Advocacy Center Blog http://www.advocacyla.org/ en-us Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:51:00 -0600 Contao Open Source CMS Do you remember the Twisted Sister music video where the father screams at the son, “What do you want to do with your life?” The son jumps up and says, “I want to rock!” Okay, maybe I’m the only one who remembers. For some people with disabilities, the question isn’t, “What do you want to do with your life?” Instead it’s, “This is what we have for your life.” ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/i-want-to-rock.html Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:51:00 -0600 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/i-want-to-rock.html In the summer of 2005, living in a remote village in war-torn Uganda, I sometimes caught a ride in the village's truck to the nearest market in town. On one of these trips, as I and the other villagers proceeded on our journey, we passed a field where a disheveled woman tended her vegetable garden. The thing that stood out most about the woman was that she was gardening in the nude. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/helping-them-to-be-heard.html Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:06:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/helping-them-to-be-heard.html Way, way back when my children were very young, there was a spate of carjackings in the uptown area. Not exactly in my neighborhood, which I think of as the Upper Channel, but close enough to make me look around really well before exiting the house or the car. A person is awfully vulnerable with a little girl balanced on her hip and a little boy being held with the free hand. You realize how defenseless you are, in no way capable of fleeing or fighting back. Could anything be worse? ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/positive-note.html Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/positive-note.html For the past week or so, there have been more boxes in our New Orleans office than anything else. It looks like we’re leaving and we are. Some staff have already set up their home offices where they will work until our new building is ready for us; others are almost there. I will officially move on the 29th of July.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/goodbye-to-downtown-new-orleans-hello-oak-street.html Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:49:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/goodbye-to-downtown-new-orleans-hello-oak-street.html My father called himself the Hooking Bull. He was a strict disciplinarian, but I always knew he loved me. As I grew and became an adult, I knew I wanted to be a similar parent.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/the-countdown-to-competency-145.html Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:42:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/the-countdown-to-competency-145.html The point is - no one GIVES rights to people with disabilities. People with disabilities are born with these rights. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/born-this-way.html Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/born-this-way.html About 12 years ago, I worked as a counselor at a school for children with emotional disturbance, my first real job after college. Restraints were pretty common and, as one of the direct care staff, I participated. It wasn’t easy and it was never the first choice, but it happened.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/a-confession-restrained.html Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/a-confession-restrained.html Imagine being 18 years old, having lived most of your life in foster care. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/help-two-non-profits-with-the-swipe-of-one-card.html Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:49:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/help-two-non-profits-with-the-swipe-of-one-card.html I am torn. I can’t decide if I am being a contrarian or the hopeless Pollyanna that I am so often accused of being. Here it is, my ugly truth…]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/my-ugly-truth.html Thu, 09 Jun 2011 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/my-ugly-truth.html The gift-giving holidays have long been no surprise to me, as I am usually tasked with purchasing my own gift.  I then wrap it and place it out for Lucas to give to me.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/it-all-began-with-breakfast-in-bed.html Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:42:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/it-all-began-with-breakfast-in-bed.html We’ve all found ourselves, at some point in time, in a situation where another person made an important decision for us and left us with no recourse. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/choices.html Tue, 24 May 2011 10:42:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/choices.html Tonight I had dinner with an old friend. She has a son with moderate disabilities, and, although we talked about a lot of things, the conversation always got back to our kids.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/bully.html Thu, 19 May 2011 18:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/bully.html >My mind was whirling and then I looked into Lucas’ shining, gleeful eyes and realized that he had no concept of what is inappropriate and only wanted one thing, to ride the train. So, I ask, what would you do in my shoes?]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/when-is-age-appropriate-inappropriate.html Wed, 04 May 2011 10:42:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/when-is-age-appropriate-inappropriate.html Thanks to Facebook, I have recently reconnected with many childhood friends of mine from high school and even grade school back in my hometown of Washington DC.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/slipping-through-the-cracks-of-society.html Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/slipping-through-the-cracks-of-society.html As tax day approaches, I am working hard, collecting bank statements, receipts and other material to prepare my tax return. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/as-tax-day-approaches.html Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:05:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/as-tax-day-approaches.html Last week, Unity of Greater New Orleans honored the Advocacy Center for “Exemplary Advocacy on Behalf of Homeless People with Disabilities.” What a great honor!]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/its-all-related.html Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/its-all-related.html My husband had a total knee replacement done a few days ago.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/temporarily-out-of-order.html Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/temporarily-out-of-order.html Sitting at an intersection, waiting for a school bus….Everyone’s been there.]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/stephanie.html Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/stephanie.html In March 1993 the Advocacy Center published "Choosing a Nursing Home." That would have been a couple of years after my parents died, in a nursing home. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/i-wish-id-known-then.html Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:12:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/i-wish-id-known-then.html Mardi Gras, 2011. This year I did something I’d never done before. ]]> http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/my-musings.html Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:05:00 -0500 http://www.advocacyla.org/index.php/Blog_Reader/items/my-musings.html