The Importance of People First Language
For too long, people with disabilities have been subject to devaluation, marginalization, prejudice, and much more. The first way to devalue someone is through language. By using words or labels that identify a person/group as less than or consider them the others, we begin to devalue them. When a person or group has been identified […]
Cooling Assistance Available to Low Income Individuals with Medical Needs
Cooling assistance is available for seniors or people with certain medical conditions who qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The heat of summer can really create problems for people with health issues. The cooling assistance program makes funds available to low income households to prevent heat-related illnesses. The program funds can […]
Current Popular Medicare Scams
There are several different Medicare scams out there. As soon as one scam is squashed, another one emerges. Here are a few examples of Medicare scams to watch out for: Bait-and-switch scam: An “arthritis kit” draws the attention of many Medicare recipients through telemarketing, TV commercials, and door-to-door sales. This kit promises relief from chronic […]
Best Way to Find Out Severe Weather Alerts
When dangerous weather approaches, it is important to know the best way to get information. It is recommended that every home and business have a weather radio. The National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Weather radios come in many sizes and with a variety of functions […]
NCD Releases Update on Transportation Access Report Update
The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a comprehensive assessment on transportation for people with disabilities on May 4, 2015. The report picks up ten years after NDC’s 2005 publication of “The Current State of Transportation for People with Disabilities in the United States,” which, in part, led to major improvements in accessible transportation. The […]
New Medicare Cards to be Issued
In April, President Obama signed a bill that will end the use of Social Security numbers on Medicare cards. Currently, more than 4,500 people sign up for Medicare each day. Nearly 18 million people will qualify for Medicare within the next decade. This will bring Medicare enrollment up to 74 million people by 2025. Centers […]
A Note on Bullying from our Systems/Community Advocate
I present a bully prevention program. This program is near and dear to my heart because I was bullied growing up. I haven’t had to experience bullying since high school, until recently. While I was at a school presenting the bully prevention program, I was bullied (trust me, I see the irony). I began the […]
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week is Nov. 16 through 22
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is the perfect time to think about what we are thankful for, and the perfect time to share our compassion with our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. This year, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is going to be held from November 16th through November 22nd. This year’s theme is youth […]
Progress on the “Road to Veterans Day” Reform at the VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the “Road to Veterans Day” initiative has had significant progress over the past three months. The initiative was announced on September 8th by Secretary Robert A. McDonald. Over the past three months, the VA has taken deliberate actions to improve service delivery for Veterans, rebuild trust, increase […]
Obama Clarifies Anti-bullying Protections
Students with disabilities are bullied at a higher rate than their peers. This is a problem the federal government has been tracking for years. Since 2009, the federal government has received about 2,000 complaints of bullying. But because a student has a disability, he/she might not receive the same protections as many of his/her peers. […]