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Saturday In The Park

August 21, 2008 – 1:02 pm

The air was warm and the sun was high, on this Saturday afternoon. I decided to get into a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt and take a book down to the park. Although a lot of other people had the same
idea, I found a picnic table under an old elm tree just right for reading on. Kids were playing on the swings across the grass and a patchwork quilt of beach towels were filled with guys and girls in-between.
I brought along a book I had started the night before, getting a few laughs from Rodney Dangerfield.

I really didn’t get too far into the book, when a young girl and her mother came along. They were looking to squeeze one more beach towel down into the patchwork quilt on the grass. The girl turned and looked
at me with a very perplex puzzle face. It’s as if she’d never seen anyone like me before. The girl tugged at her mother, “Why does that guy look so funny?”

The mother turned and looked at me. By now I had stopped reading, knowing the girl was talking about me. The mother bent down and half-whispered, “He’s like uncle Fred, he has a disability.”

The girl still looked puzzled, “He doesn’t have a wheelchair like uncle Fred.”

“Some people don’t need wheelchairs.”, the mother replied.

The young girl continued her quest for answers, “But why is his arms like that?”

Even though they weren’t looking directly at me anymore. I could see the frustration in both of their faces. I put my bookmark in the book and walked over to where they were standing. Some of the other people enjoying this sunny afternoon started to take an interest in what was going on.

I think I kind of startled the young girl when I walked up behind her. I looked at the mother, “Can I help?”.

The mother looked relieved when she saw me standing there, “I hope so, my daughter is asking me why you look so different from her uncle Fred. Fred has Cerebral Palsy and is in a wheelchair. When she saw you, I guess she got confused.”

I bent down a little and looked at the young girl, “What’s your name?”

The girl looked up to her mother, who nodded at her, “Sarah.”

In a couple of minutes I was able to find out a little about her so I could tell her in a way she would understand about my disability.

“Do you remember listening to your mother’s stomach before your little brother was born?”

She nodded with a little grin.

“You remember how much he moved around in there?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, when I was little and inside my mother’s stomach, for a short time I didn’t move around. So my joints got stiff. When I was born, the doctors weren’t able to do anything. So my arms only move so far.
Does that make any sense to you?”

“Yeah,” Sarah beamed, “Because your elbow is locked up you can’t move your arms as well as I can.”

“Right.”

I spent a little more time with Sarah and here mother before I went back to read some more of my book. As I left I couldn’t help but over hear Sarah say, “That’s a nice man, mommy.”

Because I took the time to talk to her, Sarah found out that there are many different ways people can be disabled; everything from getting hurt in an accident to being born with a disability. But no matter
how it happens, each person wants the same thing; to be treated with the same respect that you would want yourself. Even Rodney Dangerfield needs a little respect now and then!

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School Supplies For Positive Reinforcement

August 18, 2008 – 8:26 pm

With school coming back into full swing, I put together a few things you can use in the classroom. Check out the download page for each item. First off is a nice background for your monitor. No matter what you’re doing you’ll never want to give up!

While reading your text books, keep your place with this bookmark. You’ll want to keep reading.

Lastly, have your students, or anyone for that matter, check out the snippets ebook for some motivation unlike anything you’ve read before.

Even more stuff in the works. Stay posted by signing up for the rss feed.

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Man With A Disability

August 17, 2008 – 10:30 am

“I once met a man with a disability

Who knew no bounds in adaptability

The longer I knew him, the less it became.

To those who shy away, to those with disdain

My heart goes out with genuine sympathy

Not with pity and not with enmity

For they are the ones who are truly handicapped.”

By: William Coles

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Inferior Products Called Humans

August 16, 2008 – 8:14 am

From strawberry to vanilla, we all have a certain flavor we like. Preferences make us different. Actually, many things make us different, but that is a good thing. Wouldn’t it be boring if we all looked alike, dressed alike, acted alike, and spoke alike? The problem lies with the fact that we dislike those differences and call someone else’s differences inferior.

Take for instance the Swedish wrestler who received a Bronze medal at the Olympics. Granted he wanted Gold, but who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to stand on the international stage and be declared a medalist? Of the billions of people in the world only a handful get to compete in the Olympics and only a few of them actually get a medal. So what’s the problem?

Sure it wasn’t good enough to win the Gold medal, but instead of cherishing the opportunity, he throws down his medal and storms out. Basically slapping the face of every competitor there because he thought he was better than all of them. Because of some “judging issue” he didn’t get the Gold, so he says. Because of his abilities he was able to compete. Because of his differences he was able to stand out. But, because of his self-centered attitude, he has taken something to be proud of and disgraced it.

Differences make us unique. Everyone of us have challenges, but not the same challenges. Life would not be life, if we had no challenges. Our differences through these challenges have created many wonderful things. We’ll use the Olympics again as an example…if we did not have differences, then maybe we’d all be swimmers. There would be no wrestlers to compete. If we had no differences, no one would win the swimming competitions because our abilities to swim would all be the same.

Please come down from your self-centered platform and stand side by side with those who are different. It’s because of them that you have this opportunity in the first place.

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Cerebral Palsy And Other Facts Video

August 14, 2008 – 6:00 pm

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Everything Is Possible

August 13, 2008 – 9:20 pm

On September 17, 1994, Miss America was crowned in Atlantic City. Heather Whitestone, a 21 year old Birmingham native, was the only contestant to win two preliminary competitions in the swimsuit and talent categories. She held the judges and audience in awe with her talent routine, a 2 1/2 minute ballet performed to the song, “Via Dolorosa.”

What makes this so special or different from any other Miss America Pageants? Heather Whitestone lost most of her hearing after a reaction to a diphtheria-tetanus shot when she was 18 months old. Many have praised her for going the distance, but Heather said at the competition, “Everything is possible.”

Throughout history, many people with disabilities have risen above the ranks. Which is not surprising because one in five people have a disability. These disabilities range from physical disabilities to less “visible” ones like learning disabilities.

Most everyone knows Chris Burke and Andrea Friedman from “Life Goes On”. Both actors have Down Syndrome and mild learning disabilities. Lou Ferrigno and Maralee Matalin are both deaf actors. Steve Wonder, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison just scratch the surface of famous people who are blind.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the most powerful president in U.S. history and he was a polio survivor. Whenever he gave a speech, he almost always did it without his wheelchair. He also ignored the Secret Service about driving his own car. Someone that no one can forget is Helen Keller. She became blind and deaf from a disease in infancy. She learned to communicate with hand-in-hand sign language.

One of my favorite television shows of all time is M*A*S*H. If you look carefully at some of the episodes you can see that Gary Berghoff (Radar) had a smaller left hand and that he would always try to hide it in each episode. Alan Alda (Hawkeye) is said to be a Polio survivor. William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) has an autistic son and he and his wife are very active in the Autism Society of America.

“Come to the dark side, Luke”, Darth Vadar’s voice was done by James Earl Jones who has a stuttering disability. Famous country singer and “Cannonball Run” star Mel Tillis also has a stuttering disability.

I really liked the way the show “MacGyver” used the real life disability of Dana Elkar. He was affected by glaucoma and instead of writing him off the show, they used it on the show. Make-believe imitating real life, go figure.

Whoopi Goldberg and Tom Cruise both have Dyslexia. Nancy Reagan has or had Cancer (Not sure if it’s all gone or not). Danny Glover has epilepsy.

Peter Falk has an artificial eye. Dudley Moore was born with a club foot. Race car driver, Mario Andretti is a diabetic. Florence Henderson (Mrs. Brady) was born with spina bifida. And the list goes on.

For the most part, these people were made famous by their achievements, not their disabilities. They put their best efforts forward and reached for their dreams. The odds of making a list like this are better, one in five, than getting struck by lightning. Just ask Benjamin Franklin.

Remember: Everything is possible!

Originally written: September 1994, Bill Micklitz

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Christopher Reeve: Hope In Motion

August 5, 2008 – 9:49 pm


“This intimate portrait focuses on Chris’ remarkable recovery of movement and his constant fight to fully regain his mobility. Following Chris closely over many months of treatment and public campaigning for funds for stem cell research, this film was completed shortly before his death and shows his struggle to keep his hope alive. Sadly, Chris died before his most fervent wish could come to pass. What emerges through this film is a portrait of an intelligent, determined, candid and outspoken man who was able to maintain his sense of humour in the face of adversity. His inspiring personality will shine through as you follow his unpredictable, emotional journey. “

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Child Of Life

July 30, 2008 – 9:47 pm

I can still hear the question, from many people: “When you going to act like an adult?” Simply, I answer, never.

Living with a disability, it can force a child to grow up faster than they should. Growing up, you get bombarded by questions about why this or why that? You in turn go to the adults in your life who give you the reasons, you are different, you are special. You deal with the stares, the looks, the people who outright ignore you, and you mature in the knowledge that the adult world is full of hurt and pain. Why you ask again and the adults in your life simply say, that’s the way it is.

But if we adults are suppose to lead our children by our examples, shouldn’t we change things to how we would like them to be? We tell our children, treat others as you want them to treat you. Yet, as adults, we don’t.

Living with a disability, many who say, that’s just the way it is, would think that having a disability is a burden, a cross to bear. I say to them, I will bear said cross. Perception on how we view the world is through our own eyes, but if you look through the eyes of a child you see truth, honesty, and innocence. A disability is nothing more than just a modification in doing life’s tasks. Nothing more and nothing less.

As adults, again, we easily see it as a limitation. We don’t hire people that we don’t understand. Yet, this large minority of workforce is ready to help. We carefully watch everything a person with a disability does and remark how amazing when they do something we thought they couldn’t. In mind’s eye I know there are things I just can’t do, but I also don’t discount anything. I will attempt to do things before I put them on my can not do list.

I do have adult eyes now, but I refuse to give up my vision of truth, honesty, and innocence. We are children of life. We shape the world around us with our actions. Do we want to continue down the narrow path of difference or do we want to open our eyes to the possibilities of life?

For some it will be a leap of faith to trust others. But children do it all the time and it’s a good thing. Matthew 18:3 says, “… unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”.

Life is full of hapiness and beauty even amongst the challenges. Be a child of life and lead by example. Be positive when everyone else is so negative. Smile if at the sight of death. For we are here only for a short time and we need to remember the good, the positive moments that make life a pleasure. How many times have you heard someone wish they could go back and relive a certain childhood memory? Why does childhood have to be limited by age? It’s your life, live it!

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Being Positive In A Not So Positive World

July 22, 2008 – 9:48 pm

You’ll never amount to anything. Can’t you do anything right? Dream all you want, you won’t get there from here. What can you do, you’re a cripple? You’re just taking up space.

When we open our mouths, the most intelligent stuff doesn’t always come out of it. I’ve heard all of the sentences above directed at me. I’ve also heard others use some of those sentences to make others feel as small as a dust ball.

I’m about to quote my mom, your mom might have said the same thing, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Thanks mom.

It’s hard just living. It’s more challenging living with a disability. Add on verbal abuse, and you probably wonder why I can still keep a positive attitude. Actually, some days I ask myself the same question. Here’s some more food for thought.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.

Abraham Lincoln ran for public office seven times and was defeated every time before becoming president of the United States.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

When Lucille Ball began studying to become an actress in 1927, she was told by the head instructor of the John Murray Anderson Drama School, “Try another profession. Any other.”

We can listen to others and let them dictate what we do in life, or we can excel. Only you know your own potential. When you’re at school or at work, do you just do what’s required or do you go beyond?

I think one of the saddest things that happens in households across the world is when a parent tells their own children that they are worthless. Can’t believe this? I’ve heard parents tell this to their kids in front of me.

My only thought is that their parents must have said this to them. We need to break this cycle of put downs.

Helen Keller once said, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.”

If you think you got it bad, someone else has it worse, guaranteed! It’s not my disability that defines who I am, it’s my personality and perseverance that help me live my life.

So you still don’t feel very positive? First off, there is one person that needs convincing first: yourself. If you don’t think you can achieve something, then you can’t. If you don’t think yourself worthy, than your not. If you can’t love yourself, than why should others?

It’s those individuals who don’t love themselves that are the first to pick on others. They think if their life isn’t that good, why should someone else’s life be better.

Well, let me be the first to say, “You can do it!” I have confidence in you.

“To thine own self be true.” - William Shakespeare

A friend has earned your love, appreciation and respect by being just who they are. Something greater is to know that we deserve these things from the people in our lives.

This is the first step on the road to being a positive, loving person. Someone your own kids can look up to. This is also the hardest. Are you up to loving yourself?

Paul Harvey has said, “You can tell when you are on the road to success. It’s uphill all the way.”

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Bumper To Bumper

July 18, 2008 – 11:36 pm

You may be thinking, who would want to subject themselves to learning to drive, only to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Her whole life, my Grandma never learned to drive. It was her choice. But to others the freedom and independence driving offers is too aluring. So to those that are wondering how and where to go as well as the stumbling road blocks along the way, I offer you a story I wrote back in 1994.

Driving Lessons takes you back to my first driving experiences. Purchasing my first vehicle and some of the pot holes I encountered.

I no longer own the mini-van, but it served me well. Over 200,000 miles and 13 years of driving. My second vehicle is going strong 5 years into it. I’m driving less, so I won’t get to the 200,000 mile mark quite so fast, but that has more to do with the cost of gas, oh well. Enjoy the roadtrip back in time.

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