An article by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org

It hardly seems possible that I have been writing for Audacity Magazine for well over a year, now.  Every article I have written has been a new challenge.  Every article, I have written, has been as different as the article before. And every article I write comes from a place of understanding, compassion, and a sincere honesty to enlighten the public.  I would definitely have to say, however, that they have all been like every other article in this magazine; connected with the one purpose of exploring the daily lives and feelings of the disabled community.

In a big, way, attempts have never been made to move beyond daily living skills, to understand and explore the other aspects of our lives. Thus, these articles, which I have written, have been crafted, created, and revealed to the public so that light may be shed.  I have seen articles here, on everything from learning to drive, to romance, travel, and remembering the great leasers of our past. I don’t know other than blogs, of a place, in which the great leaders of our community could gather together and express exactly what was on their minds. This is invaluable, because it reminds all of us that we are not ever alone.

My experience, writing for Audacity Magazine, has not only made me more determined to move forward with my own life, but to experience writing for a prestigious magazine, when at one time, three and a half decades ago, I could not even form a constructive sentence by myself.  To be accepted by Natashasa, has not only been a powerful experience for me, but it has reminded me that I was right!  I clung to the belief that I could learn, and I did. I clung to the belief that I had a right to an education and I got one. And, I clung to the awareness that I was going to make a mark on this world. And, just like all of you, I have!  I have determined, in the depths of myself that, no one was going to define my personhood. No one was going to tell me, or make me believe that I was less than what I was. No one was going to take away the healthy self-esteem and autonomy I fought for.  But writing for this magazine has taken me a step further.  Each time, in every way, that I write another article, for this magazine; I am reminded of my own progress, and, I am reminded of all the other valuable gifts I have to share with the world.

Changing Attitudes, Changing Minds!

 

An article by Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org

 

In my last article, I wrote about people bullying others. Well today, my dear readers, I am going to take this topic a step further.  I am going to expand and give more detail about how this thinking applies in other parts of our lives.  The hardest part of our existences; whether disabled or not, is learning to get along with everybody.  It is in the learning to maneuver, in staying neutral,  and the ability to adapt, and adjust, that we find our greatest challenges and joys.  Many in our community must be very smart in finding a way to alter outworn concepts about what we are capable of.  When a person has to spends three and a half decades trying to make the degree they won pay off, in terms of the job they deserve without much luck, something is defiantly and undeniably wrong.  Still, when doctorial candidates’ will travel the world wide, prove they are capable of making and taking the journey, and come home only to be told by a group of experts that they are better off in a workshop; something unmistakably is wrong.  Why is it that when a person such as myself wants to achieve and go forth with their degrees or desires they are subtly blocked and artfully discredited.    What is it that has damaged the thinking of our countries leadership?  I can not understand why genuine leaders are ignored while people get degrees in phone sex, and jobs based on a false concept of sympathy rather on ability.  What makes our drive unnoticed?  What make our situation so different.  And what makes people so reluctant to help us and hire us?  That is the hardest thing to deal with, the awareness that we are tolerated not included. And we come off to these experts as “non included, separated; after thoughts.” Thus, the people in our community are an untapped resource.  All of our problem solving, all of our flexibility, and all of our talents are going to sheer waste.  Decade, after decade, after decade!

Never in the United States history, has our country been in grater need of a group of individuals, skilled in problem-solving, time management, flexibility,  and a strong will. Never in its history have they looked beyond book documentation to free and let our people have the chances, the opportunities, and the favorable time or set circumstance to do a job they so deserve.  Every one of you reading this article has accomplished many great challenges, I’m sure.   We are conquering everyday problems which the rest of the world, I’m sure, couldn’t handle.  If faced with our level of difficulty, most people would collapse at the onset.   So, I ask you, what would be then, so terrible, awful, or extremely bad, about turning us all loose to over-come and take control of our own lives and problems.  Thus, I ask you again, candidly, What would be so dreadful if we were finally given a change.  What would be so horrific if we were able to sit down at the table, equally, amongst our peers, and leaders?  What would be so shocking, if all of us; not just the select few of our excepted leaders, in our community, could actively influence policy. What would be so earth-shattering if people were willing to analyze and inculcate our views about the contribution we are making to society.

How could this be possible?  It is definitely simpler than it looks.  We only have to abandon the comfortable idea that experts will make all our decisions and supply all our wants.  I ask you , again.  What is wrong with that picture?  The frame does not fit, nor, is the color correct. So, we must make a new picture.  We must take back the right to determine our own path. 

 

My friend and fellow blogger Karen Lynn from http://www.whispersofhope.org will be contributing articles to this website starting today.

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Changing Attitudes, Changing Minds

I have heard a lot of commentary about kids bullying others, and then those same children who could not handle the making fun of any longer; killing themselves or hurting someone.  Many people do not know how much that actually happens in the disabled community.  But it does.  Sometimes its even worse than out in the “regular world.”  I know this because I lived through it, and experienced it a number of times first hand. 

When I was a child the kids around me would chastise me for having an over-weight parent.  Time and again, they would say mean and cruel words that stung deeply; of which all I could do was  swallow what they just said, and turn the other cheek.  Still another time, I was directly bullied by the classmate’s in my classroom.  I was a quiet, demure, good-hearted child, who never thought twice about saying something or doing something down right nasty just for the sake or fun of it.

Yet, I had classmate’s that did just that!  I experienced a practical awareness of people who came up to my personhood, stared me in the face, spouted nasty, sweet, nothings to me directly, grab my work assignments right from under my very nose, and ripped then to shreds.  Still another time, as an adult mind you;  while teaching a young client who had C.P., I was directly ostracize because she felt she had a right to mock my movements.  Obviously, someone put this in her mind.  Where did she get this from.  Was it her wealthy background, her being the eldest child, or her controlling, manipulative ways.  Was she made fun of by others, herself?  Or, did she believe that making fun would get her somewhere? 

What she did not realize  was she was also making fun of herself.  With a stern, caring, compassionate, human side, I professionally sat her down; and reminded her that she too had a disability, and while it was the same, yet different, she would not like it if someone made fun of her.   People are not aware of how much there words can impact people around them.  It would be very useful if we all took the time to think before we hurt someone’s feeling. If we perhaps, really took the time to be careful there would be a whole lot less suffering and tragedy.

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here is more about Karen Lynn