Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England’s Post

Apologies if my advocacy offend you. My objective is to achieve an industry without accidents. I analyze mishaps to draw attention to gaps in the diving sector and make recommendation on how those gaps can be closed. In addition to save lives and ensure the diving sector is safe for the unborn child who may decide to be a diver. Advocate: Diving Safety & Equity

Calling all service providers... Do you have questions about how to best welcome customers and employees with assistance dogs? Check out our Information Hub for all the answers, or find out more about our online and in person training and info sessions. Even if you don't have specific questions, why not become better informed so you can be actively inclusive and attract more customers and talent! #InternationalAssistanceDogsAwarenessWeek

Just like humans, birds are becoming infertile care of unsafe exposures to toxic chemicals in plastics, in food (pesticides, PFAS), in air (P2.5, PAH,PFAS etc) and in water. What seems like a happy story below- when you comprehend the scale of reproductive failure happening, there really ought to be rational concern. One in 3 pregnancies now end in miscarriage. One in 6 couples need fertility treatment to conceive. Should we offer the falcons IVF? Or better, regulate endocrine disrupting chemicals as an urgent One Health priority.

Tweet: Guide Dogs Australia @GuideDogsAUS Click the link to learn more about the access rights of Handlers and their Guide Dogs and become an Access Ally!

Today is International Guide Dog Day! 🦮🩵 ⠀ Guide Dog services play an absolutely vital role in empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision to lead independent lives. ⠀ According to Guide Dogs Australia: Even though it’s the law to let Guide Dogs travel, society often gets in their way. In fact – almost every second journey for Guide Dog Handlers results in a refusal from a taxi or rideshare. And if they can’t get a ride, they can’t get to where they need to go. ⠀ It’s time we paid more attention to the access rights of people with low vision or blindness to allow them and their Guide Dogs to keep travelling. ⠀ 🐶 Check out the link below to learn more about International Guide Dog Day and how you can become a Guide Dogs Access ally: https://lnkd.in/er5Ti6Yj ⠀ #GrowthCommunityCare #InternationalGuideDogDay

Two of my most favourite disability focused organizations are doing a collab for #InternationalGuideDogDay. 🐶🧑🏾🦯🦮 As somebody with congenital vision loss, I participated with CNIB’s #ComeToWork program and worked with Gateway Association Alberta when I was learning about disability employment services at large (thank you Gene Lachica and Jae Lee). I learned a lot from them and also found Gateway to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Hub Alberta as an indispensable information resource when I was helping build the employment services program for newcomers, immigrants, and refugees with disabilities at the Centre for Newcomers. Working as a person with disabilities, and with people with disabilities - in the frontline - and not mainly as an academic researcher - taught me so much about how #disabilitypolicy gets operatizonalized on the ground. It is complex and there’s definitely a lot of room for continuous improvement. There’s the huge funding cuts in the immigrant and refugee settlement sector, the lack of a sustainable health human resource pipeline in the disability sector, and the sheer difficulty of persuading employers to see the gifts and geniuses - and most of all resilience - of people facing #intersectional barriers. And then there’s how government funded programs are designed with metrics and KPI’s that do not reflect the amount of work performed by job developers, career practitioners and employer relations specialists - required to position a candidate possessing marginalized intersectional identities in the job market. Have you tried to look for a job lately? I want to challlenge decisionmakers, policymakers, program and policy analysts to sit in one of the workshops designed for this clientele and help them find a job within 90 days; and witness the amount of expertise on #crossculturalcommunication, #accessibility and #disability required on top of reporting demands - and the emotional labour demanded from frontline staff. And then - decide if it’s reasonable to put a KPI of 12 job placements a month (per job developer staff) for the sub-population, which includes introducing them individually to employers who have to be educated about #accommodations and our legal rights as people with disabilities. #Accessibility looks great as a slogan in paper, but very messy in reality. This last few of years brought me back to the “field” where I used my #ethnographic sensibility and use my #positionality as somebody who is racialized and disabled to make sense of how we can build sustainable programs co-designed with and for us. I’m honestly still reflecting and figuring things out, so if you have any suggestions or insights, let me know? But the work of organizations like Gateway Association Alberta and CNIB have guided me through this process. So if you have a chance - join Robert Fenton in this event! #nothingwithoutus

Curious to know the link between pre-historic land animals, Irish Hurling and human rights? Here's my latest blog post on the 56th session of the Human Rights Council... #HumanRights #NonDiscrimination #IrelandTrip #UNHRC #IrishHurling

Saying Yes: My Journey in the Angling Community with Black Girl Gone Fishing There are moments when a single decision can change everything. For me, that moment was when I said "yes, just that one time." Little did I know that this small act of bravery would lead me on an incredible journey of healing and discovery within the angling community, through the transformative work of Black Girl Gone Fishing. When I first encountered fishing, I was in a dark place, grappling with depression. Life felt like a series of endless challenges, and I was searching desperately for a lifeline. That lifeline came in the form of a simple invitation to go fishing. It seemed almost trivial at the time, but something inside me whispered that this was my "get out of jail" free card. It was the first of many "yeses" to follow. Fishing, as it turned out, was more than just a hobby. It became a sanctuary, a place where I could reconnect with nature and myself. The rhythmic casting of the line, the serene stillness of the water, and the thrill of the catch—all combined to create a meditative experience that allowed me to breathe again. Each trip became a step towards reclaiming my mental health. The fishing community is built on solidarity and encouragement. We celebrate each other's victories, both big and small, and offer a shoulder to lean on during tougher times. The shared experiences on the water foster deep connections, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles or our triumphs. Looking back, I realize that saying "yes" to that first fishing trip was a pivotal moment in my life. It opened doors to new opportunities, friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose. It taught me the value of taking chances, especially on the things that present themselves as pathways to healing and growth. As I continue my journey with Black Girl Gone Fishing, I am constantly inspired by the resilience and strength of the women in our community. We are breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and proving that angling is a sport for everyone. More importantly, we are creating a space where mental health is prioritized, and where every woman feels valued and supported. If you're reading this and feeling stuck in your own dark place, I encourage you to say "yes" to something new. It might be fishing, or it might be another activity that calls to you. Trust that small steps can lead to profound changes. Embrace the possibilities that come your way, and know that there is a community out there ready to welcome you with open arms. To the incredible women of Black Girl Gone Fishing, thank you for being my lifeline. Together, we are casting out not only our lines but also our hopes for a brighter, more inclusive future. #BlackGirlGoneFishing #MentalHealthAwareness #Inclusion #AnglingCommunity #WomenEmpowerment #SayYesToNewAdventures

ℂ𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕦𝕡𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖: It’s always great to receive updates from clients and the following came in this week. 🐾A huge effort was put in by Team Lexa & Clarkie to overcome the severity and frequency of fighting that was occurring at home. This whole process took one year. Highlighting the importance of a systematic approach. Well done Team L&C - it’s been a pleasure to support you and to receive the latest wonderful photos of the girls snuggled up, happy together. 🎉🐾🥳🐈🐈⬛ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ꜱᴛᴜᴅʏ Two half-sister female, spayed, Burmese cats aged 4.5 years living in Chelsea, had previously lived together seemingly happy around one another. However, the girls started aggressing towards one another; they would be yowling, growling, and hissing frequently. Things escalated to the point where Lexa’s eye was hurt during one of their frequent cat fights. Not sure what to do, the owner contacted Hanne for virtual cat behaviour consultancy as things had gotten to the point where the cats were being permanently separated as they could not tolerate being around one another. The following graphic includes the client’s latest update - Zia was happy for this case to be shared to give hope to other owners. #cats #catbehaviour #clinicalanimalbehaviourist #behaviourmodification #casestudy #positively

These were the last 2 guide dogs I trained and matched at Verein für Blindenhunde und Mobilitätshilfen before leaving to start my journey as founder for Lara Guide Dog School. Molly on the left, was a sassy blond Labrador, and Attila a happy-go-lucky Labradoodle. 🐶 They complemented each other and got along like two peas in a pod. Basically, that means they goofed around every moment they could find, including in this photo. 🤭 Guide dogs are mind-blowing "employees". They're devoted. Hard-working. And selfless. But if you take the time to look closely, you'll see something more important. You'll see the change they inspire. Guide dogs motivate blind people and people with low vision to step outside their comfort zones. They nudge them to become a more active part of society. And nurture a sense of belonging. Here are 3 dazzling guide dogs and their humans you can follow to learn more. 🙌 Haben Girma Molly Burke Jon Attenborough I'm curious, have you met a guide dog? Warm wishes from snowy Basel (I survived today's arctic walk with Max) Lia 🖤 Image description: Lia, is enjoying a break from training with her two guide dogs, Molly and Attila (Attila is grabbing Molly's head playfully). No, the cigarettes at the end of the bench aren't mine. #DisabilityWriter #GuideDog #Blind