I appreciated the last issue of BB, as I told Mark already.
This is in response to the postings, which also gives me a chance to tell Paulina that my "Always A Parent" group at Holland Christian Homes (the one whose name she took over, wonderful!), is alive and well.
We met last Friday evening and 18 people showed up this time, including three or four for the first time. There appears to be a real need to continue to do this, we are into our fourth year already and I think we'll hold to the pattern of two meetings in the fall and two in the winter/spring. Not too many so we do not get meetinged out, so to speak. There are several support groups here already, for Parkinsons, the visually impaired as well as for Alzheimers. AAP is a large umbrella, it includes several parents with offspring dealing with Downs, two parents involved with myotonic dystrophy, several with schizophrenia issues , a number who deal with developmental disorders, bipolar, etc. It is a group of folk who, in a sense "have been there", one in the group has a son in his mid fifties already. In a way they are tired after all this time, but, again, they are ALWAYS a parent, still involved in various ways.
Our spring meeting featured the Temple Grandin movie, last week we just met over coffee and I asked everyone to tell a 'good' story covering the last summer and raise an issue if they wanted to. Only one (new) person passed. There is a real sense of being there for one another, if only to experience a special bond, even just when happening to pass each other somewhere in a store.
Late November we'll probably see "The Rainman", one in the group has a copy of it.
I hope to check some of the resources referred to. There is a dearth of time to read everything and there is work to be done. Phil Reinders' recent piece was good!
I too think it is sad that the treaty, whatever its efficacy, was not ratified. The disabled community can use all the help it can get and some more moral suasion is in order.
One does not have to agree with everything the UN does or does not do (failures in Bosnia, Rwanda, countries like Sudan chairing the Human Rights Committee, the determination of the Arab/Muslim block to do everything possible to work towards wiping Israel off the map, etc., etc.) to recognize that there IS good work being done in international and famine relief. Solving the UN's problem should be done in another setting.
Posted in: Advice on Starting Support Groups for Parents?
I appreciated the last issue of BB, as I told Mark already.
This is in response to the postings, which also gives me a chance to tell Paulina that my "Always A Parent" group at Holland Christian Homes (the one whose name she took over, wonderful!), is alive and well.
We met last Friday evening and 18 people showed up this time, including three or four for the first time. There appears to be a real need to continue to do this, we are into our fourth year already and I think we'll hold to the pattern of two meetings in the fall and two in the winter/spring. Not too many so we do not get meetinged out, so to speak. There are several support groups here already, for Parkinsons, the visually impaired as well as for Alzheimers. AAP is a large umbrella, it includes several parents with offspring dealing with Downs, two parents involved with myotonic dystrophy, several with schizophrenia issues , a number who deal with developmental disorders, bipolar, etc. It is a group of folk who, in a sense "have been there", one in the group has a son in his mid fifties already. In a way they are tired after all this time, but, again, they are ALWAYS a parent, still involved in various ways.
Our spring meeting featured the Temple Grandin movie, last week we just met over coffee and I asked everyone to tell a 'good' story covering the last summer and raise an issue if they wanted to. Only one (new) person passed. There is a real sense of being there for one another, if only to experience a special bond, even just when happening to pass each other somewhere in a store.
Late November we'll probably see "The Rainman", one in the group has a copy of it.
I hope to check some of the resources referred to. There is a dearth of time to read everything and there is work to be done. Phil Reinders' recent piece was good!
Posted in: Letter Concerning the Supreme Court of Canada Decision on Assisted Suicide
Thank you!
Synod's brief statement still provides a nuanced response. The SCC decision opens up a Pandoras box.
The Canadian debate at the time of the abortion issue (read lack of!) comes to mind again with its disastrous results.
Posted in: I Have a Dream Too
Right on!
There is still some work to do.
Posted in: Urge Your Senator to Vote for Ratification of the CRPD
Both of you are correct, of course!
But it is nice to be able to root for you, we're tied pretty closely in our disabilty advocacy work.
Posted in: A Sad Day for People with Disabilities
I too think it is sad that the treaty, whatever its efficacy, was not ratified. The disabled community can use all the help it can get and some more moral suasion is in order.
One does not have to agree with everything the UN does or does not do (failures in Bosnia, Rwanda, countries like Sudan chairing the Human Rights Committee, the determination of the Arab/Muslim block to do everything possible to work towards wiping Israel off the map, etc., etc.) to recognize that there IS good work being done in international and famine relief. Solving the UN's problem should be done in another setting.