Final Post of 2007- What To Expect in 2008!

This is my final post of 2007, while it has been a relativley good year I am excited about 2008 and writing my continued thoughts and ideas about disability and aging issues on this blog. In '08 my hope is to broach such issues as the ADA Restoration Act and really evaluate what that means for the disability community in the United States. I also want to look at a revolutionry idea originally concieved by Professor Ruth O' Brien stating that the ADA is not just teh most import civil rights law of the 20th Century, but infact, it is piece of legislation that can truly humanize capatalism "by turning employees into care-givers, creating an ethic of care in the workplace". So taking the ADA from a narrow civil rights law to a larger labor law is critical BUT what needs to be further discussed is "the culture" of work and how can we as a society actually find the tipping point to make what O'Brien discusses a re al reality - BUT just as important make areal business case to make this a real reality. Other areas I hope to explore in the blog in the coming year are questions of Genomics and Disability Rights. At the dawn of the 21st Century we are clearly at the starting point of a new age. Even though we have had the human gene sequenced for the past decade there are larger philosophical, cultural and social questions that we need to look at as it relates to personhood. While the argument can be made that wiping out disease is a noble and valuable cause, there are larger questions at hand such as what does this mean for people with disabilities as a valued people in society and will genomics be a precursor to Eugenics. While that may seem drastic these are questions that need to be addressed.

2008 will be an interesting year with many areas to explore...I will see you all next year! Happy Holidays!

A Day on the Set

This weekend I spent a day on the set of the new film, "Adam", the story of a young man named Adam who is living with Asperger's and his life & relationship with a young woman named Rose. I have been working with the actor Hugh Dancy on playing the character making sure he is as authentic as possible. I must admit working with him has been tremendous fun & watching him on the set going through rehersals & shooting I know I must have done something right! But I also know that Hugh certainly absorbed everything I was able to offer. More importantly, he really understands that he now has a certain responsibility in playing this character that extends to the larger disability community.
I look forward to spending more time on the set but I am even more excited to see the final product!

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly :Part I

The Diving Bell and Butterfly was a wonderful memoir I read about five years ago. Written by Jean Dominique Bauby, the former editor of French Elle, it is the story of a true bon vivant who had the age of forty three has a massive stroke & must deal with the repercussions to his life. He has really only the use of his one eye by which with the help of his nurses he learns a mode of communication through blinking.

The painter & filmmaker Julian Schnabel has just brought this tremendous story to the screen. As I remember the book, it is a tale about life, death & the unflinching resolve of the human spirit. I have not seen the movie yet (it was released in NY & LA yesterday) I am planning to see it this week & will write Part II of this review so that I can accuratley discuss...till next time!

International Day of the Disabled

Tommorow is the Internatational Day of the Disabled. For most it is an obscure day that goes unrecognized on the calendar. But, at the United Nations there will be a press conference, a series of panel discussions and concert celebrating the event.The fundamental question for me (as I am sure for many others) is - what does this all mean? Well, simply put it is designed to raise awareness for many of the issues that people with disablilities face on daily basis on a global scale. The theme for this event is "Decent Work for All" - members of the UN and global community want to show that people with disabilities can & want to work and are often times not afforded the opportunities in part due to lack of understanding and an antiquated view of disability perpertuated by cultural sterotypes.

It is interesting to me that there is very little press when it comes to an event like this. However, before I jump to conclusion tommorow morning there will be a press conference held at the UN- so we shall she what outlets plan to cover it. However, all I can say is that an event like this always gives me hope that we are moving in the right direction!

Washington Is Getting It Right!

I was at a conference a few days ago that was attended by a variety of buercrats from several Federal agencies including The IRs, The Department of Interior, The Department of Defense among many others. The conference focused on diversity yet one of the major themes was disability. What I found out both astounded me & pleased me. The Federal government which consists of 2.6 million employees is mandated by law that by 2010 2% aof ALL workers must be those with disabilities. This is a truly bold move & the 2% coincides with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the ADA.

In hearing about this I was quite pleased that it was the government who is making the first move. Now, if only private industry could follow that path we may really be onto something!

Disability & Diversity

Should disability be part of the conversation of diversity? Well, for most this would seem like a slam dunk answer, however, lets look at it from a different perspective. Shouldn't disability seen through a much larger lens than just diversity. The fact is there is an old saying with in the disability community - TAB's or temporarily able bodied. Using this premise the idea is that infact disability is much broader & can be seen as a human issue NOT a diversity issue. That infact we should be talking about it interms of inclusion in every aspect of our society. Disability as a social and cultural construct goes beyond the physical, psychological or mental limitation but prevades every facet of our society...so, any thoughts?

Deciphering Disabilities

I was thinking about this today, there are so many disabilities out there & so many different groups out there raising money for specfic causes. Whether it be MS, Cerebral Palsy or Autism to many others it seems as if the disability community is very splintered. I have always felt that regardless of the disability we (i.e. the proverbal WE) have a shared expierence in terms of societal treatment. Whether accessibility issues, medical or just plain discrimination most people that I've come across have similar stories to share. While someone like me doesn't share the same symptomology as say someone with aspergers we do share at times similar psychological pangs. A feeling of alienation, not looking what is considered "normal". I could go on, BUT I believe that we must begin to respond as a community - a community that isd wonderful tapestry of both different & shared expierences...What does everyone else think?

Awareness...Perhaps Not!

After my recent medical fiasco (previous post) I had to get an expemption from my upcoming jury duty. I had already had one postponement BUT now I realized I needed a medical exemption. My neurologist was more than happy to oblidge and write a note to the court. So I call the New York Superior Court to straighten out the situation & get on the phone with a woman with whom I proceed to explain my situation & ask about what the next steps should be. She proceeded to ask me the dreaded question..." your disabled & your NOT on disability?" I have to admit I was speechless! I quickly picked my jaw up off the floor & responded that no, I am not on disability I am self employed & combined with my medical condition it would be hard to serve at this time. Again she said okay, so your NOT on disability?

Why is there this assumption that just because you have a disability you must be on disability assistance? Was it her belief that due to my medical condition I was unable to work, hold down a job or just function! This has really sent my mind racing to think that awareness of those with disabilities has come as far as one would hope. That infact we as a community MUST be our own advocates & heed the words " Nothing About Us Without Us!"

DisabilityWorks,inc.: Welcome to the Era of Disaboom!

DisabilityWorks,inc.: Welcome to the Era of Disaboom!

Welcome to the Era of Disaboom!

In this age of personal computers, cellular phone, and mobile device it seems as if people are more shut off thean ever before. Yet, one of the truly epic advances has been the internet & this so called 'information superhighway'. No where in history have we as a spieces been able to connect with one another like ever before. For people with disabilities who have been seperated either by the confines of there own bodies , function or ability the internet has served as the great equalizer.

Today is the dawn of new era, the launch of Disaboom.com! A website that will provide people with disabilities of all ages pertinant information to impact every facet of their daily lives on many levels to a social network to communicate with others that share similiar expierence OR infact completley different ones. My hope is that Disaboom will become for the disability community what it is meant to be - a "Global Village" to share, explore and create new avenues for a betteer way to live.

So...Let's ALL begin on this new journey tgether & LIVE FORWARD!

Musings on A Sleepless Night

Perhaps its the fact I can't sleep or maybe just that a slight fear has been looming about my daily life these days with avengance. But since I found out that I had a seziure last week & walked naked through the streets of New York I have been a bit preoccupied to say the least. These grand exestential thoughts have been milling around my head about the nature of my disability & why has something that I have learned to accept & infact embrace has reared its ugly head. I have felt a certain guilt complaiing, however, I have learned over time that I do not have to subscribe to anyone's social convention that having a disability is a part of my life that is a cornerstone of my identity and denying that would be denying a piece of myself. I guess I have been ruminating a lot these days about the meaning of having a disability & how it impacts your life both in good and bad ways. I also have a fear of being unable to control things at the momment. I mean I am taking the best care of myself I could possibly imagine, yet still there is this feeling that lingers. As I continue to ponder this and uncover these feelings I am sure I will share more but thinking about the nature of one's own disability and how that impacts one's own sense of self or self definition is an ongoing question.

Nudity In New York: A Cautionary Tale

I am going to digress from usual posts to tell you all a cautionary tale. The other night I hd some sezuire activity which was unexpected, yet more importantly served as a real reminder to be more diligent about my medical care. Before the seziure I had taken a shower and got into bed without any clothes. During the night I had some activity & jumped up out of bed & walked out my door & out of my building onto the streets of New York City completley nude! As I retrace my steps I realize my actions where not only dangerous but really scary. From crossing the street to runnng around my block. I am grateful for NY's Finest for helping me get back into my apartment & stay with me while the sezuire activity subsided. What I realized is that I have not taken the best care of myself when my health is concerned. This recent fiasco was a real wake up call for me to be more diligent & continue to monitor my health on a regular basis. So for all those reading this piece - MAKE SURE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!

The Return of Capitan Spaz...

When I was a kid my friend use to call me "Captain Spaz" anytime I would start to spasm. Born with a spactic hemiparesis certainly has had it up and down momments. This weekend was certainly one of those down momments. I kept thinking to myself that over the years my pain thershold has gotten so high that I often push myself too hard not knowing what type of damage I can cause myself. Spasms to be have become almost glaitorial in a way. It is a fight between my two selves - the mind/body dichotomy if you will. But being someone who always loves to learn and explore new terrain I have kept asking myself what can I learn from this expierence? To be honest, nothing has come to mind yet. I could make the argument that I have learned about patience and tolerance, however, the fact remains none of those thoughts have raced through my mind as my body is in extrodinary pain. So how does Captain Spaz play into the whole situation. For my friend at least he thought I was heroic enduring the pain and being able to function at such a high level every day. For me Captain Spaz is more villian than hero. Its an alter ego that is part of my physical make up but not something about my life that I care to embrace.

Disaboom Pick of The Week:

After each blog entry I wanted to provide a brief piece of Disaboom.com site that is of interest to me or something to be on the lookout for. With Disability Employment Awareness Month coming up around the corner I think you should not only look for content on careers and employment but also start discussions on these very issues.

Jerry Lewis...Again...!

Well, Labor Day has come and gone & the annual MDA Telethon which seems to be a yearly ritual that we in the disability community seem to be subjected to. I only watched a little snippet here and there because it is just too painful. Over the years we have seen the MDA telethon prey on the stigma of disability and perpetuate what I and most in the larger disability community find offensive. While the MDA does wonderful thing providing funding for research and services I think that the telethon needs a general overhaul...just a thought!

Disaboom Pick of the Week:

I am starting a new pick of the week for Disaboom.com, a lifestyle website for people with disabilities launching this fall. There are a series of interesting posts on the Discussion Board on infant amputees, aging & cerebral palsy and a host of other areas...I will keep people informed of new & exciting things coming out of Disaboom...so click on the link on the blog if you want to see this new and innovative site!

It's Just Words Silly....

or is it? The disability community over the years have been defined, cateogorized and empowered by the languge used to encapsulate the disability community. Words like cripple, handicapped, disabled or special needs have been the moniker the establishment(i.e the medical/psychiatric and governments) have placed on people over the years who have a physical, cognitive or developmental disability. These words have been helpful for medical practitioners to find the right treatment models and government agencies provide the right benefits and services. While there are many positive aspects to words there has also been dark side in the equation. Like other minority groups language of the disabled has often been derogitory and used to be something hurtful rather than empowering. Yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Like other movements people with disabilities are finally taking 'ownership' of the words they use and are embracing the language of disability. Whether it be using phrases like "crip culture" or "gimp"- these words that were once seen as slurs have now come out of the shadows and are part of the lexicon of a progressive social model of disability. We are at a time where the ability to use words has become more democratizing than ever before. With the dawn of the information age people with disabilities are given access to a 'global village' where they can express themselves through the lens of their own particular narrative and explore and develop a new language of disability. On a personal note, one of the most thrilling things for me currently is to see the birth and evolution of a new website called Disaboom (www.disaboom.com/link/jkpr) a lifestyle website that focuses on the ever changing disability community. One of the elements that makes this website unique is its ability to redefine the words and language of disablity in the 21st Century...now how cool is that!

Summertime Blues

Ahh, the dog days of summer are upon us once again. For many this means a time to take a holiday and get away from the daily grind of work, life and routine. However, for others it is a time to focus on the fall and develop new employment strategies. Over the past two years I have been working with a variety of young adults in their 20s & 30s who are along the autism spectrum and those pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) such as learning disabilities. One of the great challenges for me has been to see how hard it is for them to find paying jobs. Whether it is an ability to search for work or companies not providing the right support for more 'high functioning' young adults with these types of disabilities is debatable. The fundamental question that I have been struggling with is how to connect the dots? A big movement within the disability field has been customized employment which has begun to gain real success with those with physical disabilities. However, with those with more cognitive disabilities or 'invisible' disabilities it is harder to pinpoint and create customized work places but beyond that those with more cognitive disabilities such as autism or learning disabilities need a greater infastructure to work with. This means job shadowing, social support and other options. Yet at the same time this can become an intrical part of the future of recruting & employment policy within organizations. As new college graduates enter the job market the dog days of summer is the time for companies to wake up & see a broader pool of young talented workers that can do things & want to work. I have a saying play to the strengths of the individual! It is time to take up this as a clarion call!

The Launch of a New Era: Disaboom!

Over the past few weeks I have been in negotiations developing a strategic partnership with a new company called disaboom. (www.disaboom.com)Disaboom is a new online community for people with disabilities providing an array of services from social networks, employment, to a host of other valuable resources. What has been the most attractive draw for me was the passion that the founders and new mangement team have for this new venture. This is not just your run of the mill entreprenurial endeavor but rather something that has real purpose and meaning for all involved. The founder Glenn House, a physician and parapelegic himself understands the daily life of someone with a physical disability and wanted to utilize the technology avaliable to create something that not only connects the 56 million Americans across the disability community but ber a place where the 600+ million people with disabilities and aging community ( many of whom will be dealing with disabilities) a community to share, find information & create a true global village if you will.

I am eager to see where this idea can take the disability community. I am a firm believer that this is the time for a company like this to emerge and become a trailblazer...let's move forward into the Disaboom nation!

A Moral Question: How Well Does America Care for It's Own?

With pomp & circumustance, young men & women brave soldiers are sent off to war to fight for there country, there beliefs & a way of life. Yet, on the return home many veterans injuried by the ravages of war either physically or mentally do not seem to get the treatment or the respect that there government owes them. This has begged the question why are our facilitates like Walter Reed having public scandals that describe shotty outpatient care and infested conditions and public debates over the VA's inability to care its patient is now plying a front center role in daily newspaper, TV & internet stories.

This has begged ne to ask the question, are people with disabilities, even our wonderful soldiers still seen as second class citizens. Does the stigma of disability still exist or is this just politics as usual? Most importantly, how can a government not care for its own? To be even asking this questions have made me both sad, angry & disgusted. Why should I have to be even thinking that in the United States of America those that defend our country should not get at least the basics when it comes to healthcare. While many disagree with the policies of war and the administration, no one should feel that these young men & woman deserve sub standard care!

We are at a philosophical crossroads here - If the government cannot take care of its own in terms of basic healthcare, acclimating these young men & woman back into society and helping with employment, education and other basic needs what do we as a community need to do to solve the issue? I will begin to answer and show what is being done to help solve an issue that our own government seems to be sputtering on.

The Anxiety of Influence

Well who said that the need for technology was overrated...well, I can now tell you from expierence the value that technology plays in my life. Loosing access to my computer is very much like loosing access to my freedom. Not being able get my e-mail or use the internet truly hindered every aspect of my work life. When I thought about it I know many people with physical disabilities who's need for technology goes far beyond what my needs are but use it as a critical piece of there activities of daily living. I realized the power that technology has over our lives- almost every aspect for that matter- the influence is enormous!

The Arrival of the iPhone- Is it a Good thing?

The much touted iPhone is finally avaliable for public consumption. But wait a minute is this phone really good for everyone? Let me be a bit more clear on this, is this good for the disability and aging community. When we look at the concept of Universal Design or the value of of accessible technology the point is that new technologies are designed to make things easier, to even the playing field so to speak. While the iPhone looks really cool & has new amazing features and applications I worry that this is not a phone that ALL consumers can use. In the reviews I've read by Walter Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal and David Pogue of the New York Times the one thing that clearly stands out is the touch screen. Will people who have arthritis or visual impairments be able to really utilize this technology easily? In full disclosure I have not done any focus groups or have begun to research on this. However, for me it seemed like red flags just kept popping up the more I read about the features of the new iPhone. I wonder what Steve Jobs would say if he were posed these very questions? Hmm...

AARP , Diversity & The Future of Aging in the 21st Century

Over the past few weeks I spent time in Los Angeles to attend and participate (as a speaker) at a conference on Aging and Diversity in the 21st Century given by AARP. Aside from giving my own workshops on policy implications on employment and the value of technology I must admit I was truly blown away by the plethora of information provided. I came away with a new found appreciation for the work that is going on. Also, I learned a tremendous amount of what needs to be done in the diversity field as it pertains to disability. Still, disability is seen as the bastard child within the diversity field. I often feel it is still doesn't quite have a eat at the 'grown up' table. However, when consider all the aspects of diversity it is the disability community that has a role in every facet. Though I belive AARP is beginning to recognize this - a bit slower than I may like, however, moving forward in the right direction. This conference was the first step in my oponion to solidify all of the cultural elements of different communities to look at a common goal as part of a human expierence. This I believe is critical & also serves as a template to serve disability issues.

America & The Convention for The Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was recently ratified at the United Nations on March 30th 2007. Yet the glaring abscence on the United States to sign the convention has not gone unoticed. This has been in my view one the great blunders of American policy since its inception. How can the host country of the UN not sign something that promotes human rights, equal opportunity and abolish laws that perpetuate discrimination? It has many people within the American disability community scratching there heads and asking the proverbal question - why? This has been confounding me for weeks because I have no logical answer. It makes me incredibly upset that a country that prides itself on the very values the Convention espouses does not acknowledge it's value by signing is just astounding.

The disability community in the United States should be irrate & lobby congress to revaluate this choice. If we as a country are going to be at the forefront of disability rights we must be in lock step with the rest of the world...only time will tell!

The Question of Autism: New Readings

With the epidemic rise in autism, it begs the question why haven't we seen this many people with autism before or with the recent growth of this community what has the role culture, science & the role of diagnostic definitions played in the growth of this disorder? In Roy Richard Grinker's new book "Unstrange Minds: Remapping The World of Autism" he draws upon is academic and personal background to explore these very questions. As a father of daughter with autism he certainly understand the very personal challenges of raising a disabled child. But as an anthropologist he takes a very serious look at the world of autism and how it has changed from Leo Kanners time some 60 years ago. With the advent of media & a pop culture revolution of sorts with Autism Speaks & NBC and celebrities like Dan Marino, Toni Braxton & others the world of autism has expanded its definition and no longer is seen in the context of "The Empty Fortress: Infantile autism and the birth of the self" by Bruno Bettelheim.

We are at a crossroads in what defines the autism spectrum? Is it really as prevelant as the CDC suggests & why has the definiton expanded to incorporate other types of disabilities? As a person who has been dealing with autism in my professional life I am curious to see how these changes will impact people with cognitive disabilities and those with mental illness. Will it be incorporated into the autism spectrum or will there be distinctive definitions? We shall see...

The Tipping Point in Disability & Business

After reading Malcom Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point" I have been left by pondering the question when will society realize the critical nature that the disability community plays throughout the business world? Why has there been such a lapse in judgementto acknowledge this very important facet of society? We are slowly beginning to see diversity groups look at the areas of disability in a new way. However, I do believe we are close to being at what Gladwell describes as a Tipping Point when it pertains to disability and business. Over the past few weeks alone I have come across several articles in the mainstream press from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times discussing disability issues ranging from hiring practices to the recent surge on pop culture with such figures as Comic Josh Blue.

With the new greay dawn upon us we are at point in our human history that wecan no longer absolve ourselves from the disability community. Disability is not just a political, health or even social issue - it is a HUMAN issue! Even with this being said I think that business plays a crucial role in the evolution of the role that disability plays within our society. The reason for this is very clear- by looking at disability through the context of business & capitalism we can a greater appreciation of the need for acceptance. That statement maybe a looked at with a bit of concern but let me elaborate. Business can create new opportunities in the development of products and services but at the same time inorder for a corporation to continue to run smoothley human capital is essential.This is a critical time due to an aging workforce & 69% of people want to work passed the age of 65 in the US alone. That being said we as a society need to look at the disability community as a model to understand certain accessibility issues but also see there value with the human caputal marketplace. By utilizing this foundation it provides business new opportunities to develop products & services that will enhance the lives of people with disabilities & be good for business. I do believe the "Tipping Point" is upon us it is only a matter of time!

Pop Culture, Disability & The Future...

This week the NY Times published an artitle titled "Clearly, Frankly, Unabashedly Disabled" which discusses how disability is suddendly becoming more visible in the media. Starting with Josh Blue, the comedian with cerebral palsy who recently one NBC's Last Coming Standing to shows like The Amazing Race & Dancing With Stars which had contenstants with disabilities have unveiled many of the stigmas that have faced people with disabilities. The idea that are seen as tragic or triumphant characters rather than just being seen as a person who happens to have a disability. In my own estimation the NY Times article is on target in the sense that mass media such as television is critical in redefining how we precieve those with disabilities. Pop culture provides an accessibility to those with disabilities to the non disabled world. While the disability community hovers at around 20% of the total population that fear of 'otherness' still lingers. Popular culture somehow provides creedence to this community and wipes out the fear of the unknown & draws awareness. We the disability community NEED pop culture to provide a path in which we as a community can communicate to the rest of society providing a glimpse that the diversity of life is ok...

As we move foward it is critical to use outlets of pop culture as a canvas to express ideas of disability. It serves the purpose of creating better understanding BUT just as important as people join our community it can be a bridge by which people will feel less fear or awkwardness in dealing with or living with a disability. The importance is to know that they are not alone BUT part of a larger community that can thrive if given the means.

Business, Fear & The Question of Disability

I have been thinking about the question of disability as it relates to the structure of American business over the past several months. The first question that comes to mind is why have corporations been dragging there feet for so long. I think that this is a complicated answer yet at the same time the answer is very simple - FEAR!!! Corporations are fearful of people with disabilities as viable employees. While they may not say this outright & infact probably don't want to think this way I do believe that there is a deep seeded fear that is pervasive in the corporate culture. Now, the first question is why? To answer this you simply have to say that the fear stems from areas of ones preconcieved notion that a person with a disability can't do the job or that the company will get sued under the auspices of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Infact, who really knows? But I think it is high time for companies to ask the qustion why is this often hard to do. When you look a this massive age wave & a growing disability community these questions are staring us firmly in the face. The question of invincibility - infact that is not the case, however, it does not mean that we can't lead productive lives. Hmm...makes you think?

Presidential Politics

..Tis the season, presidential politics is upon us. The campaign season is racing up to go in full force. Last week the Democrartic candidates had there first televised debates and this weeks the Rebulicans will do the same. The question remains which candidate will have a disability policy that looks at not just healthcare issues - but how people with disabilities can gain greater access to society & more importantly what as President will each candidate do to benefit this large community. What is often lost amongst candidates is the power that the disability community has a as a voting block. Unfortunatley, this has been over looked in the past several election. However, organizations like AARP and NOD have begun to make some headway into utilizing thet power that the disability voting block possess I do feel that it is underserved.

A suggestion I have is to take a page from the playbook of AARP to show that the disperate voices of the disability community CAN have one voice & one common agenda. This will in turn create a power surge never seen in Presidential politics.

Some Musings about Universal Design

I have been thinking a lot lately about the future and the concept of universal design and livable communities. While the first thing I believe people think of are physical devices and architecture I have been prone to thinking about something different. These days I have been thinking about the philosophy of universal design should be seen beyond the physical design BUT rather as a social design model. The question has been that universal design allows for an accessible lifestyle - the question that comes to mind is what does that exactly mean? How do these physical adaptations provide a greater conduit to a social design model and create a new paradigm of disability and aging. Are they one in the same OR are they different. These are questions that I am currently exploring & will discuss later...

Oprah and Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month. With the new study in 2007 from the CDC stating that 1 out 150 children will be diagnosed with some form autism this is certainly something that needs more attention. Today Oprah Winfery spent the hour discussing autism and the complexities of this type of disability. Having parents of young children, doctors and segments from a new documentary produced by Autism Speaks.

What she has done is fantastic, yet the mistake that has been made by her and many others is again doomed to repeat itself. While it is critica to look at young children, autism spectrum disorder as a disability is something that lasts throughout the lifespan. It is hard for me to continually see talk shows like Oprah and Larry King discussing autism without really delving into the 'lifespan question'. Now, what is the lifespan question you may ask. It is ostensibly stating that while early intervention is a MUST - how can we as a society (i.e those in the medical field, therapists, parents, educators and many others) look at focusing on lifecycle needs? What are the tools that we must be equipped to handle areas like being a teenager, young adulthood into older adulthood. There are many hurdles that need be tackled. It is time for major media outlets to broaden its focus and show this type of disability on a broader palette.

Disability & Business: A Book Review

I recently completed a book entitled " Disability and Business: Best Practices and Strategies for Inclusion" by City University of New York professor Charles Riley. The book itself is a wonderfully written, detailed introduction to the basic ideas of the value that people with disabilities bring to the business landscape. From the beginning Riley states that no longer should big business view the disability commmunity as just providing handouts, rather, the disability community will become a critical component in the future of good business practices. Moving beyond the traditional "hand out" model (which so often the social service organizations still cannot get past) he begins to explore areas like human resources, marketing and universal design. While ALL of these elements are critical to the overall business strategy the one draw back that I found was that the book provides a very basic overview of these themes and never really delves into case studies. Riley interviewed hundreds of people for the book - people in mangement, executive positions and so on. While the information provided was solid I often felt that there were knowledge gaps that were to broad for my taste. But in all fairness, as someone in the field who craves detailed information I know that my biases maybe unwarented.

The book itself I believe is a wonderful start to the growing ouvre of Disability Studies literature and provides readers with a greater understanding that these issues are vital - but more importantly business executives, management and scholars must begin to think about creating a paradigm shift when thinking about the relationship between business and disability.

Some Recent Thoughts & Observations...

Over the past several posts I have been discussing about the importance of the idea of livable communities. What often goes unstated is the definition of what a livale community is as it pertains to the disability and aging arena. I think that in light of recent events such as Walter Reed in particular it is critical to explain what the idea of a livable community is and the importance that this idea will have in the next decade and beyond.

I. Brief Definition

A Livable community can be defined by the enviornment (physical,social) that is accessible by all. All members of the community can feel welcome and utilize all areas of the community settings NOT limited by physical or social barriers.

II. Importance

The importance of this idea is to break down barriers so that there can be an inclusive enviornment that can serve its community on every level from healthcare, education to areas of policy. If we do not have these key pieces in place there is a continual perpetuation of discrimination.

III. Going Foward
Briefly, going foward we as a society must be aware that the concept of liviable communities and Universal Design go far beyond the traditional sense of building codes & technological advances. We as a community must incorporate the ideas of of cultural & social values as a critical element in the process of creating livable communities.

Liviable Communities

With the Walter Reed debacle in full swing it sheds light on the value of creating a livable community. Livable Communities by definition should NOT ONLY be about access to great medical care but alsothe enviornment surrounding that care. Access to areas of universal design, clean spaces and a greater understanding that care is a holistic process. A livable community should be just that - a commmunity - where people can feel a connection to one another and be able to create that link.

Walter Reed: The Value of Livable Communities

Since the Walter Reed fiasco, I have been thinking about the systemic effects of such an event. What kept resurfacing for me was the notion of livable communities. What often gets overshadowed in the healing process is looking beyond the "medical model" and seeing that enviornment plays a critical role in both rehabilitation but a sustained healthy lifestyle. For people with disabilities and those who are aging livable communities will be catch phrase that will begin to be bantered about in the coming years. But what does this mean in terms of the Walter Reed incident and more importantly what can we learn from it for future reference.

My thoughts are that what the Walter Reed staff need to comprehend and hopefully approporiate is the importance of physical space and enviornmental surrounding as part of the ongoing treatment both physically, mentally and psychologically. Functionality must be part of any treatment model but also livable conditions and the ability to feel safe in a situation where one is vunerable. The idea behind livable communities is that a person can function to the BEST of their ABILITIES and not feel hindred by the enviornment or even social barriers. While I am not disputing the medical care at Walter Reed I would suggest a larger review of treatment of people with disabilities maybe going outside the medical model.

Walter Reed...

After reading several articles in the Washinton Post and seeing a flurry of news reports on major networks like CNN and MSNBC I have begun to be quite worried about the care of our newly disabled soldiers. These are young men and women who volunteer to join the armed service to defend the United States. The US owes these young men and women the best care and resources they can provide. It saddens me that through this expose the army & Walter Reed Medical Center seem to have egg on their face. We as citizens should demand that our government provides for these troops the best care & resources possible. Why? Not for the basic care of our own but more importantly so these young soldiers can have productive lives and given the best opportunities possibles. Without a fresh start and state of the art facilities we are endangering our wounded soldiers throughout there treatment.

It is time that the citizens of the United States be vigilant in sending a message to its government saying that it is critical to take care of the needs of our own. Maybe we can use this as a model so that the government can understand the value of the entire disability community.

Hidden Disabilities: Part II

Over these past weeks I have been thinking quite a bit about hidden disabilities such as mental illness and other cognitive and developmental disabilities like ADD, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and many others. What has occured to me is that there is really a true lack of understanding of these types of disabilities. Yes, there have been strides made to have a greater awareness to what these types of disabilities are, yet we as a culture are mired in sterotypes and stigma from years gone by. It is often sad that a decade and a half after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act that literally millions of people with disabilities are still almost at a stand still. While I can discuss this in a broader cross disability perspective I want to make sure to really focus here on "hidden" disabilities because these are so often overlooked within the mainstream culture. Or when "uncovered" these hidden disabilities are seen in a negative light.

I think it is critical to reframe the perspective of what the perception is of people with hidden disabilities in our society. Rather than continually propogating old myths that I often think have been media driven - things like the mentally ill criminal or that a person with a learning disability or special needs cannot assume mainstream schooling or gainful employment is just ludicrous. There needs to be an awakening in our society from our educational institutions, the private sector, media and public officials.

Science and medicine have done tremedous things for people with disabilities allowing for them to live fuller more productive lives. For those people with hidden disabilities it is an essential piece of their daily lives. However, for many it is still misunderstood that through this treatment there conditions are treatable and that one can go about their day to day lives. I beseech the media, public officials and others to start to take a more disability friendly stance. Using there station in the world they can affect a tremendous amount of people in a truly positive way. It is my belief that education & advocacy is crucial if we are to succeed in dispelling the myth and stigma of those with hidden disabilities. We must focus on the ability - that is where true change will happen.

So how do we begin? In these arenas of public life, media and private industry - BE CREATIVE!!! THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX But most of all don't be afraid! It has been fear that has gotten us to this point, we must break down that barrier. It is about time!

Hidden Disabilities: A Personal Perspective

Over the past few weeks I have witnessed what can happen when someone with biploar disorder does not treat themselves properly. It can create a spiraling effect that impacts oneself, family, friends and can create havoc amongst one's daily life. Hidden disabilities such as mental illness has a tremendous stigma attached to it because it is still seen as something unknown - untangiable. Unlike those with more physical disabilities, hidden disabilities are pushed to the shadows. I believe this can be a very dangerous proposition. We as a society have a responsibility to understand and help people with hidden disabilities such as mental illness. Through understanding tolerance and acceptance is something that will come over time.

In my own life I have begun to ask many questions about the nature of what is societies obligation and what is the obligation of the individual. This is an ethical question that must be looked at quiet seriously. Weather in be in the context of an employer, regligous group or larger community. How does society at larger need to understand hidden disabilities? My feeling is that we must quash the stigma behind words like "crazy" "lunatic", etc. and get to the real heart of the matter. That infact hidden disabilities are things that can be managed through the right treatment & self care. Things like mental illness are just that - illness. There may not be a cure - but treatment yes. Social acceptance takes time - but it also takes innovation & creativity to break down the barriers that seperate those with hidden disabilities from the rest of society.

In my next post I want to explore how we can change perception and what tools we can possibly utilize.

A Brief Pause Part II: A Question About Schooling

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a group of parents with very young children. All of whom are dealing with some form of physical disability. The major question that all of them had on their mind was - how do I find the approriate place to send my child? Where is a place that would provide the right services & adaptive tools that would benefit my child?

The one issue that was most surprising is that there was a minimal amount of services to meet the needs of these group of parents. Now what makes this situation a bit problematic is that this is in New York City. In this metropolitian city it is hard to believe that innovative services & education is not provided to this demographic.

The question one asks is why not? The second question is what can be done? There is a moral question that arises - why isn't a society providing the infastructure to help the needs of these children that can be active and productive members of society if given the chance. There are many questions here, my hope is that we can find some answers.

A Brief Pause

There has been a brief pause in my writing - partly due to some circumstances that one could not control but the other was getting back to the work at hand. I wanted to begin to go foward with focusing on concrete strategies to look at the "what" & "how" of strategy development for job recrutiment for government agencies.

We must begin with the over arching theme that there must be a shift in thinking - why disabled employees? What use can they & do they serve & finally what is the competitive advantage? This where we will begin this week!

New Works: Books of Interests

Over the past few weeks I have come across and started reading what I believe two seminal works in the field of disability and aging and the intersection between the private and public sectors. The first is Bill Novelli's "50+ : Igniting A Revolution to Reinvent America" Novelli is the CEO of AARP and has some very poignant things to say about this demographic and how they are and will be redefining healthcare policy, work, retirement and the notion of community. The second, and my recent discovery is Charles Riley's book " Disability & Business: Best Practices and Strategies for Inclusion". Riley is professor of Business Journalism at the City University of New York. Each should be an interesting read and provide hopefully some new insight into much of what I discuss on this blog. Over the course of the next few weeks I will provide a more in depth analysis of my thoughts of each book and maybe even expound on some of their ideas.

I must admit it is good to know that suddenly the world is beginning to catch up to the needs of this community and see the value and importance in tackling these very issues.

having deviated a bit from the qustions I wanted to begin to explore at the end of the last blog I will return to those thoughts very shortly.

The talent war - what must people know?

In this new war for talent, what must organizations know to access this talent - particularly talent among the disability and aging communities? In my last post I said I would begin to discuss these very issues, but also discuss why government agencies MUST be the model for both private industry and non for profits.

To begin the first key element that needs to be addressed is attitudnal change. This is often overlooked when discussing hiring practices. The disability and aging communities are often stereotyped and are not seen in the larger context of their true potential. These communities ARE valuable assets to ANY government agency and can provide tremendous opportunity for a myriad of organizations. The question becomes, can organizations - like the government overcome the traditional attitudes that have pervaded and in many ways prevented from hiring or retaining this valuable community? Inorder to step out of that shadow hiring managers must begin to focus on ability - not disability and see how these individuals can truly benefit the organization as a whole.

Secondly, government MUST take a two pronged approach in this hiring process. From one end, they must begin to look at younger under employed or unemployed job applicants with disabilities and ask themselves why this is the case? Lack of resources or is it the fact that these applicants still may not feel welcome throughout the application process - or perhaps other issues?. With 12 to 15% of all college graduates in 2006 having some form of a disability government agencies must see this as fertile ground for recruting. Even after 15 years since the signing of the ADA I believe that we as a country are still in the embryonic stage when it comes to employment for people with disabilities.

On the other end government agencies must begin to think about retention of older workers. In my next post I will begin to focus on this area.

The battle for brainpower

I recently had a conversation with one of the Commissioners of the EEOC. One of the new initiatives that they are launching is the "LEAD" initiative. LEAD stands for Leadership for the Employment of Americans with Disabilities. I believe it is vritical for government agencies to take the lead in employing people with disabilities. They are the ones that will provide model by which all other organizations should follow when it comes to employing people with disabilities. However, before entering this initiative one of the vital pieces to understand about this community is the valuable human capital that they provide. In a speech at Harvard University in 1943 Winston Churchill stated that "the empires of the future will be empires of the mind". Going foward government agencies must highlight this very idea. As talent becomes one of the world's most sought after commidity's it is essential that the disability & aging communities be seen as an important demographic when it comes to searching for future brainpower.

So what can government agencies do to access this 'untapped' demographic? Well, that will be in my next post!

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Transforming Corporate Culture

When the poet Gil Scott Heron wrote those prophetic words, "the revolution will not be televised" about the turbelent sixities and early seventies I don't think he had any idea how that would apply to the disability and aging communities. As I have begun to discuss we are at a critical moment, not just in America but globally. With the dawn of the digital revolution new opportunities are avaliable to the disability and aging community ranging from areas of employment, education, healthcare to the access to goods and services. However, even with the great strides that have been made it is my opinion that we as a culture have not moved quick enough. In part that is due to both cultural and attidunal barriers. It is my belief that private industry can take the lead in helping these communities cross the chasm and adopt an attutide of openess and understanding to the disability and aging communities which will in turn be beneficial for all.

Why must corporations adopt this attitude and why is it is essential for the health of not only American business but a global economy? Inorder to truly understand the ramification of this we must look at several basic facts. In the United States alone there are 56 million people with disabilities or 20% of the population. According to AARP there are will be over 80+ million babyboomers by 2010. Of those 80+ million close to 70% will be dealing with some form of disability in their lifetime. Now that being said, there is a large majority of people with disabilities who are either under employed or unemployed. As for the baby boomer community who are on the cusp of retirement many do not want to retire or want to find alternative ways to continue to work. These workers have valuable expertise and expierence which can be very hard to replace. All of this being said, what should corporations be paying attention to?

1. Within both the disability and aging communities there is untapped resource of talent

2. Recrutiment, Hiring and Retention Strategies will be critical for the health and growth of corporations

Along with this demographic shift we are beginning to see the over all value of the disability and aging communities. The disability community is $1 trillion dollar market and the babyboomers is a $2 trillion dollar market- much of which is untapped. We are slowly beginning to see that Madison Avenue is starting to catch on. Commercials by companies such as L'Oreal with Diane Keaton and Americaprise Financial with Dennis Hopper are focusing on the aging markets. The disability markets are a bit slower to catch on but that has usually begin the case. What I find interesting though is that as I mentioned at the outset, the revolution will not be televised - the real revolution is taking place in the digital universe. Corporations must grasp the fact that to truly change corporate culture they must begin to understand that to gain access to this community they must first create an infastructure that allows for the hiring and retention of these communities. Technology becomes a key component and adapting both the work enviornment internally and externally will be critical. Using new avenues such as the internet, assistive technology, universal design, mobile technology and other digital platforms will open new options for corporations both from a human capital perspective and build greater brand loyalty which will only provide a competitive advantage in the overall scheme of things.

A Wake Up Call for Corporate America

Over the past year I have been reading a variety of pieces about things such as the search for talent, globalization and corporate social responsibility. Yet within all that reading there has been almost no mention of the effect that the disability and aging communities are having as a critical demographic. What I find quite disturbing is that we are at the dawn of a new revolution, with the convergengence of both the digital revolution and the age wave there are new opportunities never thought imaginable even a decade ago. Corporate America must begin to open up their eyes and see the inherint value that this community can bring to the table both in terms of human capital as well as how it will drive the marketplace to reinvent itself.

Throughout the course of the next few weeks I want to explore this very idea and focus on the impact that disability and aging can have on the infastructure, market growth and strategy of an organization. My hope is that this will serve as a wake up call for corporations to see that we are at a critical juncture, and it is my belief that corporations can only gain a competitive advantage by really discussing these issues and seeing the impact that these communities are having and will continue to have on their organizations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to disabilityworks,inc. new blog. We will discuss everything from politics to popular culture and how that impacts the disability and aging communities. Stay tuned for many new postings to come with valuable information as we move foward throughout the new year.