Fern Cohen is a freelancer who makes multiple efforts to help others facing debilitating symptoms, such as the ones she faces with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). She is also working on writing a book and she does this, not letting her ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, diagnosis interfere.
"Up to age 12, I lived with my family in a NYC housing project in Brooklyn. Then, my parents followed the 'American Dream,' bought a home, and moved us out to Long Beach, Long Island," she said. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in both French and Spanish and became certified to teach both. Fulfilling the job of a teacher would come later. First, she would pursue a life-long dream to be a "woman of the world." "I wanted to travel, and I had heard that if you worked for an airline, you could get free or discount travel," Fern said. In 1977, she began what would become an 11-year career in the airline industry. Fern enjoyed the many positions of this career, which took her all over the world. Eventually, she would end up earning a master's in travel and tourism. "In 1997, I decided to return to my roots and give back to society," she said. This is when she made use of her teaching degree, teaching at a public high school in East Harlem, N.Y. She taught French as well as Spanish here, until 2004, when she left fully tenured. During this same time, she also studied collage and mixed media art in NYC. She was thoroughly enjoying managing and living her life. At the beginning of 2003, she felt the first symptoms. Experiencing extreme fatigue after normal activities, like bicycle riding and exercising, came first. Next came a loss of balance, causing her to trip and fall regularly. As a foreign language teacher, the symptom of slurred speech was one of the hardest. Then came the breathing difficulties, which were shrugged off as a symptom of her asthma and allergies. It was January of 2004, after going through numerous doctors and a long period of tests, that Fern got the devastating diagnosis of ALS. The symptoms she had been living with finally had a name. Cohen continued to teach for the remainder of the school year. However, when she put in a request to teach at a school without steps, due to the fact that steps were nearly impossible for her to endure, the request was not fulfilled. She was told by the Department of Education that her needs could not be accommodated. It was then that she was forced to resign and collect disability. Not being used to staying at home, Fern had a hard time managing this new life. ALS did not change who she was on the inside. She still had the intellect that would have allowed her to continue teaching. However, it wasn't seen that way by others. In Fern's words, "I find that they see the wheelchair and don't see that there is a person sitting there." For Fern, isolation is the most devastating of ALS symptoms. Many of her friends have disappeared since her diagnosis with ALS and she says that even family members can be uncomfortable in her presence. However, the friendships she lacks in that area are greatly outnumbered by the ones she has acquired through the Internet. Most of the positive impact she has had on others has come from her outreach efforts in meeting people on social sites for those with disabilities, as well as through her blog. While having ALS has forced Fern to use a communication device for speaking and to make use of aides for various tasks, it has not stopped her from looking at positive aspects of life. On this she said, "ALS has forced me to slow down, mentally and physically and see things I never stopped to look at before... Always fiercely self-sufficient and independent, I have had to learn to ask for and accept help. And with all the medications I take, there is no room for carelessness. If I could communicate with every ALS patient, I would say: Don't wait to die; live in a way that allows you to realize a dream. And don't dwell on what you can't do, but rather make the best of what you can still do." She definitely lives up to that statement every second of every day. *I originally published this on the former Disaboom via the former Yahoo Contributor Network.
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Image by tendenci via Flickr.com
More and more companies are noticing the need for accessible and universal design in a wide variety of products and projects. Consumers can now find options for accessible homes and even accessible tree houses. One organization making a difference in the arena of universal living is the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA). Located in Buffalo, New York, this company is involved in some innovative ideas and projects.
What is IDeA? IDeA is an organization dedicated to design improvements on products and environments. The goal with these ideas is to create a universal design that is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. What is the Purpose of IDeA? IDeA strives to create new and innovative ideas on accessible design through universal accessibility options. These ideas can be implemented in accessible products and structural designs for the home, as well as the entire living environment and even entire cities. IDeA also seeks to inform as many individuals as possible about these ideas in the hopes of creating a more accessible environment for all. How Does IDeA Help People With Disabilities? The goals and solutions developed by IDEA can help those with disabilities by promoting designs that are accessible to everyone. Universal accessibility is very important to those with certain disabilities. A universal design in a structure or project creates an accessible design for those who have limited access to similar products and structures, making these projects easier to use for those with disabilities. What are Some of the Projects and Products IDeA is Involved in? Home Modification is one program IDeA has developed. In this program, consultation services are offered to families, social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations. Through the Home Modification program, there is an extensive amount of information available on accessible solutions through universal design. Universal Design Education Online is a Web site available to teachers and students interested in learning more about accessible living through universal design. The Web site can be found at udeducation.org. Another program developed by IDeA is called Universal Design Identity Project. Through this program, IDeA seeks to learn more about the general public's perception of accessible and universal design. Universal Cities is a program that makes resources easily accessible to builders, public officials, the general public and designers. This is done in an effort to eventually design entire cities around universal design. IDeA has developed plans to make New York City a universally accessible city. The Passport Kitchen Cabinet Line, made by KraftMaid, is an example of an accessible kitchen product with a universal design. This line features a raised dishwasher for extra toe or wheel space underneath, lower cabinets , lowered upper cabinets and much more. The universal design is easy to access from a wheelchair. The Soft Bathtub is an accessible bathtub with a universal design that is comfortable for anyone to use. Its soft covering helps provide fall protection, and the non-slip design helps prevent slipping. The Soft Bathtub has even been featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. These are just some of the many projects, products and programs associated with IDeA and its dedication to accessibility through universal design. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  When learning they will be attending a camp, some children will be ecstatic, while others may be much less enthusiastic. In either situation, it is a good idea to emotionally and physically prepare your child for camp. Kids with disabilities, as well as parents preparing them, may sometimes face even greater challenges in this area than others.
Dealing With Emotions Some children may not be very excited to attend camp. They may be concerned about being away from the parents or friends for a long period of time. They may also be concerned about spending so much time with strangers. To ease a child's concerns and fears, discuss the positives of the camp, such as any fun activities your child might enjoy doing. If it is a camp for kids with disabilities or special needs similar to those of your child, let your child know he or she will get to meet children with similar needs as their own. Another thing to remember is that kids can be cruel to each other. There may be some teasing involved. With disabilities involved, it may compound that issue. Do some research and be sure your child is prepared to possibly deal with this. Even children who are overly excited will still need to be prepared for attending a camp. It is a big adjustment to be away from family and home life. Focus on the positive aspects of the camp to emotionally prepare your child for this rewarding experience. What To Tell the Camp The camp will need to know a variety of things about your child. As the parent, it is your job to be sure you inform the camp of any special needs or accommodations your child might have. One of the most important necessities a child attending camp will need to have is an emergency contact list. For kids with disabilities, this list may be even more important. Ideally, an emergency contact list should include how to the mother and father of the child, backup emergency contacts in case the parents are not available, as well as phone numbers for doctors, caregivers, and any other pertinent contacts. Kids with disabilities may have extra contacts on this list, such as caregivers and specialists. The camp should be alerted of all allergies, medical conditions, disabilities, special needs accommodations, or other pertinent information pertaining to the child's safety and well-being. Transportation Arrangements Some camps provide transportation. However, not all of them do. Even if the camp you have chosen provides transportation, it may not always be accommodating for kids with disabilities. Check with the camp your child is attending to see if they provide transportation and if so, what the mode of transportation will be. Ask questions about the accommodations and do not be afraid to be specific. If the camp does not provide the type of transportation your child will need, look into alternative modes of transportation. If you cannot bring the child to the camp yourself, see if a family member, friend, or relative is willing and has the appropriate accommodations to do so. Be sure that whichever mode of transportation is selected is available for the return trip as well. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  Different types of extracurricular sports options can help make it possible for people with disabilities to participate in a variety of sporting activities. Electronic, segregated, unified, parallel and regular sports all are options for persons with disabilities. There are some major and minor differences between these five methods of extracurricular sports activities available to students with disabilities.
Electronic Sports Electronic sports are those extracurricular activities in which the results are computed electronically. These types of sports are useful to those with disabilities, as they can make game play more accessible, depending on the individual's disability. This can also prevent any unfair scoring from taking place. An example of an electronic extracurricular sport is bowling. In bowling, a computer keeps track of the turns and scores of players. It is all displayed on a monitor near the bowling lane. Other electronic sports for extracurricular activity include the shot put, the high jump, track and field and power lifting. Parallel Sports In parallel sports, those with disabilities run their sports activities during a certain meet or event after or at the same time as those without disabilities. For instance, if the event in the competition or track meet is a long jump, those without disabilities would complete their event together. Then, immediately following would be the same event for individuals with disabilities. At times, the two groups may participate together in the same event. Paralympics is one example where parallel sports are effectively used for students with disabilities. Special Olympics is another organization that employs parallel, extracurricular sporting methods. Segregated Sports When students with disabilities play on segregated sports teams, they play and compete only with each other. They do not compete in extracurricular activities with individuals who do not have disabilities. This is common in special programs created for individuals with disabilities. Many public and private schools offer these options to students with disabilities. The disabilities can be either mental or physical. Unified Sports Unified sports are those in which students with disabilities participate in the extracurricular sports activities with others who do not have disabilities. An example of unified sports would be a team for students with disabilities accepting those without disabilities to play on their team for reasons of either filling team number requirements or just to be inclusive of everyone. The same could occur in reverse where a "regular" sports team allows students with disabilities to participate. Regular Sports This, of course, is when students with disabilities play on "regular" sports teams. Similar to unified sports, everyone plays together. However, the difference is that with regular sports, there may or may not be mention of a student's disability. Accessibility issues are addressed when or if they arise. For instance, someone who has a prosthetic arm or leg could play along with students who do not have any physical disabilities. This type of interspersion is often done to foster the notion that everyone is equal and should play and compete on teams together. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network  by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
Wheelchair sports are growing more and more popular as those with disabilities realize that they can do anything anyone else can. Sometimes it may require creative thinking and some adaptive technology, but it's definitely possible. Adaptive sports can be found all over the United States. One only has to look. Accessible bowling is one of the adaptive sports that has grown in popularity and may continue. There are accessible bowling alleys and even leagues especially for those with a disability. Some could feel more comfortable in a league that specializes in wheelchair and adaptive sports. Although a good number of traditional bowling alleys do have accessible lanes. Either way, this is an adaptive sport that can be easily enjoyed by people with disabilities. Bowling is naturally a very accessible sport. However, some people with disabilities who require the use of a wheelchair may still enjoy an even more authentic way to enjoy adaptive sports. That's when they can use adaptive technology, such as the IKAN Bowler. The IKAN Bowler actually allows the bowler to release the bowling ball much in the same way as a person who stands to bowl, rather than one who is seated in a wheelchair. There are many other types of equipment and accessories that are approved for, and can be used to, make bowling even more of an adaptive sport. Some of those include special ball ramps that attach to a wheelchair or walker, as well as the front of the bowling lane. There are also special ball pushers for getting the bowling ball to roll down the lane while seated in a wheelchair. Accessible bowling exists both for adults and kids. It even exists in the Special Olympics International, or SOI. SOI allows people with varied disabilities to participate in a variety of adaptive sports. Bowling is actually an official activity of not only the SOI, but also the United States Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF), the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), and the American Wheelchair Bowling Association (AWBA). Getting involved in accessible bowling sports is as simple as finding a bowling alley or league that you want to participate in, which is not very hard at all, considering how accessible bowling truly is. Many bowling alleys are accessible, even if they do not advertise themselves that way. In addition to bowling, there are many other accessible and adaptive sports available to those with disabilities. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network  by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
Persons with disabilities who live in rural and agricultural communities now have an easily accessible location for equipment and other resources. Agrability.org was created as an easy way to locate various organizations that provide services to those living with disabilities. These organizations specialize in providing disability resources and equipment to farmers or others with disabilities who reside in agricultural and rural areas. Agrability.org is an extension of Purdue University in Indiana. Farm workers with disabilities may require specially customized equipment and tools in order to get the job done. Because of this, there are companies and organizations who specialize in these custom tools and equipment. However, some people may not know what equipment they need or where to find that information. This is one area in which resources and information from Agrability.org can help. One organization accessible through Agrability.org is the Warm Springs Resource Center. This organization provides educational, social and cultural resources for anyone with disabilities. People with disabilities can be linked to resources within their community or over the internet. The Warm Springs Resource Center also houses the Texas Agrability Project, which is also easily accessible through Agrability.org. Through a combination of both of these organizations, those with disabilities may access information on support groups, accessible technology and equipment and other resources. Also accessible through Agrability.org is the Breaking New Ground Resource Center and Outreach Program (BNG). Through this organization, farmers with disabilities may access information and resources on obtaining agricultural equipment, tools, machinery and a variety of other relevant resources. The equipment, tools and machinery are all specially designed for farm workers with disabilities. Dr.Val Farmer, Ph.D. is also cooperating in this effort. Through his website, accessible through Agrability.org, those with disabilities may access self-help and medical articles. One of his topics readers may find interesting is farm stress, among other related articles. The Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services (RTC: Rural), with funding from the National Institute on Rehabilitation Research, strives to help those living with disabilities lead a more independent life. This is done through research, resources and training. Through the organizations above, as well as others, Agrability.org has been helping those with disabilities gain access to important resources, such as tools, skills, technology, information and equipment. With this simple and accessible platform, farmers and others with disabilities who are living in rural and agricultural areas should be able to more readily access any resources they may need. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer A person with a disability can garden just as well as one who doesn't have one - and many modern-day gardening tools are making it even simpler. Garden tools customized for ease of use are growing more popular and allowing even those who were unable to garden previously the freedom to do so with ease. From yard work to planting and caring for a garden and even creating an accessible garden, there are many gardening tools available to help make gardening more accessible to everyone.
 Image (c) Ron Cogswell via Flickr.com -- The Pepper Family Accessible Tree House -- Citizens Park Barrington (IL) May 2011 by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!
Lyn is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! While rescuing civilians from boring business practices and energy vampires, this awesomely crazy family conquers evil and creates change. They live among tigers, dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and other fantastic energies, teaching others to claim their own power and do the same. By supporting us, you support a dedicated parent, healer, and minority small business that donates to several causes. Profits from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature support these causes and our beautiful family! HIRE OR SHOP WITH LYN | CONTACT LYN Archives
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