SPRING HAS SPRUNG - May not seem like it, but I swear to you that it has! Perhaps we're all smiling a bit more, feeling a bit better, and are anxious to be out and about. But we all know Mother Nature is a fickle wench, so be prepared. Dress accordingly! Carry a jacket or sweater just to be on the safe side. It's much easier to remove warm clothing than it is to try and find it should the weather take a quick turn for the worse.
A big WELCOME to new members and THANK YOU to ALL members and friends for your support.
************************************************* NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS...NEWS
NAOTD/AccessHOPE BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENTS - Board of Directors - Turtle@dnaco.net/Vice President.....Advisory Panel - BLUE55WING/Director Travel & Public Relations - D11yoy/Advisor-Travel & Public Relations - PandoraN/Advisor-Travel & Public Rel. - Wish4amtn/Director & Advisor-Disabled Activism-JSvob86999/Director & Advisor-ILC/PCA - FTemple917/Director & Advisor-Multiple Sclerosis.
It is the hope of NAOTD/AccessHOPE to have each disability represented on Advisory Panel. Anyone interested in serving, please contact NAOTD@aol.com. The requirements? Only that you are disabled and have some business background. Our first Board Meeting will be held On Line in a few weeks.
TRAVEL - Members meeting Members. For those who were in Vegas, I felt very priviledged meeting you & hope to be able to meet more members & friends of the Alliance as time goes on. Members interested in getting together on a yearly basis, to have fun, let our hair down, and to discuss a "little" Alliance business, please contact BLUE55WING, D11yoy or PandoraN. Some ideas that have already been suggested: Disney/Florida-Branson, Missouri-The Caribbean (cruise or flight) Atlantic City, NJ. Any other ideas? Let's hear them! Princess Cruise Lines has just launched a ship, "The Inspiration" that meets ADA standards. The disAbled travel agent the Alliance will be using is in fact on a cruise aboard this ship right now. He will be contacting BLUE55WING when he returns.
I want to mention that BLUE, D11yoy and PAN are NOT travel agents. Their function on the Board is to provide INFORMATION for disABLED traveling. BLUE has a huge data base that contains pertinent material; lifts, chair rentals, van rental & purchases, transportation, nursing care, accessible vacations, etc. If you're planning on traveling & have a specific concern or would like information on services, contact BLUE.
SYRINGES - For members who use syringes for insulin, betaseron, or other injectible "prescribed" medication, most insurance company's will cover the cost of your syringes. Generally, you need only provide them with a physicians prescription or statement of necessity. If your insurance company balks at this expense, don't be afraid to request a meeting with their mediation board. SPEAK OUT & SPEAK UP. If you can't, contact me & I'll do it for you. :D
CAMPUS DISCRIMINATION - This is a disgusting practice in any form and MUST be stopped. The Alliance was recently asked to become involved in exposing discrimination against disabled students and had the support of a national disability magazine. Unfortunately, the students who requested this involvement had been too intimidated to follow through. PLEASE, if you feel you are being discriminated against on your campus, contact: Disabiltiy Rights Education & Defense Fund-2212 6th Street - Berkeley, CA 94710 - (800) 466-4232 or contact NAOTD.
************************************************* This is the official home page for the National Alliance OF The Disabled and AccessHOPE. Here you will discover who we are. Links on the page will take to our mission statement, past and present newsletters and finally to an editorial section called "THE SYBERMOUTH." (disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on "THE SYBERMOUTH." are not necessarily those of the National Alliance OF The Disabled and/or AccessHOPE) I encourage all to visit our site and to spread the word about it. This site is constantly evolving so check back frequently to discover whats new. Jim Heida Jr.
A TIP - For those of us who use scooters & chairs and who enjoy being outside; gardening, or just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, but hate the mess our "wheels" track into the house, a stiff bristled brush applied to the wheels before going indoors helps a lot.
SUPPORT - There are many of us who live alone, who are not married, do not have a significant other, who have no family. And there are those of us who have all of the above and are still lonely; feeling cut off.. I've been there a time or two ...most of us have. My number is (501) 356-5107 & I'm here. NO! This is not a 900# :D, just the number of someone who cares.
************************************************* IN CLOSING - This is 1996 & I am amazed that we are AFRAID to SPEAK UP & SPEAK OUT. We want change, don't we? We won't get it by being SILENT. Silence only perpetuates more discrimination in any form. We don't need to chain our chairs to the gates of city hall, scream and throw ourselves on the ground, or set our handicapped parking permitts on fire. That IS NOT what the Disabilities Movement is all about. It is about the disABLED joining forces & becoming one in our search and effort for equality, independence and freedom. Whether we like it or not, we are a community that is "separate". Our needs and concerns are far different than any other community. My disability is not "better", "worse", "more popular", or "more important" than yours. It is a "condition" or "disease" that should BRING us together, not SEPARATE us from each other. Let's work toward that goal....together.
Stay well, ALL.! And have a healthy, happy spring.
Victoria E. Brown/Weefiend
James Heida, Jr./Jaminator
NAOTD/AccessHOPE
