Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

No matter how little was in the cupboard come this time of year, Mom always found four cans of soup or boxes of jello for us four to donate to food hampers at our respective schools.

In elementary school, taking something for the food hamper gave me a sense of pride and duty. I was doing my small part to help someone who had less than we did.

(Aside story: One year – I was in Grade 3 or 4 – a day or two before Christmas holidays, there was a heavy snow fall during the day. The short school buses were very late in picking up the special ed students. A few teachers, including Mom, stayed with the children at school, mere blocks from where I write this now. We sang Christmas carols and played games while the snow continued falling outside. With suppertime nearing and some children requiring their evening medication, the teachers were on the verge of dipping into the large food hamper to feed us when the buses arrived. Everyone made it safely home that night.)

The ritual of donating to the food hamper continued through high school with a lunchtime sock-up. Admission was one can of food.

In my adult years, living on my own, I continued the tradition. The one year that I did have a job, I arranged an office collection for the university’s student food bank.

I missed a few years for a variety of reasons; mainly because a drop box wasn’t located close by. Those years I felt like a piece of Christmas was missing. I hadn’t done my part.

Those missed years were redeemed this year. Wanting to do more than a can of soup or a package of jello, I initially thought of donating a few complete dinners to the Union Gospel Mission. Then a voice said feed 100 people. I put the challenge out on Twitter.

To all of you who bought copies of The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger: Volume I and cups of coffee, thank you for giving me that piece of Christmas. Together, you have ensured 100 people in dire need will enjoy a warm Christmas dinner.

I am amazed and warmed by how my online community extended its arms to my local community. A very sincere thank you.

Perhaps this will become a new tradition? 

One pleasure of being a blogger is receiving emails from readers. Although I don’t always respond, I do read each and every one. A month ago I received this heart-tugging email from Pamela, to which I have been pondering how to respond ever since:

I was thrilled to come across your website tonight! I know you’re probably a busy woman, but I was wondering if I could ask you a question. I know a family with a beautiful 8 year old daughter who has severe spastic CP. Right now she’s really struggling with self confidence, realizing how beautiful she is, and with not being able to verbalize her thoughts. To make it worse, despite how very much she is loved, no one can truly understand what she is going through. I’m sure you get this kind of request often, but I was wondering what words of wisdom you could give us? I read Jana’s post of August 29/07 and the advice you gave her on parenting children with special needs. I was wondering what kind of encouraging words you would offer to M herself?

(My first thought: Damn cerebral palsy for making yet another precious child feel this way!)

Pamela, thank you for your touching email. I fully appreciate M’s frustration in her inability to voice her thoughts and needs, and no doubt her family’s frustration at not knowing what their daughter is thinking and wanting.

Finding a way for M to communicate effectively, no matter the method, is crucial for her life. I would suggest working with M’s current abilities and going from there. It may mean using a word board, developing a picture/symbol board, typing with her toe or whatever. It may not be something the professionals have considered or approve of. (They strongly discouraged me from typing with my left thumb back in Grade 1. Little did they know I was meant to become the Left Thumb Blogger!) Keep trying different things until something clicks. This will entail ample creativity, ingenuity and patience, with M leading the way.

Regarding boosting her self-confidence, be sure to praise and acknowledge her for her efforts, no matter the result. Keep photos of her in places of honour, alongside photos of her siblings, cousins and friends swinging the baseball bat or dancing at their first recital. And, of course, continue reminding her she is loved and valued.

With support and caring from you, her family, friends and teachers, M will reach her full potential and beyond!

Dear M,

You are a precious gift. Your outer body – the part everyone sees – is the wrapping paper – the part of the gift that is often put aside. The actual gift lies deep within you and is more precious, more beautiful than the wrapping paper.

Your eyes and your smile provide people with a peek at the gift within. Give the people you meet a big peek at your gift by flashing them a great big smile and showing them your beautiful eyes.

I understand how frustrating it is not being able to say what you are thinking and feeling. I have no doubt you have much going on in that beautiful head of yours. The challenge is to find a way to communicate it. There are more ways to communicate than by speaking. I’m sure with help from your family, teachers and therapists, you will find a way to communicate your thoughts. Keep trying and working hard and you will find a way for your voice to be heard.

You are a beautiful young lady, M. Wishing you every success.

With much love,
Glenda

In an email exchange several weeks ago, social media strategist Chris Brogan suggested that I put together an ebook from my blog posts to generate some income for myself. Awesome idea!

The wheels began churning. I’d pull the best posts from my first year of blogging here and entitle the ebook The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger. Adding Volume I to the title would enable me to create similar ebooks in subsequent years, assuming this one was a success. 

With Christmas fast approaching, I then began thinking that I could donate partial proceeds to my favourite charity the Union Gospel Mission for its Christmas dinner fundraiser. I headed to bed, feeling good about this plan.

Entering the bedroom, I heard a voice clearly say, "Feed 100 people."

What the heck? 100 people? Are you kidding? I’m only a small blogger with small blog traffic? How am I suppose to sell 100 ebooks to feed 100 people within the limited time before Christmas?

I proceeded with the idea the next day, with the voice’s words on my mind. Due to some delays because of other commitments and a few technical difficulties, the ebook took longer than expected to create, increasing my doubt to sell 100 copies in time. Once created, the project became a community effort:

• Todd Jordan and Robert Hruzek offered feedback on the ebook’s plan;
• Lori-ann Engel, in her new role as my virtual assistant (!), edited the ebook,
• S. R. Emerson assisted me in getting Mal’s shopping cart playing nicely with PayPal (please let me know if you had any difficulties in downloading the ebook);
• Joanna Young kindly stumbled the original post;
• Chris Brogan blogged about it and then tweeted it;
• Countless other kind souls then retweeted, spreading the message like wildfire through Twitterland.

What happened next was amazing and humbling. People – some friends, some strangers – purchased multiple copies of the ebook. Others, not wanting the ebook but wishing to buy Christmas dinner for people in need, bought me enough cups of coffee (using the link below the post) to keep me buzzing for a week!

In less than a week of launching The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger: Volume I, enough money has been raised to feed Christmas dinner to nearly 80 people in need! And there is still one more week to go!

How heartwarming is that? Giving selflessly to people less fortunate – the blogosphere has definitely caught the spirit of Christmas!

Thank you.

Accessibility 100 provides easy-to-implement, free and inexpensive ways for improving accessibility for people with disabilities, dispelling the myth that accessibility needs to be expensive and difficult to achieve. Let’s spotlight Accessibility 100 in practice.

Oftentimes businesses and establishments make the news for not providing access for people with disabilities. Let’s turn that spotlight around and shine it on businesses and establishments that have improved access or service for people with disabilities in small yet meaningful ways, or even for one customer in that moment.

For example, several years ago Darrell and I spent our anniversary at Crescent Beach. We found a small place somewhere along the water for dinner. Once we had eaten, I had to use the washroom. The single washroom was tiny. There was no way I could get my scooter in and close the door. Of course, every restaurant should have a wheelchair accessible washroom; however, sometimes reality bites! In that moment, I had to use the washroom and I had no clue where the nearest accessible one was. The waitress kindly helped me to walk into the washroom, waited for me, and then helped me back to my scooter. That was not likely in her job description, but she did what she could to compensate for the building’s lack of accessibility. For that I am appreciative.

More recently, at the Sandman Inn in Castlegar, the manager ensured appropriate grab bars were installed in the otherwise fairly accessible bathroom before I returned to my room on the second night. This enabled me to safely use the toilet.

How many other individuals do what they can to make their businesses or establishments accessible, in that moment, for a customer/client/patron with a disability?

Let’s spotlight individuals and businesses that have taken small steps to improve accessibility, one customer at a time. To get this going, I am tagging Kara Swims, Lori-ann Engel, David Hingsburger, Norman Perrin, Nickie, and Karen Putz.

Haven’t been tagged? Not to worry. Either leave your story in a comment below or share your story on your blog and link back to this post. That way all of the stories will be gathered in one place for others to read and to learn from.

Let’s hear your (or a loved one’s) story!

Accessibility 100 is a series of 100 easy-to-implement, free and inexpensive tips for improving accessibility for people with disabilities. This is a community project. Feel free to leave your comments, questions and ideas for future Accessibility 100 posts.

Get the entire series by subscribing to this blog by filling in the form in the upper right corner or by subscribing to the RSS feed.

Two weeks ago I did an interview with Fernanda Araujo for her Masters in Applied Disability Studies. This week she had a few follow up questions.

1. Can you start by telling me something of what it is like to live with disability every day?

For the most part, having a disability isn’t something I really think about. I don’t wake up every morning and think, "Damn, I have cerebral palsy yet again!" I go about my day, doing what I do, the way in which I do it. At times I hit a bump or barrier and need to find how to work around it. But, really, I don’t know what it is like to live without a significant physical disability. Living with a disability daily is how life is and I deal with it, day by day.

2. What are some of the main challenges you face? What strategies do you use to meet such challenges?

My biggest challenge is verbal communication. Because of my speech impairment – I speak Glenda-ish – most people find it difficult to understand me, which severely limits who I can talk to. This is rather isolating at times. Through the years I have used various strategies to work around my speech:

• An alphabet card to spell out words for people. During my university years, that card became my security blanket. I didn’t live my apartment without it.
• Notes that I typed ahead of time. I dubbed them my talking papers.
• Now I use text-to-speech software and the voice of Kate to give speeches and presentations.

I have found having a variety of strategies to be the key. That way I have a choice of which to use, depending upon the situation.

3. Do you ever feel marginalized? Disadvantaged?

I felt the most marginalized or disadvantaged was when I was searching for a job. Because of my disability, I can not answer phones or type at 60wpm – job requirements for many entry level positions. Employers seemed unable or unwilling to look beyond my cerebral palsy with its jerky movements and strained speech to see my abilities, skills and passions. Employers were unwilling to take a chance in hiring me. Being excluded from the labour force, after working as hard as my peers in school and university, I felt marginalized by society.

However, because I was excluded from the labour force in one sense, I have found other ways to put my abilities, skills and passions to use in rewarding ways. I imagine I am happier and more fulfilled doing what I am nowadays with blogging and such than I would have been in a 9 to 5 type job. I am confident that the income will come.

4. What have you learned from your disability? How has it made you a better person?

Without knowing the type of person I would have been had I not had a disability, I think my cerebral palsy has magnified my determination, persistence and creativity. Having a disability has taught me to be open and accepting of differences and to try to accommodate those differences. It has taught me to flexible and to find possible solutions. I am continually learning patience and understanding.

5. How do other people look at your disability?

This is a difficult question to answer because I rather not speak for other people. Some see my disability first; others see beyond my cerebral palsy to see me.

6. What about your close relationships with people? In what ways do they treat you differently and in what ways does disability make no difference to them?

My close friends and my family see beyond my disability and accept me for who I am. They willingly make allowances when needed and they know when I can do things myself (sometimes with a gentle reminder). They expect no less from me simply because I have a disability.

7. Are there other aspects of disability that are important to you?

Tightly intertwined with disability is the need for accessibility in every aspect of life: housing, education, transportation, shopping, employment, banking, websites, health services, recreation, entertainment, sidewalks… Every where. It is that accessibility that enables me to live my life as independently as possible. Accessibility enables me to say, "I’ll do it myself."