Original work from our Writers, Guest Bloggers and Freelancers
I realize that in many cases the idea of having special needs or caring for someone with special needs can make other people uncomfortable, and they struggle to know how to help when they want to. I understand that from the outside looking in, special needs can seem like a horrible burden to individuals and families.
More than 40 million current U.S. residents came from another country in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families. That’s 13.6 percent of the population, which puts into perspective how big of a role immigrants play in our economy and society.
I’ve never been a fan of stereotypes. The stereotypical woman has a wardrobe full of handbags. Not me. No siree. Mine’s full of stoma bags. Not quite as fashionable but arguably far more useful. Life with a stoma alongside multiple chronic illnesses has been a rocky ride, but this Gucci bag stuck to my tummy has taught me a few priceless lessons along the way.
Two of my ex-boyfriends from my college days, both brilliant engineers with incredibly broken spirits, loved labeling me as ‘weird’ and would call me that when they were irritated with me. I dated one right after the other, and both could not stand how non-verbal learning disability (NVLD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) had shaped me, snapping ‘Stop acting weird!’ more times than I can remember, so much so that being called ‘weird’ now causes me to physically flinch.
My mind is whirling, my heart racing. He’s in bed now, hopefully sleeping. We spent the day going round and round, to the detriment of all. He just knows how to push my buttons sometimes. I’d like to think that he’s doing this to me deliberately, just so I can feel better about my poor responses, but I know he isn’t. I know he is trying to explore the big world, and sometimes, his emotions just get the better of him.
To hire and retain tech talent with disabilities, you must go above and beyond the ADA laws. The laws that protect individuals with disabilities during the hiring process and during employment aren't sufficient to create a truly supporting and welcoming environment. ADA laws are minimum standards. They don't create a supportive environment.
And why not? Humans, we’re a complicated bunch, and for most of our history, we have tried in various ways to understand ourselves. One of the best, and most devastating ways, is through measurement. It makes sense: if someone has the most number of something, whether it is money, land, or children, then that is measured by the rules of their society as success. But this can lead to terrible things, ranging from eugenics to genocide. If someone does not measure up to the rules that the governing party that oversees them, then life can--and usually does--become incredibly difficult for them.
If you’re reading this, you already know how to use technology to find helpful resources from organizations like SPORK! These helpful posts and resources from writers who have some of the same challenges as you do can come in handy for living a more fulfilling life. But did you know that technology can also help you achieve a more successful career? If not, you definitely need to check out this list of some of the big ways tech can help you reach your career goals.
The parents, crowned as the figures who nurture and protect their children with their intuitive wisdom and championed guidance, have taken the dark path by investing their free time in ambushing, whether or not unconsciously, those who they think are “different” from them. Not only are their actions considered as a waste of dignity but also a knife to the graceful philosophy of parenting.
Words matter. I’ve been hearing that phrase a lot lately in the context of today’s social climate, referring to race, religion, ethnicity--any aspect of human interaction. It is true. It’s true because words have power--they can make us cringe when they are ugly and demeaning. They can uplift us when they are empowering and kind. As citizens of the world, when we become educated about issues that affect others and ourselves, our choice of language evolves as does our social consciousness.
