Octave’s Post

Every year Tennessee Disability Coalition releases a “Disability Scorecard” to rate Tennessee’s services and supports for folks with disabilities. We also provide “homework” with recommendations to improve each category. The score has fallen from a D+ last year to an overall D this year. Family Voices of Tennessee was able to assist by sharing family stories that relate to each category so a grade could be given based on both policy AND the lived experience of people with disabilities, and their families. The Boywid Family from Memphis were featured and shared: “We hope lawmakers see this scorecard and take action not just for their daughter, but for children and adults all over the state.” Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/e8CbrRit Please share with your networks and encourage Tennessee lawmakers to do better for Tennesseeans living with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and/or chronic illness. There should be #NothingWithoutUs. #disabilityawareness #policyadvocacy ID: A photo of the disability scorecard with white lettering on a dark blue background. The score card reads as follows: Family Caregiving: F-, Affordability of Care: F, Aging: C, Transporation: C-, Early Intervention: A-, Education: Incomplete, Mental Health Access: D, Employment: D+, Housing: F, Overall Score: D

Churches, did you know that July is Disability Awareness Month? July 26 commemorates the day that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark legislation making it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their disability, was signed into law in 1990. Since then, Disability Awareness Day has grown into a worldwide month-long event to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. People with disabilities are created in God’s image and deserve to live full, self-determined lives, just like everyone else. Yet, discrimination still persists for the 1 in 4 U.S. adults living with a disability. As a result, many suffer from psychological side effects, including PTSD, depression, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and substance abuse. As someone with severe hearing loss, I know firsthand the struggles of having a disability and have experienced many of the side effects of discrimination. However, I also know the power of healing that comes with raising awareness and making room for folks with disabilities. Churches, I strongly urge you to consider inviting someone with a disability to speak to your congregation in July. Together, we can participate in the healing process by raising awareness and honoring the achievements, experiences, and struggles of those who are disabled. I would be more than happy to come to your congregation and share my story as well as God’s love for our neighbors who might have a disability. If distance or scheduling does not permit, I can also recommend others with disabilities who you might consider inviting to speak to your congregation. Please get in touch today if you are interested! #disabilityawareness #comingalongside #liminalresourcing

Proposing an increase in support for Americans with disabilities at home is welcome to enable more people to participate in their communities. Direct Access are working on the second year of a novel pilot housing assessment program in Vermont with the Department of Aging and Independent Living. Eligible individuals are receiving Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services (DS HCBS), Brain Injury Program services (BIP), or Choices for Care Adult Family Care services (AFC). Direct Access undertakes home visits to evaluate areas of safety, accessibility, and mobility for the residence including, but not limited to, entrances and exits, (walkways, handrails, doorway widths, ramps), common areas, bathroom(s), bedroom, and entrance to and egress from the home. These visits identify opportunities to enhance the accessibility of a home therefore increasing the independence of Vermonters. #Vermont #AccessAudits #Inclusion #CommunityServices #CommunityEngagement #Disabilities #Care https://lnkd.in/enzi9-iR

Many, many disabilities are not easily visible or not visible at all. You most certainly know someone with a disability, since 25% of all adults in the US qualify as disabled. Yet the stigma around disability -- which includes mental illnesses and neurodivergence -- is so high that many prefer to keep their disability a secret. This article explains why representation is crucial for disability rights. #disabilityawarenessmonth #neurodivergent #disabilityrepresentation #disabilityrights

An Eye-Opening Conversation with Disability Life Coach, Charlie Kramer Join us for an inspiring chat with Charlie Kramer, a life coach who's truly mastered the art of living confidently with his disability. We'll dive into his journey with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an inherited retinal condition that shapes his unique perspective on life and teaches us valuable lessons about resilience and acceptance. Charlie shares his advocacy for mobility tools like the blind cane and opens up about the profound impact his disability has had on his identity. He sheds light on the importance of individuality, respect, and understanding when interacting with people with disabilities. Plus, he shares personal stories that help us understand the delicate balance between offering help and respecting independence. We'll explore the hidden aspects of living with a disability and discuss societal norms and attitudes towards disabilities. Charlie likens his experience of sight loss to building a puzzle, emphasizing the importance of individual autonomy in navigating life's challenges. He shares his journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and how he's turned his blindness into opportunities for growth. And let’s not forget that Charlie is also a musician. He discusses his immersive and transformative experience, "Singing in the Dark," a blindfolded singing and healing experience that's as unique as it is enlightening. We'll also get insights from his song, "Vision," which beautifully encapsulates his outlook on li Join us as we celebrate Charlie's roles in teaching, coaching, and singing, and discover his innovative approach to disability. Tune in and let's embrace and celebrate the diversity of life, both its opportunities and challenges. https://lnkd.in/gmnnh43j #DID #DontWait #Amblind #RP #Blind #vip #InspiringConversations #LivingConfidently #RP #Vision #RetinitisPigmentosaAwareness #ResilienceAndAcceptanc #MobilityMatters#AdvocateForChange #IndividualityMatters #DisabilityAwareness #NavigatingLife #SelfDiscoveryJourney #BlindnessToGrowth #SingingInTheDark #HealingThroughMusic #VisionSong #CelebrateDiversity #LifeChallenges #InnovativeApproach #EmbraceOpportunities

Approximately 27% of adults in the United States report some type of #disability, the most common of which are cognitive and mobility disabilities. We often think about disability as an individual process, however, disability should be thought of as an individual and societal process. Learn more about ways to foster a culture of #accessibility in this blog post.

Accessibility in The News: President Joe Biden on Improving Disability Services!   President Joe Biden is making significant strides in enhancing support for individuals with disabilities, particularly those living within our communities. In his recent State of the Union address and subsequent budget request for the 2025 fiscal year, he has emphasized the crucial need for greater investment in Medicaid home and community-based services.   "Imagine a future where home care, eldercare, and individuals with disabilities can thrive in the comfort of their homes, while family caregivers receive the recognition and compensation they truly deserve," Biden passionately expressed during his address. His budget proposal includes an impressive $150 billion allocation over the span of 10 years to fortify and expand Medicaid home and community-based services, slated to commence in October.   Kim Musheno, the vice president of public policy at the Autism Society of America, aptly noted, "His recognition of the critical need for a direct support workforce, compensated with a living wage, marks a significant step forward." Read more about this impactful development on the Disability Scoop: https://lnkd.in/enzi9-iR #DisabilityRights #InclusionMatters #AccessibilityForAll

Gave up the ghost, kicked the bucket, met their demise, passed away, dead.... One way people respond to their fear of death is to avoid talking about it. And if we can't avoid the subject, we often turn to euphemisms. But euphemisms about death aren't for the dead. They are for everyone uncomfortable with talking about death. They can also cause confusion and harm, especially for children. I propose there is a similar drive for creating all the euphemisms for disability. If people use euphemisms for death because they are afraid of death. Does that also mean we use euphemisms for disability because we are afraid of disability? It feels like just an attempt to create distance between people and something we are uncomfortable with. Something Taboo. For those that subscribe to the social model of disability, people are disabled by society. For many, it's not that we have a disability, it's that the people in power don't. When people with disabilities aren't included in design and policy, we are excluded. Not just excluded from the process but from the world. When working on new design or policy, it's hard to remove the barriers you haven't faced. You need to include disabled people in the process. But when people distance themselves from disability and disabled people, is it any wonder we are forgotten in their work. Renaming disability doesn't benefit disabled people long term unless it also addresses the systemic barriers we face. What can you do to change the disability experience? The disabled community isn't a monolith. And the views about disability written below may not reflect everyone. If someone prefers one label over another, respect that. Image Description: White background of Mirabel from the movie Encanto with the text "We don't talk about..." #disability #accessibility #euphemismEscalator #disabilityIsNotABadWord #nothingAboutUsWithoutUs #death

For Disability Pride Month, NPR asked readers and listeners to answer the question, "What's one thing you wish people knew about living with a disability?" *Disabilities aren't one size fits all. *Disability is a spectrum. *It could happen to you. *We're whole, complex individuals. *Ask us what we're capable of. https://lnkd.in/eeR-p_dU #DisabilityPrideMonth