The Whole Body Matters
There are those around me who prefer solitude. Spending time alone is where they are happiest. I, on the other hand, am a social person! I enjoy being around and talking with others. In fact, I’ve discovered when I can’t be around people, I’m likely to become, while not clinically depressed, but at some level, sad. It absolutely can alter my mood! I need my ‘community’! This comes in the form of family, friends, and my church family, all of whom, I cherish.
EXCLUDED AND ISOLATED
The disability people group often struggles when not with ‘community’. They feel excluded and isolated from their immediate surroundings because accessibility is sometimes unforgiving! Entrance into workplaces, business, schools and even public areas can be inhibiting, depending on their disability. Even if a physical disability doesn’t inhibits actual entry, social stigma plays an active role in determining community inclusion.
BENEFITS OF INCLUSION
The benefits of striving for inclusion is huge for both the disabled and their non-disabled counterparts. It can teach compassion, acceptance and humility. The different types of disabilities provide the opportunity to better understand struggles another may be having.
We all have frustrations, but many of us can hide our frustration when in the public sector. As we understand how someone may not be able to hide a frustration or disappointment, we are learning compassion. As we learn, we also form a level of humility which is vital to our personal sense of worth and our ability to care about someone else.
TALENTS AND GIFTS
We all have talents and gifts; not a few of us, but all of us! Because each of these is unique, there are great opportunities for fresh perspectives, on any given subject. Additionally, personalities vary greatly, so personal circumstances, offers another value to a conversation and perhaps an answer to something, which otherwise might never have been thought of!
DO WE SEE?
I wonder, however, for those of us not disabled, if we even think about those who do have some type of disability? We’re all busy; have lives that run at a pace of the Road Runner, and calendars filled with appointments nearly every day of the week. While we are at the mall, grocery store or any public place, unless a disabled person comes into our view, do we even give them notice? Do we wonder what it must be like to deal with their frustrations and disappointments, day in and day out?
COMMUNITY AFFECTS EVERYONE
Community affects all of us, albeit differently. We all want to belong, whether it’s in our workplace, our neighborhood or even within our church congregations. Often, due to specific limitations our disabled neighbors are segregated; even sometimes ostracized. It may not be intentional. It’s just that we are living our own lives, with our own problems and would rather not be burdened with someone else’s.
A BURDEN
That ‘burden’ idea is another drawback to being disabled. No one wants to think of themselves as a ‘burden’. But are we afraid if we become cordial or actually become ‘friends with’ a person who has a disability, we’re going to inherit responsibility?
Interestingly enough, friendship requires looking after our neighbor! As a ‘friend’ we want to help in their time of need. It’s not always convenient. Sometimes we don’t even know how to respond, much like when someone is grieving. We just don’t know what to say. Usually the best thing is honesty. Ask what they need, and just like you would help any other able-bodied person, you help a disabled one.
TEACHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
As mentioned earlier, it’s a great way to extend understanding, deeper compassion and do the right thing. When we can do this, we are being Christ-like and teaching our young people how to play a central role in community integration. Additionally, we will be welcoming and accepting our neighbors just as Christ asked us to.
THE WHOLE BODY MATTERS
We are all part of a larger community—-and the whole body matters! Belonging isn’t about performance, or what we can do in our community, workplace or churches, so others can see. It’s about being present in the lives of others, just like Jesus was—and still is!
Adaptive Sports For Life
Sports! That single word can conjure up what seems like an endless amount of different pictures in as many minds who hear it! It’s true not everyone enjoys sports or even enjoys watching sports; but that doesn’t mean a rapid sports image won’t come to mind.
I have never been involved in sports, or even a little athletic. But I do enjoy watching a variety of different kinds of sports, especially during the Olympic games when there are so many to choose from, both in Summer and Winter classes.
To be successful in any sport requires a genuine interest, a bit of talent— (sometimes significant talent), a passion to excel, and a determination to practice! And in some cases, resourcefulness and grit to be involved, despite circumstances!
An injury (disabled veteran) or an accident which takes regular determination to a higher level, or those with a physical limitation, can alter the understood ‘definition of ability’, and specifically, the ability to be able to participate in a particular sport. These circumstances can drive a person to achieve high quality competitiveness in the sports arena, in ways considered non-traditional or an ‘out of the box’ perspective.
Those with balance, strength or flexibility issues, poor vision or hearing, or even challenges affecting concentration, have discovered modified equipment, so they too, can be included in a sport they love, or in a sport which can enhance their quality of life.
Some of these include wheelchair sports, cycling, hockey, dancing, and even fencing! These sports increase value to their lives through fitness, rehabilitation and recovery! It also aids socialization, self-confidence and self-worth.
Organizations throughout the United States offer a plethora of options and opportunities to be involved in 'adaptive sports'. Some offer fishing, hunting, and family camping events for those suffering a large range of disabilities. They offer equipment to enhance wellbeing. They aid in success to make life an ‘adventure’ again; to decrease limitations and stress, while increasing the mind’s willingness to heal, even if the physical limitation isn’t removed.
Still others offer climbing or para-climbing, which helps with muscle strength, coordination, and balance. Sailing, diving, flying, parachuting and gliding are other adaptive sport options to learn new skills and offer social interaction.
If snow sports are your passion, there is an outlet for you, as well! Skiers of all abilities are encouraged to honor their dream by joining others on the slopes. This skill has helped some grasp onto life again, as confidence in their abilities soared.
The power gained from success not only on the ski slope, but also in other adaptive sports, aids in physical capacity like increased muscle tone and strength, but powers the mind and heart in ways which can only be described as miraculous, given the strides made in cognitive and emotional stimulation. It pushes out the lethargy, and indifference which can grip us when life throws us a ‘curve ball.’ It electrifies the psychology of ‘being’, while intensifying and challenges, the desire for accomplishment.
Dreaming that you can do it, is half the battle. Many of our National Parks have recognized the need and benefits of making certain those with limited abilities, for whatever reason, have options to be included in this life changing scenario. Some have created trail systems to accommodate those who find regular trails inaccessible, by offering ‘multi-use’ trails allowing all-terrain mobility devices as an option, among other enhanced projects. It’s a way to encourage those with limited abilities to enjoy the outdoors and all of God’s creation!
Most of us enjoy some type of adventure; something that excites, stimulates and provides challenge! Outdoor sports is a genuine source of this type of adrenaline rush! God didn’t provide this diversion just for the strong able-bodied person. He also provided for the wounded veteran, the person in a tragic accident which changed his life forever, and for the person born with a disability wanting to enhance their quality of life, connect with other people and heal.
Healing isn’t just about the physical scars which remain visible, but also about those scars, deep within, which gnaw at our self-worth and value. God can use sports to create the ‘energy’ needed to get out there and enjoy His creation, and your life again, providing a path of healing.
Photo Credit: Adaptive Sport Equipment
Limitless Imagination In A Limited Body
When I think about my imagination, I feel horribly inept! I am awed as I watch a painter create a incredible picture on canvas right before my eyes. Or see a complete project by an architect’s vision of a home, business or larger shopping mall to scale; or even how a person, with a music instrument in hand, can create unbelievable lyrics with unique music notes to a song which becomes a masterpiece. The dress designer, the landscaper or even the small child as he sits in front of a large sheet of paper and can create the picture in his mind, can also stun my senses with their gifts.
It’s entertaining to watch my small grandchildren play ‘house’, ‘school’ or any number of different kinds of play acting scenarios. They just make up their lines as they go, with roles often changing between those collaborating.
IMAGINATION IS JUST FOR KIDS! RIGHT?
As adults, imagination, aside from what some call ‘creatives’, tends to be stifled due to the day to day mandates of our lives. We typically don’t create songs or play imaginary games, or even create pictures if we aren’t trained artists. Imagination is just for kids. Right?
Actually, far from it! Imagination is how many with disabilities function in everyday life. It’s how they survive! Our world has long focused on what the disabled person cannot do! They are often seen as weak or at least ‘less than’, whether the disability is physical, cognitive, emotional or sensory! But their disability does not cancel out their potential for imagination!
THINGS WE CAN NOT CHANGE
There are things which we cannot change. We have a given birth date, to specific parents. These are the facts that cannot be changed. We know the sun will rise and set each day even on a cloudy day when we can’t see the sun!
There are the laws of chemistry, physics or even math which are what they are. For a person like myself who has no foundation in chemistry or physics and wrestles sometimes under the laws of math, accept the laws as they are, learn about them if desired, and know other people use them daily and move on!
GETTING CREATIVE TO GET THROUGH
Sometimes in spite of their disability some become creative to navigate their world. They stop fighting what they cannot change, and instead use their imagination as a tool of resilience, to work around their condition.
There are those who describe themselves as ‘more imaginative’ than their normal counterparts, because they have a deep understanding of what an imperfect, non-normal body is! They have been forced to look outside the box and find ways to implement, improvise and adapt those necessary components in their lives to counter the reality of their lack of ability in any given area!
These imaginative creatives do their best to accept things as they are, but move forward toward what some call ‘creative transformation'. This idea suggests that in this scenario they can imagine a healing within their spirit. Does it mean their disability is gone? I don’t think so. But there is positivity (and possibly their faith, in a Higher Power) in the idea that they were created by design; perhaps even with a purpose.
TURNING LIMITATION TO FRUITFUL MINISTRY
Many, whom the world views as disabled, have found themselves turning their limitations into a fruitful ministry or testimony of faith in what they believe— even in that which they cannot see. It’s not about looking at someone who has a disability and thinking ‘weak’, but rather seeing strong and resilient!
Disability doesn’t limit imagination, it can actually expand it. In a world whose label is often ‘less than’, this may be the very space where God speaks most creatively.
Photo Credit: Artist Imagination
Disabled By Grief
This post is written to serve several purposes: an apology, an explanation how it relates to disability, and a new slant to my writing.
First in the form of an apology… For those of you who do not know, I lost my husband of 51 years November 12, 2024. I haven’t been able to write disability posts since then, In a bizarre sense, I felt paralyzed. Even as I pen this, seven months later, I still cry. I miss him. So I apologize for being unable to form intelligent disability posts.
The grieving process is very personal and while I feel like I am making progress, it’s still ongoing. I have God, my wonderful family, amazingly good friends, an incredible pastor and church family who have gotten me through a really hard time. The prayer for me, encouragement, and understanding has been both intense and profound, because in some ways just day to day functionality was, on days —-downright difficult.
MANY STRUGGLE WITH GRIEF
I’m not alone in my struggles. There are many more who grieve their own losses. Last evening at a church dinner, it was interesting to note two ladies to my immediate left also lost their husband’s in 2024.
Loss of a loved one is only one way to have such a profound sense of emptiness, however. The loss of one’s self, dreams, relationship, and even regret or guilt can also leave a person so paralyzed they are unable to function.
In a world where ‘grief’ is not recognized as a disability, (and at most levels, I agree) it can absolutely be disabling. There is an emotional component, which persists and handicaps a person from doing every day regular routines. It can interfere with work, in relationships, decision making and for some, even self-care.
PHYSICAL IMPACTS
The physical effects include, insomnia --or sleeping excessively, headaches, body aches and more. As a side note, I wonder if it can even create a level of clumsiness. In early January, I slipped and fell and ended up with a really bad concussion! Just prior to that I caught a serious ‘virus’ that put me down. Was it grief related? I can’t know that. But I know good sleep evaded me, I was already losing weight, and I’m certain my immune system was less than adequate at the time!
There is evidence of ‘cognitive fog’, as well, which affects concentration, memory and the ability to focus. (Hence the lack of being able to write!) Add this to my fall and illness, on some level, I was experiencing a ‘disability’ albeit, thankfully, temporary!
EMOTIONAL IMPACTS
But grief can also have a mental impact causing depression, anxiety or even PTSD, all of which society does list as disabilities, if the condition is prolonged without proper intervention.
I write all this to say, it’s taken a while for me to get my ‘feet back under me’ and move forward. It’s taken prayer, counseling, family, friends and just the sheer determination to write again. Writing has always been ‘my friend’. It’s where I have turned whenever I needed a ‘voice’, long before I started writing professionally!
A NEW SEASON
Lastly, this post is also to share, that my posts going forward, will have a Christian slant. Anyone who knows me knows I have a solid faith. I have been able to continue my Christian blog, ‘HeartSong’,
http://margiejharding.blogspot.com/, although somewhat erratically, during this season of my life. The writing (while sporadic), also has helped me work through my grief, because often it was related to what I was going through.
FAITH BRINGS HOPE
I totally and completely believe I survived this because of my faith. Even with this, it’s been very difficult. I can’t imagine how people survive such loss without hope. My faith gives me hope and comfort along with a peace and joy I find no where else. God is present in my life and I want to honor him accordingly!
I hope you’ll follow my journey through the world of disabilities here, over the coming months—-and hopefully years.
Nurturing Brilliance: Creative Learning Approaches for Children with Special Needs
Thank you, again, to Claire Wentz who has a gift for writing. Her guest posts never disappoint!
Raising a child with special needs means you’re often rewriting the rulebook before anyone else even picks up the pen. You figure things out the hard way, the long way, the beautifully messy way. And education, well, it’s no exception. Traditional classrooms can sometimes flatten out the edges of a child who learns in spirals or zigzags or through their fingertips. This guide is for parents who know their kids learn differently and want to meet them on their terms. Think less about formulas, more about rhythms, sparks, and soft landings.
Start with Sensory Play
You’ll want to begin by opening up all the doors your child’s senses can walk through. Touch, sound, smell—each one is a path toward understanding. You don’t need a therapist’s toolbox, just a few everyday items and some willingness to get a little messy. Water beads, textured bins, calming sounds, even cookie dough can work wonders. For children with autism, carefully planned sensory activities for children with autism can help regulate behavior and spark joyful attention. Don’t worry about sticking to the instructions, either—follow your child’s lead and let their curiosity shape the moment.
Give Learning a Personal Shape
Not every child’s mind fits neatly into rows of desks and worksheets. Some blossom sideways or upside-down, needing time and space to chase the odd connections others might miss. Personalized learning offers a way to honor that individuality while still working toward real goals. It’s less about fixing weaknesses and more about leaning into strengths. When you center education on your child’s unique style, personalized education for students can become both freeing and grounding. You’re not lowering the bar—you’re changing its shape so they can climb it.
Make the Materials Work for You
Forget off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-none worksheets. The best tools for your child are often the ones you make yourself—visual schedules, storyboards, flashcards with inside jokes, instructions in your voice. These aren’t just teaching materials, they’re bridges, hand-built with love. Saving them as PDFs lets you keep everything clean, portable, and printable. If you’ve got several PDFs floating around, how to combine multiple files to one PDF becomes essential to keeping things tidy and shareable. Consider it your learning toolkit, always just a click away.
Let Art Speak Louder Than Words
Sometimes, what your child can’t say out loud spills across a piece of paper in color and shape. Art therapy is a quiet miracle, inviting emotions into the open without pressure or instruction. Crayons become conversations, and clay becomes a kind of catharsis. You don’t have to interpret every squiggle—just let the act of creation be its own release. For many families, art therapy activities for kids with special needs offer moments of peace and connection that don’t rely on verbal expression. And in those moments, you might learn more than you ever expected.
Tech That Teaches, Not Distracts
There’s good screen time and then there’s glazed-over scrolling. The trick is finding tools that tune into how your child learns best—apps that talk to them, not over them. Technology can be empowering when it’s interactive, adaptive, and responsive to a child’s pace. Tablets, voice assistants, and visual storytelling apps have all opened new doors for kids who once felt locked out. The benefits of technology in special education can’t be overstated when the right software meets the right moment. Use it thoughtfully, and it becomes less a distraction, more a doorway.
Summer Camps with Open Arms
The season of long days and sticky popsicles shouldn’t mean a pause in learning. Inclusive summer camps can be lifelines, offering not just fun but growth in ways traditional programs rarely consider. These spaces are often designed with sensory needs in mind, with staff trained to adapt, flex, and reframe activities on the fly. You get socialization without overload, structure without rigidity. And for your child, the gains can be both emotional and cognitive. Consider the value of an inclusive summer camp for kids with disabilities where belonging isn’t conditional—it’s the baseline.
Storytelling as a Secret Superpower
Stories are how we make sense of the world, but not everyone learns to tell them the same way. Children with learning disabilities often have rich inner narratives that need a different kind of coaxing to come out. You might act out scenes, draw comic strips, or use picture cards to string thoughts together. Don’t aim for polished prose, aim for expression and sequence. With gentle practice, storytelling tips for children with learning disabilities can unlock confidence and connection. It’s not about perfect words—it’s about making their thoughts feel heard.
You Already Know More Than You Think
There’s no one roadmap for teaching a child with special needs. But there is one constant—you. Your attention, your intuition, your willingness to try and fail and try again. Creative learning isn’t about mastering strategies, it’s about noticing sparks and fanning them. Whether your child learns through texture, tech, or tales, the most important thing is that you’re in it with them. You’re not just teaching—you’re listening, adjusting, believing. And that makes all the difference.
Image by Freepik
Keeping Boredom At Bay
I don’t know about you, but when I get bored, I get sleepy! Sometimes I give in to the feeling, curl up and take a nap. Thankfully, for me ‘naps’ are usually about ten minutes and I wake revived, and ready to go again. Of course, that means I need to find something to do that will keep me busy enough to not get bored again!
There is a long list on my computer of things to do when I do have that ‘I’m bored’ problem! It’s so long, it often overwhelms me and makes it difficult to choose, but I finally choose something just to keep going! In our ever fast paced, high technology device world, many will pull out their phone or iPad and play a game; or in rare cases, read a book! It’s amazing how many people automatically pull out their phones in a doctor’s office or even in line for a check out in any store! It seems conversation isn’t an option anymore!
Modern Kids and Boredom
Kids complain of boredom and don’t seem to have a clue how to entertain themselves without said devices in their hands! Going outside to ‘play’, choosing a board game, having a hobby to work on or, ‘scandals’—- open a book, just aren’t a viable option. They want technology to play a game, scroll through social media or the TV or some kind of movie on! Just ‘being’ with our own thoughts never even crosses their minds!
But regardless of who we are, there are times when things slow down just enough to cause boredom or we find ourselves in an environment where ‘there is nothing to do’ except wait! What do you do?
Get Creative
Sometimes you do have to get creative to keep busy and honestly, there are plenty of options should we choose them. This is especially true if you’re in good health, and can get around without the help of any medical equipment.
Years back my mom-in-law had a forced retirement. She’d spent her entire life working…and then there was nothing. This lack of ‘going’ and staying busy ultimately claimed her life. She stopped living except through the lives of the soap operas she watched on TV.
There are other situations where sudden lack of ability causes a dramatic change in the way a person views life. In the instance of a sudden disability, life can be very jolting and disruptive! For a person who worked, or was otherwise involved with activities everyday, which consumed much of their time, not being able to do these things causes boredom which is difficult to keep at bay.
Ways To Combat Boredom
There are suggestions to help combat this problem. As much as possible, remain active in whatever interests you had before! Again, this may demand some creativity, but it’s worth the effort.
Discover new hobbies like ‘virtual traveling’ which is available via the internet. There is also the idea of learning to paint or draw via YouTube or other venue.
Enroll in Music or Art therapy which are both good for the mind. This may take a little research, but again, well worth the effort!
Other research maintains that even doing Yoga is an excellent way to stay fit. This is not only good for the body, but for the mind, as well. For those who are unable to get to a gym or an actual yoga class, this too is often available via the internet. Additionally, the very idea of getting dressed, staying groomed and eating well, is vital to keeping boredom at bay, because it raises awareness of your possibilities and helps create a healthy mindset.
Honesty, while these last ideas where written for the disabled community, each of these ideas are also good for the senior who doesn’t get out much, or for anyone who just wants to keep boredom, at least, arm’s length away! C’mon we can do this!
Photo Credit: Kids-Boredom and Technology
Photo Credit: Art-Music Therapy
Success Over Scars
It seems like it’s been a year of disasters! Hurricane Helene bombarded the southeast with devastating force; fires broke out in California, a deep freeze in the southwest (and southeast) caused alarm for many folks not used to such temperatures, and even two separate airplane disasters most recently.
Some of the problems encountered could be handled, although it was difficult, others are still waiting to be attended to. We all want to live satisfying, independent lives. Yet when disaster hits, we are often compelled to ask for help. It’s the way we as humans, seem to survive best.
During these disasters one component many don’t even think about is the family with a member who has a disability. In this scenario, it often takes previous thought on how to navigate transportation, medical supplies, food, or other specific criteria for successful moving around, physically and emotionally. And if it’s a sudden disaster, it’s a whole new ball game! Even the moderately adapted person who has a disability can be left in a precarious situation, if a disaster strikes. While they are independent, some things still require assistance.
As parents, we want our children to succeed, regardless of ability. Even if our child has a disability, we want them to thrive. Sometimes it takes years of training on different levels to make this happen. There can be all kinds of barriers and hurdles to navigate to reach that pinnacle of independence! Just working through this can take exhaustive courage. While the future is in ‘wait’ before them, the path to get there is often unknown!
The desire must be great to accomplish this feat. The scars from a disability can be emotional as well as, physical. As they move forward, they must listen to their inner voice to remind them that the feedback they are getting, even if unkind, is worth the effort they are putting forth to succeed. Success can and does happen however, even when the disability seems like a disaster, which can’t be overcome!
I watched a movie based on a true story a few years back which impacted my perception of courage and possibilities! It was about a young woman surfer, Bethany Hamilton. While surfing, she was attacked by a shark and ultimately lost her left arm. While this was clearly a disaster —-an immediate one relative to the rest of her life—and a horrible experience, she proved success can come in spite of her scars.
She not only survived the attack, but her love for surfing drove her back into the waves. She turned professional and competed against other non-disabled surfers. She’s acquired awards and trophies because of her skills! Beyond that, her story is motivating and has the potential to fuel power to someone who is battling their own ‘disaster’, related to some form of disability.
Our 'disaster' in life doesn’t have to be a physical disability. It can be almost anything that will force us to look at life in a way we’d never had to before. It could be a literal natural disaster or a disaster which slams us head on, like an accident or a sudden death in the family, a chronic illness, a huge financial loss or a hundred other things.
Valentine’s Day is later this week. Perhaps this is the perfect time to reflect on your life, your abilities and gifts you’ve been given. It’s not about doing everything perfect. it’s about doing the ‘best you can with what you’ve got’. Further with this ‘love holiday’ it’s also about focusing on those around you whom you care about, and accepting them for exactly who they are and revel in their God given abilities, no matter what they are (or aren’t)!
Our gifts are each unique, not only in the ways we display or present them, (especially in a disaster) but in the ways we affect others with them. Give your best this Valentine’s Day and rejoice in all the things your loved can do! And remember those who seem to only be able to do less, have other gifts to share, like determination, courage and the drive to keep ‘keeping on’ no matter what!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Inclusive Innovations: Transforming Workplaces for Disability Equality
Today I welcome an amazing article written by guest writer, Claire Wentz. She’s an excellent writer and offers valuable advice for the disability people group and for those who see the value in learning all they can about disabilities. Enjoy!
*
Creating job opportunities for people with disabilities goes beyond compliance; it's about valuing every individual's potential. By aligning with ADA regulations, employers can craft a welcoming and supportive workplace. This commitment transforms the ethos of a company into one that champions diversity and inclusivity at every level. Today we will share some tips to help not only enhance workplace culture but also boost innovation through the inclusion of more diverse perspectives.
Crafting an Inclusive Recruiting Document
Creating a recruitment document tailored for candidates with disabilities demonstrates your dedication to inclusivity by detailing why they should consider joining your company. It should emphasize the accessible resources and supportive environment your company offers. If the document becomes too bulky due to numerous images, compressing the PDF can be essential. The benefits of compressing PDF formats includes easier sharing without sacrificing the clarity or structure of the document, ensuring it remains accessible and high-quality.
Understanding ADA Regulations for a More Inclusive Workplace
Employers who aim to foster an inclusive environment must deeply understand and adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This knowledge ensures compliance with legal mandates and demonstrates a commitment to fostering a supportive workplace for employees of all abilities. By training hiring teams and continually educating all employees, you can cultivate a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusivity, making it attractive to prospective employees with disabilities.
Investing in Continuing Education as an Incentive
Offering funding for continuing education, such as online university programs, serves as a powerful incentive, demonstrating your investment in the professional growth of employees with disabilities. By supporting data analytics masters programs, employees can enhance their skills in data science, theory, and application while balancing work and family life. Online degree programs provide the flexibility necessary for earning an advanced degree without disrupting daily responsibilities. Highlighting this commitment to education not only attracts skilled talent but also underscores your dedication to their long-term success.
Actively Engaging in Diversity Recruitment Events
Actively participating in diversity-focused recruitment events is an effective strategy to connect with talented candidates with disabilities. These events offer a platform to demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity and to interact directly with diverse professionals. By engaging in these settings, you can enhance your reputation as an accessible employer and establish connections with disability-focused organizations, creating a robust talent pipeline.
Providing Reasonable Accommodations to Enable Success
It's essential to create an accessible work environment to effectively accommodate employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may include physical modifications, assistive technologies, or flexible work schedules, tailored to individual needs. Fostering a culture where employees feel empowered to request necessary accommodations removes barriers to their success and well-being at work. This not only makes your workplace inclusive but also fosters employee loyalty and engagement.
Utilizing Networks That Support People with Disabilities
Leveraging networks that focus on disability employment can connect you with highly qualified candidates and underscore your commitment to inclusivity. These organizations often offer valuable resources such as employment databases and job boards that help diversify your applicant pool. Building relationships with these networks enhances your brand as an inclusive employer and motivates potential candidates with disabilities to consider your company.
Streamlining Accessible Application Processes
Ensuring that your application processes are accessible is crucial for allowing potential employees to easily apply without facing barriers. Optimizing online applications for assistive technologies and offering clear instructions can make your hiring process more inclusive. Consider incorporating alternative application methods, like video or phone interviews, which can benefit candidates who require them. These adjustments not only make the application process smoother but also demonstrate your company’s dedication to accessibility from the outset.
Employers have the power to shape an inclusive future by implementing accessible practices in their hiring and workplace management. The benefits of such initiatives extend beyond the individuals they directly support, influencing the broader corporate culture and community. An inclusive approach ensures that all employees, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully. Ultimately, fostering accessibility enriches the entire workforce and promotes a genuinely inclusive society.
Uncover inspiring stories and fresh perspectives with Margie Harding.
Image via Pexels
The World We Live In
A friend lamented recently on the hate that fills our world. She spoke of the mean and wretched words often spoken by in the political arena, especially during elections! Much of what is said, usually focuses on negative thoughts to anyone who happens to disagree with their view. It seems to be available through social media, news broadcasts, videos, and ultimately culminating in neighbor against neighbor. It can even be affected by perceptions from generation to generation within the multigenerational families or in the disability framework given expectations
On the other side of the podium, she admits she knows there is good in the world, as well. She’s seen the generosity and kind hearts that fill each of our lives, should we choose to acknowledge it; but it feels like we must “fight” to push on through the muck and the mire which crowds out the goodness in people. Instead of shining like a beacon, we’ve become but specks, a quick glimmer in the wind.
I believe, generally speaking, good trounces evil. Perhaps that makes me an eternal optimist with a “Polly Anna attitude.” I’ve been told that before. But that’s okay. I’m of the mindset that good SHOULD crush and defeat the wickedness in our world.
I’ve witnessed kindness this week; kindness I didn’t expect! What strikes me is knowing you can’t always grasp the impact you have on someone else; sometimes on people you don’t even know, no matter what the age.
Most people want kindness, authenticity and truth. It seems it’s difficult to be honest, especially if there is the feeling of failure in the equation. Our society has instilled in us that we should always exude confidence and self-assurance no matter what our circumstance. To demonstrate anything less is weakness.
I understand that mentality, to a point, especially in a business environment. If our productivity is to be the highest possible, increasing the possibility of promotion, it’s important to be strong, compelling and perhaps even formidable in the workplace.
But when you put these same pressures on young people, it can be extremely stressful. It’s part of the “growing-up framework” and it’s likely every teenager deals with these circumstances and feelings. As our “modern” society has evolved, it seems we expect our young ones to deal and project confidence with their peers in the same way we adults are compelled to project conviction and certainty in the workplace. It leaves some vulnerable, and susceptible to a feeling of worthlessness and being inadequate.
One person reminded me recently of the expression, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” There is truth in that statement, but I wonder about the pressure applied to our youth. This pressure of exuding so much confidence and “being the best” is coming earlier and earlier for our kids. It can be seen even in our elementary schools; even perhaps as early as Kindergarten as more and more is expected from these little people.
It’s good to push our children to do their best, regardless of ability. There should be a balance, however, to allow our kids to just be kids, without having to be “the best.” It’s all part of growing up. Yet as they mature they need to know they need to be themselves, even if they don’t feel like they measure up. They should have our kindness, unconditional love, assurance they are unique; and be reminded they are still priceless in our eyes with our encouragement to accept themselves. And it’s perfectly fine, without apology, to be just who they are!
Being ‘who we are’ is also invaluable if a person is disabled. In the disability spectrum some years back, the expression that someone is ‘retarded’ was changed to someone having an intellectual disability. This was the beginning of changing the verbiage from a condescending format to one of respect, in their world.
With the negativity that swirls in the wind, I encourage you to use kind words to everyone. Our young people need these words, especially, however. They learn what they live and if kindness is given, it’s going to be a whole lot easier to be kind when times around them seem dark.
Unlimited Possibilities
It’s hard to believe we are getting ready to begin another year! 2025 is upon us. Some will sit down and make New Year’s resolutions. Others will immediately say, ‘I’m way past that! It never works for me!’ Still others look at this time as simply a time to consider possibilities!
I admit, I’m struggling with what looms before me since the loss of my husband. There are so many unknowns. Yet my situation isn’t unique. Many, in all walks of life could say the same thing.
Perhaps financial problems has a family in a place they’ve never been before, or one of the children are getting ready to leave for another state to attend college who has never been away before. Perhaps there’s a new little one on the way, or a marriage is in the near future. And still there’s the possibility that the breadwinner of the family is changing jobs—by choice, or is being laid off because the business dynamics are changing.
The possibilities are as numerous as there are people. We’d all like to believe the possibilities we face are those we’ve chosen and have a completely positive connotation. That isn’t, however, always the case.
A person with disabilities daily faces challenges of acquiring a quality education, simply because of their disability and the lack of accommodation. Thankfully, progress continues to move forward, even if it seems slowly.
Still others refuse to allow society’s expectation to deter them from following their dreams and proving that determination and dedication can create positive possibilities, even if it seems impossible! Foundations are being created and founded to help disabled students learn skills and use untapped talents to enable them to dream of the impossible and then reach those goals.
Another perspective with a positive trajectory for creating opportunities, includes working with parents who have children with disabilities. It’s an effort to educate and empower them to advocate for their children and also to enable them to better work with them, so success is a greater possibility! Isn’t that what all of us, as parents, want for out children?
Many people look at the disability community as inspirational, if one or more of those in their thought process witnesses success. We all want to be successful and take advantage of all our possibilities. Yet, some who are disabled cringe with horror at the idea they are ‘inspirational’. Their efforts are to have as ‘normal’ a life as any of the non-disabled peers.
They work with the ‘hand dealt them’ and strive for success and use the opportunities before them to the best of their ability. They believe since this is ‘their’ normal, perhaps we need to recognize it and include them in whatever opportunities are offered. When we recognize this ‘is their life’ and they want the same things we do, we’ve leveled the proverbial playing field. This leads to understanding, acceptance and ultimately inclusion in the modern world.
This also has the potential to provide each of us with unlimited possibilities when we look at it with equal exposure, rather than us verses them, and creates the likelihood that we each have unlimited avenues of success! Perhaps this is the year of YOUR success, in whatever form it comes! I say ‘go for it’!
That said, I wish each of you a wonderful 2025, filled with successes overflowing!
Happy New Year, everyone!
Making Christmas Special For Everyone
I love Christmas! It’s my favorite time of year. I love the lights, the sounds and music, Christmas Cards, and all that glitters, but mostly I love the feeling. It’s the time of year when people seem to remember that we each have something to offer and be thankful for. People tend to be more kind and considerate and have even gone to the extent of providing meals and gifts for those less advantaged than themselves.
And then there is gift giving. Some people love to walk the isles of a store looking for the perfect gift. Others choose to scroll the internet, and still others will buy a gift card to avoid what they consider a ‘hassle’ to find the all important, almost non-existent ‘perfect gift!’
Some people consider gift giving, but find their funds limit them to what they can purchase. That makes sense. We live in a world where the cost of everything has increased.
But what of the person who has always been —or recently became disabled? Mobility makes it difficult to go ‘out’ and shop; but often so does the lack of funds. How can they celebrate the holidays in the manner most of us just take for granted? Or from the opposite perspective, what is the best idea for a person who is disabled? Is there protocol to follow?
Some who are disabled have commented that relatives treat them as children, even though they have long been an adult. Others will make jokes about the speed at which they can accomplish something, or even that their mind is faulty, “too slow.” We cringe when we hear others talking this way, even about people we don’t know. How can those whom we know, treat those within the confines of family, with a disability, this way?
It’s certainly true that many disabled persons don’t fit the picture postcard scenario of what Christmas looks like! They may be confined to a wheelchair making trimming a tree more difficult. Or even if they are totally capable of navigating their home, climbing a ladder to decorate their house with beautiful Christmas lights, just isn’t an option. This doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy Christmas.
Protocol suggests treating everyone the same, regardless of ability. We all deserve this. We all enjoy watching movies, listening to music and enjoying family and holiday gatherings. Those with a disability are no different. They want to be treated with respect and acceptance, even with their differences. This would make the holidays seem special, just as it would every non-disabled person.
Their festivities may look different, but it shouldn’t make them feel sad or bad about themselves. And no one wants to be sad —-especially at Christmas. This is supposed to be the most joyous time of year! We’re celebrating the Christ Child! They want to be seen for the person they are, not for the disability which inhibits the ability to execute life just as their non-disabled peers.
We all have days when we have less energy, are in pain because of an injury or have behaviors which others can’t imagine. A disabled person lives this life each day. But each person wants to celebrate the season of Christmas with the joy, peace and love we sing about (or at least listen to), or that covers our Christmas cards or shouts loudly in the front yard decorations!
Perhaps this is the year we can make Christmas a season of love, kindness and the joy which permeates the air, not only for our friends and family but for others, like those who are less fortunate, homeless and even disabled.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Adapting Your Home and Life for Parenthood with a Disability
This week’s post is written by Claire Wentz, a gifted guest writer for whom I’m extremely grateful. As I read her words, I couldn’t help but think of Mary and Joseph all those years ago as they prepared for their new little one. Can you imagine the questions they must have had?! Perhaps as you read this article, the Christ Child in the manger will resonate with you, like it did me, as we journey this Christmas season.
Embracing parenthood is an exhilarating journey marked by profound change and growth. For parents navigating disabilities, this adventure requires not only traditional preparations but also special considerations to create a nurturing and accessible environment for both parent and child. This comprehensive guide from guest author Claire Wentz, offers some essential strategies tailored to these unique challenges, empowering you to step confidently into parenthood equipped with knowledge and support systems that cater to your needs.
Simplify Life with a Home Repair App
New parents are often surprised at how much laundry they must do. If you currently head to the laundromat or have a washing machine that is inconvenient, consider upgrading your circumstances. Many people with disabilities benefit from a front load, for instance. Even a used or scratch-and-dent can be a boon, but you may want to reach out to a washer repair service. You can get advice on models or get an appointment to have a machine inspected by a pro. There are handy apps to connect you with online advice and services, enduring you’re hiring someone you can trust.
Cultivating Compassion for Yourself
Parenthood is a demanding journey, and self-compassion is vital in navigating its challenges successfully. Allow yourself the grace to face obstacles without self-judgment, recognizing that every parent encounters struggles. Practicing self-care routines can significantly improve your emotional well-being, equipping you to provide the nurturing your child needs. Remember, by caring for yourself, you set a solid foundation for your child's development.
Ensuring a Safe and Welcoming Home Environment
Creating a safe home environment is crucial as you prepare for your child's arrival. Assess your living space for potential hazards and make necessary modifications to accommodate your disability while ensuring safety for a curious child. Install safety gates, secure furniture to walls, and ensure all dangerous items are out of reach. Such adjustments make your home safer for your child and enhance your ease of mobility and caregiving.
Planning for Efficient Transportation
Transportation is a crucial aspect of parenthood that requires forethought, especially for parents with disabilities. Explore accessible vehicle options or services that cater specifically to your mobility needs. Make sure your chosen mode of transport can accommodate both your mobility aids and the additional equipment that comes with a child, like a stroller. Check local resources regularly for updates on accessible transportation to keep your options up-to-date and effective. Efficient transportation solutions will support independence and facilitate smoother outings with your child.
Preparing for Your Child’s Educational Journey
Looking ahead to your child’s educational needs is as crucial as preparing your home and life for their immediate arrival. Research local schools to understand the support services they offer for children of parents with disabilities. Engage with school administrators early to discuss any specific accommodations you might need for school meetings or events. Establish a communication plan with educators to monitor and adapt educational strategies as your child grows. Planning for these scenarios ensures you remain actively involved in your child’s education.
Streamlining Your Medical Records
Digitizing documents can greatly simplify the demands of parenthood by keeping important records organized and accessible. From medical records to school forms and vaccination schedules, having everything stored digitally means you can quickly retrieve and share documents when needed. It eliminates the clutter of physical paperwork and reduces the risk of losing important files. With secure cloud storage, you can access these documents from any device, making it easier to stay on top of your child's needs, appointments, and milestones.
Navigating Parenthood with a Disability
As you step into the enriching world of parenthood, remember that your unique journey is accompanied by many supports and resources tailored to make every phase manageable and fulfilling. The resilience and adaptability you harness now will enrich your parenting experience and inspire strength and confidence in your child. You are paving a path filled with love, care, and inclusivity, setting an exemplary model of overcoming challenges with grace. Your preparation and foresight are the keystones to a rewarding familial future, filled with possibilities and joy for you and your child.
Margie Harding is the author of many books for all ages – she’d love to hear from you!
Image via Freepik
Happy Halloween,Everyone!
Halloween is this week and I know there are many children excited! Perhaps even parents are ready to celebrate this event with fond memories from their childhood. There are costumes to wear, parades to watch (and be part of), and lots of candy to collect Trick or Treating!
Not every one shares this excitement at equal levels. While the idea of ‘trick-or-treating’ is exciting in theory, there are those with sensory issues who discover the idea is much more appealing, than actually in the participation. And for parents, while their child looks forward to the festivities, behavioral or emotional problems become a great deal more difficult to handle, given the adrenalin rush the activities incite.
One situation which can really ‘up-end’ a child with emotional or behavioral problems is haunted houses; especially those with an asylum-theme. These Halloween ‘attractions’ are often boycotted because real life history of people with mental illnesses become exceedingly frightening for those experiencing any level of this disease.
Disabilities come in a variety of ways. Children may need to lip read because hearing is impaired, or find masks cumbersome, given the way they can fit on their face, block their view, and rub their skin, and a wheelchair bound child requires a special costume that also accommodates the ‘chair’.
Alternatives to cumbersome costumes might be face painting, while using non-edible objects for ‘treats’ instead of candy given the amount of children with a variety of different allergies. Using small items like finger puppets, glow sticks,
Halloween erasers, and a lot more!
Another possibility to accommodate children who aren’t particularly excited about trick-or-treating, even though the prize is lots of candy, might be having a Halloween party within your home. Invite guests with different abilities if possible, so everyone feels like they are on equal footing!
Bring out the pumpkins and let everyone scoop out the slimy seeds and carve fun faces—- or if carving is a problem, let them use markers to create their masterpiece, then add glitter, stickers and other fun decorations to make it their own!
Another game that can accommodate any child might be using decorated mandarin oranges to pass around to music. Begin with one orange with a painted face or otherwise decorated; and begin the music. Pass it around until the music stops. The child holding the orange wins the orange but is now out of the game. Continue until every child has an orange. The last one out is the winner.
Many children (and adults) love Halloween with all the eeriness and whatever the ‘dark side’ can add. Others, like myself, prefer the fun not requiring my heart having a ‘scared out of chest experience’. I enjoy parades, but enjoy the fun which remains cheerful and totally non-threatening. Perhaps that makes me odd and I’m not even disabled. But I do get, to some degree, how those with a disability may feel about being scared senseless.
My personality doesn’t thrive on heart stopping fear and that’s okay. We are all created different, and that’s okay too. It doesn’t make me any less a ‘fun-seeker’ than anyone who enjoys that kind of extreme fright. The same remains true for those with disabilities, and it’s important to remember that, especially at Halloween when the theme for many, is the extreme scare, and the more extreme, the scarier.
All that said, I say, in a very cheerful voice, “Happy Halloween”! Enjoy it the way you were designed and certainly don’t frown upon, mock or humiliate anyone who prefers to celebrate differently.
Adapting Your Home and Life for Parenthood with a Disability
Embracing parenthood is an exhilarating journey marked by profound change and growth. For parents navigating disabilities, this adventure requires not only traditional preparations but also special considerations to create a nurturing and accessible environment for both parent and child. This comprehensive guide written by guest author, Claire Wentz, offers some essential strategies tailored to these unique challenges, empowering you to step confidently into parenthood equipped with knowledge and support systems that cater to your needs.
Simplify Life with a Home Repair App
New parents are often surprised at how much laundry they must do. If you currently head to the laundromat or have a washing machine that is inconvenient, consider upgrading your circumstances. Many people with disabilities benefit from a front load, for instance. Even a used or scratch-and-dent can be a boon, but you may want to reach out to a washer repair service. You can get advice on models or get an appointment to have a machine inspected by a pro. There are handy apps to connect you with online advice and services, enduring you’re hiring someone you can trust.
Cultivating Compassion for Yourself
Parenthood is a demanding journey, and self-compassion is vital in navigating its challenges successfully. Allow yourself the grace to face obstacles without self-judgment, recognizing that every parent encounters struggles. Practicing self-care routines can significantly improve your emotional well-being, equipping you to provide the nurturing your child needs. Remember, by caring for yourself, you set a solid foundation for your child's development.
Ensuring a Safe and Welcoming Home Environment
Creating a safe home environment is crucial as you prepare for your child's arrival. Assess your living space for potential hazards and make necessary modifications to accommodate your disability while ensuring safety for a curious child. Install safety gates, secure furniture to walls, and ensure all dangerous items are out of reach. Such adjustments make your home safer for your child and enhance your ease of mobility and caregiving.
Planning for Efficient Transportation
Transportation is a crucial aspect of parenthood that requires forethought, especially for parents with disabilities. Explore accessible vehicle options or services that cater specifically to your mobility needs. Make sure your chosen mode of transport can accommodate both your mobility aids and the additional equipment that comes with a child, like a stroller. Check local resources regularly for updates on accessible transportation to keep your options up-to-date and effective. Efficient transportation solutions will support independence and facilitate smoother outings with your child.
Preparing for Your Child’s Educational Journey
Looking ahead to your child’s educational needs is as crucial as preparing your home and life for their immediate arrival. Research local schools to understand the support services they offer for children of parents with disabilities. Engage with school administrators early to discuss any specific accommodations you might need for school meetings or events. Establish a communication plan with educators to monitor and adapt educational strategies as your child grows. Planning for these scenarios ensures you remain actively involved in your child’s education.
Streamlining Your Medical Records
Digitizing documents can greatly simplify the demands of parenthood by keeping important records organized and accessible. From medical records to school forms and vaccination schedules, having everything stored digitally means you can quickly retrieve and share documents when needed. It eliminates the clutter of physical paperwork and reduces the risk of losing important files. With secure cloud storage, you can access these documents from any device, making it easier to stay on top of your child's needs, appointments, and milestones.
Navigating Parenthood with a Disability
As you step into the enriching world of parenthood, remember that your unique journey is accompanied by many supports and resources tailored to make every phase manageable and fulfilling. The resilience and adaptability you harness now will enrich your parenting experience and inspire strength and confidence in your child. You are paving a path filled with love, care, and inclusivity, setting an exemplary model of overcoming challenges with grace. Your preparation and foresight are the keystones to a rewarding familial future filled with possibilities and joy for you and your child.
Image via Freepik
Margie Harding is the author of many books for all ages – she’d love to hear from you!
Breaking the Anxiety Barrier
I’m a chatty person, and generally have little issue talking with anyone. That said, sometimes I am at a loss for words when I encounter someone with a disability. I can be cordial, certainly, but unless I actually ‘know’ the person, conversation comes harder.
In high school I recall a friend who was burned badly in a car accident when she was young. The scars weren’t always visible. It totally depended on what she wore. I never had the courage to ask what happened. I felt it would be rude and unkind of me to even mention it. That said, we honestly were good friends all during our high school years and even after we graduated. I haven’t a clue how I learned about what happened and still have never discussed it with her.
What makes us so uncomfortable around a disabled person? My first thought is ‘not wanting to be rude, insensitive to their plight, or embarrassed that we know so very little about being disabled and what all that entails’!
Others suggest, in a word, ‘fear’. We’re not afraid of the person, specifically, or even afraid of ‘catching’ what they have like we might catch a germ to a cold! We are often more insecure about our own emotions. Our minds wander to the ‘how do they live like that?’ How do they handle day to day stuff? Who helps them when they can’t accomplish what they need to?’; and the questions keep coming! We’d be aghast at asking any of these questions which bombard our being; but we also might be just a little afraid of blurting out what our minds are thinking!
What is protocol? I’m not sure. Most people with a disability can sense when those they interact with, are having a level of anxiety, probably due to their unease of the disability. One person made the comment that she was “not a piece of glass, and not going to break” We all know a disability is not contagious, yet we shy away from it. My friend was not disabled, but I still shied away from ever bringing up the subject of the significant burn scarring.
There are plenty of ways to overcome this barrier, if we are really interested in having any type of genuine relationship with a person who has a disability. One way to become oriented with any disability is to learn something about it, specifically. Another might be to volunteer at a facility or with an organization which provides services for those with disabilities.
In my heart, however, the best way to see a relationship grow is to spend time with a disabled person. This is what anyone would do if a relationship was desired with someone who did not have a disability. You may set up a time to share a cup of coffee, (be cognizant of wheelchair accessibility if that is relevant to the disabled person), or offer to ride to a place they need to go if driving is a challenge, especially if there is reason for you both to be there anyway. It may not seem so obvious if the meeting place is already mutual. But time driving/riding is a great place for conversation.
Life is too short to let our personal fears, and another’s perceived limitations stop us from forming sound, wonderful friendship! We each have a desire to ‘fit in’ and belong with (and to) those we share mutual environments with. This may happen in the workplace, at school (college), church functions, volunteer organizations and the list goes on!
Greeting each other, regardless of ability —-or lack of, offer genuine friendship and respect, and your world and theirs, is likely to be a lot more pleasant! Let’s break that anxiety barrier!
Learning To Live Naturally
One of my daughters has a homestead. She and her husband have eight children and each of them help with the very numerous tasks required for it be be successful.
In addition to the vast garden, they raise goats, chickens (both layers and eating), turkeys, pigs, beef and more! The garden requires planting, caring, harvesting and then canning or other method of preservation. The goats require milking, feeding, watering and more. The pigs and beef require feeding and tending, while the chickens require feeding, egg gathering and for the eating chickens butchering for those being sold. I’m certain I’ve left out some of the duties, but the point is, it’s busy!
,
They are also incredibly active in their local 4-H and all the children have learned to sew, while some care for and train cats, dogs and show rabbits! Others have incredible baking and cooking skills, along with herbal knowledge. It’s a fascinating lifestyle.
What I find interesting, is in the disability people group, it’s been discovered, they can function productively and adapt well to this type of lifestyle, as well! Farms and ranches are popping up across the US that provides the opportunity for those with mental challenges, autism, as well as physical ones to learn about caring for vegetable crops, fruits and even animals. One even teaches the skill of making goat milk soap!
These learning opportunities offer the education and knowledge needed to enable those with special needs to acquire jobs, or even create a sustainable business of their own as they offer their product to local markets, that will support themselves and perhaps even a family.
These farms and ranches offer a safe place for the disability community to gain confidence in skills and social interactions while performing meaningful and productive tasks. One even includes a pottery studio, as well as a bakery and a studio to learn weaving!
Another teaches everything you need to know about caring for roses, the arts and music, becoming a sous chef, tour guide and more. Still another is all about job training in a commercial greenhouse, that again, provides the skills and knowledge necessary for real life living through the building of life-long skills for productive independence.
Out world is changing quickly as we adapt to less and less self-sufficiency. We go to the supermarket and buy all our foods harvested, cleaned, cut up and ready to prepare; sometimes even fully cooled. All we need do is pop it in the microwave or oven and in just a few short minutes dinner is complete!
Long gone are the skills required to live life naturally. On the larger scale, we no longer tend large gardens and harvest the healthy veggies grown there, have animals to help feed the family with fresh milk, eggs, or even hunt for meat on our tables. The very idea of any of this ‘work’ is revolting to many.
These farms and ranches which teach these skills are to be commended for their foresight into helping the ‘disability people group’ in a unique way that adds viable, and valuable, learning opportunities to skills long forgotten. Actually, it’s a way of life we could all draw a bit closer to. As our world changes, it might be our best option!
Solitude and Success: Building a Balanced Life
Self-care is vital for everyone, especially introverts who often find solace in quiet and solitude, or caregivers for those in the disability community. Crafting a self-care plan tailored to your unique needs is key to maintaining your well-being and enabling you to flourish. This guide created by guest blogger Claire Wentz, provides strategies that cater to introverts and caregivers looking to thrive in various aspects of life. From establishing routines to nurturing personal and professional growth, these methods are designed to help you succeed.
Create and Stick to a Regular Schedule
Consistency is key to maintaining well-being; establishing a regular schedule helps you manage energy and prevent overwhelm. Identify essential daily activities—work, exercise, leisure—and allocate specific times for each. This structured approach not only helps control stress but also supports a balanced life, offering predictability and a framework tailored to your personal goals.
Prioritize Restful Sleep
Restful sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health, particularly for caregivers and introverts needing to recharge. Enhance your sleep environment by ensuring your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Develop a calming pre-sleep routine, perhaps by reading or practicing relaxation techniques. Consistent sleep patterns, with fixed bedtime and wake-up times, are essential for improving overall sleep quality and daily functioning.
Allocate Time for Solitude
Introverts, as well as caregivers, need time alone to recharge their batteries. Plan regular periods of solitude to reflect, relax, and rejuvenate. This might involve activities like reading, journaling, or simply enjoying a quiet moment. Scheduling alone time ensures you have the space to process your thoughts and feelings without external pressures. It's essential to communicate this need to those around you, so they understand and respect your boundaries. Your well-being depends on having this uninterrupted time to recharge.
Navigating a New Career Path
Starting a new career, regardless of ‘ability’ requires a standout, professional-looking resume. Before you pursue a new position, carefully craft and tailor your resume to align perfectly with each job opening. Adjust the keywords in the skills section and strategically highlight relevant parts of your professional history and educational experiences to meet the specific needs of each employer. Ensure each section of your resume is meticulously prepared, prompting potential employers to think, this deserves a look, thereby boosting your chances of securing the ideal job, even if you bring a ‘disabled factor’ with you.
Discover Energizing Activities
Finding activities that invigorate you is crucial for maintaining a balanced life. Identify hobbies or interests that leave you feeling refreshed and energized. This could be anything from creative pursuits like painting or writing to physical activities such as hiking or yoga. These activities provide an outlet for stress and help you maintain a positive mindset. Make it a priority to regularly engage in these energizing activities, as they can enhance your overall well-being and provide a healthy escape from daily stressors.
Make Time for Socializing
While alone time is vital, it's equally important to maintain social connections. Caregivers and introverts alike, often prefer, or need, deep, meaningful interactions over large social gatherings. Schedule regular meetups with close friends or family members to nurture these relationships. Choose social activities that align with your interests and comfort level, such as small group dinners or one-on-one coffee dates. Social interactions can provide emotional support, offer different perspectives, and contribute to your overall happiness.
Learn to Say ‘No’
One of the most powerful tools in the self-care arsenal is the ability to say no. It's essential to recognize your limits and not overcommit yourself. Saying no can help you maintain your energy and focus on what truly matters. Practice assertiveness in declining invitations or requests that drain your energy or don't align with your priorities. It's okay to prioritize your well-being and take a step back when necessary. Remember, giving yourself permission to say no is a form of self-respect and care.
A personalized self-care plan is essential for achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. By structuring your day, prioritizing rest, embracing solitude, engaging in energizing activities, maintaining social connections, and knowing when to say no, you can safeguard your well-being. These strategies not only support personal contentment but also empower you to meet life's demands with confidence and resilience. Implement these practices diligently to ensure you remain vibrant and prepared for any challenges ahead.
Image by Freepik
Fighting Childhood Cancer
September is one of my favorite months. It’s time for Fall to approach, providing nights with coolness which lingers into the early morning. It’s amazing to step outside cuddling a hot cup of coffee and breathe in the fresh, brisk air. It’s wondrous to watch the leaves change from orange, rust, reds and even mauve. And when the wind blows just right, it’s like being in a ‘leaf wind storm’ as they flutter all about, doing their part to create a beautiful, colorful blanket on the ground.
Another significant occurrence in September is ‘childhood cancer awareness’. It’s a month dedicated to increasing awareness and honoring those children who are battling cancer. Additionally, their families, the medical teams who work tirelessly in an effort to find a cure, the doctors and nurses who care for the children, and others who help in a variety of ways to help them get through this incredibly difficult time, are also paid tribute for all they do.
Progress in research, is being made, as survival rates are rising. But given that still, almost every week on average, nearly 300 children are diagnosed with cancer, there is still work to be done so that no child dies from this evil disease.
I’ve had several close adult friends lose the fight with cancer, and another friend currently in Hospice fighting for her life. It’s hard to lose a friend to this horrible disease, but somehow the loss of a child or watching a child suffer through chemo therapy, radiation, tests and more, which drains all the joy out of life ….his life, just exhausts and depletes a body of everything that seems natural!
Sometimes, as ‘outsiders’, these situations leave us frustrated and frightened. We want to do something, but we can’t figure out what! Words seem so inadequate. First and foremost we can pray. Yes, pray. We can ask God for comfort, strength, wisdom for the doctors, the right medications and a list of other requests.
Get informed! You need not be an expert, but if you have some knowledge about what’s going on through common research, it’ll be easier to respond to needs. If there is conversation, you can offer a shoulder, along with a bit of understanding as the parent, (or caregiver) shares his or her journey.
We can also do something, even if it seems like a small thing. Take the family over a meal, offer to watch any siblings, clean the house, do laundry, mow the lawn, and any variety of other creative things that can and will ease some of the stress they are dealing with.
Many movies (especially the Hallmark ones at Christmas!) will tell you that giving a gift card is so impersonal. But giving a gift card can be a welcome gift for groceries, gas, parking, meals while traveling, even medications or other supplies at the pharmacy, and even a taxi or coffee shop! It’s likely it’ll be easier for the recipient to accept a gift card than funds outright. That said, a ‘Go Fund Me’ page isn’t out of the question either.
There are organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital, who cover the cost of the expenses for care at their facility or others who may offer assistance like Texas Children's Hospital when possible, or even the American Cancer Society and others who will help with financial assistance, if needed. But there are likely other expenses which may not be covered within the framework of all families; and actual funds are needed both during the ordeal and even the months that follow, once recovery seems like a likely outcome. The extended hospital stays, continual doctor visits, medications, lab work, and more can deplete family finances and otherwise run down even the most hardy of us!
One of my favorite ways to ‘be there’ for my friends fighting cancer is to reach out via a card or note they receive in the mail. Yes, email is an option, but an actual piece of correspondence which projects love and encouragement can provide a huge dose of joy and hope!
I was pleasantly surprised when a good friend I lost from cancer some years ago shared with me before she was taken from this life, “I love to get the cards you send. They help me get through!” I didn’t send the cards because I expected that—in fact, I was honestly floored by the comment! But I didn’t know what else to do, given the proximity of where my husband and I were, to where she lived.
Mail in our mailboxes seems to be largely bills and advertising. It’s wonderful to find an encouraging piece which we can open and hold in our hands. It’s personal and in a very real way one of the nicest things you can do which costs a little time (I make mine on the computer), an envelope and a stamp!
Best case scenario, the child beats the cancer and is finally on their way to recovery, and finally able to go back to school. The journey isn’t finished. There is always the threat of relapses or recurrence and the endless lab work and doctor visits. Never forget what they’ve been through; help when you can and always share of yourself whenever possible.
Happy Grandparent’s Day
I am a grandparent seventeen times over (plus one who didn’t live) and I adore my grandchildren! They are all very different and range in age from 27 to the youngest who is almost 4. They live all over the United States. Three live in Pennsylvania; four in Maryland; eight in Wyoming and two in South Dakota. There is one with disabilities (although with lots of love and help from family and the medical community, she is fully functional, and her disabilities are often now, invisible). While other of my grandchildren have serious gluten and dairy allergies!
Sunday, September 8 is Grandparents Day. It’s the day we celebrate the gift of grandchildren. This may be an unorthodox perspective since usually it’s ‘our day’ and we are the ones being celebrated. Let me just say while I’m grateful for being a grandparent, I’m not nearly a perfect one!
What happens, when we are surprised and ‘gifted’ a child with a disability? I’ve heard horror stories about grandparents who are repulsed by the idea. They can’t understand ‘how it could happen to them’; and completely reject the child. Relationships are broken because they can’t grasp that a child birthed to their son or daughter could be any less than their perception of perfect!
But what is ‘perfection’? Each child is born with a heart that beats, needs that need to be met, emotions that want to be realized, acceptance that needs to be offered, and love that wants to be shared. These sweet babies want, need and deserve the exact same attention that any child craves.
Understanding on the basic facts about the child’s disability needs to be realized not only by the parent, but also the grandparents. As grandparents, it doesn’t require expertise; but a general knowledge will aid in overcoming fear and anxiety while being near the child.
Time is a huge factor in any relationship. As mentioned many of our grandchildren live in states with numerous miles in between! This requires notes, cards, phone calls and visits when possible to keep the lines of communication open, as well as, letting our grand babies know they are loved, even when we can’t see them often! This is often even more necessary for the child with a disability, because they need the reassurance their ‘differences’ aren’t driving or keeping us away!
Additionally, if there is an emotional disability filled with anxiety, relationships can be even further strained, as children have a difficult time interacting with others. As parents decline invitations out, because of this, some family members may respond negatively.
As grandparents, it’s important to remember the parents are doing what they believe best for the child, even while it’s hard on them! Be supportive of the parents even if understanding doesn’t come easy. This will build a positive relationship all around.
If distance is an issue, when possible, provide help via a ‘care package’ geared toward the interests of the child(ren), including the non-disabled ones! The gifts need not be grand or expensive, but when purchasing gifts, remember all the children in the family The other children sometimes feel left out, given all the extra needed attention given to the one with a disability. They all deserve your love and attention equally.
One of the greatest ways to be an awesome grandparent —to any grandchild, regardless of ‘ability’, is to be ‘present.’ Gifts are always welcomed by children, especially if it’s on a wish list, or geared to their interest. But sitting with a child reading a book, talking about where you visited last or an experience you had—-even from your long past, can be a huge boost to any child!
When immediate contact is not available, send a video of you reading a story via email, or saved on a USB, to be seen over and over again! Let your all your grandchildren know they are important to you, are an integral part of your life and most of all that you love and accept them, just as they are!
Photo Credit Happy Grandparent 1-3
Photo Credit: Grandparent reading
Totally Capable Of Working
An article I read recently details how a child remembers her father encouraging hard work, and he led by example. It mattered not that this man’s little girl had a disability. He wanted her to understand that by pushing through, a person will find purpose in what they are doing and ultimately even find purpose in themselves. Because of this mindset, she grew up with a willingness to try, even though her wheelchair proved to be a stumbling block along the way.
She waitressed in her wheelchair and moved up to being a woman in an executive position in corporate America; even to a place of owning her own business! Her never give up attitude moved her forward on her journey, despite the obstacles.
Challenges in the workforce apply to everyone, albeit on different levels. There might be the person who needs to address large groups of people, but be terrified of speaking, so becomes filled with self-doubt. Another person may be hard of hearing—-although not entirely deaf, but cringes when people cast those momentary doubts of capability when asked to repeat what they said. Still others, are forced to work within the confines of their wheelchair, or other medical accessory that enables them to manipulate the landscape!
All of these challenges can either break a person or give them motivation to work harder just to prove they can do what they say they can. They want to demonstrate a physical disability does not make them any less equipped to handle any number of responsibilities!
In fact what may be a better perspective, is looking for what makes this person’s capabilities a unique blend of something spectacularly different, but completely efficient in the way they operate. All paths need not follow the same footsteps!
Labor day is upon us and it’s a celebration of the working person! While it seems to be all inclusive of everyone who works, in some cases it isn’t a celebration. Instead it’s a reminder to those who cannot work because of barriers not yet provided for, for those who have a disability. There are times employers will give lip service to their accommodations, but fall short of what is needed.
Other times, it’s more related to the person who fears reprisal should they admit to having a disability. When this happens, optimal work ability may be hindered, but feeling ‘cornered’, they do the best they can until a complaint comes their way, raising their frustration with the workplace.
Improvements do continue however, and a day will come (hopefully sooner, rather than later), that all people, regardless of ability, will celebrate with pride, the efforts and accomplishments provided in the workplace. Disability advocates and the disabled community continue to move forward for more accessibility, respectability, and inclusion. Strategies are being put in place which enable those who would like to work, the opportunity. It’s encouraging to believe there is hope!
Lessons continue to be learned by both the employer and employee. Circumstance, insightful commentary, and dialogue is exchanged, with the desire that this annual celebration called Labor Day, will touch the lives of everyone, with deep satisfaction and fulfilled dreams.