Directory | Medical  Fitness Websites Resources</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/0_UuZpkTph4/httpwwwhealthdirectorymozcom---health-information-directory-medical-fitness-websites-resources.html" />
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        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e2012875d51907970c</id>
        <published>2009-11-24T20:33:22-05:00</published>
        <updated>2009-11-24T20:33:22-05:00</updated>
        <summary>Editorially reviewed annotated list of over 2500 niche health websites. The niche medical directory is regularly updated and is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation for trustworthy health information. Health Information Directory | Medical &amp; Fitness Websites Resources</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="health sites" />
        
        
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FLayspkR_7Wgr5XanRGaXg1KgS4/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FLayspkR_7Wgr5XanRGaXg1KgS4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FLayspkR_7Wgr5XanRGaXg1KgS4/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FLayspkR_7Wgr5XanRGaXg1KgS4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; Editorially reviewed annotated list of over 2500 niche health websites. The niche medical directory is regularly updated and is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation for trustworthy health information.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.healthdirectorymoz.com/"&gt;Health Information Directory | Medical &amp;amp; Fitness Websites Resources&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


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    <entry>
        <title>About my "interest beyond disability blogs"</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/uRk0UWEB5cY/aboutmyinterestbeyonddisabilityblogs.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/11/aboutmyinterestbeyonddisabilityblogs.html" thr:count="2" thr:updated="2009-11-22T19:47:10-05:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e2012875c72a4d970c</id>
        <published>2009-11-22T18:13:22-05:00</published>
        <updated>2009-11-25T12:39:46-05:00</updated>
        <summary>Written by Rudy Sims creator of copingwithdisability.com About my "interest beyond disability blogs" I am passionate about the idea that people with disabilities are more then their conditions. I have many interests and passions besides disability and health issues. I...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        
        
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ybD-250ktk1icStGGR12qpa8OpY/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ybD-250ktk1icStGGR12qpa8OpY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ybD-250ktk1icStGGR12qpa8OpY/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ybD-250ktk1icStGGR12qpa8OpY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/.a/6a00d834518d9c69e20120a6c582cd970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"&gt;&lt;img alt="Rudy pic1 jpeg" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a6c582cd970b " src="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/.a/6a00d834518d9c69e20120a6c582cd970b-120wi"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Written by Rudy Sims creator of copingwithdisability.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;About my "interest beyond disability blogs"&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;I am passionate about the idea that people with disabilities are more then their conditions. I have many interests and passions besides disability and health issues. I think it's important for people with disabilities to cultivate their interests beyond disability and try to have as well rounded a life as possible. My interests beyond disability include&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; constantly reading about Topics related to my business of running websites&lt;br&gt;technology, blogging, search engine optimization and social media marketing&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I also occasionally like to read about what's happening in the TV and music industries because I feel it's a good way to keep up with how ideas in society are changing and progressing.&lt;br&gt;My "interests beyond disability blogs" will feature links to what I'm reading daily about the subjects mentioned above  please visit this site frequently to follow links to what I am reading currently, I hope you find what I am reading and the links these blogs will provide along the way informative and valuable.&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;"interest beyond disability blog - technology - links to technology news I'm reading from around the web.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/linkstotechnologynews/"&gt;http://www.copingwithdisability.com/linkstotechnologynews/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;interest beyond disability - SEM/SEO - links to information and news items I'm reading about search engine optimization and search engine marketing from around the web.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/searchenginemarketing/"&gt;http://www.copingwithdisability.com/searchenginemarketing/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;interest beyond disability - social media marketing - links to information and news&#xD;
items I'm reading about social media marketing from around the web.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/searchenginemarketing/"&gt;http://www.copingwithdisability.com/socialmediamarketing/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p&gt;interest beyond disability - blogging and website management - links to information and news&#xD;
items I'm reading about social media marketing from around the web.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/searchenginemarketing/"&gt;http://www.copingwithdisability.com/bloggingandwebsite/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content>


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    <entry>
        <title>How to squash worry and grab more happiness out of life in tough times - CNN.com</title>
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        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e2012875635f71970c</id>
        <published>2009-11-08T10:19:34-05:00</published>
        <updated>2009-11-08T10:19:34-05:00</updated>
        <summary>How to squash worry and grab more happiness out of life in tough times - CNN.com</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="coping skills" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="cultivating happiness" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KGUgdFkbxnrRfBgs9k7bxh_7eas/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KGUgdFkbxnrRfBgs9k7bxh_7eas/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KGUgdFkbxnrRfBgs9k7bxh_7eas/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/KGUgdFkbxnrRfBgs9k7bxh_7eas/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;p&gt;	&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;   &lt;p&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/05/happiness.simple.joy/index.html"&gt;How to squash worry and grab more happiness out of life in tough times - CNN.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/11/how-to-squash-worry-and-grab-more-happiness-out-of-life-in-tough-times---cnncom.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Penelope's House Fund - written by Penelope</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/4UJ1XgNMoSM/penelopes-house-fund---written-by-penelope.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/10/penelopes-house-fund---written-by-penelope.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2009-11-13T02:19:05-05:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a5e204ae970b</id>
        <published>2009-10-13T15:38:38-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-10-13T15:38:38-04:00</updated>
        <summary>I am now accepting donations to help build a wheelchair-accessible home, (1)because of the encouragement and support from friends and family when I decided to do it and (2), because I really need this wheelchair-accessible house. My goal for the...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Guest author Penelope B." />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest blogs" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/o8VzKrEfQko5GklTs1an4HSBttc/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/o8VzKrEfQko5GklTs1an4HSBttc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/o8VzKrEfQko5GklTs1an4HSBttc/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/o8VzKrEfQko5GklTs1an4HSBttc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;    &lt;div class="post-body entry-content"&gt;   &lt;div class="post-header-line-1"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;    &lt;p style="text-align: left"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/1gRQLp9Fu14Byq1Cqo8mzMtbMuxCn9iX6-siQO5bASqiB0XGBjbNXKBAaxB5oxYKfqiOiFkZB-pXrGnRigJ*LAdUKPnXyBEA/Penelope.JPG"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;h5&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;    &lt;br&gt;    &lt;h5&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;    &lt;br&gt;    &lt;h4&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;    &lt;br&gt;    &lt;p&gt;&lt;a name="5615817582478055436"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;div class="post-body entry-content"&gt;     &lt;div&gt;       &lt;h3 class="post-title entry-title"&gt;         &lt;br&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;     &lt;/div&gt;      &lt;div class="post-body entry-content"&gt;       &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial"&gt;I &lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;am now accepting donations to help build a wheelchair-accessible home, (1)because of the encouragement and support from friends and family when I decided to do it and (2), because I really need this wheelchair-accessible house.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;My goal for the donations for the house is $14,000. This is the first time I've ever raised donations. Anytime I ever needed something I always just worked but I can't work right now and its a big adjustment for me. My Dad got me this laptop, and I have dial-up right now. This is my first blog, and I've really fallen' in love with blogging.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;I want to tell you why my goal is $14,000, because building my house&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span style="font-family: arial"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;is not going to cost as much as it usually would cost to build a wheelchair accessible-house because I have some donated lumber already and I plan to get as much donated materials as is possible. A retired disabled builder is volunteering his services to help with the house plans and to help supervise the building crew and I have some friends who want to volunteer to work on the house. I am actually, slowly but surely, buying the land that the house is going to be built on. I will post pictures of the house after it is built for everyone to see what their donations have helped accomplish. Please contact me at&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href="mailto:Ced936@aol.com"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;Ced936@aol.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style="font-family: trebuchet ms"&gt;if you want to donote or just click on my donate button here on my blog.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;br&gt;        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;br&gt;        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;br&gt;        &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;br&gt;        &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 130%"&gt;&lt;img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4-fxQgoFaOI/SQGWZgjyfsI/AAAAAAAAAAM/1dTVUPEB4_s/s1600-R/pic%3Fid%3D04e0fJS4nSMiB3KEo74kDPKN*4d57Ugieoisv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D%26size%3Dm"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;        &lt;br&gt;        &lt;div style="clear: both"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;     &lt;/div&gt;      &lt;br&gt;      &lt;div class="post-footer"&gt;       &lt;div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"&gt;         &lt;div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;          &lt;br&gt;          &lt;div&gt;           &lt;div class="post-body entry-content"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;         &lt;/div&gt; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------&lt;/div&gt;     &lt;/div&gt;   &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;br&gt;    &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153,0,0)"&gt;&lt;font color="#000000"&gt;This post was written by Penelope and originally appeared on her blog&lt;/font&gt; &lt;a title="http://penelopesdisabledblog.blogspot.com" href="http://penelopesdisabledblog.blogspot.com"&gt;http://penelopesdisabledblog.blogspot.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="color: rgb(153,0,0)"&gt;&lt;a title="http://penelopesdisabledblog.blogspot.com" href="http://penelopesdisabledblog.blogspot.com"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/10/penelopes-house-fund---written-by-penelope.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Announcement about the Fashion Moves Garment Design Competition</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/Ent_e1U-pZE/announcement-about-the-fashion-moves-garment-design-competition.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/10/announcement-about-the-fashion-moves-garment-design-competition.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a61fe048970c</id>
        <published>2009-10-07T08:43:30-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-10-07T08:43:30-04:00</updated>
        <summary>I was asked to make this announcement by http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com member Ruth Clark thank you for the information Ruth It is finally here. We are pleased to announce the launch of the Fashion Moves Garment Design Competition. Register at www.fashionmoves.org The...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="fashion" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/so6JPy3B1DeiuvIid9gayZIlNNU/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/so6JPy3B1DeiuvIid9gayZIlNNU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/so6JPy3B1DeiuvIid9gayZIlNNU/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/so6JPy3B1DeiuvIid9gayZIlNNU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;I was asked to make this announcement by &lt;a href="http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com"&gt;http://www.disabilityresourceexchange.com&lt;/a&gt; member Ruth Clark thank you for the information Ruth&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;It is finally here. We are pleased to announce the launch of the Fashion Moves Garment Design Competition. Register at &lt;a href="http://www.fashionmoves.org/"&gt;www.fashionmoves.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;The goal of this Competition is to introduce Fashion Students around the World, to the opportunities of designing for people with various disabilities.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;For an executive who uses a wheelchair, the suit jacket needs to be shortened and winter overcoats designed to be easier to put on and more comfortable to wear&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;For a teacher who wears a below-the-knee prosthetic, design trousers that are stylish but easy to enable removal of the prosthetic through the day without needing to take the pants off.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;For anyone with limited hand dexterity, design shirts and blouses that have a formal look but are easier to do up without assistance.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;For women taking part in the Ms Wheelchair America pageants, designing evening dresses that will not tangle in the wheels.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;And performance ski suits for the Paralympic skiers who use sit-skis.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;The First Annual Fashion Moves Garment Design Competition is now open! Students studying Fashion and Garment Design are invited to register and put their skills to work. There is no fee to register and all reports are submitted by E-Mail or through the website. Students from every corner of the Earth can meet together through Fashion Moves and exchange ideas and forge future business connections.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Please spread the word. If you have a College or a University in your town, forward this note to them, asking them to post it to the Students. If you know someone already studying Fashion or Garment Design, send them a copy to share with their classmates.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Thanks for taking time to visit. Lets use the internet to it’s best purpose and spin this information around the world in days.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Bye for now. I look forward to reading your thoughts on this work.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Ruth J. Clark&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Fashion Moves&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.fashionmoves.org/"&gt;www.fashionmoves.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:fashionmoves@earthlink.net"&gt;fashionmoves@earthlink.net&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/10/announcement-about-the-fashion-moves-garment-design-competition.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Nurses and Chronically Ill Patients: Open Communication is Key</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/pi-CVoYX3Sk/nurses-and-chronically-ill-patients-open-communication-is-key.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/09/nurses-and-chronically-ill-patients-open-communication-is-key.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a551bf3c970b</id>
        <published>2009-09-06T22:17:13-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-09-06T22:17:13-04:00</updated>
        <summary>This article can be reprinted without asking specific permission. Just reprint "as is" and leave the resource box at the bottom. I'd love to know if you used it on your blog or newsletter. Please contact me. Thanks, Lisa Nurses...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="communication between patients and nurses" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest arthur Lisa Copen" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="health literacy and doctor-patient communication" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bWIyL3T04uni_E885CcuKpitIo8/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bWIyL3T04uni_E885CcuKpitIo8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bWIyL3T04uni_E885CcuKpitIo8/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/bWIyL3T04uni_E885CcuKpitIo8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/.a/6a00d834518d9c69e20120a551bf34970b-pi"&gt;&lt;img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Lisa Copen" border="0" alt="Lisa Copen" src="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/.a/6a00d834518d9c69e20120a5a83d6d970c-pi" width="187" height="187"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;This article can be reprinted without asking specific permission. Just reprint "as is" and leave the resource box at the bottom. I'd love to know if you used it on your blog or newsletter. &lt;a href="http://www.restministries.org/admin-contactus.htm" target="_blank"&gt;Please contact me&lt;/a&gt;. Thanks, Lisa     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Nurses and Chronically Ill Patients: Open Communication is Key&lt;/b&gt;     &lt;br&gt;by Lisa Copen     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;The medical world could not function without nurses. It's no secret to any of us who has had a doctor's appointment or been in the hospital that a nurse can make all of the difference in our total experience and recovery process. Whether undergoing a routine procedure, scheduling a simple appointment, or being there beside us while the doctor has a serious conversation, a nurse's presence can determine how well we as the patient copes with the situation and emotionally processes the outcome.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;Those of us with illness can be quick to criticize the nurses who hardly acknowledge us, who forget to bring our medications when we are in the hospital, and who seem to enjoy their job as the gatekeeper to their doctor a little too much.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;But as a chronically ill patient we have a long list of encounters with nursing staff, so we must also fondly recall the nurses who made unquestionable improvements in our care by being our advocate when no one else would listen, or just by holding our hand while we received a underwent painful (and possibly lonely) procedure.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;When I was recently checked into the hospital, the nurse had to push me outside from the wound care center around the hospital's construction zone walkway. Ironically, we both had rheumatoid arthritis and I made a new friend by our simple ten-minute conversation. Despite my infection, I felt much more comfortable by the time I got to the hospital.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;For years I've attempted to get a nurse to write an article about her typical day for HopeKeepers Magazine. I'd like patients to know how the nurse's day is filled with scheduling issues, checking patients in and the constant lack of time to accomplish all that is expected.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;I haven't found a nurse yet who was even willing to be interviewed for an article; more than a few have said, "If my article was discovered I could lose my job!"     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;With chronically ill patients and nurses continuing to improve their understanding of one anothers and each others needs however, there is only room for improvement in this long-standing relationship. Sadly, sometimes the nurse/patient relationship lasts longer than some marriages.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;Here are 12 tips chronically ill patients would like to give to nurses:     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[1] When you ask "Are you taking any medications?" and I hand you two pages with them listed, please don't look shocked or as if I am an addict.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[2] It grows tiring to always be the patient and only have people interested in my physical body. When you ask me about how I am coping with my illness emotionally, I feel like you really care. Sometimes it loosens me up enough that I may even be more comfortable and forthcoming about things that doctor may benefit in knowing about the physical symptoms.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[3] When you celebrate my little successes with me, it can be the highlight of my day. You understand unlike most people how hard it can be to reach a goal weight on certain medications or what a struggle it can be to wean off a medication. I know you hear the stories of patients like me every day so I appreciate your enthusiasm for my little successes.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[4] Practically, I realize that you are not able to keep up to date on every medication that is out there on the market, but when you have to ask me how to spell the name of my drug three times, which happens to have an ad in all the best-selling magazines, I question how often you get out of the office.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[5] I don't know if you realize how powerful your words are. When you complement me by saying, "You have the best attitude about your illness. I really admire you for how well you cope with it," that can keep me going for days.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[6] I appreciate it when you ask, "Would it be okay if I pray for you?" Some people may say no, but for many it will be the first time some cared enough to even ask.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[7] When I am undergoing a medical procedure and my family cannot be there, having you hold my hand makes all the difference. Thanks for understanding the fact that any medical procedure, no matter how minor, is major to me.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[8] When I'm in the hospital it's hard to give over the disbursement of all of my medications to you. I'm what some call a "professional patient" and used to taking care of myself; monitoring my pain level and knowing when and how much medication to take. When you go the extra mile and help me get medications on time, I really appreciate it. The time of day I take it can make a huge difference in my pain level for the day.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[9] If you are having a bad day, just tell me, "Today has been a little hectic." I know you are human and have rough days, but when you are grumpy I tend to think I've done something to upset you and have been known to take it personally.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[10] When I'm trying to schedule an appointment for a specific day, or you are trying to reach me and I'm unavailable, I'm not trying to be difficult. Although a lot of my time is filled with doctors appointments, therapies, lab tests, etc. I'm also trying to have as normal of life as possible and give my family the same thing.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[11] I appreciate it when you are able to call in prescriptions so they are ready at the pharmacy when I get there. I know it's an extra step for you, but it helps me tremendously.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;[12] When I'm in the hospital, I'm very grateful for the things you help me to do such as shower, change the sheets on the bed, or even just have a conversation to distract me from the pain. It makes a difference in my stay. Thanks for not treating me like a project, but a person.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;Living with a chronic illness is difficult. Choosing the career path of nursing is not easy either. When each remembers to pass along simple encouragement in the words of "thank you" or "I admire your strength," both the patient and the nurse can have a beneficial, and sometimes even a blessed, relationship.     &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt;Lisa Copen is the founder of &lt;a href="http://www.invisibleillness.com"&gt;Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week&lt;/a&gt; held each year in Sept and featuring a free 5-day virtual conference w/ 20 seminars online. Follow &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/invisibleillwk"&gt;II Week on Twitter&lt;/a&gt; for prizes and info. Blog about invisible illness on your site, be a featured guest blogger, meet others, read articles and lots more. Make a difference!&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;div class="zemanta-related"&gt;   &lt;h6 class="zemanta-related-title"&gt;Related articles by Zemanta&lt;/h6&gt;    &lt;ul class="zemanta-article-ul"&gt;     &lt;li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"&gt;&lt;a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/?p=2184"&gt;10 Ways to Make Your Invisible Illness Visible&lt;/a&gt; (invisibleillnessweek.com) &lt;/li&gt;      &lt;li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"&gt;&lt;a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/?p=1582"&gt;Can Those with an Invisible Illness Park in the Blue Spots Without ...&lt;/a&gt; (invisibleillnessweek.com) &lt;/li&gt;      &lt;li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"&gt;&lt;a href="http://invisibleillnessweek.com/?p=2188"&gt;Coping With Crisis on Top of Chronic, Part 1&lt;/a&gt; (invisibleillnessweek.com) &lt;/li&gt;   &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/div&gt;</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/09/nurses-and-chronically-ill-patients-open-communication-is-key.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Getting Around A System That Doesnt Work - by Karen Lynn</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/59KGPVTR54c/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work---by-karen-lynn.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/08/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work---by-karen-lynn.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a4ffc902970b</id>
        <published>2009-08-17T22:02:12-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-08-17T22:02:12-04:00</updated>
        <summary>This is an article written by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org This article was originally posted at http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work -------------------------------------------------- Dear Readers, how awful is this! I got to thinking today how "every" aspect of a disabled or special needs person’s life...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Cerebral palsy" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest author Karen Lynn" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest blogs" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yu3jQp_V1w1delbP90HNSo8KIHI/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yu3jQp_V1w1delbP90HNSo8KIHI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yu3jQp_V1w1delbP90HNSo8KIHI/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/yu3jQp_V1w1delbP90HNSo8KIHI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is an article written by Karen Lynn from &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;This article was originally posted at &lt;a title="http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work" href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;--------------------------------------------------&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/3oa9yI0kQroEHno-M1Q9ClZtquBgKdizDgZwx2Lu5HlWbQ6gMXqXzYmm0veVSdpe2j5GHHgSDgppLM-k6KvO9IHXcrJDVDSG/KarenLynn.jpg?width=183" width="183" height="183"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Dear Readers, how awful is this! I got to thinking today how "every" aspect of a disabled or special needs person’s life is scrutinized by "Helpful Experts" who assume God like powers over our goals, our dreams, our thoughts, our abilities, including our wishes to have a livelihood of our own. How dear they step in front of us and block the way of our natural flow. Everything from a career choice, to how we put on our shoes and socks. Better yet, how we even go to the bathroom, is subject to morbid interest and thorough examination. It is critical, meticulous and malicious. Yet, they seem to pull it off.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Our genuine desires as human beings, to led happy, productive lives is intentionally disregarded as they fail to consider our expression of success and happiness. We are never really taken into real consideration. Even if we have some kind of challenge, as a disabled person, our desires to attain our goals or degrees, aught to be recognized and respected. Even if it is just going into work. It would be a joy to have a say so in our destination which society pays no attention or heed to.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;This infuriates me to no end, as time, and time, and time again, I have strived, and attempted, and fought for every ounce and every bloody achievement that I have made today. These years of fighting with a system that does not see us as worthy to listen to, have indeed left their scars.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;If only our struggles were given the same importance as other suppressed people, it would make life a whole lot easier. Instead, precious years have been frittered and thrown away, down right wasted, trying to get around artificial barrier’s of the worst kind. My dear friends, this struggle is often hidden from people who do not experience it directly, but is no less real.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;If I can bring this idea into your heart’s and minds then my life long work and struggle has been worth the while.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;---------------------------------------------------    &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn’s Biography     &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn is a native Californian. She was born perfectly normal, and paralyzed at 5 months old due to a DPT shot. This shot put her in a coma, leaving her severely disabled, however, miraculously, she made an almost complete recovery. This shot, left her with; left-side hemiplegia, and dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy. Despite all odds, Karen went forth to triumph. She prevailed with her self-determined attitude. Karen made tremendous progress, and has left a mark on this world.     &lt;br&gt;Karen not only learned to dance, but she soared. She was the first physically challenged person to search out, take on the system, and win the first Civil Rights Case in California. She gained an Associate of Arts degree in English, and she won second prize in the Kaleidoscope Literary Art Magazine international prose fiction art awards of 1983. Moreover, in 2006, this story, The Broken Hoof, was published by Publish America. She became a dance teacher in 1976, and has been mentoring special needs individuals since then. Karen has been on an un-ending journey to help others with disabilities. She has sat on the Executive Board of Protection and Advocacy Inc, and also the Clients Services Committee at Harbor Regional Center in Torrance, CA. Karen not only has her own website at:www.whispersofhope.org, but is a motivational speaker. She is a very caring, person, and is passionate about the work she does to help others.     &lt;br&gt;buy Karen Lynn’s book at: &lt;a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Broken-Hoof/Karen-Lynn/e/9781424103263/?itm=1"&gt;barnesandnoble.com - The Broken Hoof&lt;/a&gt;     &lt;br&gt;and     &lt;br&gt;visit her site at: &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/08/getting-around-a-system-that-doesnt-work---by-karen-lynn.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>What we go though as Disabled People - by Karen Lynn</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/-iQGh7-kE20/what-we-go-though-as-disabled-people---by-karen-lynn.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/08/what-we-go-though-as-disabled-people---by-karen-lynn.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a556d987970c</id>
        <published>2009-08-17T21:38:14-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-08-17T21:38:14-04:00</updated>
        <summary>This is an article written by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org This article was originally posted at http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/what-we-go-though-... -------------------------------------------------- The hardest part about having a disability is that no one really take us seriously. It is like pulling teeth to be...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Cerebral palsy" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest author Karen Lynn" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest blogs" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ccsVzXaIkklsVo9xGruCyZ8Fqps/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ccsVzXaIkklsVo9xGruCyZ8Fqps/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ccsVzXaIkklsVo9xGruCyZ8Fqps/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ccsVzXaIkklsVo9xGruCyZ8Fqps/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is an article written by Karen Lynn from &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;This article was originally posted at &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/what-we-go-though-as-disabled-people"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/what-we-go-though-...&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;--------------------------------------------------&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/3oa9yI0kQroEHno-M1Q9ClZtquBgKdizDgZwx2Lu5HlWbQ6gMXqXzYmm0veVSdpe2j5GHHgSDgppLM-k6KvO9IHXcrJDVDSG/KarenLynn.jpg?width=183" width="183" height="183"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;The hardest part about having a disability is that no one really take us seriously. It is like pulling teeth to be heard as we wish to be heard, and taken into consideration and regarded like the rest of the world. Too many times, we as "disabled individuals" are payed no attention too, ignored, over-looked, and "be programmed" to being nice little individuals, which turn into Convenient robots. This being, because they fear we will loose control and embarrass them. Thus, we who have Cerebral Palsy, a learning disability of Dyslexia, and or any other type of disability are; tossed a bone to keep us pacified, and are patronized, and are regarded as a problem, rather than a asset to our world and our community.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;We too often are looked down upon rather than regarded as someone with importance, worth, or value and worthy of attention. We are plighted beyond words because it is easier to ignore our abilities to focus on details. Time and time again I have been aware of others viewing me as a helpless, victim, and not the intelligent, confident person, that I am. We find acceptance from the public and professionals when we are cute little children, and are not a threat to society. But we grow up, have a mind of our own, and desires to fill, that acceptance immediately fades away into nothingness!&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;---------------------------------------------------    &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn’s Biography     &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn is a native Californian. She was born perfectly normal, and paralyzed at 5 months old due to a DPT shot. This shot put her in a coma, leaving her severely disabled, however, miraculously, she made an almost complete recovery. This shot, left her with; left-side hemiplegia, and dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy. Despite all odds, Karen went forth to triumph. She prevailed with her self-determined attitude. Karen made tremendous progress, and has left a mark on this world.     &lt;br&gt;Karen not only learned to dance, but she soared. She was the first physically challenged person to search out, take on the system, and win the first Civil Rights Case in California. She gained an Associate of Arts degree in English, and she won second prize in the Kaleidoscope Literary Art Magazine international prose fiction art awards of 1983. Moreover, in 2006, this story, The Broken Hoof, was published by Publish America. She became a dance teacher in 1976, and has been mentoring special needs individuals since then. Karen has been on an un-ending journey to help others with disabilities. She has sat on the Executive Board of Protection and Advocacy Inc, and also the Clients Services Committee at Harbor Regional Center in Torrance, CA. Karen not only has her own website at:www.whispersofhope.org, but is a motivational speaker. She is a very caring, person, and is passionate about the work she does to help others.     &lt;br&gt;buy Karen Lynn’s book at: &lt;a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Broken-Hoof/Karen-Lynn/e/9781424103263/?itm=1"&gt;barnesandnoble.com - The Broken Hoof&lt;/a&gt;    &lt;br&gt;and     &lt;br&gt;visit her site at: &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


    <feedburner:origLink>http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/08/what-we-go-though-as-disabled-people---by-karen-lynn.html</feedburner:origLink></entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Determined - by Karen Lynn</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/ed278/rudy/~3/JKoTBcYggrU/determined---by-karen-lynn.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/2009/08/determined---by-karen-lynn.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d834518d9c69e20120a556d13e970c</id>
        <published>2009-08-17T21:24:07-04:00</published>
        <updated>2009-08-17T21:24:07-04:00</updated>
        <summary>This is an article written by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org This article was originally posted at http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/determined -------------------------------------------------- I will make this happen for myself too- just like everything else in my life- I am as determined as determined can...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>rudy</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Cerebral palsy" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest author Karen Lynn" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="guest blogs" />
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="personal stories" />
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-US" xml:base="http://www.copingwithdisability.com/rudy/">
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fmD-9j0cAxF_jB1C44M3X4xWFl8/0/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fmD-9j0cAxF_jB1C44M3X4xWFl8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;
&lt;a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fmD-9j0cAxF_jB1C44M3X4xWFl8/1/da"&gt;&lt;img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/fmD-9j0cAxF_jB1C44M3X4xWFl8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is an article written by Karen Lynn from &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;This article was originally posted at &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/determined"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org/blog/uncategorized/determined&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;--------------------------------------------------&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://api.ning.com/files/3oa9yI0kQroEHno-M1Q9ClZtquBgKdizDgZwx2Lu5HlWbQ6gMXqXzYmm0veVSdpe2j5GHHgSDgppLM-k6KvO9IHXcrJDVDSG/KarenLynn.jpg?width=183" width="183" height="183"&gt;&lt;/img&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;I will make this happen for myself too- just like everything else in my life- I am as determined as determined can be to move forward with anticipation and recognition with my public speaking career. And even though I have shared and spoken before, many a times, and filled many a rooms with encouragement, hope and empowerment I will keep on keeping on till that someone sees and recognizes my potential and what I have to give to the world.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;---------------------------------------------------    &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn’s Biography     &lt;br&gt;Karen Lynn is a native Californian. She was born perfectly normal, and paralyzed at 5 months old due to a DPT shot. This shot put her in a coma, leaving her severely disabled, however, miraculously, she made an almost complete recovery. This shot, left her with; left-side hemiplegia, and dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy. Despite all odds, Karen went forth to triumph. She prevailed with her self-determined attitude. Karen made tremendous progress, and has left a mark on this world.     &lt;br&gt;Karen not only learned to dance, but she soared. She was the first physically challenged person to search out, take on the system, and win the first Civil Rights Case in California. She gained an Associate of Arts degree in English, and she won second prize in the Kaleidoscope Literary Art Magazine international prose fiction art awards of 1983. Moreover, in 2006, this story, The Broken Hoof, was published by Publish America. She became a dance teacher in 1976, and has been mentoring special needs individuals since then. Karen has been on an un-ending journey to help others with disabilities. She has sat on the Executive Board of Protection and Advocacy Inc, and also the Clients Services Committee at Harbor Regional Center in Torrance, CA. Karen not only has her own website at:www.whispersofhope.org, but is a motivational speaker. She is a very caring, person, and is passionate about the work she does to help others.     &lt;br&gt;buy Karen Lynn’s book at: &lt;a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Broken-Hoof/Karen-Lynn/e/9781424103263/?itm=1"&gt;barnesandnoble.com - The Broken Hoof&lt;/a&gt;    &lt;br&gt;and     &lt;br&gt;visit her site at: &lt;a href="http://www.whispersofhope.org/"&gt;http://www.whispersofhope.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content>


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