tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65474374862052458182024-03-06T15:03:01.501-05:00Down Wit DatDown syndrome advocacyPsychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-34435667356844346982015-03-20T23:29:00.000-04:002015-03-20T23:29:45.414-04:00Happy World Down Syndrome Day and Stuff (It's Probably the Drugs Talking)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although I am currently sitting with one leg up on the coffee table, Robaxacet and a shot of Toradol on board, an icepack on my sciatic nerve... One butt cheek propped on a couch cushion, in my new home in the middle of the frozen Arctic... Don't think that I'm not aware that tomorrow is <a href="https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/" target="_blank">World Down Syndrome Day</a>.<br />
<br />
It's the most Holy of Holies in our little corner of the disability universe. The day. The big one. Blue and yellow will be everywhere and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedna_%28deity%29" target="_blank">Sedna</a></i> help us, we are <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/03/a-fair-shot.html" target="_blank">still with the mismatched and "silly" socks</a>. There will be pride, yes... and there <i>should</i> be pride. The extra chromosome, the <i>condition</i>, the disability, the whatever-you-want-to-call it, the <i>thing</i> that is Down syndrome, does not preclude one from their humanity, their right to happiness (and the ability to seek that happiness). <br />
<br />
Pride. Yes. <br />
Be loud and goddamned proud.<br />
<br />
I'm also very aware that I don't get to hold my son every day any more... that would be the hazards of isolation nursing, being away from your family for long periods. But, that doesn't make me any less involved in his parenting (even though I am physically thousands of miles away from him). Ahhh, my little man and his newly found skills... In the time since my last post, he is now walking and running. He is talking more and although he has always been very good at getting his point across using a combination of sign and Wyatt-sign and sounds and body language, he's decided to go with words. Which is cool, because that's how I communicate most of the time too. I say most, as I have to admit that I do use a lot of non-sensical grunting, hand waving and sighing most of the time. I just tell myself that it's part of being the mother of three kids. Or a psych nurse. Or something. Yeah...<br />
<br />
I have a lot of pride for him too. I'm proud of all my kids. Every time they figure something new out or add a new trick to the repertoire, I'm on about it for days. They amaze me, these little people. It amazes me that my eldest can rhyme off the first 10 elements of the periodic table. It amazes me that my daughter, who is the spitting image of me (only prettier), can climb almost anything and completely destroy a room in under 30 seconds... and convince you that it is all in good fun. It was no less amazing to find out that Wyatt, the guy who wasn't allowed to hold the phone for the longest time as he would press all the buttons and hang up on Mommy in Nunavut, decided to call both my BFF and my mother and have conversations with them both. Just, y'know... because he was bored. And he could. And eff anybody that thought differently. They might have not gotten the full gist of the conversation, but man, he was as pleased as anything at the results. And so am I. Way to show us up, dude.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of other things that I'm aware of too, despite my new postal code and our flighty "InterNOT". The '<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/opinion/the-modern-asylum.html?_r=0" target="_blank">new and improved asylum</a>' debate (<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/07/a-brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-7.html" target="_blank">like that is somehow up for debate</a>). The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inclusivehumanity/posts/955232707842607?fref=nf" target="_blank">sheltered workshops</a> issue. That <a href="http://www.thismess.net/2015/03/world-down-syndrome-day-fight_20.html" target="_blank">cute is still king,</a> supposed superpowers, angels and <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/08/balance.html" target="_blank">pedestal ableism</a>, the r-word, the tragedy rhetoric that is still every-blessed-where, and somehow, in some way, devaluing or marginalizing a group of people is ok, because, y'know, that's your opinion and that fact alone somehow warrants validity. <br />
<br />
Oy. I may need more pain killers for that lot.<br />
<br />
I haven't written anything here since November. I'm aware of that too. That doesn't mean I've faded off into the sunset (or wandered off into a northern blizzard if that analogy is more appropriate and to your liking). I just haven't had the spoons or the words to say what I've been mulling over. That time is coming again, thankfully. Once I get off this couch, that is (I've resorted to lying on my side and typing now).<br />
<br />
There's a whole lot of awareness. Up. In. Here. But, as I've said numerous times, that alone really doesn't do anything. Getting better and finding my spoons and doing the education through the advocacy... well, that changes minds. Making sure that both my twins are included fully in the classroom this fall, not just one of them... well, that is doing something. All the little considerations and leanings in that I do... those help too. <br />
<br />
This is about as aware as this World Down Syndrome Day is going to get for me. If I do get off this couch at some point, I may shuffle off into the sunshine and visit some friends. I may wear socks too, but only because it is still -30 here and only in my boots. I will Skype my family later on and hear of the day's discoveries and accomplishments. The subject of Down syndrome may or may not come up. But if it does, I'll answer questions to the best of my ability (as I generally do). <br />
<br />
It won't come up with family because Down syndrome is just an <i>is</i> at this point. It's not the elephant in the room. It's no longer the "we have to do this and this because of <i>that</i>" thing. It's just one facet of my son. It's a tiny part of our busy life. It doesn't make more or get in the way of any of the love that is already there. He's a boy, doing boy things and taking part in the world around him. Like we all do.<br />
<br />That's the part that I wish more people understood. <br />
<br />
<br />
Happy World Down Syndrome Day<br />
#WDSD15<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvepXqlKekcmFggA2ajS96yGxipAlpQXNqT9pgV5zPr4g65aELdlgrQa7qF4q76AP9WQurZoV1v97HjfShbW54u3aRSqm8nie0qotmhiPj4gRKnqr1ZN_aCDRA6cZzto0OPAuyW9gsOw/s1600/socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvepXqlKekcmFggA2ajS96yGxipAlpQXNqT9pgV5zPr4g65aELdlgrQa7qF4q76AP9WQurZoV1v97HjfShbW54u3aRSqm8nie0qotmhiPj4gRKnqr1ZN_aCDRA6cZzto0OPAuyW9gsOw/s1600/socks.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh. I can't even...</td></tr>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-57976832016399122472014-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-21T00:00:00.367-05:00The #T21BlogHop - November 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's November and time again for the #T21BlogHop.<br />
<br />
I know things have slowed down around here lately, and that has been a regrettable necessity. It will be more apparent in the coming weeks the whys and hows and WTFs, but for now I will endeavor to keep this blog hop running and catch up on my #IntheNews posts.<br />
<br />
In the meantime...<br />
<br />
Inclusion, and the necessity for, the benefits of and the undermining thereof have really been on my mind lately. Not just in my personal life and the upcoming kindergarten debut of my twins in the fall; it's everywhere I seem to look or go lately. <br />
<br />
In my mind, if it's still a question, if I still have to whip out, on the fly, an article on why inclusion <b>benefits everyone</b>, if I still find myself having to explain that <i>yes</i>, they are <i>going together</i> in September, to the <i>same school</i> and <i>possibly the same class and everything</i>... then this topic still has to be addressed. <br />
<br />
So, for November, the theme is INCLUSION. As always, non-themed disability advocacy posts are welcome.<br />
<br />
Add a post. Tell your friends. Spread the word. Inclusion benefits everyone.<br />
<br />
This blog hop will be open until midnight, November 23.<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-23722460394486456632014-10-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-10-21T00:00:03.755-04:00The T21 Blog Hop - October 2014 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As we find ourselves in October once again, I must admit, I'm feeling a little more optimistic than last year.<br />
<br />
October, traditionally in the USA, is Down Syndrome <i>Awareness</i> Month.<br />
<br />
Last year at this time, I (and a few more like me) were met with a certain degree of resistance regarding the gulf between awareness campaigns and the actual creation of a climate of acceptance. I personally was mocked, received hate mail, was party to some online bullying... and I didn't get it half as bad as some of my fellow bloggers get on a regular basis.<br />
<br />
With that, and my ongoing health concerns, you can imagine why I have remained reletively silent lately.<br />
<br />
However, hope does spring eternal. In my silence, I have been able to listen... and have been delighted by other voices taking up the call. <i>Acceptance</i>, not awareness. Meaningful inclusion. Equality. Justice. These words have been a battle cry, and will be again.<br />
<br />
For now, I will re-share a few of my older pieces for this month; words that I solidly stood by in the past and continue to do so now. Not surprisingly, the theme for this month's Blog Hop will be <i>acceptance</i>, of not only Down syndrome and other developmental delays/intellectual disabilities, but of disability in general. I will also invite colleagues, friends and bloggers from all over the world of disability to participate; there is so much we can learn from each other. There is so much more that we all have in common.<br />
<br />
Please join us for the next three days and read some wonderful writing about acceptance, meaningful inclusion, equality and justice. Perhaps together we can make a larger impact. Perhaps we can find another few voices along the way.<br />
<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-85931213253591574122014-09-01T18:55:00.000-04:002014-10-24T18:57:19.464-04:00In The News - August 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from August 2014.<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://mealtimehostage.com/2014/07/24/mealtime-musings-needs-matter/" target="_blank">Mealtime Musings: Needs Matter</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/12/pf/disabled-benefits/index.html" target="_blank">Disabled Americans fighting for the right to save more money</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/732767780102991/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image<span class="text_exposed_show"> Description: A layered light purple and yellow background, painted with vertical..."</span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.babycenter.com/204_preschoolers-with-special-needs-benefit-from-inclusion-class_10396307.bc?scid=preschooler_20140805%3A5&pe=MlVDZk5wY3wyMDE0MDgwNQ" target="_blank">Preschoolers with special needs benefit from "inclusion" classrooms</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="copy-paste-block">
<a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Study_Hobbit_human_actually_had_Down_syndrome.html" target="_blank">Study: 'Hobbit' human actually had Down syndrome</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://mic.com/articles/94988/7-things-people-with-disabilities-are-tired-of-hearing" target="_blank">7 Things People With Disabilities Are Tired of Hearing</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=199187" target="_blank">Toronto, people with disabilities deserve better</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/734989279880841/?type=1" target="_blank">"Good news! It looks like Build-A-Bear Workshop is done with Autism Speaks!! We will keep everyone updated... </a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">#BoycottAutismSpeaks"</a> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-egan/george-takei-facebook_b_5660280.html" target="_blank">Bullying Disabled People Is Never Ok - But It's Even Worse When You've Got 8.7Million Fans Watching</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/08/depression-heres-big-fat-fuck-you.html" target="_blank">Depression: Here's a Big, Fat, Fuck You</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://theinvisiblestrings.com/aspergers-depression-masking-effect/" target="_blank">Aspergers and Depression: the masking effect (autism spectrum disorder)</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="dek">
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/08/miracle_memes_and_inspiration_porn_internet_viral_images_demean_disabled.html" target="_blank">Despicable Memes: How “miracle” jokes and inspiration porn demean disabled people.</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/stephen-passman/2014/08/5-things-to-remember-when-fighting-your-depression-seems-especially-hard/" target="_blank">5 Things To Remember When Fighting Your Depression Seems Especially Hard</a> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/downsyndromeireland/photos/a.331667406894365.76003.113076058753502/741190369275398/?type=1" target="_blank">"Yeah he's different. Doesn't always do things like you and me. But you know what? He's my Grandad. And together, we got this..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/14/robin-williams-disabled-athletes-_n_5679298.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000023&ir=Good+News" target="_blank">Robin Williams Quietly Supported Athletes With Disabilities, Competed Alongside Them</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://unstrangemind.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/deeper-levels-of-stigma/" target="_blank">Deeper Levels of Stigma</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.newmobility.com/2014/08/douglas-p-lathrop-1964-2014/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Douglas P. Lathrop, Editor of Kids on Wheels, Dies at 50">Douglas P. Lathrop, Editor of Kids on Wheels, Dies at 50</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=610881295675790&set=a.353758401388082.77668.100002617744079&type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"The people we support are fully human and equally sexual, when accepted, will lead to huge changes in how we help people". - Dave Hingsburger</span></span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerrenBrown/photos/a.10150216256971983.343009.92879641982/10152002441506983/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">How to support someone who's depressed</span></span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PoliticsofDownSyndrome/posts/867764139908055" target="_blank">"Saddened and disappointed by this from Richard Dawkins..." </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-t21-blog-hop-august-2014.html" target="_blank">The T21 Blog Hop - August 2014</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/downsyndromeireland/posts/744301095630992" target="_blank">"Down Syndrome Ireland statement in response to Richard Dawkins comments on Twitter regarding Down syndrome..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2013/02/28/my-anxiety-is-not-disordered/" target="_blank">My Anxiety is Not Disordered</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://differentkindsofnormal.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/we-are-perfection.html" target="_blank">We are perfection</a>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownSyndromeUprising/posts/933829569967459?fref=nf" target="_blank">"Richard Dawkins does not apologize. He sees no fault in his logic of equating Down syndrome with suffering and is unable to examine the fallacy of..." </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ca/2014/08/growing-up-into-autistic-adult.html" target="_blank">Growing Up into an Autistic Adult</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/07/19/autistic-sun/" rel="bookmark">Autistic Sun</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://geekysciencemom.tumblr.com/post/90417081147/advocacy-and-self-advocacy-whats-it-all-about">Advocacy and Self-Advocacy - What’s it all about?</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/08/depression-heres-big-fat-fuck-you.html" target="_blank">Depression: Here's a Big, Fat, Fuck You</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://geekysciencemom.tumblr.com/post/80145260652/the-question-of-acceptance">The Question of Acceptance</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://loveexplosions.net/2013/06/24/highest-highs-and-lowest-lows/" target="_blank">highest highs and lowest lows</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/08/bullies-bigots-and-buffoons-oh-my.html" target="_blank">Bullies, Bigots and Buffoons, Oh My</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://autistictimestwo.blogspot.com/2014/03/why-awareness-is-not-enough.html" itemprop="url" rel="bookmark">Why "Awareness" is not enough</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://meandthelightningkid.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-speed-of-lightning.html" target="_blank">The Speed of Lightning</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="singletitle">
<a href="http://autismhwy.com/blog/?p=5320" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to Different Hearts…">Different Hearts…</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://notsoordinarydiary.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/words-of-power/" target="_blank">Words of Power</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://matir-asurim.blogspot.ca/2014/07/power-cafe.html" target="_blank">Power Cafe!</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/154311301315814/photos/a.202265186520425.50118.154311301315814/684495404964065/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"I have been looking deeper recently. I am unpacking independence and the..."</span></span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat/insights?section=navPosts" target="_blank">"I've apparently invented time travel as I woke up to this:..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://downinfrontplease.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/this-place-is-new.html" target="_blank">This place is New.</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/08/22/sierra-prince-lunch-trash-can/14444539/" target="_blank">Special Needs Student Served Lunch From Trash</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mardra-sikora/yes-my-adult-son-with-down-syndrome-lives-at-home_b_5666593.html" target="_blank">Yes, My Adult Son with Down Syndrome Lives at Home</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/08/balance.html" target="_blank">Balance</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td><td><div class="uiHeaderTitle">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=542450809216330&set=gm.736862199727961&type=1" target="_blank">Autism Acceptance Benefit Show</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/05/putting-health-back-in-mental-health.html" target="_blank">Putting the "Health" Back in "Mental Health"</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/07/picking-rocks.html" target="_blank">Picking Rocks</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/08/25/i-dont-need-your-awareness/" target="_blank">I Don’t Need Your Awareness</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://westhawaiitoday.com/community-bulletin/police-issue-service-animal-reminder" target="_blank">Police issue service animal reminder</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://specialchildren.about.com/od/mentalretardation/fl/10-Reasons-to-Make-the-R-Word-Pledge-Your-Next-Social-Media-Statement.htm" target="_blank">10 Reasons to Make the R-Word Pledge Your Next Social-Media Statement</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ptsdtbicte/photos/a.188767007995266.1073741829.183153585223275/282584305280202/?type=1" target="_blank">"My brain injury may be invisible. But I am not..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ca/2014/08/x-years-of-experience.html" target="_blank">X Years of Experience</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title" id="ctl00_MainTop_GenericControl8_uc951d66daad574dd5ab305aa6867a98a7_lblArticleHeadline">
<a href="http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news/2014/08/22/wheelchair-bound-women-denied-mammograms" target="_blank">Wheelchair bound women denied mammograms</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="" itemprop="headline name">
<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/man-downs-syndrome-faces-being-4131650" target="_blank">Man with Down's syndrome faces being deported from Britain after 17 years - because his parents died</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=615659915197928&set=a.353758401388082.77668.100002617744079&type=1" target="_blank">“I would rather die in a fire tonight living in my own home than live to be a 100 years old living in this institution" </a>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">August also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownwitdat.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fi1113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk501%2FPsychojenic%2FDWD%2FDwDButton2.gif" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none">Pin It</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-26438567501971931342014-08-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-08-21T00:00:06.966-04:00The T21 Blog Hop - August 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
August, as they say, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_times" target="_blank">has been interesting</a> thus far.<br />
<br />
So much has been happening... It has gotten me thinking of Acceptance vs Awareness again, the question of what is <i>normal</i> and not, what is health and what is considered illness and when the change from one to another actually happens, if at all.<br />
<br />
I guess what really hit it home today is the following quote from the agency who is monitoring and aiding in my son's development:<br />
<br />
"-Wyatt has Down's Syndrome [sic].<br />
-Wyatt is Twin 'A'. Twin 'B' is a healthy female."<br />
<br />
Ow.<br />
<br />
With this in mind, it's time for a little more acceptance, methinks. Time for a little more slice of life, time for a little more "... is natural". Down syndrome is a part of life. Autism is a part of life. Disability, in any shape or form, is natural and not sickness. They are not to be feared, extinguished, beaten. They do not need a cure.<br />
<br />
I'm going to extend it a little further this time too. Depression is natural, as is anxiety and many other things. They happen, they exist. They can be quite disabling. They are not to be feared either. <br />
<br />
I really look forward to a time when this isn't a discussion. <br />
<br />
Grab some ice for a nice cold <i>drink</i>, and read some great Acceptance blogging.<br />
<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-68587041949473922972014-08-01T13:45:00.000-04:002014-09-01T13:46:32.390-04:00In the News - July 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from July 2014.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://ollibean.com/2014/07/01/autism-and-psychiatric-diagnoses/" target="_blank">Autism and Psychiatric Diagnoses</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="instapaper_title">
<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25848-oldest-case-of-downs-syndrome-from-medieval-france.html" target="_blank">Oldest case of Down's syndrome from medieval France</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2011/10/brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-2.html" target="_blank">A Brief History of Down Syndrome, Part 2: Before John Langdon Down</a>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/170439313050482/photos/a.496863130408097.1073741826.170439313050482/647896498638092/?type=1" target="_blank">Escalation of violence pyramid.</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div>
<a href="http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140702/NEWS/140709860" target="_blank">Rockford Wal-Mart sued after firing intellectually disabled employee</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="alpha tweet-title">
<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/29/a-3d-printed-cast-that-can-heal-your-bones-40-80-faster/" target="_blank">A 3D Printed Cast That Can Heal Your Bones 40-80% Faster</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/07/09/the-battle/" target="_blank">The Battle…</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/721012094611893/?type=1&fref=nf" target="_blank">"Image description: Picture of a young woman wearing glasses and standing in what looks..." </a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismoMadrid/photos/a.166268013419217.35661.155388384507180/740110036035009/?type=1" target="_blank">Inclusion vs Exclusion</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="npStoryTitle" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/08/toronto-woman-appalled-by-futile-attempts-to-find-grade-6-class-for-wheelchair-bound-son/" target="_blank">Toronto woman appalled by futile attempts to find Grade-6 class for wheelchair-bound son</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.thinkinclusive.us/there-is-no-excuse-for-children-with-intellectual-disabilities-to-be-educated-in-separate-classrooms/?utm_content=buffer016c2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.rpp5bjGz.hNVVQvpb.dpbs" target="_blank">There Is No Excuse for Children With Intellectual Disabilities To Be Educated In Separate Classrooms</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/721296431250126/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image of a woman wearing<span class="text_exposed_show"> a blue zip up sweat shirt. She is holding two signs..."</span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="quote">
<a href="http://youneedacat.tumblr.com/post/91354191875/low-functioning-is-an-insult-and-high-functioning" target="_blank">“Low functioning is an insult and high functioning is a threat.”</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2012/07/25/bruce-springsteen-discusses-clinical-depression-and-gives-the-rest-of-us-permission-to-discuss-depression-too/" target="_blank">Bruce Springsteen Reveals Depression - And Gives Us Permission To Talk About It Too</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://realsocialskills.org/post/51230564708/dont-teach-kids-that-their-body-is-wrong" target="_blank">Don’t teach kids that their body is wrong</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.toofab.com/2014/07/08/amy-purdy-espn-body-issue/" target="_blank">Amy Purdy Goes Nude for ESPN Body Issue</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/photos/a.360833590619627.72897.316489315054055/705422596160723/?type=1" target="_blank">"Today in Mighty Girl history, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics..."</a><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/07/10/asking-for-accommodations/" target="_blank">Asking for Accommodations</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/07/11/a-fathers-powerful-extremely-personal-thoughts-on-parenting/" target="_blank">A Father’s Powerful & Extremely Personal Thoughts on Parenting</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="cN-headingPage" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/facebook-accused-of-allowing-hate-speech-20140710-zszzl.html" target="_blank">Facebook accused of allowing hate speech</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2014/07/11/my-story-so-much-more-than-just-a-girl-who-uses-a-wheelchair-embracing-disability-as-part-of-my-identity/#.U8FgvcAj_X8.facebook" target="_blank">My Story: So Much More Than Just a Girl Who Uses a Wheelchair – Embracing Disability as Part of My Identity</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><a href="http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/11/the-sexual-politics-of-autism/">The Sexual Politics of Autism</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/722692874443815/?type=1&fref=nf" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"Image Description: A darkened photo of a woman's face appears behind a computer..." </span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><a href="http://metronews.ca/news/toronto/1093078/author-of-u-of-t-study-says-dyslexic-children-should-be-screened-for-physical-abuse/" target="_blank">Author of U of T study says dyslexic children should be screened for physical abuse</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-painter-dollar/inspiration-porn-objectif_b_5578326.html" target="_blank">"Inspiration Porn" Objectifies People With Disabilities</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.squidalicious.com/2014/07/the-poppy-seeds.html" target="_blank">The Poppy Seeds</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
<br /></td><td><div class="article-headline">
<a href="http://www.ny1.com/content/news/212096/girl-with-autism-speaks-at-city-hall-after-she-says-she-was-caught-on-overheated-school-bus/" target="_blank">Girl With Autism Speaks at City Hall After She Says She Was Caught on Overheated School Bus</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.iflscience.com/brain/brains-genes-and-chemical-imbalances-%E2%80%93-how-explanations-mental-illness-affect-stigma" target="_blank">Brains, Genes And Chemical Imbalances – How Explanations Of Mental Illness Affect Stigma</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/723333617713074/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image description: A woman, wearing glasses cozily holding her very young son while they..."</a><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/posts/723635327682903" target="_blank">"It looks like Netflix is airing the Autism Speaks Documentary "Sounding The Alarm" now..."</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/724030887643347/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image description: a young woman with the text, "I am autistic. I am NOT a tragedy..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/724081597638276/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image Description: Black and white photo of a man, sitting in front of a large body of..." </a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/first-date-body-shaming?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=post" target="_blank">IT HAPPENED TO ME: I Was Wined, Dined And Body-Shamed On A First Date</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emily-ladau/in-defense-of-people-who-_b_5589946.html" target="_blank">In Defense of People Who Need Caregivers: Disability Should Not Erase Dignity</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/724934537552982/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image Description: A photo of a man with long hair and beard, wearing a striped button..."</a><span class="text_exposed_hide"></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/18/nypd-chokehold-death_n_5599252.html?" target="_blank">'Gentle Giant' Dies After NYPD Cop Puts Him In Chokehold</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="story-heading" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/20/magazine/the-weird-scary-and-ingenious-brain-of-maria-bamford.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140717&nlid=53785415&tntemail0=y&_r=0" target="_blank">The Weird, Scary and Ingenious Brain of Maria Bamford</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/photos/a.360833590619627.72897.316489315054055/708880639148252/?type=1&fref=nf" target="_blank">"<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">In their flagship Manhattan store this week, JCPenney unveiled a new collection of "real..." </span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/07/the-t21-blog-hop-july-2014.html" target="_blank">The T21 Blog Hop - July 2014</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/726394974073605/?type=1" target="_blank">"<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"*G","type":45}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Image Description: Back ground is greenish Text reads: I am autistic I do not live..." </span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/one-of-marvels-avengers-turns-to-sign-language/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1" target="_blank">One of Marvel’s Avengers Turns to Sign Language</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/728720623841040/?type=1" target="_blank">"Image description: A young man is wearing a hoodie is standing in a grassy field looking..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="at_title">
<a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/11038/20140723/schizophrenia-scientists-tie-over-80-new-genes-to-mental-illness.htm" target="_blank">Schizophrenia: Scientists tie over 80 new genes to mental illness</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="talk-hero__header">
<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much" target="_blank">I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/07/21/creativity-and-mental-illness/">The Relationship Between Creativity and Mental Illness</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/07/28/the-messiness-of-blogging/" target="_blank">The Messiness of Blogging</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In July, <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/07/a-brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-1.html" target="_blank"><i>A Brief History of Down Syndrome...</i></a> was featured in <a href="http://boingboing.net/2014/07/04/a-history-of-down-syndrome.html" target="_blank">BoingBoing</a>. Thank you very much!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">This month also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-56771975785909001202014-07-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-07-21T00:00:08.757-04:00The T21 Blog Hop - July 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its that time again...<br /><br />Once again, July is an "open theme" month. There are so many really good campaigns going on right now...<br /><br />Linky will open July 21st at 12:00 AM EST and close July 24th at 12:00 AM EST, allowing folks three days to submit their entries for this month's showcase.<br />
<br />Add your post(s) (old or new) to the linky below by clicking the link and following
the instructions. If you need further instruction for adding a
reciprocal link to your blog post, follow <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/if-you-are-not-as-techcode-savvy.html" target="_blank">this link</a>.
<br /><br /></div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-35598701581730047592014-07-06T00:00:00.000-04:002014-07-06T00:42:21.408-04:00In The News - June 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from June 2014.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TWEETS</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a Twitter Hashtag </td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/870133219670123/?type=1">"ac•tiv•ism \ˈak-ti-ˌvi-zəm\ Intentional actions to bring about societal change. Often used..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27554754" target="_blank">A Point of View: Happiness and disability</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/06/01/hall-florida-mental-retardation-intellectual-disability-supreme-court-column/9848687/" target="_blank">Court throws out 'mental retardation'</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/870326589650786/?type=1" target="_blank">"Parody of the PETA "got autism" ad. A bowl of milk with a smiley face made out of cheerios..." </a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2645632/Why-daughters-birthday-shames-think-people-Downs-not-fit-live.html" target="_blank">Why my daughter's birthday shames those who think people with Down's are not fit to live</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/03/finnish-education-chief-we-created-a-school-system-based-on-equality/284427/" target="_blank">Finnish Education Chief: 'We Created a School System Based on Equality'</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://mwfl2014.blogspot.ca/2014/05/yesallwomen-includes-women-with.html" target="_blank">#yesallwomen Includes Women with Disabilities. </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/barrierfreemb/photos/a.297989403573672.65207.268841133155166/723063301066278/?type=1&fref=nf" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">MDC Class Action Law Suit in Store?</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry_title">
<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/04/ca-cop-fatally-shoots-18-year-old-special-needs-girl-after-family-calls-for-medical-help/" target="_blank">CA cop fatally shoots 18-year-old special needs girl after family calls for medical help</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2648695/Mother-charged-death-daughter-22-cerebral-palsy-weighed-just-40lbs.html" target="_blank">Mother charged in death of daughter, 22, with cerebral palsy who weighed just 40lbs</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/704833399563096/?type=1" target="_blank">"There can be no "cure" for Autism, because Autism is not an entity. There are only Autistic..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title" id="page-title">
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/208381-held-down-by-red-tape-not-disability#.U5N0uvzdkY5.facebook" target="_blank">Held down by red tape, not disability</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/869294703087308/?type=1" target="_blank">"the diversity of<span class="text_exposed_show"> human brains and human minds. The enormous diversity among individual..."</span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/08/ttc_driver_refuses_to_let_riders_in_wheelchairs_exit_bus.html" target="_blank">TTC driver refuses to let riders in wheelchairs exit bus</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TWEETS</span></b></td><td><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopAbleismBecause?src=hash" target="_blank"><span class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">StopAbleismBecause</span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-sutton/sesame-street-partners-wi_b_5466917.html?fb_action_ids=10152565360377975&fb_action_types=og.shares" target="_blank">'Sesame Street' Partners With Autism Speaks: Why Are Autistic People Upset?</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/870365622980216/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">"help·er /ˈhelpər/Well intentioned person who wishes to assist those they perceive to be.."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aircanada/photos/a.151160728265164.33164.134146296633274/728933117154586/?type=1&theater" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"In a thoughtful act of generosity, an officer aboard a private chartered flight that we had..."</span></span></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div id="a-header" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/disabled-girl-9-found-dead-houston-fridge-article-1.1825421" target="_blank">Neighbors find body of disabled girl, 9, in refrigerator at Houston apartment</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://badcripple.blogspot.ca/2014/06/the-ashley-treatment-rears-its-ugly-head.html" target="_blank">The Ashley Treatment Rears its Ugly Head </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://neurocosmopolitanism.com/what-is-autism/" target="_blank">What Is Autism?</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/11/woman-indicted-in-death-of-disabled-8-year-old-daughter-in-yonkers/" target="_blank">Woman Indicted In Death Of Disabled 8-Year-Old Daughter In Yonkers</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/sun-investigates/bs-md-subminimum-wage-20140614,0,4991105.story" target="_blank">'Subminimum wage' for disabled workers called exploitative </a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://neurocosmopolitanism.com/five-steps-toward-autism-acceptance/" target="_blank">Five Steps Toward Autism Acceptance</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/06/17/an-argument-against-pathologizing-autism-what-others-had-to-say/" target="_blank">An Argument Against Pathologizing Autism – What Others Had to Say</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/06/not-so-idle-hands.html" target="_blank">(Not So) Idle Hands</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.dailydot.com/news/mommy-blogger-fatal-poisoning/" target="_blank">'Mommy blogger' accused of killing her 5-year-old son for Internet fame</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/711496465563456/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">"It's not easy being green, and it's not easy being Autistic when Autism Speaks treats..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://autisticchick.blogspot.ca/2014/04/a-friend-of-mine.html" target="_blank">A friend of mine.</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="articleHeadline">
<a href="http://london.ctvnews.ca/class-actions-launched-against-ont-over-16-facilities-for-developmentally-disabled-1.1874887" target="_blank">Class actions launched against Ont. over 16 facilities for developmentally disabled</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.upworthy.com/her-body-type-is-so-ignored-in-the-magazines-that-we-dont-even-notice-its-missing-ah-now-i-see?g=2&c=upw1" target="_blank">Her Body Type Is So Ignored In The Magazines That We Don’t Even Notice It’s Missing? </a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/06/the-t21-blog-hop-june-2014.html" target="_blank">The T21 Blog Hop - June 2014</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfNoMJ1GYzM" target="_blank"><span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Signmark - Fighting">Signmark - Fighting </span></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title offset-by-one ">
<a href="http://srsalas.com/?p=4122" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: S.R. Salas post: “Advocacy In Others’ Words” for T-21 Blog Hop @Down_Wit_Dat">S.R. Salas post: “Advocacy In Others’ Words” for T-21 Blog Hop @Down_Wit_Dat </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://raisingrebelsouls.blogspot.ca/2014/06/mommy-is-mad-sesameworkshop.html" target="_blank">Mommy is Mad @SesameWorkshop</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/06/dont-be-dick.html" target="_blank">Don't be a Dick*</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://bjforshaw.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/the-joy-of-acceptance/" target="_blank">The Joy of Acceptance</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://sonnolenta.com/2014/06/22/why-i-will-never-be-an-autistic-warrior-mom/" target="_blank">Why I Will Never Be an Autistic "Warrior Mom"</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/713286615384441/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">"Autism is not what Autism Speaks wants you to believe. They have spread many lies..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/deconstruction-by-design-a-visual-history-of-the-liberal-attack-on-education/" rel="bookmark">Deconstruction by Design: A visual history of the Liberal attack on education</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://neuroatypicalwonderings.wordpress.com/2014/06/12/the-room/" target="_blank">The Room</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.thismess.net/2014/06/keep-abortion-politics-out-of-pro.html" target="_blank">GUEST POST - Keep Abortion Politics Out of the Pro-Information Movement</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.meriahnichols.com/disability-my-deaf-connection/" target="_blank">Disability: My Connection</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="articleHeadline">
<a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/toronto-exhibit-highlights-fashion-for-people-using-wheelchairs-1.1880880" target="_blank">Toronto exhibit highlights fashion for people using wheelchairs</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/06/fathersdaytribute/" target="_blank">Why My Dad Isn’t a Hero or a Saint: A Father’s Day Tribute</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://disabilitythinking.blogspot.ca/2013/10/camp-goodwill.html" target="_blank">Camp Goodwill</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/20/best-western-denies-service-dog_n_5512955.html?utm_hp_ref=tw" target="_blank">Best Western Hotel Stripped Of Brand Name After Rejecting Boy Who Uses Service Dog</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.girlwiththecane.com/assumption/" target="_blank">The Downside of Assumptions</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://alacosta-acat.org/2014/06/05/adult-autism-and-program-leadership-yes-its-a-big-deal/" target="_blank">Adult Autism and Program Leadership: Yes, It’s a Big Deal.</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009LPV5SQ/" target="_blank">Please let Amazon know how offensive this merchandise and the like are</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/photos/a.360833590619627.72897.316489315054055/699130276789955/?type=1&fref=nf">A Mighty Girl</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><div class="fbPhotoAlbumTitle">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.607626906023523.1073741830.562486247204256&type=1" target="_blank">WOMEN in english!</a></div>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">June also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community. See you July 21st!<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownwitdat.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fi1113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk501%2FPsychojenic%2FDWD%2FDwDButton2.gif" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none">Pin It</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-60149952523728510132014-07-01T10:48:00.000-04:002014-07-01T10:56:25.848-04:00Happy Canada Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy Canada Day from Down Wit Dat!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHf7VYvrfRF5KGAwxAUBQaIAFXec-OWIo29uqr9Iim3GbvPlGJdN06rru9mxPQ0gnPsOUn2UrEAJp2Bdz2eEhpsVxgHuXqhevFXL5U35hgEdBtbIy6YuGHXYLofgK4sM0DycRMhm0vg/s1600/2014-07-01+10.34.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHf7VYvrfRF5KGAwxAUBQaIAFXec-OWIo29uqr9Iim3GbvPlGJdN06rru9mxPQ0gnPsOUn2UrEAJp2Bdz2eEhpsVxgHuXqhevFXL5U35hgEdBtbIy6YuGHXYLofgK4sM0DycRMhm0vg/s1600/2014-07-01+10.34.04.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonsey is ready for a rainy day. <br />
[Photo description: Skeleton on a deck style porch wearing a red cowboy hat<br />
with a white maple leaf, a lei made of red leaves and white flowers<br />
and holding a red and white umbrella that is shaped like a baseball cap.]<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(Those of you <i>in the know</i> may recognize <i>The Umbrella</i>. If not, <a href="http://psychojenic.blogspot.ca/2008/08/i-has-hat.html" target="_blank">here you go</a>.)</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownwitdat.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fi1113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk501%2FPsychojenic%2FDWD%2FDwDButton2.gif" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none">Pin It</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-63679552843716353452014-06-21T00:06:00.002-04:002014-06-22T08:35:13.105-04:00The T21 Blog Hop - June 2014It is with great delight that I greet summer today.<br />
<br />
Most people at this time of year kick back, take vacation and generally take things a little easier. Or if they choose, use longer days and sultry nights as an excuse to raise a little hell. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately summertime, with all it's activities and sunshine and whatnot, is not a respite from discrimination.
There are a lot of really good active advocacy campaigns going on at the moment; in lieu of a specific theme, I encourage all to post.<br />
<br />
For June, let's kick off the summer by making a little noise.<br />
<br />
Add your post(s) to the linky below by clicking the link and following the instructions. If you need further instruction for adding a reciprocal link to your blog post, follow <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/if-you-are-not-as-techcode-savvy.html" target="_blank">this link</a>.
</br>
</br>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-32796029231003318552014-06-18T00:00:00.000-04:002014-06-18T00:10:53.496-04:00(Not So) Idle Hands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I woke up yesterday morning to the sounds and smells of a summer that is almost here. I lay there, delightedly breathing in wet-grass-laced-with-peonies while four separate bird songs rang out against the background hum of early morning traffic. It was a beautiful kind of morning, one that I have not only found again, but also re-learned to appreciate. The gentleness. The sweetness, made extra so by the sense of stolen time as these moments were fleeting and would end suddenly as soon as the twins woke up. My regret for leaving my bed faded as I slipped on my gardening clogs and headed outside to plant before it got too steamy and our morning too busy.<br />
<br />
Normally my garden would be in by now. Although our growing season is shorter than our southern neighbours, we generally have things in the ground after May 2-4 weekend (Victoria Day--the third Monday in May) as that is usually a good landmark for last frost. Usually. This year wasn't the case so initially it was good that I was behind schedule, but now that we are looking at the middle of June, those extra three weeks could make the difference between an extra batch of canning or not. Normally, I would be panicking and in full grown "shoulda/hafta" mode... I should do this... I "shoulda done" that... I hafta do this... I DEFINITELY hafta do that... and so on. Not this year. Not this year by far. <br />
<br />
This year I wouldn't even have a vegetable garden if it wasn't for my brother and my Mom. My mother starts all her seedlings herself and she sent some leftover plants down. My brother also had a few left over that he had purchased commercially. Most of them had sat on my front porch, "hardening" well beyond the point that they should have. I decided on this gorgeous morning that I was going to take the time and put them in once and for all.<br />
<br />
I carried my seedlings out back and took stock of what I had. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8c8nDmProk-4rcyrrn-ORaqEIAo9-joVwnuOrr-5_UC8UZ7i-yWsZEzy-jrsxiAIDFOg04xdn3Kq9wN8g4BWPPizSHTAKyEAXPHxTexrFyM6dSP1SwtpFtUOUYhjrpaUSCIbOp2xSg/s1600/2014-06-17+08.15.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8c8nDmProk-4rcyrrn-ORaqEIAo9-joVwnuOrr-5_UC8UZ7i-yWsZEzy-jrsxiAIDFOg04xdn3Kq9wN8g4BWPPizSHTAKyEAXPHxTexrFyM6dSP1SwtpFtUOUYhjrpaUSCIbOp2xSg/s1600/2014-06-17+08.15.22.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plants from my Mother <br />
[Photo description: many tomato seedlings in labelled plastic drinking cups. They are very green and healthy.]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJl3guWOZwkvD0_yARfTEgJqcbvuF9NdhBgWfWJOt_crobp8rjj8rRrMY-TmsDzOLZ5EktUOO7Zio3g7XfiWwdfSS4QrwqWqRkjE8SSAguLN8TRex73mrJ4eiOgR2mRQyZ0yVt2dR0A/s1600/2014-06-17+08.15.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJl3guWOZwkvD0_yARfTEgJqcbvuF9NdhBgWfWJOt_crobp8rjj8rRrMY-TmsDzOLZ5EktUOO7Zio3g7XfiWwdfSS4QrwqWqRkjE8SSAguLN8TRex73mrJ4eiOgR2mRQyZ0yVt2dR0A/s1600/2014-06-17+08.15.56.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plants from my Brother [Photo description: Several tomato seedlings in two square plastic commercial pots. They are not as green and healthy.]</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From Mom I had a couple Roma tomato plants, several Glamour (bright red, medium tomatoes), and a some called Canabec (which is a shorter growing, pinkish tomato), a black cherry tomato plant and something called "Matt's Wild Cherries". I'm not sure who Matt is and why his cherry tomatoes are wilder than other people's, but hey. Free tomatoes. My brother gave me some Sweet Million cherry tomatoes and five Yellow Boy tomato plants.<br />
<br />
Usually I have vegetables and herbs but this year I am just doing tomatoes. First rule of gardening: only plant what you desire and have time for. I divided the tomatoes from the cherry tomatoes and started pulling weeds and preparing the soil to transplant. As I was doing so, my mind wandered. That's one of the best parts about gardening actually, the ability to allow your thoughts to meander gently in all directions as you connect yourself physically to the earth. <br />
<br />
As my mind drifted, I thought about my kids and my advocacy work and how lately, my heart has not been into maintaining my online efforts. They too have gone fallow in spots, overgrown with weedy spam in others and not as tended to as they should be. Again, I would normally launch into another round of "shoulda/hafta", and a lot of guilt and self-loathing but not this time. Not this time by far.<br />
<br />
I started thinking that my garden is a larger metaphor than I ever imagined. If I cultivate here, put my efforts there, something else is going to do without. It's a metaphor for my own life, and in turn rather a microcosm in a much bigger one. I know a few of you are now scratching your heads and wondering what I've been smoking, but bear with me for a bit. Right now, I'm taking the "English Garden" approach to most of my online efforts, hacking away at major issues here and there and generally leaving them alone for a while to divert my attentions elsewhere. I just make sure there is a path through the taller foliage.<br />
<br />
Instead, I'm cultivating my family and myself. <br />
<br />
It's an exciting time for all the kids: Wyatt is just on the edge of walking and comes up with new words every single day. Zoe continues to astound us with... well, everything about her, really, while Quinn is finishing second grade and constantly offering up facts about the most random things that amaze all assembled. <br />
<br />
Me? Well, I'm coming along fine, thank you.<br />
<br />
There will be plenty of things to write about and this blog will not slowly recede into the creeper and the ivy. However, the subject matter will continue to blossom beyond my son's chromosomes, to include disability, mental health/illness and more. As it should, because ultimately this blog is about a family, not just one boy with a diagnosis. Many things grow in our garden, some exotic, some more familiar, some toxic, some therapeutic. It's really just a matter of perspective on each of these things as well, as what is poisonous to some is healing to others.<br />
<br />
Before I leave you to work on the other two pieces of writing that occurred to me as I pulled weeds, transplanted, prepared the soil and marveled at the warming breeze that cooled the sweat on my back, I told you all of that to tell you this: Life, especially mine, is very much a garden. Some years you have good weather and a long growing season, some you don't. Sometimes you get hail or high winds or blight that takes out your whole crop. Sometimes you have to leave the soil fallow for a whole season, barren and naked to the elements and allow for renewal. Some years you have to pay for the excesses of others and nurture the soil, adding nutrients, destroying pests and cultivating a rich medium in which to grow. You grow what you can manage, sharing the excess with family, friends and neighbours.<br />
<br />
You get some surprises too:<br />
<br />
There will be those that volunteer to help:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZcZkmQWJB9FwuFaTbYYbvFsrGQVZ1yhAPp29tIiUGIhyKUIPvmuggLO0d-HwWmqCk9aDvkM3binGNnxqnFK1wwp7uDfImAKF4rYo36LuyCsrrFyR_ucwUP088x7uk2U9cpnFY1ES9A/s1600/2014-06-17+08.46.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZcZkmQWJB9FwuFaTbYYbvFsrGQVZ1yhAPp29tIiUGIhyKUIPvmuggLO0d-HwWmqCk9aDvkM3binGNnxqnFK1wwp7uDfImAKF4rYo36LuyCsrrFyR_ucwUP088x7uk2U9cpnFY1ES9A/s1600/2014-06-17+08.46.03.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My surprise "volunteer" tomato [Photo description: tiny tomato seedling that grew in the garden of its own accord]</td></tr>
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Those that visit for a time:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qF19VqmBg0CRhjkzHlaWF7q-z2azvdbB6rrY8WFwO0EkDV6Ch00k6DTdwLq_XTcFKIGxUuTTLXWCuWC5YDA2-B_z3Ymm8wwjOyTIvPA895hALJR_hiFdpDSEx-tNF4xaE07lueSObw/s1600/2014-06-17+09.02.50.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qF19VqmBg0CRhjkzHlaWF7q-z2azvdbB6rrY8WFwO0EkDV6Ch00k6DTdwLq_XTcFKIGxUuTTLXWCuWC5YDA2-B_z3Ymm8wwjOyTIvPA895hALJR_hiFdpDSEx-tNF4xaE07lueSObw/s1600/2014-06-17+09.02.50.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feral kitten that hung out with me before vanishing through the fence [Photo description: tiny grey striped kitten calmly sitting upright underneath a child's raised sandbox]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Those that you thought gone, yet make a surprise return:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYSjYaNimOWLpTS6YIKQlaQu_spsDnK-bcOKW38HTxpdl0hVXZnGjkYb0_v2aVqzMnRcR1mLJEj-QwBIo5JnlwcAM2N6tvH9JZWzXcdhsg0r-NlNUSn1qMtZoSYPs1ZFxyBYpC6NtQw/s1600/2014-06-12+19.06.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYSjYaNimOWLpTS6YIKQlaQu_spsDnK-bcOKW38HTxpdl0hVXZnGjkYb0_v2aVqzMnRcR1mLJEj-QwBIo5JnlwcAM2N6tvH9JZWzXcdhsg0r-NlNUSn1qMtZoSYPs1ZFxyBYpC6NtQw/s1600/2014-06-12+19.06.12.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosebuds on the bush I thought I lost [Photo description: rosebush stem with 5 rosebuds on it]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And those perennial friends that are faithful no matter what.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm_Mg0zmG1yULG2v3Lveq3emNg103Jevt6OPzUMT3tHnkUSolf1VZtc1EMD64R2Ju6D_99Wev4qyuPOsLxHmINbq0UHpTIqZcnzUDJy7mfhNXr6s9N-HzRyfoAgwP5Ml2cjWieaMezA/s1600/2014-06-12+19.01.54.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWm_Mg0zmG1yULG2v3Lveq3emNg103Jevt6OPzUMT3tHnkUSolf1VZtc1EMD64R2Ju6D_99Wev4qyuPOsLxHmINbq0UHpTIqZcnzUDJy7mfhNXr6s9N-HzRyfoAgwP5Ml2cjWieaMezA/s1600/2014-06-12+19.01.54.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White peonies [Photo description: White peony bloom with bud surrounded by green leaves]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are also spiders and ants and earthworms and other somewhat icky things that have their role, just as much as the dirt and sweat. But together, this garden, this life is a beautiful thing. You just have to take a deep breath of the morning air, step back, behold the wonders that it offers... and occasionally prepare to get your hands dirty.<br />
<br />
<br />
[Down Wit Dat Will Return...]</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-70227461031283603132014-06-07T12:21:00.000-04:002014-06-07T12:22:42.464-04:00In the News - May 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from May 2014.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.lisamorguess.com/2014/04/29/fight-inclusion-kid-kid/" target="_blank">Why I Fight For Inclusion For My Kid (and Your Kid, Too)</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/04/27/307467382/learning-with-disabilities-one-effort-to-shake-up-the-classroom" target="_blank">Learning With Disabilities: One Effort To Shake Up The Classroom</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://valleywag.gawker.com/facebook-is-throttling-nonprofits-and-activists-1569877170" target="_blank">Facebook Is Throttling Nonprofits and Activists</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/660214137349802/?type=1" target="_blank">"Being complicit in ableism is what allows it to continue. If this isn't about you, then..." </a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.stephenkuusisto.com/uncategorized/scared-me-kind-of-its-open-season-on-the-disabled" target="_blank">Scared? Me? Kind Of. Its Open Season on the Disabled.</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.brownpoliticalreview.org/2014/04/sheltered-workshops/" target="_blank">Sheltered Workshops</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/1308050/it-wasnt-fair-why-an-ontario-school-isnt-letting-a-sick-girl-go-to-prom/" target="_blank">‘It wasn’t fair’: Why an Ontario school isn’t letting a sick girl go to prom</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.votervoice.net/NDSS/campaigns/35942/respond" target="_blank">College Access for Students with Intellectual Disabilities is in jeopardy</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://loveexplosions.net/2014/05/05/1329/" target="_blank">The neurodiversity fence</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SelfAdvocacyOnline/photos/a.420920287968412.104254.407136146013493/688906347836470/?type=1" target="_blank">"Disability deserves the same attention as other civil rights struggles."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/its-time-to-stop-using-the-r-word-20140502-37m92.html" target="_blank">It's time to stop using the 'R' word</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7FXVN5J" target="_blank">AWN Survey for Autistic Women</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CreepyGirlQuotes/photos/pcb.661017730600945/661017667267618/?type=1" target="_blank">Your favorite pages are not gone they are just hidden</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=881292848563749&set=a.372866566073049.107006.132812103411831&type=1" target="_blank">One Example of CBE...</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/856276651055780/?type=1" target="_blank">“I don't even understand why it's surprising that when a child is told persistently, and by..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/05/putting-health-back-in-mental-health.html" target="_blank">Putting the "Health" Back in "Mental Health"</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/05/motherhood-now-and-zen.html" target="_blank">Motherhood: Now and Zen</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.silive.com/westshore/index.ssf/2014/05/willowbrook_state_school.html" target="_blank">Forgetting not an option: Horrors at Willowbrook State School remembered at annual CSI lecture</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8erfGhAHVY4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Sh*t People Say To Non-Verbal Peeps</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/858720467478065/?type=1" target="_blank">“Functioning Labels Are: Arbitrary, Ableist, Limiting, Meaningless, Dehumanizing..."</a>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://tinygracenotes.blogspot.ca/2014/05/you-are-not-alone.html" target="_blank">You Are Not Alone </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://blissfullybeing.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/i-never-meant-for-you-to-know/" target="_blank">I never meant for you to know</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://wordshurtorheal.blogspot.ca/2014/05/just-another-typical-comedian-daniel.html" target="_blank">Just Another Typical Comedian, Daniel Tosh</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/05/19/rethinking-your-beliefs-about-autism/" target="_blank">“Rethinking Your Beliefs About Autism”</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/05/the-t-21-blog-hop-may-2014-advocacy.html" target="_blank">The T-21 Blog Hop - May 2014 - Advocacy Rewind</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.swiftschools.org/swifttalk/article/31/she-wont-get-anything-out-of-it-and-other-mainstreaming-blunders" target="_blank">"She Won't Get Anything Out of It" and Other Mainstreaming Blunders</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SelfAdvocacyOnline/photos/a.420920287968412.104254.407136146013493/697578763635895/?type=1" target="_blank">"Speak up. If it doesn't come from us, it comes from people who don't have an intellectual..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://theautismwars.blogspot.ca/2014/03/autism-competence-and-to-add-kemal-to.html" target="_blank">Autism, Competence, Adding Kemal to Mustafa</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/07/picking-rocks.html" target="_blank">Picking Rocks</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2012/10/on-beauty.html" target="_blank">On beauty</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthor.blogspot.ca/2011/06/what-not-to-say.html" target="_blank">What not to say</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://srsalas.com/?p=3048" target="_blank">DISABILITY AS AN IDENTITY</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://tinygracenotes.blogspot.ca/2014/05/you-are-not-alone.html" target="_blank">You Are Not Alone</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.girlwiththecane.com/accessibility-3/" target="_blank">"I Don't Care About You": Thoughts on Accessibility and Disability Sensitivity</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://anautisticbirdsings.blogspot.ca/2014/04/a-different-kind-of-autism-awareness-we.html" target="_blank">A different kind of Autism Awareness: We are here, Be Aware. </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://matir-asurim.blogspot.ca/2014/05/privilege.html" target="_blank">Privilege</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://dianacrowscience.com/asan-combatingautism-statement/" target="_blank">7 Reasons Why an Autism Advocacy Organization Would Oppose the Combating Autism Act</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.mardrasikora.com/grows/" target="_blank">When He Grows Up</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/notesoncrazy.com/2014/04/notesoncrazy-autismpositivity2014/" target="_blank">Proud To Be A Grad School Drop-Out: #AutismPositivity2014</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://alacosta-acat.org/2014/05/05/intellectual-disability-and-a-path-to-overcoming-stigma-my-conversation-with-sam/" target="_blank">Intellectual Disability and a Path to Overcoming Stigma: My Conversation with Sam</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://disabilitythinking.blogspot.ca/2014/05/pass-crpd-for-spite.html" target="_blank">Pass The CRPD ... For Spite</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/04/speak-up-against-ableism/" target="_blank">I Am More Than An Empty Wheelchair: Speaking Up Against Ableism</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/02/4-lessons-peacocks-can-teach-us-advocacy/" target="_blank">4 Lessons Peacocks Can Teach Us About Advocacy</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/my-plan-b-is-stick-to-plan-a/" target="_blank">My Plan B is… Stick to Plan A!!</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2013/09/disability-inspiration-michaeljfox/" target="_blank">I’m Not Here for Your Inspiration, and Neither is Michael J Fox</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152384487785973&set=a.10150157120370973.341673.65407920972&type=1" target="_blank">"Inclusive: It does NOT mean "If you want to participate, conform to the cultural/social..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/05/21/teachers-autism-school-arrested-abuse-child-special-needs" target="_blank">Cops: Autistic student abused with push pin</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/victor-olisa-withdraw-the-police-caution-given-to-my-19-year-old-with-downs-syndrome?share_id=bZjhljupjO&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition" target="_blank">Withdraw the police caution given to my 19-year-old with Downs Syndrome. </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://clairelazebnik.com/2014/05/24/the-narcissistic-parent-of-the-special-needs-child/" target="_blank">The Narcissistic Parent of the Special Needs Child</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/669463146424901/?type=1" target="_blank">"Autistic people are significantly more likely to be bullied and stigmatised than they are to..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/05/birds-and-why-theyre-sometimes-flipped.html" target="_blank">Birds and why they're sometimes flipped </a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://gretchenleary.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/flash-blog-time-aspergers-autism/" target="_blank"></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://gretchenleary.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/flash-blog-time-aspergers-autism/" target="_blank">Flash Blog: Autism is Not a Crime</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG
</span></b></td><td><a href="http://paulacdurbinwestbyautisticblog.blogspot.ca/2014/05/elliot-rodger-autism-murder.html" target="_blank">Statement on Isla Vista Murder Incident</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/magazine/a-revolutionary-approach-to-treating-ptsd.html" target="_blank">A Revolutionary Approach to Treating PTSD</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">IMAGE</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=646172845466575&set=a.356808334403029.83829.354659451284584&type=1" target="_blank">"Aspergers is:" "Not having friends, Being withdrawn, A lack of empathy and..."</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/disabled-shouldnt-vote--probe-3597236" target="_blank">Councillor accused of complaining that voter with learning difficulties 'shouldn't be voting' in local elections</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/children-darkness/" target="_blank">Children of Darkness</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.stanforddaily.com/2014/05/27/autism-allyship-and-autism-speaks/" target="_blank">Autism, allyship and Autism Speaks</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_16353.shtml" target="_blank">VIDEO: School cop fired for beating child with cerebral palsy, dumping him out of wheelchair</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://alacosta-acat.org/2014/05/29/are-you-even-capable-of-running-this-program-a-response-by-sonia-boue/" target="_blank">“Are You Even Capable of Running This Program?” : A Response by Sonia Boue.</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></td><td><a href="http://aaidd.org/news-policy/policy/position-statements/sexuality#.U5M6cChZi1l" target="_blank">Sexuality</a>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">May also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community. See you on June 21st!<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-43030860910557819372014-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-23T23:01:32.678-04:00The T-21 Blog Hop - May 2014 - Advocacy Rewind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm not sure what's happened to May, but here we are at the 21st again.<br />
<br />
This month, I'm going to try something a little different. I know a lot of bloggers that consistently put out some great advocacy pieces, but there seems to always be that ONE article. There is always that one piece that you were particularly proud of, that maybe nailed your point or defined what your blog was all about. Or maybe you felt it was a little better written than some of the others.<br />
<br />
For May, I want to see that one (or two, or three) advocacy post(s) that you are fond of for one reason or another. We all do some really good work... I think it's time we stood back and took stock of just how good some of it is.<br />
<br />
Add your post(s) to the linky below by clicking the link and following the instructions. If you need further instruction for adding a reciprocal link to your blog post, follow <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/if-you-are-not-as-techcode-savvy.html" target="_blank">this link</a>.<br />
<br />
Set the wayback machine and let's go!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-25815743601341188382014-05-08T10:04:00.001-04:002014-06-03T11:27:39.065-04:00In the News - April 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from April 2014.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://ollibean.com/2014/04/01/good-autism-awareness-do-doesnt/" target="_blank">What Good Does Autism Awareness Do? It Doesn't</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/642786455759237/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"Text Reads: Autism "Awareness" Month: The month that </span></span></a><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/642786455759237/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Autism $peaks...</span></span>"</a><br /> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/04/02/awareness-sucks/" target="_blank">Awareness Sucks</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmmasHopeBook/photos/a.423848320972242.103824.423836680973406/748740325149705/?type=1" target="_blank">"Top Ten Things I want you to be Aware of on Autism Awareness Day:..."</a><br /> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203422243985139&set=a.1115019964053.18296.1483585648&type=1" target="_blank">"#boycottautismspeaks I am grateful for parents and allies who actually "get it" and..."</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=613215075425432&set=a.202265186520425.50118.154311301315814&type=1" target="_blank">"My Plan B is to stick to Plan A and fight for Social Justice... There is no Plan B!"</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-sutton/i-will-not-light-it-up-blue_b_5076224.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false" target="_blank">I will not 'Light it up Blue'</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/04/doj-solitary-confinement-mentally-ill-children-ohio" target="_blank">"He Had Fresh Head Injuries": What Ohio Has Been Doing to Mentally Ill Boys</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.change.org/petitions/sesame-street-reconsider-partnership-with-autism-speaks" target="_blank">Sesame Street: Reconsider Partnership with Autism Speaks</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/03/snow.htmlhttp://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/03/snow.html" target="_blank">Snow</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/04/prelude.html" target="_blank">Prelude</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat/posts/613440568747166" target="_blank">From one year ago: The Surgical Suite</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/04/circle-of-sun.html" target="_blank">Circle of the Sun</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2014/04/autism-acceptance-month-2014-cynthia-kim.html">Autism Acceptance Month 2014: Cynthia Kim</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/839116879438424/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">
"The nondisabled world tells disabled people generally that our lot is
unavoidably tragic, ..."</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="http://www.lisamorguess.com/2014/04/10/words/" target="_blank">Words</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/678673192179117/?type=1" target="_blank">Did you know? Stimming: Usually NOT harmful - the repetitive movement of body and...</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><span class="topic"></span>
<a href="http://www.vocativ.com/culture/society/special-ed-student-recorded-bullies-accused-felony-wiretapping/" target="_blank">Special-Ed Student Who Recorded Bullies Accused of Felony Wiretapping</a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmmasHopeBook/photos/a.423848320972242.103824.423836680973406/753675907989480/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">“Functioning labels are insulting to me. And people like me do not like to have others label..."</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://autismwomensnetwork.org/april-is-autism-speaks-awareness-month/" target="_blank">April is Autism Speaks Awareness Month</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-11/news/49035184_1_death-services-christina-philadelphia-medical-examiner#cFMm7CkJZUDKtmmm.01" target="_blank">The death no one cares about</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gClkahhPz4&sns=fb" target="_blank"><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Gavin McInnes on Hannity Show Compares Al Sharpton to a 'Retard' and a Person w/Down Sydrome">Gavin McInnes on Hannity Show Compares Al Sharpton to a 'Retard' and a Person w/Down Syndrome </span></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/04/happy-easter.html" target="_blank">Happy Easter!</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div id="a-header" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/wash-couple-starved-disabled-teen-stole-welfare-money-meant-care-cops-article-1.1759211#ixzz2zGLsKcgb" target="_blank">Washington State couple starved disabled teen, stole welfare money meant for her care: cops</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/04/panis-angelicus.html" target="_blank">Panis Angelicus</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="itemTitle">
<a href="http://sciencewa.net.au/topics/social-science/item/2771-autonomy-and-relationships-among-good-life-goals" target="_blank">Autonomy and relationships among ‘good life’ goals</a> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/04/speak-up-against-ableism/" target="_blank">I Am More Than An Empty Wheelchair: Speaking Up Against Ableism</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/04/spring-clean-up.html" target="_blank">Spring Clean Up</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tainakarru/posts/10152367904856011" target="_blank">"Watching the news. A story comes on about "classroom evacuations" that are... "</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/expressions-of-posautivity-autismpositivity2014/" rel="bookmark">Expressions of PosAutivity #AutismPositivity2014</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title offset-by-one ">
<a href="http://srsalas.com/?p=3907" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Awareness v. Acceptance: Does It Matter? Article for PACLA Magazine @Aut_Love_Accept">Awareness v. Acceptance: Does It Matter? Article for PACLA Magazine @Aut_Love_Accept </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/everybody-and-their-frog-parenting-autistic-children-with-love-and-acceptance/" rel="bookmark">Everybody and their Frog: Parenting Autistic Children with Love and Acceptance</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><div class="h1 bottom-margin-2 embossed-text">
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/investigate-autism-speaks-for-unlawful-unethical-activity" target="_blank">Investigate Autism Speaks for unlawful & Unethical Activity</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/04/21/autism_advocates_should_promote_acceptance_not_fear.html" target="_blank">Autism advocates should promote acceptance, not fear</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=645273618876290&set=a.283549805048675.61830.185476108189379&type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">@SOOntario given chq from @PeelPoliceMedia & @CarPride, 11 Div ran a successful Charity Car Wash raising $14,000</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><a href="http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/david-heller-class-of-2018-sheydt/" target="_blank">My Name is David Heller, Class of 2018, The College of New Jersey, and I Want to Tell You, “Nothing Is Impossible”</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="articleHeadline">
<a href="http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/why-ont-students-with-special-education-needs-are-being-told-to-stay-home-1.1795254" target="_blank">Why Ont. students with special education needs are being told to stay home</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/04/28/having-the-conversation-parenting/" target="_blank">Having THE Conversation & Parenting</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ca/2014/04/yes-that-too-expressing-posautivity-my.html" target="_blank">Yes, That Too: Expressing PosAutivity MY way #AutismFlashblog2014</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.mmonjejr.com/2014/04/shaping-clays-expressions-of.html" target="_blank">Shaping Clay's Expressions of PosAutivity: #AutismPositivity2014</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/04/25/autism-graphics/" target="_blank">Autism Graphics</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title offset-by-one ">
<a href="http://srsalas.com/?p=3981" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: S.R. Salas | Autism Blog: Expressions of PosAutivity #AutismPositivity2014">S.R. Salas | Autism Blog: Expressions of PosAutivity #AutismPositivity2014 </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/04/30/why-behavior-is-communication-is-no-longer-good-enough/" target="_blank">Behavior is Communication: Are You Listening?</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="title">
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/racial-justice/how-special-needs-kid-gets-handcuffed-and-thrown-jail-her-own-good" rel="bookmark" title="How a Special Needs Kid Gets Handcuffed and Thrown in Jail "For Her Own Good"">How a Special Needs Kid Gets Handcuffed and Thrown in Jail "For Her Own Good"</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">April also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownwitdat.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fi1113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk501%2FPsychojenic%2FDWD%2FDwDButton2.gif" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none">Pin It</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-51604318438237940362014-04-21T22:23:00.000-04:002014-05-23T23:02:28.112-04:00Spring Clean Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm a gardener.<br />
<br />
Every year, the promise of spring gets me through the winter. There are some awfully long snowy days up here in the Great White North... which is probably why we are called that. But, every year spring arrives, the snow first melts to reveal <i>snirt</i> (piles of snow+dirt) and then just dirt, which is then washed and blown away by spring rain and wind. Little green things start poking up through the ground and if I haven't already, I start thinking of planting vegetables and what flowers I would like to try this year.<br />
<br />
This year has been different.<br />
<br />
The winter of 2013/2014 has been plagued by more-serious-than-normal weather. Floods in the summer gave way to ice before Christmas, more ice after Christmas and snowstorm after snowstorm after snowstorm. Some people were without power for the entire holiday season, during which we had ridiculously hostile low temperatures with face-ripping wind chills. In a literal sense, it has been a hard winter. In a figurative sense there has been higher than number heart attacks, falls and mental health issues, in no small part due to the weather and it's implications. This year the snow melted to <i>snicks</i> (piles of dirty snow filled with sticks) and then dissipated to twigs and dirt, the remnants of which are still being discovered and cleaned up city wide. <br />
<br />
I have not been immune either.<br />
<br />
As I stated earlier in my <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/01/whats-up.html" target="_blank"><i>What's Up?</i></a> post, this winter has been hard on me too. I've had to re-evaluate everything I do, from how I brush my teeth to how I get ready for work to how I go to bed to how I organize myself and the family. I've had to actively change my thinking, which is a story for another day, but understand that it has been no picnic. Those few that are closest to me can testify to that.<br />
<br />
That <i>is</i> a story for another day, as frankly it is still going on. As a mental health professional, it is my responsibility to end stigma. As a blogger I've been nothing but honest... but I'm not ready to tell that story fully yet. I will, and in my own way: loudly, proudly and without a twinge of regret. Again, that time is not today.<br />
<br />
Instead, I'll talk about gardening...<br />
<br />
Today the temperature went up to over 20 degrees Celsius, which in Canadiana means <i>SHORTS</i>! Although I did not feel like doing anything other than crawling back into bed, I made myself go out to the front yard and start cleaning up the garden. Its not a grand thing, but a friend and I designed it at work one night and Sean and I then built it two summers ago. The gardens themselves were covered in dried leaves and maple keys that had blown up the street and been trapped, along with occasional bits of paper and garbage. The lawn was covered in assorted twigs and branches and pine cones that had not been picked up yet. Stones that had lined the side of the driveway had been heaved up by countless shovels onto the lawn and the gardens and the remnants of last falls foliage--that in my illness I had not gotten to--either lay flattened on the soil, or dryly poking up at odd angles. It was a mess. And so was I, with my hair coiled up in a greasy bun on the top of my head. Wisps were sticking out at random and I managed to nail the more annoying ones down with barrettes. Finish the look with my ugly-ass gardening shoes, standard black T-shirt and capris and shades and you'll understand what shambled outside. I had no desire to start this project. I had no desire to do anything. I got the paper yard bags out of the back of the truck, put on the bright blue gardening gloves that were on the shelf in the garage (after first shaking them for spiders), put my headphones in and started on the leaves and trash that was under the porch.<br />
<br />
The porch cleanup yielded an orange matchbox car, and cleaning up around Dog (our one gargoyle) helped me find all the painted pots that Quinn and I did a couple of years ago. We lost one, but I set the rest carefully up on the steps. As I started work on the garden proper, I was not sure what I was going to find. With all the salt and sand and de-icer that ended up on the lawn and garden, I was not convinced I would find anything alive other than the occasional maple sprout under the debris. As I cleaned and aerated and smoothed the soil, I started to find shoots here and there. This will be a trillium in a few weeks. This one here will be a hosta. This stick has shoots on it and will be a tree peony; maybe this year it will even bloom. These are some of the giant day-lilies that surround Pazuzu (our other gargoyle). Yes, there was more things that I did not find than I did; it's possible that they have not started yet or the winter claimed them. The jury is still out on the burning bush I planted last year. But, the lavender is starting to green up and even the dead leaves offered heady fragrance as I cleaned out every last bit of detritus.<br />
<br />
As I broke off last years lily stalks and yanked clumps of rouge grass out of the gravel path, the fresh air and sunshine worked it's usual magic. Even the marble shards cutting into my knees hurt less as the breeze ruffled loose tendrils of hair and some of my favourite songs filled my ears. It was my hands in the earth however, that renewed a sense of connection. I pulled my gloves off and smoothed the soil by hand around some hosta shoots. It felt good to be alive and to be connected to the earth, a feeling that has eluded me for <i>so</i> many months. <br />
<br />
I continued my work with a half smile on my face, picking stones out of the soil, putting dead leaves and twigs in my bag and was about to pick up another rock when I stopped to look at it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi-36P4ZlbTvLl9oAgyG25qeK0DJ_3pNs-B9xEeDPmXa2HSudnwOW9I9MNNBQ0ZIy75xySo9QGGTQHvcx3bXlL421GjN68LAYeiUjHjsW9XluoXD0E3wQl69JTYBb89_V9JvPUBcpCA/s1600/IMG_20140421_144612.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi-36P4ZlbTvLl9oAgyG25qeK0DJ_3pNs-B9xEeDPmXa2HSudnwOW9I9MNNBQ0ZIy75xySo9QGGTQHvcx3bXlL421GjN68LAYeiUjHjsW9XluoXD0E3wQl69JTYBb89_V9JvPUBcpCA/s1600/IMG_20140421_144612.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Image description: heat shaped stone half buried in soil, with maple sprout above.]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes Nature smiles back.</div>
<br />
I guess I told you that to tell you this: it has been a long, difficult journey to get to this point. I have not been up to my usual levels of <i>presence</i> and advocacy as I have been advocating for another cause:<br />
<br />
Me.<br />
<br />
But, much like the sprouts I uncovered today, there is hope. There is promise, even if some days I have to work hard and dig for it. Some days come easy, and some leave me battered, exhausted, covered in bruises, sweat and dirt.<br />
<br />
It is hard work. <i>Hard</i>.<br />
<br />
When this is all over, I hope to end it the same way I ended my time outdoors: with a cold Coke, in my Muskoka chair on the porch, the sounds of my kids playing filtering through the open window. Until then, each task is undertaken individually. Each day comes in it's own time. Growth happens where it can, and sometimes I can clear the way for it to happen. Sometimes it comes all on it's own and yields unexpected surprises.<br />
<br />
It's time to clean up after this long winter. I think today was a pretty good start.</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-35762963586088497702014-04-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-05-23T23:02:55.447-04:00Welcome to the T-21 Blog Hop - April 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I resurrected the T-21 Blog Hop last October, I did so with the idea that regardless of whatever month or theme I had chosen for a particular 'hop, it would always be open for pure advocacy posts. That has not, nor will it ever, change.<br />
<br />
This month, there is a lot going on in the various disability communities. Instead of picking a topic or jumping on a popular organization's bandwagon, I'm going to let the posts and their authors speak for themselves. <br />
<br />
If I had to pick a topic to go with April, I'd say "Acceptance" or "Advocacy". Both of those begin with A, right? However, truth be told, those should be the themes for every month, as they are the drum beat that spurs folks like the ones you are about to read, on.<br />
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Shower us with Acceptance and Advocacy posts. It is April after all...<b></b><br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-76510102885294613852014-04-17T16:29:00.000-04:002014-05-23T23:03:26.085-04:00Happy Easter!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL2ozK69TRMvKJ_3r8aaoeIO1RHXEstPRwVDueJgHIsieSoG9Rp2sAZMVWrjnBJQ3tVDdvG_l8h9ju4rpbR3gaqgQ5D8ohwCS5XzLm31mAltgqq5M2cedxCpPuTnoZZihUXqFWbSHMA/s1600/easter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDL2ozK69TRMvKJ_3r8aaoeIO1RHXEstPRwVDueJgHIsieSoG9Rp2sAZMVWrjnBJQ3tVDdvG_l8h9ju4rpbR3gaqgQ5D8ohwCS5XzLm31mAltgqq5M2cedxCpPuTnoZZihUXqFWbSHMA/s1600/easter.jpg" height="640" width="256" /></a></div>
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(What? You thought we'd forget Mr. Bones?)</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-59156360194207190182014-04-10T09:39:00.001-04:002014-04-10T09:39:23.504-04:00Circle of the Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>"Babies are born in the circle of the Sun</i></div>
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<i>Circle of the Sun on the birthin' day</i></div>
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<i>Babies are born in the circle of the sun</i></div>
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<i>Circle of the sun on the birthin' day.</i></div>
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<i>Clouds to the east, clouds to the west</i></div>
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<i>Wind and rain to the north and south</i></div>
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<i>Babies are born in the circle of the sun</i></div>
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<i>Circle of the sun on the birthin' day..."</i></div>
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-Sally Rogers, <i><a href="http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/rogers_sally/circle_of_the_sun.html" target="_blank">Circle of the Sun</a> </i>(Children's song)</div>
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<br />
It's been a year.<br />
<br />
One year ago today Wyatt had the surgery to repair his heart.<br />
<br />
Although I often find myself agog at the passage of time, this milestone in particular holds a great deal of significance. That was the day that the surgeon corrected the blood flow in his heart, sure. It was also the day that the ever present fear of discovering my child blue and in congestive heart failure was removed. It was a day of transformation for my little boy, as the ruddiness that appeared in his cheeks and the rosy glow that his skin took on heralded the increased oxygen to all his cells. More energy, more movement, more development. More <i>life</i>. It was simultaneously the first day of the rest of his life and singlehandedly the worst day of mine.<br />
<br />
Those that truly know me well know that there very little that frightens me. Call it world weary, call it educated, call it what you will, but even my own death will come when it does. There was a brief period last September when I was being investigated for a bunch of things, including liver cancer, which if discovered, would have put my life expectancy at around three months. "<i>Well, this fucking sucks...</i>" I thought to myself, having used up what could have been the first month in diagnostics and being very ill. I was not fearful about my possible death however, just sad that I would lose my children.<br />
<br />
It's a completely different story when the life that is threatened is your child's.<br />
<br />
They say that a little bit of knowledge is not always a good thing and in this case I tend to agree with them. I often wonder if knowing what I know, if being a nurse and coming from the background that I do if that made this whole experience more terrifying. If ignorance, in this case, might have provided a little bit of bliss. I'll never know for sure I guess, but it has provided fertile thought for many of the sleepless nights that followed. <br />
<br />
I've tried to explain to many of my childless friends and colleagues what it is like (for me) to be a parent and I still don't think I've gotten it quite right. I have yet to find the words to easily describe the overwhelming fierceness and tenderness that grips you. How your vision narrows at a perceived threat, how all prior knowledge, fact and experience merrily flies out the window as the emotion, as whatever this <i>motherness</i> is, rushes over you. Physiologically your body responds and goes into crisis mode. Mentally, you bare your teeth and are ready to fight to the death. Over a skinned knee even. There was no "crying it out" for the babies in this house, as hearing my children cry is pretty much tantamount to torture for me. I cannot bear it. I will not.<br />
<br />
Twice I've handed over children to a surgical team, once when Zoe was six weeks old and still small enough to be tucked into my shirt. With her it was sheer protectiveness; this little girl that I had just had gotten home and started to get to know I was now giving back. For a minor thing yes, but the thought of her tiny fragile person in any sort of danger superseded any logic or reason. Wyatt's surgery, naturally, was so much bigger.<br />
<br />
In the days leading up, we were told of the risks. <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/03/snow.html" target="_blank">Every aspect of the surgery was explained</a>, detailed and explained again. We knew what to expect. We knew what scenarios could arise. We knew what complications could occur, including a very real, statistical possibility and the only one that preoccupied my thoughts:<br /><br />Death.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, that did not happen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/04/prelude.html" target="_blank">I detailed his hospital stay</a>, a time whose details and edges have been worn down as if by water. Those days, those days of constant "go mode", where tasking took the place of actual thought and feeling are long over. In their place is a robust little boy, who rushes wide-eyed through his day as he vocalizes his joy and frustrations and fights his sister for toys instead of the sleepy little baby in the crook of my arm or riding on my hip.<br />
<br />
The transformation was immediate once we got him home. Prior to the surgery, he was commando crawling, standing and learning to creep on all fours. With a sore chest and ribs that were barely wired together, naturally that could not happen. I think it took him a full day of sitting in the middle of the floor, folornly watching his siblings buzz about before he figured out he could "scoot" along to get where he needed to go. He had to relearn to stand, to use cutlery (he's still working on that one) and to relearn the signs that he had known prior. He has done this and more. He is still not walking, but that is not a big surprise to me at least. Ask anyone who has open heart surgery and they will tell you that up to a year or so afterwards your chest feels weird. Every time you move, every time you cough or sneeze, you swear things are moving around in there that shouldn't be. Now that we are at the year mark, he is crab walking and learning to stand on his own and it won't be long before he walks on his own unassisted. His hesitation to try new things has disappeared too as he has healed, which has made him bolder, more brazen like his sister. Which is fantastic and horrifying at the same time, and serves to give me more grey hair every time he falls off something.<br />
<br />
In the time it has taken our planet to circle around the sun once, this whole experience has become something that happened in the distant past. Sometimes it seems like it happened to some another family. Sometimes I will come across a story or a event or even a smell, and certain aspects will be called up in glittering detail before me. I'm told by many a parent who has been in the same place that this may always be the case... and I'm okay with that. Mainly as my son will have many more circles, more discoveries, more developments, more life. As the song goes, there will be circles for learning to walk, learning to talk, learning to navigate through this world. Next February the twins will be registered for kindergarten and we will set up our first IEP. Half a circle later they will have their first day of school and embark on the next stage of their lives. There will be wind and rain and storms and all sorts of things that blow into our path, and I do not have the foresight to predict what each new year will bring. But I know, as I write this, as a little face appears at my side and a chubby fist tugs at my elbow while saying "Up!", that we have made quite the journey. His arms are around my neck and his hand gently pats my shoulder as I type this one handed. I will walk him across the sun warmed floor boards in a moment and praise his attempts to wave my hands off. But for now, I will kiss his forehead and he will gaze at me wisely before hugging me tighter. We have come a long way, this child and I.<br />
<br />
Full circle, even.<br />
<br /></div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-24690886080915472572014-04-09T12:15:00.000-04:002014-05-23T23:03:53.549-04:00In the News - March 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from March 2014.<br />
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<u>Legend:</u></div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1425356101042027/?ref=22&source=1">Day of Mourning 2014: Remembering People with Disabilities Murdered by Caregivers - Virtual Vigil</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-c-mcginley/what-really-happens-when-you-use-the-r-word_b_4896444.html" target="_blank">What Really Happens When You Use the R-Word</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div itemprop="headline name">
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3319981/Named-the-baby-boy-who-was-Nazis-first-euthanasia-victim.html" target="_blank">Named: the baby boy who was Nazis' first euthanasia victim</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/03/09/us/the-boys-in-the-bunkhouse.html?_r=1" target="_blank">The ‘Boys’ in the Bunkhouse</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<div class="h1 bottom-margin-2 embossed-text">
<div itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304250204579431193819412078" target="_blank">People With Intellectual Disabilities Get a Say in Drug Trials</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-xnqgpin8" target="_blank"><span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Pro Infirmis Gianni Blumer 68 En">Pro Infirmis Gianni Blumer 68 En </span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/disabled-in-care-denied-human-rights-supreme-court-rules-9203502.html" target="_blank">Disabled in care ‘denied human rights,’ Supreme Court rules</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="ext-gen94">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/inclusivehumanity/posts/747709908594889" target="_blank">"I'm confused as to why organizations that seek to raise awareness about the imperative contributions that people with Down syndrome have to make to..." </a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/03/a-fair-shot.html" target="_blank">A Fair Shot</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="cmLargerH1">
<a href="http://www.inclusivehumanity.com/2014/03/21/world-down-syndrome-day/" target="_blank">World Down Syndrome Day</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
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<a href="http://www.themaidenmetallurgist.com/2014/03/21/world-down-syndrome-day/" target="_blank">World Down Syndrome Day</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://www.lisamorguess.com/2014/03/21/world-syndrome-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=world-syndrome-day" target="_blank">World Down Syndrome Day</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="image-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform-free-speech/police-brutality-and-deaf-people" rel="bookmark" title="Police Brutality and Deaf People">Police Brutality and Deaf People</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://mdbeau.blogspot.ca/2014/03/why-i-didnt-wear-socks.html">Why I Didn't Wear The Socks</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://theautismwars.blogspot.ca/2014/03/surviving-sounding-alarm-of-blue-fear-i.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">Surviving the "Sounding The Alarm" of Blue Fear - I Won't Be Lighting Anything Blue April 2nd</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
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<a href="http://www.withalittlemoxie.com/blog/open-letter-parents-kids-special-needs/" target="_blank">An Open Letter to Parents of Kids with Special Needs</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div id="content" tabindex="-4">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/03/a-few-thoughts-on-ds-connect-registry.html" target="_blank">A few thoughts on the DS-Connect registry.</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.goldenhatfoundation.org/about-us/blog/162-awareness-to-acceptance-its-a-process" target="_blank">Awareness to Acceptance: It's a Process</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AutismWomensNetwork/photos/a.131169816899804.23226.112933545390098/832172143466231/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"If you refer to someone as Autistic...it is automatically accepted as being part of who they are, rather than treated as something which can be separated. Autism isn't..."</span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/03/29/teresas_passport_to_a_new_life_with_down_syndrome.html" target="_blank">Teresa's passport to a new life with Down syndrome</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
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<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/03/29/teresas_passport_to_a_new_life_with_down_syndrome.html" target="_blank">Unnecessary Dominance</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aromaleighv2/photos/a.280885278602666.75157.280130105344850/763745690316620/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This breathtakingly gorgeous eyeshadow is called "NEURODIVERGENT" </span></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DisabilityAndRepresentation/photos/a.535870946424217.126038.447484845262828/768744516470191/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Disability rights activists occupy parking spaces in Lisbon to protest the ways in which able-bodied people make use of accessible parking spaces.</span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203000518285201&set=gm.630428313701833&type=1" target="_blank">"Autism Speaks is the only major medical or mental health non-profit whose..."</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=589098554488193&set=a.310613589003359.78198.159942497403803&type=1" target="_blank">Neurodiversity</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">March also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
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<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-91598409431352456962014-03-21T00:01:00.000-04:002014-03-21T00:01:00.044-04:00Welcome to the T-21 Blog Hop - March 2014: World Down Syndrome Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today is World Down Syndrome Day, a day that we celebrate those with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome.<br />
<br />
Our festivities however, always seemed to be tinged with a note of sadness, as those with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities continue to be discriminated against in all aspects of life. From our everyday common language, to our medical systems, to our laws, to our education systems, we continue to deem those that are a little different as defective, inferior, not worthy.<br />
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<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-6.html" target="_blank">Life, not worthy, of life</a>. Although it has been many years since <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-6.html" target="_blank">Aktion T4</a>, these eugenics principles still linger.<br />
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Of the many little <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/factoid-friday-fast-facts-on-down.html" target="_blank">educational factoids</a> that you may read today about Down syndrome (including <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/factoid-friday-fast-facts-on-down.html" target="_blank">this list here</a>), somewhere between 5 to 10 percent of those with an extra 21st chromosome are also diagnosed with an Autism spectrum disorder. The intersectionality between these two communities, and in fact many more as well, is more substantial than you might think.<br />
<br />
Join us today for the World Down Syndrome Day edition of the T21 Blog Hop. Instead of the usual three days that it is open (representing the three copies of Trisomy 21), it will be extended to a full seven days. Advocacy posts are welcome from all areas of neurodiversity: whether showing your T21 pride, advocating for a better world for those with developmental delays or asking for once and for all for the world to #stopcombatingme, add your posts for seven days of blogging excellence.<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-73602473892135797882014-03-21T00:00:00.000-04:002014-03-21T08:46:28.588-04:00A Fair Shot<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Other than my monthly wrap ups and the blog hop, I've been taking a needed<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/01/whats-up.html" target="_blank"> blogging hiatus</a>. Rest assured I will be back to this and my other online efforts at some point. But for now, I'm taking some needed me and family time.<br />
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Today however, is <a href="http://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/" target="_blank">World Down Syndrome Day</a>. I could not let this pass by without notice.<br />
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<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/03/make-world-down-syndrome-day-day-of.html" target="_blank">Last year,</a> I wrote about some of the issues that I had with <i>awareness</i> campaigns, those for Down syndrome in particular. I talked about awareness vs acceptance; marginalization by the medical community; inspirational porn and pedestal ableism; derogatory slang such as the R word; and flat out homicide. I still stand by each and every one of these; they are real issues faced by people with Down syndrome every day, along with their families, allies and loved ones.<br />
<br />
Plenty of socks/wacky socks/odd socks may seem like a fun, silly thing to do, to create <i>awareness</i>, but what does it <i>do</i> really?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIkMEFNOpXIAF2YiYinBP3_5TZ6T2lo4gC4L9C-2a1FcqaX0bE9zTaPcdsRgFiO1Spqx6ZoSbnSjdRjW-CD5eK_Gw21hEoq5WPVyJAWmSYgMijg6c2doQwonOSp4DPF_VrLGAfa8LHA/s1600/nosocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIkMEFNOpXIAF2YiYinBP3_5TZ6T2lo4gC4L9C-2a1FcqaX0bE9zTaPcdsRgFiO1Spqx6ZoSbnSjdRjW-CD5eK_Gw21hEoq5WPVyJAWmSYgMijg6c2doQwonOSp4DPF_VrLGAfa8LHA/s1600/nosocks.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the record, I hate socks, especially these horrible things. *shudder*</td></tr>
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Not a lot... Outside of keeping your feet warm in what has been a god-awful winter.<br />
<br />
Despite the presence of a lot of blue and yellow, including on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=690182364358395&set=a.269735406403095.64482.143308869045750&type=1&theater" target="_blank">Toronto's CN Tower</a> and my current fingernail polish, not much will change about the lives with people living with Down syndrome today. There will be <a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/03/wdsd14.html" target="_blank">pride</a>, yes... there should <i>always</i> be that. However, there will still be discrimination at the doctors office, by law enforcement, by teachers, counselors and therapists. Much of it will be hidden under the guise of "meaning well" or paternalism, doing "what's best" for the person instead of considering individual needs, but it will still be there. It may be based on <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2012/10/a-brief-history-of-down-syndrome-part-4.html" target="_blank">old eugenics theories</a> too, a sense of doing what's best for a skewed perception of "the greater good". There is internalized ableism too within the community, and a lot of elitism even in the disability world towards those with intellectual disabilities. There will still be a public perception of "lesser" and "sick" as <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/07/picking-rocks.html" target="_blank">our very language</a> outlines how we really feel. <br />
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As a society, we give a break to parents that murder/attempt to murder their children if they have a disability. We wreathe these acts in compassion, that somehow the death of a child, of any person at the hands of another is okay if they have needs outside what is considered an able norm. Instead of increasing community supports and education, we choose instead to buy into the tragedy rhetoric. This year started out with another death of a person with Down syndrome, this time a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/13/erika-wigstrom-mother-poisoning-baby_n_4955659.html" target="_blank">17 month old boy named Lucas Ruiz, who was poisoned not once, but <i>twice</i></a> by his parents in what they are calling a "mercy killing". Both parents believed that their child who was born with an extra chromosome, a heart issue and required a feeding tube was "better off dead". There are still many people who believe that he and people like my son should never have come into being at all, that Down syndrome is a burden to society.<br />
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After all the socks and banners and ribbons and awareness, and memoirs and conversations and "teaching moments", why are we still having these discussions? Why are these things still happening?<br />
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What people with Down syndrome need is meaningful inclusion. Is acceptance. Equality. <a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/03/wdsd14.html" target="_blank"> PRIDE</a>. A sense of community and of belonging. Not socks. Not pats on the head. Not superpowers or heavenly qualities. People with Down syndrome want a fair shot at having a happy life.<br />
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You know, the same stuff the rest of us want. The same things I want for all three of my children, not just the "able" ones.<br />
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The same things we all keep writing about, over and over again.<br />
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Maybe this year we'll get lucky and someone will take the hint.<br />
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Happy World Down Syndrome Day.<br />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-39998978734191004942014-03-04T21:11:00.000-05:002014-05-23T23:04:30.507-04:00In the News - February 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are from February 2014.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
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<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic, image or comic</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td> <td>**NEW** indicates a video blog post</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.ca/2014/02/autistic-people-have-same-rights-as.html" target="_blank">Autistic people have the same rights as everyone else</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td><td><div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="http://www.seetorontonow.com/Members/relaxrechargerenew.aspx" target="_blank">Relax, Recharge, Renew</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://autisticadvocacy.org/" target="_blank">Autistic Self Advocacy Network</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/623987930972423/?type=1" target="_blank">"Introducing PACLA Magazine..."</a></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://povertylaw.org/communication/advocacy-stories/thorner" target="_blank">Challenging Guardianship and Pressing for Supported Decision-Making for Individuals with Disabilities</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="h1 bottom-margin-2 embossed-text">
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/u-s-house-of-representatives-pass-the-able-act" target="_blank">Pass the ABLE Act</a>
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</div>
</div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152230172803331&set=a.331808848330.151762.121742908330&type=1" target="_blank">"Tonight at 10 -Paul needs a new heart, but they wont put him on the organ recipient list -all because he has #autism..."</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="ext-gen94">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/02/06/the-one-where-i-talk-about-why-talking-is-hard/" target="_blank">The One Where I Talk About Why Talking is Hard</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="cmLargerH1">
<a href="http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2014/feb/06/teacher-immunity-ruling-student-abuse-case-sends-w/" target="_blank">Teacher immunity ruling sends wrong message in closely watched Fulton County case</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://autisticadvocacy.tumblr.com/post/75921754621/urgent-action-alert-contact-the-white-house-and">URGENT Action Alert: Contact the White House and Department of Labor</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/lre.incls.rsrch.whitbread.htm" target="_blank">What Does the Research Say About Inclusive Education?</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="image-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/21Plus21Plus21Equals/posts/649746011753458" target="_blank">"The @Feministbreeder is the kind of person who frightens me the most..."</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/stop-and-rail-against-stigma/" rel="bookmark">Stop… and Rail Against Stigma!</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/02/10/emma-discusses-biting/" target="_blank">Emma Discusses Biting</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="h1 bottom-margin-2 embossed-text">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://www.lisamorguess.com/2014/02/11/dumb-funny/" target="_blank">Why is Dumb Funny?</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div id="content" tabindex="-4">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/02/love-letters.html" target="_blank">Love Letters</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-are-word-lecture.html" target="_blank">the aRe word: the lecture</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2011/01/old-man-and-see.html" target="_blank">The Old Man and The See</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/11/its-never-just-a.html" target="_blank">It's Never "Just A..."</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2014/01/its-not-about-political-correctness-its.html" target="_blank">It's not about political correctness, it's about not being an asshole</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2014/02/13/chalk-word/" target="_blank">Chalk Word Lines of Separation</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="posttitle">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/29/needs_of_seniors_disabled_often_ignored_in_storm_cleanup_efforts/" target="_blank">Trapped by walls of white</a></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/02/when-i-went-on-line-this-morning-to.html" target="_blank">Revolutionary Love</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://lovenotfearflashblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/my-valentine-to-ally-parents-or-why-i-will-always-choose-love/" rel="bookmark">My valentine to ally parents, or why I will always choose love.</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/02/dyslexic-musicians/" target="_blank">What Musicians Can Tell Us About Dyslexia and the Brain</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/21Plus21Plus21Equals/posts/651098874951505" target="_blank">"Experience teaches. And then, after a while, experience numbs," writes Will Saletan..."</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/629714717066411/?type=1" target="_blank">"<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Non-Compliance is not a disorder. It is self-advocacy."</span></span></a></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</div>
</div>
<a href="http://www.peelschools.org/media/newsreleases/Pages/Article.aspx?art-id=675" target="_blank">Peel board takes #fixtheformula message to school councils, community</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=9438536" target="_blank">Adult pulls sweater, teeth from 7-year-old student's mouth</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ae/2012/10/calling-people-r-word.html" target="_blank">Calling People the R word</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://notsoordinarydiary.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/nobody-puts-my-baby-in-a-corner/" target="_blank">Nobody Puts my Baby in a Corner</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2013/08/elevator-to-success/" target="_blank">The Ableist Mentality of “No Elevator to Success”</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/02/i-dont-respect-your-or-my-intelligence.html" target="_blank">I don't respect your (or my) intelligence</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.mmonjejr.com/2014/02/deconstructing-stupid.html" target="_blank">Deconstructing "Stupid"</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/autism-empathy-and-the-r-word/" rel="bookmark">Autism, Empathy, and The R Word</a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="story">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://margoness.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/crazy/" target="_blank">“Crazy”</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/02/lets-get-something-straight.html" target="_blank">Let's Get Something Straight</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="heading">
<a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ae/2013/07/the-freak-show.html" target="_blank">The Freak Show</a><br />
<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span class="_58cl"></span></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.autistichoya.com/2013/06/this-isnt-a-joking-matter.html" target="_blank">This isn't a joking matter.</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ae/2013/06/disabled-and-differently-abled.html" target="_blank">Disabled and Differently-Abled</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://www.autistichoya.com/2014/02/violence-linguistic-ableism.html" target="_blank">Violence in Language: Circling Back to Linguistic Ableism</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152284932208894&set=a.170354998893.151493.104761768893&type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"The CDSS team supports </span></span></a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">#PinkShirtDay</a>. Take a stand against bullying!"</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/mscottwrites/posts/781057385257504" target="_blank">"Words mean things. They're pointers. That's the whole reason that we have..."</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.robot-hugs.com/privilege/" target="_blank">Privilege</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownSyndromeUprising/posts/815440168473067" target="_blank">Inclusion: It can be done, and will benefit everyone.</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://thebodyisnotanapology.tumblr.com/post/76223694483/inspiration-porn-where-gawking-guilt-and-gratitude" rel="bookmark">Inspiration Porn: Where Gawking, Guilt, and Gratitude Meet</a></div>
</div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://DIVERgent. If you’re not an intersectional feminist, you’re not a feminist" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">DIVERgent. If you’re not an intersectional feminist, you’re not a feminist</span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="uk-article-title">
<a href="http://unlimbited.com/read/left-turns-and-other-obstacles/item/dear-friendly-stranger" target="_blank">Dear Friendly Stranger</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://www.citynews.ca/2014/02/18/the-inside-story-the-brampton-bakery-thats-shattering-stigmas/" target="_blank">The Inside Story: The Brampton bakery that’s shattering stigmas</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div id="post-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://thebodyisnotanapology.tumblr.com/post/77070378126/making-invisible-disability-visible-stimming" rel="bookmark">Making Invisible Disability Visible: Stimming</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="node-title">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Backish
</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/02/feminism-changed-autism-parents/" target="_blank">How Feminism Changed Us as Autism Parents</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2014/02/04/sensory-sensitivities-understanding-triggers/" target="_blank">Sensory Sensitivities: Understanding Triggers</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="sTitle sTitleCf">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.autistichoya.com/2014/02/ending-subminimum-wage.html" target="_blank">Can we end subminimum wage for people with disabilities?</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/625888130782403/?type=1" target="_blank">"These autistic children are our authentic children and we owe them unconditional love."</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/02/07/person-with-down-syndrome-delighted-to-be-patted-on-the-head-for-245th-time-today/" target="_blank">Person With Down Syndrome ‘Delighted’ To Be Patted On The Head For 245th Time Today</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://www.thinkinclusive.us/who-should-speak-for-the-disability-community/#sthash.HqigB44O.z1exZQwt.dpbs" target="_blank">Who Should Speak for the Disability Community?</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="headline headline-4857318">
<a href="http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/what-we-can-learn-from-the-sad-story-of-marlise-munoz/Content?oid=4857318" target="_blank">What we can learn from the sad story of Marlise Munoz </a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
Inclusion, Communication and Civil Rights
</div>
</div>
<div class="cmLargerH1">
<a href="http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/special-needs-teacher-accused-abuse-faces-judge/ndBkk/" target="_blank">Teacher accused of abusing special needs students</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mencap/photos/a.10150173696766354.342060.124329456353/10152230875991354/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"I’m a person with Down’s syndrome. I think if people with disabilities join together..."</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2014/02/the-act-of-telling.html" target="_blank">The Act of Telling</a></div>
</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">February also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownwitdat.blogspot.com&media=http%3A%2F%2Fi1113.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk501%2FPsychojenic%2FDWD%2FDwDButton2.gif" class="pin-it-button" count-layout="none">Pin It</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-68784496480343020062014-02-21T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-22T20:48:19.263-05:00The T-21 Blog Hop, February 2014 -- Ableist Language<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wish I could say that I had to think really hard about this month's topic.<br />
<br />
Even before my friend <a href="http://www.mmonjejr.com/" target="_blank">Michael Scott Monje Jr.</a> suggested this topic, I had run into numerous examples lately of ableist language being used--and even defended--by advocates and activists in other communities. <br />
<br />
I cannot say this enough: whether intentional or not, whether a word was "once accepted" or not, whether you know/knew/have someone in your life that the slur may pertain to, it does not matter. A slur is a slur, no matter how you try and dress it up afterwards. <br />
<br />
Thanks to the tireless efforts of many, the R word (or "retarded") has now become a readily recognized example of such a word. However, there are many more. Search your own vocabulary and explore the etymology for many of the words you use to describe "ridiculous" or "not thought out". Words like stupid, imbecile, moron, idiot, cretin... all have their roots in ableist oppressive language. To be specific: if you are describing an object, person or situation in your life with a term that equates to the old eugenics term 'mentally deficient', you are using ableist language and in turn denigrating those with actual intellectual disabilities/developmental delays. When you are describing an idea as 'blind' or 'dumb' or an economy as 'crippling', you are doing the same thing to those with other disabilities.<br />
<br />
When it doubt, say something else. On top of it all, it's hard to argue that one should stop demeaning one group of people when you are in the middle of dehumanizing another.<br />
<br />
It's bad enough that folks have to put up with this kind of thing from the general public and celebrities (I'm looking at you Jerry Seinfeld), but to hear it from other advocacy communities, given how intersected we really all are... well, it's really disheartening, frankly. <br />
<br />
Remember it's not about you. It's about the people who, in times past, were labelled with these words and outcast, brutalized and often killed outright. <br />
<br />
This month, I encourage disability advocates to post their pieces discussing ableist language. Be they old or new, I want to show how diverse the disability community really is and how so many different people are affected. <br />
<br />
If you need more information about the T-21 Blog Hop, <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html" target="_blank">you can click here</a>.<br />
<br />
For more detailed instructions on how to add the script to your post, <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/if-you-are-not-as-techcode-savvy.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
<br />
[Update Feb 22: The thumbnails may not be working below due to a server switch by LinkyTools. The script is still able to accept new posts and I am told the images will be back as soon as possible. To quote Clerks: "I assure you we're open!"]</div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-25454473745763788702014-02-16T09:27:00.000-05:002014-02-16T09:27:58.098-05:00Love Letters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is a very special day in my house. Today the twins, Wyatt and Zoe, turn three. <br />
<br />
Three is such a transition year for us. They are not babies any more (although I still slip and occasionally call them that), nor are they toddlers any longer. Now we're entering the world of preschooler, which is both wonderful and terrifying at the same time. If you'll excuse me now, I'll be in the corner pulling on a bottle of JD and alternating between contemplative silence and hysterical laughter on that one.<br />
<br />
As the distance grows between this point and what I am now calling their <i>post-birth freakout</i>, I've come to realize--with the clarity that only time brings--that the source of all the <i>grief</i> wasn't what I thought. It had nothing to do with Wyatt having Down syndrome. It did have a little more to do with him having an Atrioventricular Septal Defect and Zoe having an inguinal hernia that required surgery at six weeks of age. It had a lot to do with the suddenness of their arrival, the major abdominal surgery that brought them into this world, the routine and nature of the NICU and the litany of growth charts, imposed feeding regimens, assessments and appointments. Plus: There. Are. Two. Of. Them.<br />
<br />
Never, ever, underestimate how busy parents of newborn twins are.<br />
<br />
But, here we are. <br />
<br />
Three. <br />
<br />
Holy fuckballs.<br />
<br />
As this day grew closer, [read: last week some time] I decided that I wanted to write my children each a love letter of sorts, something that they could read in the future. I saved sharing them until today, simply because I didn't want them to get mixed up with the hoopla of Valentine's Day. These are love letters of another sort. Ones that go a little beyond cutesy hearts and flowers.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>For Zoe:</i><br />
<br />
<i>For my daughter, my mini-me. You resemble me more than just with the shape of your face and your dark eyes, love... I recognize that heart as it is a piece of my own. Your strength goes so much deeper than your physical prowress. You are funny; quick and darling; all rolled up in a ball of glorious noise. You sing along to Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, The Ramones, Heart, Janis Joplin and anything else I throw your way... and dance without hesitation. Whether as princess or a pirate, you are as fierce as my love for you.<br /><br />From your stealthy refusal to be captured on ultrasound initially, to your refusal to even be </i>born<i>, you have demonstrated time and time again how strong you are. You were not much bigger than my hand when you were born, in fact your entire hand gripped the first digit of my pinkie finger. I was terrified the first time I went to hold you, until you started to wail with a volume that beat against my ears. I had concert ring for the first three months of your life. There is no doubt in my mind that you will ever have trouble making yourself heard.<br /><br />May you never squander your gifts on anyone less deserving. Let no one or no thing ever dim that fire that burns bright within you. <br /><br />Always be you. No one else.</i></blockquote>
<br />
You would think (hope) that the letter for my son would be same, perhaps with a little tweak geared towards him being a boy and her being a girl. But sadly, this is not the case. What I want to say to my son, and what I have to say to him are still, in today's world, two separate things. To Wyatt, I will have to stress to him, more than the other two, to be wary of strangers. He absolutely has to understand that everyone that claims to mean him well, won't. That may mean his teachers, his therapists, doctors and nurses and even the police. Wyatt will have to know that well into his adult years, there will be people that will treat him like a child, that misunderstand his nuances and actions. There will be people that write him off completely... That feel that his life is not worth as much as another, that try and deny him his basic humanity.<br />
<br />
[I cried while writing that.]<br />
<br />
<br />
...Or not.<br />
<br />
I hope not. I hope by the time that Wyatt reaches adulthood, that my pausing here will seem old-fashioned, outdated. That things like acceptance and meaningful inclusion will be just a matter of course. That competency will be presumed automatically. He will be seen as just another flavour of humanity and be allowed the according rights and freedoms. He will be seen as my son, nothing more, nothing less. Because that is what he is.<br />
<br />
I want people to see my son, for him. As I see him. As he is. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>For Wyatt:</i><br />
<br />
<i>For my son, my mini-Sean. You resemble your father
more than just with the shape of your face and your complexion. You have his gentleness and his sense of humour. Your will is matchless, your determination nothing short of remarkable. You are funny; quick and adorable; a complete package of noise and dirt. You sing along to the songs that your older brother and I sing to you... and cheer without hesitation. Whether concentrating on a new task or asserting your place in this world,
you are as fierce as my love for you.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>From your determination to be born and get this lifetime started, to your complete disregard of any sort of medical predictions regarding your health and development, you have demonstrated time and time again how strong you are. You were not much bigger than my hand when you were born, in fact your hand almost completely gripped the first digit of my pinkie finger. I was terrified the first time I went to hold you, until you snuggled into my neck and sighed, as if to say "this is what I was looking for". There is no doubt in my mind that you will ever have trouble expressing yourself.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>May you never squander your
gifts on anyone less deserving. Let no one or no thing ever dim that
fire that burns bright within you. <br /><br />Always be you. No one else.</i></blockquote>
<br />
Happy Birthday to my littlest peeps. You and your older brother are the reason I fight so hard. May you all know that you are loved and cherished for exactly who you are. <br />
<br />
And always will be. <br /><br />Love,<br />Mom. </div>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"></script></div>Psychojenichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02936930614210195529noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547437486205245818.post-58849162075625480222014-02-07T23:29:00.000-05:002014-05-23T23:05:16.126-04:00In the News - January 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
A collection of news articles, blogs, stories and information about Down syndrome, disability and special needs, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat">Down Wit Dat's Facebook page</a>. These are the first from 2014.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Legend:</u></div>
<center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUDIO</span></b></td><td>indicates an audio clip</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">APPEAL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online petition or plea</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td> <td>indicates a blog post</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CASE</span></b></td> <td>indicates a lawsuit or proceedings</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">EVENT</span></b></td> <td>indicates a scheduled event </td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td> <td>indicates a graphic or image</td> </tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a new piece of legislation</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">LINKS</span></b></td> <td>indicates links or resource materials</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PHOTOS</span></b></td> <td>indicates photos</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online survey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td> <td>indicates an advocacy statement made through social media</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PRESS</span></b></td> <td>indicates a press release</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td> <td>***New!***indicates a meaningful quote</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">STUDY</span></b></td> <td>indicates a study or discovery</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THREAD</span></b></td> <td>indicates an online discussion thread</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td> <td>indicates a video or movie clip</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/12/24/inspiration-is-not-inclusion/" target="_blank">Inspiration Is Not Inclusion</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=609777865726763&set=a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825&type=1" target="_blank">"There is no such thing as 'Modern ABA'..."</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/01/02/an-interview-with-emma-about-stimming/" target="_blank">An Interview With Emma About Stimming</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat/posts/566079500149940" target="_blank"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"The beauty of human beings lies in their capacity to accept who they are..." </span></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownWitDat/posts/565844183506805" target="_blank">"Apparently tomorrow is Fidget Friday! Lovely!!..."</a><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/strengths-stretches-and-autism-more-lessons-from-the-thrift-shop/" rel="bookmark">Strengths, Stretches, and Autism: More Lessons from the Thrift-Shop</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://musingsofanaspie.com/2013/07/24/socially-inappropriate/" target="_blank">Socially Inappropriate</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="ext-gen94">
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2056941/Autism-advantage-Valuable-traits-include-exceptional-memory-visual-skills.html" target="_blank">'Autism can be an advantage in life': Doctors should stop treating it as a handicap, says scientist</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/01/happiness-is-probably-not-warm-gun.html" target="_blank">Happiness is Probably not a Warm Gun</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://starinhereye.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/breaking-up-with-doctor-normal/" target="_blank">Breaking Up With Doctor Normal</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DisabilityAndRepresentation/posts/725431374134839" target="_blank">"Pride is not an inessential thing. Without pride, disabled people are much more..." </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="image-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.mmonjejr.com/2014/01/dont-aspie-me.html" target="_blank">Don't "Aspie" Me</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://evilautie.org/2013/12/17/too-big-to-fail/" target="_blank">Too Big to Fail</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/07/3126391/north-carolina-police-shoot-schizophrenic-teen/">Cop Allegedly Said ‘We Don’t Have Time For This’ Before Shooting Schizophrenic Teen To Death</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="h1 bottom-margin-2 embossed-text">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/issue-14-asd-options-living-independently/#.UvI_PoWBoSF" target="_blank">Exposing Autism Speaks</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div id="content" tabindex="-4">
<a href="http://www.belpernews.co.uk/news/local/vandals-trash-memorial-for-handicapped-1-6357165" target="_blank">Vandals trash memorial for handicapped</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151984266165805&set=a.10150096009330805.269095.57836810804&type=1" target="_blank">"<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Ethan Saylor’s birthday is this week. On January 9th, Ethan would have been..." </span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://badcripple.blogspot.ca/2014/01/a-verbal-assault-and-diminishment.html" target="_blank">A Verbal Assault and the Diminishment Elevator</a>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://davehingsburger.blogspot.ca/2014/01/elevator-buttons.html" target="_blank">Elevator Buttons</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://concavebed.blogspot.ca/2014/01/shame-on-us.html" target="_blank">Shame On Us</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://thebodyisnotanapology.tumblr.com/post/72710696679/your-voice-matters-the-use-of-crazy" rel="bookmark">Your Voice Matters: The Use of “Crazy”</a></div>
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</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="posttitle">
<a href="http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/01/07/restraint-affluent-schools/18995/" target="_blank">Restraint, Seclusion More Common At Affluent Schools</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jct6r2NLCI&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Norwegian association of the blind -- Could have been worse">Norwegian association of the blind -- Could have been worse </span></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://gimpled.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/what-katy-did-to-all-of-us.html" target="_blank">What Katy Did - To All Of Us</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2014/01/each-day-is-filled-with-joy.html" target="_blank">Each Day Is Filled With Joy</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DownSyndromeUprising/posts/797473883603029" target="_blank">"From Dave Hingsburger: "My response to him was the same response..."</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.girlwiththecane.com/thoughts-privilege/" target="_blank">Thoughts on Privilege</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2014/01/09/bully-sheeps-clothing/?goback=.gmr_2089434.gde_2089434_member_5827590251572383747#!" target="_blank">Are You a Bully in Sheep's Clothing?</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://www.dominickevans.com/2014/01/why-language-matters-bound-and-determined-to-end-the-medias-archaic-stereotypes/" rel="bookmark">Why Language Matters….Bound and Determined to End the Media’s Archaic Stereotypes</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCarterLong/posts/10152122142474287" target="_blank">"Sure, you're allowed to bemoan "political correctness," put up your defenses..."</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">QUOTE</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="yt" id="watch-headline-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCarterLong/posts/10152122013544287" target="_blank">“People will kill you over time, and how they’ll kill you is with tiny..."</a><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=354433381335776" href="https://www.facebook.com/dylanmoranofficial"></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/boycottautismspeaksnow/photos/a.617487991630971.1073741827.617475298298907/635306166515820/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"Image Description: White square framed in blue/green. There is a ..."</span></span></a><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/withdrawal-room-seclusion-isolation-autism-ireland-1255870-Jan2014/?utm_source=facebook_short" target="_blank">Revealed: Autistic children locked in unsupervised ‘isolation rooms’ for hours</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/01/balls.html" target="_blank">Balls</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>IMAGE</b></span></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAutisticChildrenWithLoveAcceptance/photos/a.558548997516317.1073741831.540203919350825/614815788556304/?type=1" target="_blank"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoPageCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"It's not like a diagnosis changes the wonderful child you love..."</span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="story">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/01/13/be-patient-with-me/" target="_blank">“Be Patient With Me…”</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title">
<a href="http://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/2014/01/13/when-i-ask-for-an-assistive-listening-device/" title="When I Ask For an Assistive Listening Device, Feel Free to Treat Me As a Full-Fledged Person">When I Ask For an Assistive Listening Device, Feel Free to Treat Me As a Full-Fledged Person</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="heading">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCarterLong/posts/10152125888614287" target="_blank">"LCL Style Guide (January 14): Word to the wise, if you're still saying..." </a><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span class="_58cl"></span></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/01/14/autism-and-human-rights/" target="_blank">Autism and Human Rights</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://radicalaccessiblecommunities.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/psa-when-you-actually-welcome-us-shits-gonna-change/" rel="bookmark" title="PSA: When You Actually Welcome Us, Shit’s Gonna Change.">PSA: When You Actually Welcome Us, Shit’s Gonna Change.</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCarterLong/posts/10152132943039287" target="_blank">Safe Bet: People who assert other things are "more important" and that "words..."</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="name post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://loveexplosions.net/2014/01/16/tone-it-down/" target="_blank">Tone it down</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://mealtimehostage.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/the-illusion-of-knowledge/" target="_blank">The Illusion of Knowledge</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://disabilityintersections.com/2014/01/lack-of-representation-in-fiction-why-is-the-disabled-character-always-a-cisgender-heterosexual-white-man/" target="_blank">Lack of representation in fiction: Why is the disabled character always a cisgender, heterosexual, white man?</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://mealtimehostage.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/why-meeting-needs-matters/" target="_blank">Why Meeting Needs Matters</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/01/2014-accepting-me-for-me/" target="_blank">2014 – The Year of Loving and Accepting Me for Me</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/01/what-will-you-teach-your-child.html" target="_blank">What will you teach your child?</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2014/01/international-day-of-acceptance/" target="_blank">Acceptance Over Awareness – Celebrating 3ELove’s International Day of Acceptance</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/08/anger.html" target="_blank">Anger</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div id="post-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://wordsiwheelby.com/2013/12/community-divided-over-accessible-locations/" target="_blank">A Community Divided Over Accessible Locations</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="node-title">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Backish
</h3>
</div>
</div>
<a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ca/2014/01/backish.html" target="_blank">Backish</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2013/12/kick-that-door-down.html" target="_blank">Kick That Door Down</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POLL</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="sTitle sTitleCf">
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8C7XZZY" target="_blank"><span class="notranslate">Autism Community Resource Survey</span></a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2013/10/the-sum-of-one.html" target="_blank">The Sum of One</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://utterlyunpublishedauthorsdaughter.blogspot.ca/2014/01/abledpeoplesay-awful-things-sometimes.html" target="_blank">#abledpeoplesay awful things sometimes</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2013/10/cartographies_18.html" target="_blank">Cartographies </a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://aquietweek.com/2014/01/22/moral-compass-take-posautive-action-and-boycottautismspeaks/" target="_blank">Moral Compass: Take #PosAutive Action and #BoycottAutismSpeaks</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
Inclusion, Communication and Civil Rights
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2013/11/13/inclusion-communication-civil-rights/" target="_blank">Inclusion, Communication and Civil Rights</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><a href="http://srsalas.com/?p=2211" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: HOPE SPRINGS">HOPE SPRINGS</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
<div class="post-title">
<a href="http://crackedmirrorinshalott.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/to-raise-up-an-advocate/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to To Raise Up An Advocate">To Raise Up An Advocate</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="story-header">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.greenteaginger.com/2014/01/its-not-about-political-correctness-its.html" target="_blank">It's not about political correctness, it's about not being an asshole</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://plus.google.com/106134486284614852510/posts/fbTTfE9Jj4N" target="_blank">"What are you doing to ensure that students with disabilities are safe from..." </a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title-node title-node-285146">
<a href="http://www.goldenhatfoundation.org/about-us/blog/157-i-define-myself-by-amy-sequenzia" target="_blank">I Define Myself, by Amy Sequenzia</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="headline entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://30daysofautism.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/fabulous-fringes-a-poem/" rel="bookmark">Fabulous Fringes: A Poem</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2014/01/19/walk-shoes/" target="_blank">Walk in My Shoes</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://yesthattoo.blogspot.ca/2013/01/politics-of-parent-run-autism-groups.html" target="_blank">Politics of Parent-Run Autism Groups</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.redeafined.com/2014/01/if-abledpeoplesay-makes-you-angrythats.html" target="_blank">If #AbledPeopleSay Makes You Angry...That's Sort of the Point</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title entry-title cleanprint-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://autisticchick.blogspot.ca/2014/01/what-i-saw.html" target="_blank">What I saw</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">VIDEO</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2014/01/14/30-message-bullies/" target="_blank">30 Second Message for Bullies</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></td><td><div class="entry_title">
<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/29/ceo-tells-daily-show-mentally-retarded-could-work-for-2-youre-worth-what-youre-worth/" target="_blank">CEO tells Daily Show ‘mentally retarded’ could work for $2: ‘You’re worth what you’re worth’</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="title">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-sweatt-orsborn/my-child-with-a-disability-is-not-my-hero_b_4689731.html" target="_blank">My Child With a Disability Is Not My Hero</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/2014/01/whats-up.html" target="_blank">What's Up?</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">POST</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/21Plus21Plus21Equals/posts/643877189007007" target="_blank">"NONONONONONOOOOOO! Delete! Retract! And for the love of all..."</a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br /></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="contentheading">
<a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/obamas_wage_hike_for_federal_contractors_wont_apply_to_disabled_workers" target="_blank">Obama’s Wage Hike For Federal Contractors Won’t Apply to Disabled Workers</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="_5clb">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://timetolisten.blogspot.ca/2012/07/things-you-want-people-to-do-to-your.html" target="_blank">The Things You Want People To Do To Your Kids</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="https://ollibean.com/2013/01/05/autistic-autism/" target="_blank">I am Autistic and I Know what Autism Is</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title">
<div class="entry-title">
<a href="http://emmashopebook.com/2014/01/31/henry-emmas-story/" target="_blank">Henry & Emma’s Story</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="entry-title">
<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://www.mmonjejr.com/2014/01/the-myth-of-overcoming.html" target="_blank">The Myth of "Overcoming"</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG</span></b></td><td><div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://amazingadventuresautism.blogspot.ca/2014/02/autistic-people-have-same-rights-as.html" target="_blank">Autistic people have the same rights as everyone else</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">January also saw another edition of the T-21 Blog Hop...</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwDd1ISodDLiQdFY1RtrX3O8xeqiYfBuJlvql58NBj3jeWkhgrsGFwYtA6aL9ymW_7ujPDScRb896QzOu06pVJjUgoZFicw7JNFk_63c5VRHRUduvGKRJPL6TYMATBu3mUNBMjm76gg/s1600/bloghopthin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
This month tied for largest with 25 entries! Thanks to all who participated. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.ca/p/t-21-blog-hop.html">T-21 Blog Hop</a>
<b>will take place every month on the 21st, for three days</b> and will
continue to feature advocacy posts from across the disability community.<br />
<br />
<br />
...And that's the news. Keep the stories and information coming!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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