For those of you that have followed my blog, you may have noticed that I have not blogged in quite some time. Then all of the sudden I have decided to resume a active schedule. I have published three blogs in the past week. Even though my schedule has been extremely busy, I realize that writing is a very important task and I probably need to be writing every day.
I am over the next 12 to 18 months going to being engaging in a series of very extensive writing projects in preparation for completion of my PhD. This is something that I am extremely excited about, however I have decided that I need to be getting in to the habit of writing every day. Writing is a discipline that I want to be able to cultivate.
The direction of this blog is always been on the counseling profession. This blog will continue to be on counseling, however I am going to be including some additional topics in this blog. This blog will be discussing issues related to counseling education and supervision. This blog will also be discussing disability issues. I am a counseling education and supervision scholar. I am in the third year of my PhD program. I also see myself as a disability studies scholar. In a different blog, I will define what each of those terms mean. This blog will also provide a venue in which I can provide a updates on myself as I complete my PhD program.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Thank you Dana
I am going to probably get a lot of heat for this blog, from the subject of this particular blog but I do not care. Because it is a important topic that I want to spend a few minutes talking about. I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine and colleague who is the Executive Director of the organization known as disability rights Florida. Before I continue I should disclose that I am on the Board of Directors of disability rights and this blog does not express the views of disability rights Florida staff, volunteer or board of directors. However I am sure many individuals will agree with what I am about to say. Okay back to the story, we have been discussing the recent retirement of a long time friend and colleague Dana F, from disability rights Florida. She has been employed disability rights Florida for the past 26 years. I am sure that everyone that knows Dana knows that she is a wealth of knowledge, a non-nonsense kind of individual and a wonderful advocate for individuals with disabilities. She has been involved in public policy for the past couple of decades, advocating for the lives of individuals with disabilities. She had decided to pursue other opportunities in the disability advocacy community.
I have learned a lot on how to be a effective advocate for individuals with disabilities and legislative communication from Dana. I am not a musician, otherwise I would compose a song. I am not a photographer, otherwise I would take a picture. I am a writer so I have decided to write this blog is a way of saying thank you to Dana for everything that she has done to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. I know that I will probably be getting a phone call or email from Dana about this blog. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done.
Dana and myself traveling a few years ago to Panama city Florida to conduct voting training for individuals with disabilities. I remember how passionate she was about the subject. I remember how she treated each and every individual. We have high a lot of fun on the trip and it was some of the best training I have done on the lives of individuals with disabilities. It was a privilege.
Dana, thank you for your advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Thank you for everything that you have taught me about the advocacy community and individuals with disabilities. Thank you for everything that you have done to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Just think you think you think you.
I have learned a lot on how to be a effective advocate for individuals with disabilities and legislative communication from Dana. I am not a musician, otherwise I would compose a song. I am not a photographer, otherwise I would take a picture. I am a writer so I have decided to write this blog is a way of saying thank you to Dana for everything that she has done to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. I know that I will probably be getting a phone call or email from Dana about this blog. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you have done.
Dana and myself traveling a few years ago to Panama city Florida to conduct voting training for individuals with disabilities. I remember how passionate she was about the subject. I remember how she treated each and every individual. We have high a lot of fun on the trip and it was some of the best training I have done on the lives of individuals with disabilities. It was a privilege.
Dana, thank you for your advocacy for individuals with disabilities. Thank you for everything that you have taught me about the advocacy community and individuals with disabilities. Thank you for everything that you have done to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Just think you think you think you.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Okay I understand now: transportation
Hey folks, it has been a while since I posted to my blog. However I feel like I have a article that I want to discuss with you guys. Among many of my professional titles, I consider myself a disability advocate. Most of this advocacy has been around in the area of community living and employment of individuals with disabilities. I remember having a conversation with Nancy Chapman, about my disability advocacy activities. Actually this was a series of conversations. One thing that Nancy always said to me, was think about transportation for individuals with disabilities. Okay so I have not always thought about the issue of transportation for individuals with disabilities like Nancy suggested. I have not always thought about this in my own advocacy, until now.
On October 8 the bus system in the Tampa Bay area went under some significant changes. I knew that these changes were about to happen, but I didn't really think of the impact it would have on my community. My roommate Stephanie relies on public transportation to get around. I sometimes take public transportation to get around. However my roommate takes specialized transportation services sponsored by the public transportation system because she uses a wheelchair. She has that been employed at a local community mental health agency for a while. On October 8 the public bus system eliminated a stop at that agency. Luckily she was able to be grandfathered in, however if she wasn't she would have no way to get to the job that she has. I find this totally unacceptable. She provides a much needed services in the Tampa Bay area. She is one of the best mental health I know and she has every right to get will see need to go.
My roommate Stephanie is not the only one. More individuals with disabilities have been impacted by the recent changes. There has been a bus route that has been eliminated at a major disability services provider. There was now no services at the University of South Florida. Some of my clients have been impacted to, limiting their ability to get to their jobs. This madness has to stop. I feel like I have no choice but to give my voice to increased access in the bus.
If individuals with disabilities can't get to the job that they choose or can't get access to critical public transportation services then they can't live in the community that they choose. Over the next couple of weeks I will be finally doing what Nancy has told me to do, which is to advocate for public transportation. I am planning to speak at the next board of County commissioners meeting. I will be writing my elected representatives and I will be continuing to push for more accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities. I hope that you would join me in.
On October 8 the bus system in the Tampa Bay area went under some significant changes. I knew that these changes were about to happen, but I didn't really think of the impact it would have on my community. My roommate Stephanie relies on public transportation to get around. I sometimes take public transportation to get around. However my roommate takes specialized transportation services sponsored by the public transportation system because she uses a wheelchair. She has that been employed at a local community mental health agency for a while. On October 8 the public bus system eliminated a stop at that agency. Luckily she was able to be grandfathered in, however if she wasn't she would have no way to get to the job that she has. I find this totally unacceptable. She provides a much needed services in the Tampa Bay area. She is one of the best mental health I know and she has every right to get will see need to go.
My roommate Stephanie is not the only one. More individuals with disabilities have been impacted by the recent changes. There has been a bus route that has been eliminated at a major disability services provider. There was now no services at the University of South Florida. Some of my clients have been impacted to, limiting their ability to get to their jobs. This madness has to stop. I feel like I have no choice but to give my voice to increased access in the bus.
If individuals with disabilities can't get to the job that they choose or can't get access to critical public transportation services then they can't live in the community that they choose. Over the next couple of weeks I will be finally doing what Nancy has told me to do, which is to advocate for public transportation. I am planning to speak at the next board of County commissioners meeting. I will be writing my elected representatives and I will be continuing to push for more accessible transportation for individuals with disabilities. I hope that you would join me in.
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