Category Archives: action

Disabilities in the workforce

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I wear two hearing aids. They’re tiny but powerful digital electronic devices that tuck behind my ears and feed sound into my middle ear. This technology makes a huge difference in my life. My hearing loss is an important part of how I face the world: how I work, how I use a phone, how I listen and interact with others. It’s not all of me, but it is part of me.

In 2011, I jumped through a series of hoops to document my disability for my employer. I have a great job, and I’d like to keep it. This emotional obstacle course was tough on me, though. Phone call after phone call, email after email, fax after fax, one office visit after another – all this to keep working in my field. When I finally met with the last doctor on the list, he expressed surprise that I had handled my own accommodations for most of my working life and my education. He was impressed that I knew of a position that would suit my abilities, and even more impressed that I’d already gone ahead and gotten the job. He documented my hearing loss and made his recommendation: that I keep my position teaching virtual school.

I’ve never kept my hearing loss a secret from employers and coworkers. Unfortunately, honesty can be a dangerous policy at times. Discrimination against disabled people still happens, despite the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, there is hope for improvement.

Today’s young adults grew up side by side with their disabled peers. Disabled or not, they’re friends, classmates, and teammates. Coworkers is a natural next step.

The number of disabled veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars calls attention to the issue of employment. These (mostly) young men and women want to pursue rewarding careers and support their families, just like their peers. They are a large and visible group that can’t be easily ignored or put down. These newly disabled join those blind or deaf from birth, those handicapped by illness or accident, and those with unexplained challenges.

Now is the time to be inclusive. Now is the time to look forward and make reasonable accommodation an everyday occurrence.

I fear a Romney-Ryan presidency. Both Romney and Ryan have already voted for laws that minimize women’s rights. They support Voter ID laws that present obstacles for low-income voters and people of color, those who do not have ready access to paperwork or the money to procure the necessary documents. Romney and Ryan would move our country’s philosophies backward, not forward. Romney’s actions and speeches show him to be out of touch with the mainstream, and I consider myself, hearing aids and all, part of the mainstream.

Barack Obama will move us forward. He recognizes that all people are created equal, regardless of gender, race, disability or sexual orientation. He believes in hard work earning rewards, and he supports policies  that will support the middle class. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies cannot refuse to accept me just because my hearing loss is a pre-existing condition. Based on his record, President Obama is the leader who will best support disability rights in the workplace.

Information regarding increasing numbers of disabled veterans from Senator Tom Harkin on Huffington Post. 

 

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STEM and the election

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STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in education.  There are STEM conferences, STEM career fairs, and STEM grants. Science in general, though, doesn’t seem to be an election issue. Readers, you know I support re-electing President Obama. No matter if you live in a blue or red state, science is a reality in our lives. National Public Radio recognizes this with their Science Friday. Some of my favorite blogs, like the new Maker Mom, recognize the importance of science every day. Mother Nature Network, another of my favorites, suggests several topics for questioning any and all candidates.

Economics: how does science fit in with innovation and entrepreneurship?

Pandemics; Can the nation protect its residents from bio-terrorism or pandemic illness? Are there enough health care providers and other trained professionals to handle a pandemic flu or other illness?

Food and Farming: What steps would you take to ensure the safety of the country’s food supply?

Space: What are the nation’s goals in space exploration?

Science in public policy and law: How are scientists and other experts involved in the decisions and lawmaking regarding scientific information? How can the public feel assured that laws and policies include relevant and accurate scientific input?

Education: Where does the perception come from that U.S. students are behind other countries in science and math achievement? Is this perception correct? If so, where does education need to change in order to teach students the curiosity and thought skills they need in order to change? What kind of funding is available? Where will the money originate?

I admit it. Education is a high priority because I am an educator and I love teaching science. I enjoy getting my hands dirty, setting up situations that encourage students to question and think, and seeing the “A-ha!” moments when the light goes on. Now that the federal government is waiving some of the extensive (excessive) testing, maybe we can devote more time and energy to teaching STEM skills. I’m in. Are you?

 

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Thinking in Broad Terms: The Broad Side

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In my circle of acquaintances, online or In Real Life (IRL), it would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t read or hasn’t heard of The Huffington Post. HuffPo, for short, provides commentary on many current and fascinating topics. HuffPo, however, isn’t the only sheet of value out there on the Interwebs. Since last autumn, a new face is gracing cyberspace: The Broad Side.

Recent Broad Side articles dealt with the Supreme Court decision on the Affordable  Health Care Act, sometimes called Obamacare. Here, have a taste.

A guest commentary by Nancy Gruver states:

“The fact is that healthcare is a product like virtually none other in a capitalist economy. It isn’t governed by rational consumer decision-making. And it never will be.”

Angie Lynch talks about being fortunate enough to have good health coverage and adds:

“Before today, we were one of the lucky ones. From today forward, we are among the millions of U.S. citizens who do not have to worry about being lucky.”

Is Chief Justice Roberts a political mastermind or the destroyer of conservative hope? Find out one opinion here.

And finally, but not the last word I’m sure, one of my favorite pundits, Joanne Bamberger, weighs in here. A few sound bites? Of course I’ll share, with a Daisy reaction, of course.

“According to news reports, Republicans who were in the courtroom as the justices read their opinions had their jaws drop and their eyes rolled back in their heads. They did NOT expect this.” Oh, I wish I could have been there to hear the *thunk* as those jaws hit the floor.

 

“…this is amazing news for families who have been cut off from insurance because of pre-existing conditions, lifetime limits on insurance coverage and who couldn’t come up with out-of-pocket payments for preventative services, like mammograms, that some policies wouldn’t cover.” Yes, readers, Daisy and family resemble this remark. With two disabled family members, a history of depression for one, family history of cancer, and a young one approaching the magic age of 26, this ruling is a relief. 

 

Looks like they need a Plan B (no, not that Plan B!) for attacking the President.  Exactly. I couldn’t say it better. 

 

 The Broad Side: see for yourself. Real women, real opinions.

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The trees! Save the trees! Or… or… not.

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Observe: one of the trees that our neighbor wants to save. She circulated petitions and called our alderman and forced a review of the situation. Unfortunately, she’s not thinking logically. 

A blustery day in the neighborhood

It’s a big one. The branch cracked and fell due to a wind gust – just a gust of wind on a clear but windy day.

Big tree, big branch.

In conclusion, the trees are lovely, and they’re lived good lives. Saving these trees (and tearing up the roots with the road construction) isn’t a logical decision.

Remaining limb – and proximity to wire

 

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War Imagery in Politics

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Readers, remember this conversation?

Daisy: I’m going downtown to volunteer for a few more hours.

Chuck: You know, honey, the recall election is over.

Daisy: Dear, we lost the battle, but not the war. There are primaries in August and the Big Match-up in November. 

I know; Governor Walker won his recall election. He won it by a small margin, despite the millions spent on his campaign. I hope the governor is taking into consideration that he did not win easily. His side may have won one battle, but the troops on the ground are still fighting the war.

Fighting the war. The battle imagery implies fighting, attacking, attempting a take-over or worse, aiming to kill. Collateral damage will occur; people will suffer. Is that really what we want in Wisconsin?

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the language of war and the language of sports were highly recommended study topics for college graduates going into business. If young men and (especially) women didn’t know the terminology, they were perceived as outsiders and began their careers with a linguistic disadvantage. In today’s world, management language still exists, but it varies more according to workplace climate than a gender or age difference. In a working climate defined by conflict, war words might seem appropriate. Wisconsin’s current political climate is not physically violent, but it is full of pain, aggression, vitriol and rancor. Conflict is the norm and cooperation is the exception. Passing laws becomes a matter of a battle won or lost, with wounded citizens on both sides.

If instead a sports analogy came into play, the teamwork aspect could appear stronger. When team works together, they score. When players go to bat and hit grand slam home runs, their entire team benefits. In this model, legislators can train for marathon sessions or bulk up for raising heavy issues, Unruly managers and players can be removed from the game. Good sportsmanship, playing by the rules, and clean competition all become important.  In a sports metaphor, opposite sides still compete, but they do it within a structure. They compete in public, with an audience watching, cheering, applauding, and respecting the participants. Eventually the game ends with a winner and, unfortunately, a loser. A sportsmanlike competition allows the loser to graciously concede without losing status.

I don’t even want to start thinking about battle fatigue. That’ll be a whole different set of images. Readers, what kind of language do you suggest? The metaphors and analogies we use can set the scene for success or failure.

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Actual conversations

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Daisy: I’m going downtown to volunteer for a few more hours.

Chuck: You know, honey, the recall election is over.

Daisy: We’re looking ahead: focusing on August and November. Senate, Congress, and state assembly, and of course, re-electing President Obama.

Later conversation:

Chuck: I’m not hearing any buzz for the Democratic candidates.

Daisy: You will. We’re out there. We Dems don’t have the billionaires and their Super PACs on our side.

Chuck: So the appearance is that the Democrats don’t have any money, and therefore don’t have broad based support.

Daisy: That’s not it. Our backers don’t have the billions to spare. We’re supported by others, those who have fewer bucks to donate. Our candidates don’t have as many television commercials because they’re expensive. We concentrate on grass-roots, people to people campaign tactics.

Chuck: But with less money, it appears that the Democrats have less support. That may not be true, but money does buy a lot of exposure.

Daisy: Well, we already know from our recall experience that money can buy an election. Sigh. 

In summary, people, I still volunteer. I will continue to offer my time and knowledge and expertise to the less-wealthy candidates that seem to understand and support the issues that matter to me. We public servants lost one battle, but we’re still fighting the good fight..

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Keeping Safe at Any Age

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Age 16: eligible to drive
Age 18: eligible to vote
Age 21: eligible to drink a beer or two
Oops, I missed one. Age 20: Leave behind a statistic. What statistic? I’m glad you asked.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines children as anyone aged 0 – 19, and the leading cause of death in children is unintentional injury. Accidents. Car crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls are just a few of the examples.

Our country is getting safer for children – about 30% safer over the last decade. But even with improvement during decade 2.0, we still have issues. Okay, I’ll leave the issues behind, but accidents still happen, and happen to the tune of more than 9,000 deaths a year.
The CDC asked several bloggers to help share safety tips, and of course I said “Yes.” I’ll share some of their common sense recommendations, and I’ll point you toward a few web sites chock-full of information.
Common sense isn’t as common as it should be, given the – well, common name. For example, under drowning, tips to decrease drowning deaths include this list.
  • Learn to swim.
  • Watch kids closely around water.
It’s a start. Motor Vehicle tips are also common sense, but these take a little more time and effort.
  • Always use seat belts & safety seats.
  • Use booster seats that are correct for a child’s age and weight.
  • Use safe-driving agreements or contracts with teens.
Prevention for falls brings in a few items that aren’t necessarily “cool” with kids.
  • Insist on soft landing surfaces on playgrounds (i.e. sand or wood chips).
  • Install protective rails on bunk beds and loft beds.
  • Wear a helmet. Listen up, kiddos, Aaron Rodgers wears one.
I promised links.
The CDC has a page they call “Protect the One you Love.”
“Color me Safe” is a coloring book available in English or in Spanish.
This site offers free e-cards related to the topic.
Readers, dear readers, I agree to post on these topics for many reasons. Health posts are never paid posts or sponsored. When the CDC calls – well, when the CDC emails – I’m willing to help because I want our world to get better, not worse, for the generations that follow. I’m teaching one of those generations right now. If I can make a difference, if I can make a suggestion that prevents a child from getting hurt, it’s more than worth the blog space.
I’m serious about the disclaimer. This is not a paid post. I’m also serious about making a difference. The U.S. has a higher death rate from preventable injury than Sweden, Norway, the U.K., France, Canada, Australia…. isn’t it sad that the list goes on? Let’s change it, folks. Add a safety suggestion in the comments or post one on Twitter. Be sure you copy it to @CDCgov so the CDC folk see it, too.

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Making the freshman book list

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>
The books on this table are in consideration for the ninth grade curriculum in my local public schools. The books are on display to call for community input. The administrator in charge told me they’re looking for “…balanced input” – meaning input from many, not just the loud and organized book-bashing groups.

Oops. My bias is showing.
I took a copy of the list and checked off those I’d read. Then I made some general observations. I logged on to Paperbackswap and requested a few titles that intrigued me, including those that had attracted objections in the past.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm was a good book for its time, but not really suitable for today’s ninth graders. Most high school freshmen don’t have a background in the rise of the Soviet Union. This cleverly written allegory would be more effective if students read it after or concurrently with their world history classes.
The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci – I haven’t read this yet. I ordered it. Parents have asked that it be removed from the curriculum, and I must see why. If the book is that powerful, it’s probably fascinating.
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye – A Trivia contest once asked for the name of Holden Caulfield’s younger sister. I remember that she had an influence on Holden, that he felt protective toward her, but I couldn’t remember her name (Phoebe). Very introspective, this book fits the curricular theme of “…the concept of the individual as well as interpersonal relationships.”
Fahrenheit 451 – Scary. Ray Bradbury’s genius shows in this book, one that the book burning folk need to read. Really.
The Latehomecomer: a Hmong Family Memoir – I have this on on my shelves and I haven’t read it yet. Local buzz suggests it’s an excellent book. Author Kao Kalia Yang spoke to local teachers a few years ago. She inspired me to read her work and to keep writing my own.
The Odyssey – Balancing contemporary books with classics is a challenge. Many Odyssey references, including the term “Odyssey” itself, have become part of today’s language. The other night I heard someone on TV saying, “Even Scylla and Carybdis couldn’t tear us apart.” And how about those Sirens? I hope the decision makers keep The Odyssey in their collection.
Romeo and Juliet – It’s not Shakespeare’s best work, but it’s very accessible to young adults. It’s a good introduction to the world of Shakespeare, the language of the times, and a story that’s been produced and reproduced in many incarnations.
Speak – Controversial because its main character was raped, this Laurie Halse Anderson book stimulates discussion and attracts criticism. It’s a strong story showing the devastation of sexual assault and its aftermath, including the bullying that can go with reporting the incident. Readers will recognize the high school cliques and the stereotyped teachers in bits of humor that balance the seriousness.
Step from Heaven – A library media specialist recommended this to me several years ago. It’s a powerful story of the immigrant experience in a family that struggles to earn their way toward the American Dream. The author uses an effective technique by writing in beginning English as the family moves, improving the language and grammar as the characters themselves learn, grow, and assimilate.
I noticed a few generalizations as I looked up the titles under consideration. The suggestions cover several perspectives of WWII: the nonfiction Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Slavomir Rawicz’ The Long Walk: A True Story of a Trek to Freedom, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, and Elie Wiesel’s Night expose readers to multiple perspectives on a single historical time period.
There is an attempt to promote diverse voices through memoirs and realistic fiction. A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah chronicles a world our American teens can only imagine – if they’re aware of it at all. Adeline Yen Mah’s Falling Leaves shares another world as well: the Chinese culture where women are not valued and can suffer abuse for just being female. Works by Native American Sherman Alexie, Hispanic author Sandra Cisneros, and Hmong writer Kao Kalia Yang provide many varied viewpoints for students to explore.
And isn’t that what we want as teachers, parents, and role models? For our children to explore, thoughtfully consider various perspectives, and develop informed opinions? Censorship in any form interferes with the evolution of open-minded readers.
Maybe that’s why the closed-minded book critics continue to fight.

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>Spring Cleaning: the Medicine Cabinet

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>It was on my list. Really. But my list gets so long sometimes, important jobs remain undone. When Chuck opened the cupboard to get his daily BP meds and three bottles and a box tumbled out and landed on the counter, we decided that cleaning the meds cabinet needed to rise to the top of the to-do.


If you think the “Before” picture above looks scary, check out the “During” picture. I pulled everything out — every single bottle, every single box, every inhaler, every little medicine measuring cup — and spread out the contents on the cupboard.
Wow.

No, the coffee wasn’t in the cupboard. I needed it for strength. Really.
After combining half-full vitamin bottles, storing extras in an accessible place (two-for-one sales are only a bargain if we can keep track of what we already own), checking expiration dates, and throwing away junk like the 6 inch stack of med cups, I could organize and set up the categories. On the top shelf are over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for illnesses. I get a little OCD about OTC because when someone is sick, I do not (repeat, do NOT) want to be making a pharmacy run. We have a good stock of that which we need, and nothing unusable or out of date. They’re sorted in three small boxes: cold/ allergy, tummy troubles, and pain killer/fever reducer/ anti-inflammatories.

On the bottom are the prescriptions and everyday needs.
All extras (mainly from Buy-one Get-one deals) are behind the boxes on the top shelf. Extra prescriptions? We order most of our daily meds by mail through our insurance, so we get 3 months worth in one bottle. It really saves time and space.
Not bad, really. Most of this chore was sorting and organizing. Now if we can maintain it… now that will be the challenge!

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>Sunday List

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>Make coffee.
Finish laundry.
Read Sunday newspaper.
Clean litter boxes.
Shower.
Blog.
Run Virus-Scan on laptop.
Make a difference in the world.
Make and preserve orange marmalade.
Work on progress reports.

Progress, as of 11:00 AM:
Coffee: check.
Laundry: last load in dryer.
Newspaper: check.
Litter boxes clean, self clean.
Virus Scan finished on both laptop and desktop.
Oranges, sugar, jars, and water-bath canner gathered. Must shop for liquid pectin.
Progress reports on jump drive; will work on those during playoff games. Specific goal for today: fill in Social Skills and Study Habits sections.

Wait a minute. What’s that other goal? Make a difference? That’s a little tougher. Haiti comes to mind. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is tomorrow. I don’t have the day off from school; I do have a substitute because I’ll be in a workshop all day. I’ve been teaching a series of vocabulary lessons called “Words About Great Leaders” with an emphasis on Dr. King and other strong leaders. Can I do more?

It’s easy to give up, feel powerless, when there’s a huge disaster in the world. Haiti’s poverty is debilitating on a typical day. A hurricane or earthquake hitting their island is devastating. The immediate loss of life, the potential for disease, the absence of basic shelter, food, and water – can one person make a difference?

Yes.

I can make a difference locally by teaching my students as well as I’m able. Teach them to climb out of poverty, teach them not to take for granted the skills and the materials they already possess. Teach them to be aware of what’s happening in the world, know that their small neighborhood is connected to the city, the county, the state. Show them that every action is like a stone dropped in a pond, starting a ripple effect that moves outward in ever-growing circles.

Meanwhile, I’ll go buy the liquid pectin I need for making orange marmalade. It won’t change the world, but it’ll feed my family. Today, that’s a good start.

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