Spread the Word to End the Word

Spread the Word to End the Word

-- March 7, 2012 is the National "Spread the Word to End the Word" Awareness Day --

The "R-WORD" (retarded) is a slang for Mental-Retardation, a term that doctors or professionals use to identify children or persons with an intellectual impairment. Unfortunately, in today's world, the term is used loosely to insult or call some one "stupid". It is important to remember that people with Mental Retardation are NOT stupid nor shall they be the root of all insults. 

Regardless of whether it is meant to be hurtful or rude, IT IS.

Please note: As of October 10, 2010, the term Mental Retardation was officially changed to "Intellectual Disability" from a law passed by President Obama known as Rosa's Law.

***

Have you ever heard a friend, colleague, family member, or even stranger use the word 'retard' or 'retarded'? I would say that approximately 99% of Americans have used or heard this word used in a derogatory manner. 

The most common phrases that I witness are...

"That's so retarded"- "Stop being such a retard" - "You're retarded"

 ***

It IS offensive. It IS rude. It IS hurtful. It IS wrong.

To family members

.friends.

.loved ones.

.victims.

.people.

So my question to you is this.

What are YOU going to do about it?

I challenge you to take a stand. Confront others and educate them about the derogatory meaning of the r-word. Encourage others to eliminate the word. Be a change. Help make a difference.

Click here to take the pledge

***

::As of March 6, 2012::

 people on the world wide web have used the r-word 

157,015 times 

Autism: The Musical

As many of you know, I love to share the wonderful things that I learn in my college classes. I am in my LAST class, (Social & Emotional Development of Youth) before I student teach this August. 

♥

Tonight's class was very moving. 

We watched the movie "Autism: The Musical"

Now, whether you know someone with Autism or not, this movie is so inspirational.

It will make your cry.

It will definitely make you laugh.

You will smile

and best of all...

it will help you understand the life,

the life of Autism.

It is long, 90 minutes total

(15min per part)

Watch if you wish,

I just though I would share :)

P.S. The start of Henry's story in 

Part II is (one) of my favorite parts!
*and* 
the bully scene during the last
2-3 minutes of part II.

{Part I}

{Part II}

{Part III}

{Part IV}

{Part V}

{Part VI}

{Part VII}

"Children remind us to treasure the smallest of gifts,

even in the most difficult times." -Allen Klein

xoxo

-erinj0

One of the hardest things

Understanding can be a concept that poses great difficulty for many different reasons.

For me, it's health

One of the hardest things is the "how"

How can I explain my health to others, so they can fully understand what I go through on a day-to-day basis.

This can be relatively difficult when things like definitions just provide them with medical words that are hard to understand and do not always portray an accurate picture.

One of the hardest things is explaining "why"...

WHY

:x: I frequently have to cancel my plans 

:x: I can't be out in the heat for very long

:x: I can't stand without getting sick

:x: You frequently have to come to my place, instead of me going to yours

:x: I can have a fairly good day yet completely exhausted the next

:x: I LOOK healthy on the outside, but am really suffering on the inside

:x: I am the way I am

---------------------------------------------

If you have been a follower for a little while, you know that I struggle with a condition known as POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. This past Friday, I had my long awaited appointment with a geneticist to get "officially" diagnosed with another condition : /

 I finally have a reason for my POTS.
This "reason" is called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
...or EDS for short (yes, another acronym!)
**I will explain in a later post how these two are related**

**Click Pictures to Enlarge**

- These are just a couple things I can do -
This is not the Beighton Scale

I scored a 9 out of 9 on the Beighton Scale
*used to help diagnose EDS*

I have always been extremely flexible, but never though much of it when I was younger
I was the kid who had the really long arms, that could bend/contort themselves in odd positions that others just thought was fascinating. Little did I know, it wasn't a good thing. For me, this was normal. My mom possessed the same traits (while not as extreme as mine) but still in itself, I thought it was abnormal if you couldn't do what I could.

****************

.Anyways.
Back to my hardest things...explaining the "hows" and "whys"

The following video is known as "The Spoon Theory" written by Christine Miserandino

Christine has Lupus, but this explanation is a wonderful portrayal for any illness/disease, 

and in my case - EDS and POTS.

If you know anyone struggling with  a chronic illness, I really encourage you to walk this short clip. You will gain a deeper understanding of what they may go through...

If you would like to share "The Spoon Theory" with your friends, family, or anyone you know, click here to download it via text/pdf

I hope everyone is well

♥ erinj0

Hope for Kyli & Dustin♥

I posted last week about a couple named Dustin & Kyli who are in desperate need of medical care and are way over $100,000 in medical debt and cannot afford health care. Also - because of their pre-existing conditions & disability, they are frequently denied health care :(

 -----------------------------------------

Dustin suffers from gastroparesis and is loosing weight at an unhealthy rapid rate & unable to keep food down...he is getting sicker by the minute. He also suffers from a condition known as EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) which is a defect in your collagen production that causes a multitude of symptoms. 

On top of ALL this, they both suffer from a form of Dysautonomia, known as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

If you would like to help, you can donate or bid on some wonderful items on the fund-raising page here...

"Hope for Kyli & Dustin"

ANY help you all could provide would be greatly appreciated :)

 (As a sufferer of POTS/Dysautonomia & EDS, I know how difficult these conditions can be. I am so blessed to still be covered under my mothers insurance, but due to pre-exisiting conditions that people suffer from, one day, I too will be in outrageous medical debt and only hope that if I was ever caught in a bind, I would have fellow friends that would help me out as well.)

If you do not wish to donate/make a bid
(as I know asking for money is a very difficult thing)...  

I (we) would greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word through a blog post, just to help get the word out! Any form of advertisement would be so incredibly beneficial and extremely appreciated :)

"I am only one, but I am one.  

 I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  

And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. "

~Edward Everett Hale

♥

xoxo

-erinj0

For more information on Dustin &

Kyli, please visit their youtube channel

A look into the U.S. Healthare System...

When you think of The United States of America 
- what comes to mind?

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" 

Well, in order to have a life at all, one needs to be healthy.
In order to be happy, one needs to be healthy.
(Because you can't have a real "life" without being healthy...)

...and Liberty. Liberty involves a "right and/or privilege"

So the question is this. Is health care a right?

How can you DENY someone adequate health care when assistance is needed.
If you see an individual who is so sick they cannot function or lead a normal life - is it right to deny them the help they need.

It breaks my heart to see people not getting the services they need to live their life. 

For people suffering with preexisting conditions, getting insurance can be impossible or impossible due to the amount of money it may cost to attain health care.

We are discriminated against - we are denied a right. A right to health care. 

**I totally understand that some people feel that health care is NOT a right, but I totally, whole-heart-idly disagree**

Health care should be a right. No one should have to suffer - 

Please, watch this video of these two people I know (and love) who are suffering with Dysautonomia/POTS, EDS, and more...

Stand up for what is right. Spread Awareness. Let your Voice be Heard.

Thanks for listening 

♥

xoxo

-erinj0

World Down Syndrome Day

Today is March 21st, 2011 - World Down Syndrome Day

One goal of mine is to spread awareness of certain topics and down syndrome just happens to be one of them --
Most of the time people don't realize things they say (the context in which they use words)


Re-tard
tard
Re-tarded


all of those words are degrading and should not be used.


Please--When you are about to use these words, think. Think about it.
According to the oxford dictionary, there are AT LEAST a quarter of a million English words...at least!


Think.Stop.Choose a Different Word : )




So...WHY is March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day?
World Down Syndrome Day takes place on 21 March every year. This date (21/3) represents the 3 copies of chromosomes 21, which is unique to people with Down Syndrome.


"The aims of World Down Syndrome Day are to promote awareness and understanding, seek international support, and to achieve dignity, equal rights, and a better life for people with Down Syndrome everywhere"


Will you be a supporter?

Check out this music video by MattyBRaps featuring my favorite artist on youtube, Tyler Ward

If Down Syndrome doesn't hold a place close to your heart now, I bet this will...

♥ erinj0

ONE MONTH - Here's My Challenge

Today: The temperature is 0 and the wind chill is -30 degrees! Whoa!

Most community and schools are canceled AGAIN. 

Is my college canceled? Heck no. UNO doesn't cancel classes for anything. I look back at those high school days & forget how lucky I was back then to get all those days off.

But, more importantly...

ONE MONTH FROM NOW - Do you know what that is?

::March 2nd 2011::

"Spread the Word to End the Word"

The "R" word is an over-used/misused, unethical, condescending, derogatory slang to individuals with intellectual disabilities known as (retard"ed" or 'tard')

Please, if you use that word in everyday conversation - know that it is offensive. Take a pledge to stop using that word and encourage others around you to do the same.

So - I'm challenging you! The next time you hear someone use the word "retard/retarded'" or "tard", call them on it! It may not be easy, but doing what is right in the face of peer pressure rarely is.

Will you accept my challenge?!

xoxo-erinj0