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!