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The Disability is Natural Free Press
Copyright September 2002 by Kathie Snow

IN THIS EDITION:

--- NEW REVOLUTIONARY COMMON SENSE ARTICLES

--- THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP

--- AFTER LABOR DAY

--- HOW'S THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR GOING?

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NEW REVOLUTIONARY COMMON SENSE ARTICLES

If you haven't visited www.disabilityisnatural.com lately, please do! Several interesting and provocative articles have been added to the "Revolutionary Common Sense" page:

---What's a "Behavior?"

---New and Improved IEP Meetings

---Public Images vs. Personal Self-Esteem ---The Problem with "Problem"

---Developmental Age vs. Chronological Age

Each article includes new ways of thinking that can have a positive influence on the lives of people with disabilities. And in line with the "Disability is Natural" paradigm shift, the focus of these articles is not on changing individuals with disabilities, but on changing ourselves and how we see, think about, and behave toward people with disabilities. Whether you're a family member, a person with a disability, an educator, or professional in the field, one or more of these articles will be relevant to you. Enjoy!

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THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP

When the "Fellowship of the Ring" movie was released several months ago, my husband and son wasted no time getting to the theater. Fifteen-year-old Benjamin was entranced by the battle scenes shown on the television ads. At the time, my seventeen-year-old daughter, Emily, and I weren't too interested in the movie. I had read and enjoyed the book in high school, but the TV ads made it look like a "guy-movie," so Emily and I stayed home. Later, our two guys reported that it was, indeed, a fantastic movie, and Benj repeatedly said he wanted the family to see it together. Weeks passed and the movie was no longer shown at the theater. So when it came out on video/DVD, I rented it, we watched it together, and I promptly bought a copy. Now Emily and I can't get enough of it, and the whole family eagerly awaits "The Two Towers" --- the second installment of the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, arriving in theaters in December.

Author J.R.R. Tolkein's "Fellowship of the Ring" is a truly great story, the performances make the fantasy real, and the sets are incredible. Movies, like books, touch each person in a unique fashion. We each get something a little different from the experience. Benjamin, for example, loved the exciting adventures of Frodo, the ring-bearer; the scary characters; and the battle scenes, of course. Emily, who was not eagerly anticipating the fighting, was enchanted by all the characters and their dedication to completing their quest to rid the world of the evil ring.

But there's more. "Fellowship," as well as the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has much to offer in how we think and feel about people with disabilities and differences. The setting of the movie---fictional "Middle-earth"---is populated by different "races" of people: Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and Orcs. Wizards, Ringwraiths, and Trolls are important players in the story, too. (There may be others, and if you're a "Lord of the Rings" expert, forgive any errors in my description!)

The Hobbits are happy, fun-loving, friendly people who are very small and have very large hairy feet (and wear no shoes). Elves are tall, elegant, artistic, and immortal. Dwarves are brave, tough, and hardworking, and while they're small, they're bigger than Hobbits. Humans are mortal and imperfect, confident and unsure, heroic and frightened. The actual "Fellowship" is composed of members from each of these groups. On the other side are the monster-like Orcs who are led by masters of evil.

It was the composition and actions of the Fellowship that touched me the most, and which may have lessons for us all. During the weeks and months of the perilous journey to return the "one ring" to the fires from which it was forged, Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves, and Humans were dependent on one another. The unique capabilities of people from different "races" were needed to ensure success. Members of the Fellowship were very different from one another, and time after time, it was the "differences" among the individuals that were, in fact, strengths! None in the group thought himself superior to the others; none felt sorry for the others because they were different from him; and none saw himself as "deficient" in any way, nor wanted to be like the others. What may have appeared as an inequality in size, strength, ability to wield a weapon, age, or experience did not diminish a person's value.

A sidebar is in order here. Working to help change language, attitudes, and perceptions is one of my life goals. To enjoy and learn from "Fellowship of the Ring," however, one must not be offended by the name "Dwarves." Tolkein's "race of Dwarves" is unlike Disney's animated "Seven Dwarfs" and other stereotypical perceptions of Little People (individuals with short stature or dwarfism). The leader of the Dwarves is a powerful and ferocious man who proves that size is irrelevant!

The Fellowship included people whose characteristics represented extremes: short/tall, playful/serious, timid/bold, ovice/experienced, and more. Yet each person was equally valued, equally important. "Fellowship of the Ring" could be considered a metaphor for interdependence, inclusion, and community---the goals most of us have for our society, relative to people with disabilities and differences.

If you haven't seen "Fellowship of the Ring" yet, I hope you will soon. If you've already seen it, watch it again. Whether it's your first, second, or third time to experience this beautiful and powerful movie, view it with disability issues in the back of your mind. Then ponder how to apply the lessons learned to your own situation. Perhaps just thinking of that word---fellowship---during our daily activities will influence our actions and lead us to take steps to ensure we're in fellowship with people with disabilities and differences. Simultaneously, being in fellowship will enable us to recognize the strengths, abilities, and gifts of others---characteristics which have always been present, but which may have been invisible to our unseeing eyes until now. The gift of fellowship is one we can all give; the gift of fellowship is one we all need.

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AFTER LABOR DAY

As Labor Day approached, my son asked what it celebrated. I shared what I knew about the history of creating a day to honor American workers---how unions had created better working conditions decades ago, by ensuring factories were safe, eliminating child labor, and so forth. Just prior to the Labor Day weekend, email messages included things like, "Have a happy Labor Day!" and "Hope you have the day off!" Some of us did; some of us didn't. But the majority of Americans---whether they were employed or not, whether they had a day off or not---have experienced the joy of receiving a paycheck, the contentment of being good at what they do, and the hope and anticipation of moving on to a better job. In a sense, many of us take employment for granted. The ability to earn a paycheck, having the right to choose the job we want and terminate it when it no longer suits us, deciding to go to college or a trade school to learn new skills, and a host of other job-related situations seem mundane to many of us. We may eve n moan and groan at having to get out of bed on Monday mornings.

Can the same be said for the majority of people with disabilities? Unfortunately not. Too many have never had a real job. Others "labor" in sheltered workshops, earning sub-minimum wages, doing work they didn't choose, for "bosses" they may not know or like. And then there are those who are under employed in low-paying, part-time jobs; the paycheck that goes with a full-time job could cause them to lose benefits.

Many of us abhor the shameful unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities. Yet too many of us continue to look to the government to solvethe problem. Can and should the government play a role in removing some of the roadblocks to successful employment of people with disabilities? Certainly. At the same time, as advocates, friends, family members, and people with disabilities, are we willing to do nothing on our own? I hope not. Where is our personal responsibility? Do we need to wait for the government to act before we do? No. Can we ask people with disabilities to wait? No.

Yes, let's work on systems change and legislation, recognizing, however, that systemic and governmental change occurs at a snail's pace. In the meantime, there is much we can do, individually and collectively, right now. If you're a parent, are you dreaming big dreams, talking about college and jobs and success as an adult to all your children (including your child with a disability)? Or are you already preparing to turn your child with a disability over to the adult service system at age 18?

If you're a teacher, are you helping provide a real and meaningful education to students with disabilities beyond "functional skills" or "life skills?" Are students with disabilities in your school receiving the education they need to go on to post-secondary education, a trade school, or a real job?

Regardless of your role, are you helping individuals with disabilities understand that they do not have to be dependent on the government and the service system? Networking with real people in the community, identifying natural supports, using assistive technology, dreaming big dreams, and a variety of other techniques can lead to real employment.

Do you know about waivers and other proactive tools that can be used to help people with disabilities achieve successful employment, including self-employment? Can you see beyond the disability and acknowledge a person's abilities and interests which could lead to a good job? And can you help identify additional training or education that may be beneficial in securing employment?

And if you're currently employed, does your employer (that might be you!) actively recruit potential employees who happen to have disabilities? If not, what can you do to change that? Think about this: if employers recruited people with disabilities, and if they provided the natural supports and tools for success (which they provide to employees without disabilities all the time!), would we even need to bother with systemic and governmental change? There's much we can do to ensure people with disabilities can be part of Labor Day---the unique celebration of American workers! Using your own common sense, coupled with new attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities, is a good beginning.

In addition, state-of-the-art employment practices---as detailed in several books from my friend, Cary Griffin, and the other great folks at the Rural Institute at the University of Montana---can jumpstart your efforts:

---No Lone Wolves: Partnering for Self-Employment Success $12.00 ---People Who Own Themselves: Emerging Trends in Rural Rehabilitation $15.00 ---It Doesn't Take a Rocket Scientist to Understand and Use Social Security Work Incentives $10.00

---Making the Road by Taking It: Team and Individual Exercises for Self-Employment Training $10.00 Prices include shipping. For more info, contact Nancy Maxson at the Rural Institute: call toll-free 1-877-243-2476 or write to: maxson@selway.umt.edu

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HOW'S THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR GOING?

Parents and teachers: is the new school year going well for the students with disabilities in your life? I hope so! But if not, there's lots of help to be found in "Disability is Natural: Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities" (640 pages, $26.95). Lessons on why traditional special ed services don't work, strategies for achieving inclusive education, informal assessments, improved parent/educator relationships, and much, much more are included in this helpful, one-of-a-kind book---a manual for anyone who cares about children with disabilities. Visit www.disabilityisnatural.com or call toll-free 1-866-948-2222 to order.

While you're visiting the Disability is Natural web site, check out all the great goodies at the store which promote new ways of thinking and positive images of people with disabilities! Take a look at the new designs for T-shirts, badges, key rings, and tote bags!

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SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS!

We can all learn so much from each other. If you have experiences, ideas, or suggestions that can benefit others, please share them with me, and I'll share them with others! Write to me via Email kathie@disabilityisnatural.com or regular mail (Kathie Snow, BraveHeart Press, PO Box 7245, Woodland Park, CO 80863).

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Please feel free to share this Email with others, and invite your friends, family, and coworkers to visit http://www.disabilityisnatural.com and check out what's new! While you're there, take a moment to share your comments, suggestions, questions, and ideas. Lead with a brave heart, Kathie Snow

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