Thanks for stopping by the Readers’ Café – the place to gather and to share. However, I’m not currently here. I am on my way to the 2008 “Misbehaving Woman of the Year” Recogntion Event, Fundraiser and Clothing Swap – a fundraiser for the Avalon Women’s Centers.

I am being honoured with one of the “Misbehaving Women” Awards, which are based on the Laurel Thatcher Ulrich quote “well behaved women seldom make history” and honours women who have refused to be pulled into the cultural drift of complacency, who have dared to make a difference, taken a risk and enhanced the lives of women in her community. Where is the fun in being well behaved?! Details and, hopefully, photos from the event will be forthcoming.

Readers’ Cafe will open again in two weeks on Wednesday, March 19th, at 4pm pacific. Stephen Hopson from Adversity University will be our featured guest. Hope you can join us then.

For now, I’ll leave you with this qoute that I love and perhaps embodies Misbehaving Women:

Life shouldn’t be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, totally worn out and screaming, “Woohoo, what a ride!”

Tags: Readers\\\', Cafe

Hi and welcome to Readers’ Café – the place to gather and to share.

The plan is to interview and chat with a featured guest on some aspect of disability and/or accessibility, and then have readers join in the discussion.

Today’s featured guest is Chris Darling – a metal, stone and wood artisan, folk radio host and father to an adorable six year old daughter Kiki who, along with her twin brother Quinn (who lived 16hour 40 minutes), entered the world at 26.5 24.5 weeks gestation. This began a long journey of near- death operations, shunts and, eventually, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, the professionals paid to support parents during this difficult and exhausting time provided very little information. Chris and his wife Magda were left on their own to navigate this unknown world of medical terms, procedures and services.

Chris has kindly offered to share his story today in hopes someone will see it and pass the information onto loved ones that services are available, but only if they make arrangements to “consume” them.

I invite you to come in, relax and join in the conversation. Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

Chris Darling is a metal, stone and wood artisan, folk radio host and father to an adorable six year old daughter Kiki who, along with her twin brother Quinn (who lived 16hour 40 minutes), entered the world at 26.5 weeks gestation. This began a long journey of near-death operations, shunts and, eventually, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, the professionals paid to support parents during this difficult and exhausting time provided very little information. Chris and his wife Magda were left on their own to navigate this unknown world of medical terms, procedures and services.

Chris has kindly offered to share his story at this week’s Readers’ Café in hopes someone will see it and pass the information onto loved ones that services are available, but only if they make arrangements to “consume” them. Please join us right here on Wednesday, February 20th, at 4-7pm pacific time to here how Chris and his wife had to advocate very early on for their daughter’s life because health care professionals are coached to cloak information and to not return phone calls.

Hope you can join us. Feel free to tell your friends. This interview may provide information that will help someone you know.

Hi and welcome to the freshly remodeled Readers’ Café – the place to gather and to share.

With the remodeled café, the plan is to interview and chat with a featured guest on some aspect of disability and/or accessibility, and then have readers join in the discussion.

Today’s featured guest is Karen Putz, the Deaf mom who was denied service at her local Steak & Shake drive thru because she didn’t place her order through the speakers, which she can’t use due to her disability. Her story was covered by two TV stations and has received attention by the blogosphere. Most blog commenters have been supportive of Karen’s actions to go public with her fight for her rights, some do not fully understand what life is like when you’re Deaf and require some gentle disability awareness training, and a few others have been complete…well, sadly, there are still people in today’s society that need major attitude adjustments!

Today I would like to give Karen the opportunity to update us on her story, dispel some of the misperceptions about being Deaf, and how she is using social media to share her story and to advocate for her rights.

I invite you to come in, relax and join in the conversation. Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

After a week of banging, cutting and painting, Readers’ Café – the place to gather and to share – has undergone an extreme makeover: blog style.

Readers’ Café hasn’t been inspiring in recent months. The topics weren’t inline with what I do, namely, writing about disability awareness and accessibility-related issues. And, I don’t feel there was any value or benefit to readers, which may explain dwindling participation.

Rather than close Readers’ Café, I decided to remodel! (If, at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.) Readers’ Café will still be held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 4-7pm pacific time, right here on the Do It Myself Blog. Participating in the conversation will still be as easy as posting a comment. What will be different is the format! The plan is to interview and chat with a featured guest on some aspect of disability and/or accessibility, and to have readers join in the discussion.

Karen Putz will be our first guest this Wednesday, February 6th. Karen is the Deaf mom who was denied service at her local Steak & Shake drive thru because she didn’t place her order through the speakers, which she can’t use due to her disability. Her story was covered by two TV stations and has received some attention by the blogosphere. Most blog commenters have been supportive of Karen’s actions to go public with her fight for her rights, some do not fully understand what life is like when you’re Deaf and require some gentle disability awareness training, and a few others have been complete…well, sadly, there are still people in today’s society that need major attitude adjustments!

On Wednesday, I plan to ask Karen questions arising since the incident began unfolding. Questions like:

• Why didn’t you go inside to order your milkshake? (I know why, but I would like Karen to explain why.)
• Is this type of incident common for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing?
• What don’t most people understand about being Deaf or hearing impaired? What are some typical barriers you face daily?
• Some unenlightened souls say you shouldn’t even be driving because you wouldn’t hear sirens coming, and thus, are a safety concern on the road. How do you know when to pull over for emergency vehicles?
• As a person with a disability, surely you unfortunately encounter annoying and discriminating situation frequently. What was it about this particular situation that made you fight it rather than brush it of?
• What steps have you taken so far to advocate for your rights?
• You’ve used social media, like blogs and Twitter, to tell your story. What kinds of responses or results have you experienced? How have you managed to keep up with all of it?

Hope you can join us Wednesday, February 6th @ 4-7pm pacific time. Feel free to tell your friends.

If you have an idea for an upcoming featured guest, I’m all ears!

Tags: Deaf+Mom, advocacy, Readers+Cafe

(Photo credit: Gregory Runyan)

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share.

Personally, I have had enough of the cold, wet and dreariness of winter. I’ve decided to treat everyone to enjoy some fun in the sun! Today we’re soaking up some warmth (with appropriate sunscreen, of course) on the beach at Hanauma Bay on Oahu in Hawaii.

Please help yourself to a cool beverage of your choice. Then spread out a beach towel, sit back, and soak in the sights and sounds. Join in the conversation by posting comments below. We’re a friendly bunch; no need to be shy.

Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

Today’s conversation starter:

• If you could be anywhere doing anything in this moment, where would you be and why?
• What is your wildest daydream (that you can share publicly)?
• Have any of your daydreams ever come true?

Aloha!

(Photo credit: Dez Pain)

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share. Come enjoy one last round of holiday goodies before the exercise bikes and running shoes are pulled out of the closet.

There’s eggnog, mulled wine and other yummy goodies on the table. Please help yourself. Then sit back, take a deep breath and feel your worries melt away. Join in the conversation by posting comments below. We’re a friendly bunch; no need to be shy.

Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

Feel free to share your:

• Best moments from 2007
• New year’s resolutions
• Dreams and goals for 2008
• Word for 2008

Stay great in 2008!

Tags: Readers+Cafe, New+Year

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share. Come take a break from the shopping, preparing and stressing, and join us around the warm, crackling fire.

There’s eggnog, mulled wine and other yummy goodies on the table. Please help yourself. Then sit back, take a deep breath and feel your worries melt away. Join in the conversation by posting comments below. We’re a friendly bunch; no need to be shy.

Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

Feel free to share your:

• Holiday survival tip
• Favourite holiday memory
• Favourite holiday recipe

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share. Today I invite you into my home for a special, extended Readers’ Café so that readers in far away lands may join us.

Today we celebrate a birthday of sorts: my baby, my book I’ll Do It Myself is one year old. Exactly one year ago today, my thirty years of dreaming, planning researching and writing became reality when seven boxes of books were delivered. Opening that first box and laying my eyes and hands upon what I had created, I can only imagine that is what giving birth is like.

This past year’s journey with the book has been awesome! Copies have been mailed to readers across Canada and the United States, and to Britain, New Zealand, Australia and even Chile! Copies are also available from Celebration Christian Store and Black Bond Books, another childhood dream come true. Meeting people along the way on two successful virtual book tours, plus two book signings in Las Vegas – I am truly amazed and am sincerely grateful. Thank you.

Please help yourself to food and a beverage of your choice and make yourself comfortable. Then sit back, relax and join in the conversation by posting comments below. Feel free to ask questions about I’ll Do It Myself, share your favourite passage or to mingle with fellow readers. Don’t be shy. Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation.

(Photo credit: Hernan Herrero)

Hi and welcome to the Readers’ Café – a place to gather and to share. The Buda Restaurant in Puerto Madero, Argentina, is warm and inviting. Come on in.

Please help yourself to food and a warm beverage of your choice and make yourself comfortable. Then sit back, relax and join in the conversation by posting comments below. Don’t be shy.

Hit your internet browser’s REFRESH button to see new comments as others join in the conversation. All that I ask is that you respect others and keep it relatively family-friendly. Also, keep in mind that this is a public space, so share what you feel comfortable sharing publicly.

Today’s conversation starter is:

What are you most thankful for this year? In what ways do you express your gratitude?

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.
~ W.J. Cameron