World Association of Persons With (dis)ABILITIES [WAPD]
A Non-Profit, Non-Political-Association
The Beacon of Knowledge & Refuge for the World's Largest Minority
| Week of: September 17, 2000 | BOOKMARK: http://www.wapd.org |
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A FREE newsletter sent to 24,000 subscribers around the world.
Rebroadcasted by groups and associations to over 70,000.
Feel Free to forward this newsletter to interested friends.
| "Let us be among those who renew this world and bring prosperity & solace to creation" _Zarathushtra, about 1738 B.C._ |
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| QUALCOMM Incorporated
Eudora 5.0 E-mail Member WAPD |
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That Which We Could Never Achieve Alone! IN THIS ISSUE:
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| NOT..."dis"....BUT...ABILITY! |
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are published to assist the questions, alerts and ideas of the writer. Please respond directly to them with your suggestions or areas of knowledge. It is all about: "People Helping People!" Dear Editor, I am a physically disabled person. My one leg is thin, short and joints are weak. I think that the education is a backbone for a disabled to sustain the life easily. I have just completed my bachelor's degree in electronic engineering (i.e. I have taken the final exam and waiting for the result). I want to continue my education. So I hope some help from you for my study. Can you provide me some information about scholarships to study for disabled? If there is no such opportunity then I want to study by holding some part time job. Due to physical disability I can't do all the physical works, so I need your help for searching the jobs that is fit for me. If I get such a chance with your assist then I will be great-full with you. Now I want to stop here, hoping reply from you very soon. Yours, Sharad K. Ghimire WAPD Note: This is a good example of not enough information, e.g., location, etc. BUT hopefully you will extract that from him. He can go to: http://www.disabled2work.com/ Dear Editor, Have a question I am hoping someone can help me with. I have been disabled since birth, never walked, and use a wheelchair to get around. Due to many reasons which I won't bore anyone with I have been bedridden since Nov 1999. The only way it would be possible for me to get in and out of bed, is to have a ceiling mounted remote control lift which costs about $5,000. I also need a power wheelchair, my current wheelchair is a manual one which is 30 yrs. old. I have talked to many agencies and my social worker in hopes of finding someone who could finance these items for me, since I am on a fixed income and could never afford them, but no one seems to have any answers. Any info would be greatly appreciated. If it's any help, I live in Detroit, Mich. Thank You, Joanie Kopp WAPD Note: A very similar situation is being successfully dealt with by a Texas member of WAPD who can possibly help! Dear Editor, IWhere WAPD has such a wide circulation maybe they can keep a file of accessible hotels that have been checked out by its members not hotel associations. This is a way to find out the good ones from the bad. We have all stopped at ones that claim to be ADA accessible. Also many don't treat disabled the right way.......a central list would be invaluable to all travelers. thank you, WAPD Note: One of the best sources for this information is: Access-Able Travel Source http://www.access-able.com. We are sure they would also like reports from PWD's on traveler experiences. Dear Editor, I'm writing on the behalf of a friend I met on-line, in fact it was through WAPD. She lives in London Ontario, she suffers with agoraphobia, depression and panic attacks. I'm hoping to find someone that lives close to her, so that maybe they will befriend her. She ddesperatelywants a chance to lead a normal life, to get out of her apt. and be around people. She just needs a push from a friend, encouragement and hope. I live in Oklahoma, too far to help. So if anyone out there that can help, please let me know. Thanks for your time, "God Bless Ya" Sheila Norris Dear Editor, I live in Canada. I would like to take a trip to Germany and Italy. In Canada I do not know where to go to get help? I have a purebred french poodle for I have asthma very bad and need a special dog that does not shed. I trained him myself the second one now. The problem I am having is he does not have a piece of paper from a recognized agency. So therefore the Airline does not see him for the service dog he is. He goes to seniors home twice a month for the past 7 years. Does a piece of paper make a service dog? I wonder if there is anyone that could give me some idea or help on this matter. I would like to see my family once more I have not been back for 19 years. The only thing holding me back is to certify my service dog. Thanks for any help! Helga Mathison |
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| IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME/YOU |
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The National Ataxia Foundation and its thousands of members throughout the United States want you to know about ataxia. That is why September 25, 2000 has been declared "Ataxia Awareness Day." In fact, this is the first time ataxia awareness has an international impact. Ataxia groups throughout the world have made September 25th "International Ataxia Awareness Day." You ask, What is ATAXIA??..Ataxia is a family of progressive, degenerative, neurological disorders. 150,000 Americans need you to know about "Ataxia"! That is how many people are affected by or at risk with this family of progressive, degenerative, neurological disorders. Ataxia affects coordination, balance and speech. It may also cause difficulty in swallowing, hearing, shortness of breath, irregular eye movements and/or scoliosis, symptoms of heart trouble (cardiomyopathy) or diabetes. Generally, a person with Ataxia, over time, goes from stumbling and walking as if drunk, to using a cane, to depending on a wheelchair. The disease is sometimes fatal. At this time, there is no known treatment or cure. Ataxia is a family of diseases affecting muscle control and the central nervous system. Symptoms can appear in children as young as four, although the disease is found in all ages. Poor coordination is the first sign. Walking may be unsteady, hand movements awkward and speech slurred. Diabetes and heart disease are among the other diseases associated with ataxia. Hereditary Ataxia comes in many forms, caused by a recessive or dominant gene. There are also sporadic forms, which have no known gene or family history. Symptoms of Ataxia may also be caused by head trauma, stroke, brain tumors or hemorrhages, viral infections, heart ailments or even exposure to certain drugs or toxins. Ataxia knows no barriers. It can strike any one, at any age. Some forms of hereditary ataxias are found in families of Acadian descent are rates of 250% higher than the general population in America. Among the more common hereditary forms of ataxia on South Louisiana are: Friedreich's Ataxia, French Settlement disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, and Ataxia Telangiectasia. Hi, my name is Kim Andras Bourg. I am now 33 years old. I know first hand what ataxia is all about. I was diagnosed with a hereditary recessive form of ataxia called Friedreich's Ataxia at the age of 11 1/2. Ataxia does not affect ones mental capacity. Ataxia is like being trapped in a body that does not respond to your commands. Each day can be a test of courage, with every day bringing new challenges because of the progression of the disease. Friedreich's Ataxia is caused by an abnormality of a single gene called the frataxin gene. It can be passed down from generation to generation, by family carriers who don't even realize they carry it - until it shows up in the family. Friedreich's Ataxia is an autosomal recessive disorder, which means that I inherited the disorder because I received a double dose of the frataxin gene - one from each parent. Since 1993, thirteen genes have been found for different forms of ataxia. Once a gene is found, researchers can begin to analyze the gene to better understand its function and how it affects the body. Through these studies, treatment models and drug trials can begin, with the ultimate goal to find a cure. "A tremendous burden is lifted when people see they are not the only ones living with ataxia," says Denise Drake, president of the National Ataxia Foundation/Louisiana Chapter. "The primary focus of declaring September 25, 2000 'Ataxia Awareness Day' is to inform the public about ataxia and in turn help more ataxia families get the medical and emotional support they need," stated Donna Gruetzmacher, president of the National Ataxia Foundation. "Great things can be accomplished when people know what the problems are." Within the United States, some people will light candles to represent hope and unity. Blue candles will be used to represent hope for ataxia families and white candles will symbolize unity of a common purpose among people who have the disease to find a cure. To find out more about ataxia, check out the National Ataxia Foundation's web site at http://www.ataxia.org. You can also write the Foundation at 2600 Fernbrook Lane, Suite 119, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55447-4752 or call (763) 553-0020 |
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| KEEP ON KEEPING ON! |
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| EFFECTIVE RESOURCES
How the Internet is Improving the Lives of People with Disabilities Americans with Disabilities for Democracy (ADD) http://www.americaforall.org Award Winning Disability Bulletin/News Board http://www.wapd.org/bbs/ |
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| HEALTHY PRODUCTS
http://healthyproductsprogram.com/home.html Member WAPD |
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People Helping People Right At Home.. Where it's needed! YOU can be a vital part with your computer..NOW! EXCITING!....Local empowerment for those with abilities.. Contact WAPD Chapter Consultants, after the state name, to be included in your state area. Join your neighbors! Please include your name, state, city when contacting the Consultant to join the chapter. It's... FREE.. States In Eastern U.S.A. Time Zone: States In Central U.S.A. Time Zone: States In Mountain, Arizona, Pacific U.S.A. Time Zone Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and other world areas Please be patient, membership applications for many WAPD Chapters are being processed daily and you will be invited to join and help your neighbors as soon as possible. other inquiries: mailto:info@wapd.org |
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| Be Proud Of Who You Are! You are Unique as an Individual |
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"The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open"
The WAPD BEACON for dis ABILITY is a newsletter providing highlights about WAPD's programs & disability issues. More information is available via our Web site. Addresses are NOT sold, traded, or loaned. If you choose to unsubscribe to this electronic update, send mail toTheHub@wapd.org and in the body of the E-mail, type "Unsubscribe News". PLEASE include ALL E-mail addresses that you might receive this from... To subscribe (in case this issue has been forwarded to you by someone who subscribes already), send E-mail to: TheHub@wapd.org and in the body of the E-mail, type "Subscribe News". CONTACT WAPD... Have a need, ideas, stories, questions or information for the world disabilities community?.. You can Contact WAPD: mailto:Info@wapd.org and in the Subject area put: BEACON |
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