MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'accessibility'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:20:39 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008475&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Findependence-day-and-ms%2F I’ll admit a bit of an odd feeling as I post a blog about America’s Independence Day weekend from the wilds of Western Ireland! It seems a fitting topic, however, as the word “independence” means such a different thing to me now that I live with multiple sclerosis than it did before. Independence doesn’t mean doing everything for/by/of myself any longer. Independence is not all Trevis all the time. Independence is a relative state and I cannot think of a better place to be thinking this than the Republic of Ireland which experienced a varying levels and lack of independence (cum tyranny) over the centuries. A cane may seem to be a “dependence” to some but it offers me the independence to walk further than I might without and conserve the excess energy which would have been sp... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008475 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:09 +0100 5008475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734378&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-didnt-give-us-nuttin-we-took-it%2F The funeral mass for the first person I ever knew to have multiple sclerosis took place today. She lived a good life, a happy life, a full life. She’s remembered today for her love of family, of friends, and of travel. Goldine’s life with MS taught me much — likely far more than she would have ever known. Her love of travel in particular (oft with one of her daughters to help) made me look at my life with MS differently from the start. And today, in her honor, I state plainly that MS didn’t “give” us anything. If there is goodness in our life after MS that wasn’t there before; we took it! MS is a sly and evil thief. I’ll never give it the power of saying ‘MS gave me…’ and I think that if we do say something like that, we give too much credit to the disease... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734378 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:25:56 +0100 4734378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676953&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fccsvi-activists-or-cult%2F Cat-calling, taunting, chastising, and even mocking people living with multiple sclerosis is not going to get you in my good graces. Dr. Palo Zamboni’s theory that MS is caused by narrowing of veins draining blood from the brain (CCSVI) is not a particularly new idea: the so-called Father of Neurology, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, also thought MS may be vascular in nature. This theory has been questioned by medical science (and since discarded as unlikely) for generations. Media coverage of Zamboni’s Liberation Treatment for MS using venoplasty sparked an online storm that has all but neutered the Canadian MS Society — which sought to debunk the theory straight-off — and led to the creation of the Reformed MS Society, whose aim is to make the treatment available in Canada in ta... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676953 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:24:47 +0100 4676953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636561&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fdisabled-in-the-uk-to-be-hurt-by-reforms%2F In the United Kingdom, the letters ESA and DLA stand for programs similar to those in the United States (SSD & SSI). Here, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues, (not Social Security taxes) which is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people with little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. In the United Kingdom, the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are designed to help people who can’t work due to (among other things) disablin... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636561 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:25:35 +0100 4636561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631569&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fdisabled-parking-about-to-take-a-hit-in-seattle%2F In a move parking officials in Seattle see as a way to “free up hundreds of [parking] spaces,” our city council is looking to limit free parking for people with legitimate disabling issues… in the neighborhoods around hospitals! According to flyers posted around the proposed “test” area, the city wants to impose a 4-hour limit on people who need extra time to get around because, “[Disabled parking] placards represent golden tickets to free parking, especially in downtown Seattle where monthly parking is so expensive.” Mr Mayor, City Council of Seattle: I am offended! So my disability – the medical condition that slows everything from my thinking to my ability to move around my city – is a Golden Ticket in your eyes?!?!?! Are You Kidding Me? Don’t get me wrong. I... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631569 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:29:22 +0100 4631569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575150&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Femergency-preparedness-and-ms-annette-funicello-and-the-japanese-earthquake%2F On a night when my multiple sclerosis was quiet and actually allowing for a good night’s sleep, I was awakened just after 5:00 am by a text message from my father in Florida. While he knows we live a couple of hundred feet above sea level, we aren’t far from the sea on the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States. News of the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan was racing around the news wires and internet and he, being fatherly and all, wanted to make sure our pack was safe. We are. As I searched the internet and surfed television channels I came across other alarming news… The first love of an entire generation of American boys, Annette Funicello (of Mickey Mouse Club and surf movie fame), was rushed to the hospital this morning as a fire engulfed her Souther... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575150 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:50:14 +0100 4575150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489833&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fgetting-behind-the-wheel-with-ms-multiple-sclerosis-driving%2F Ah, for the days when getting into the driver’s seat simply meant pushing it back, adjusting the mirrors, and turning the engine over… Nowadays, before I even grab the keys – from their designated resting place where I’d lose them were they not returned each and every time they are not in my pocket – there is a whole other checklist I must complete. Is my clutch leg strong enough today? Is there any sign of an impending migraine? Reflexes seem to be normal? Vision okay? Bladder empty? Lhermitte’s sign acting up? Any “cog-fog” today? Mobile phone… “just in case”? We’ve talked about driving with MS before, but, hell, we’ve been writing about living with MS for nearly five years… we’ll re-cover things from time to time… Many of us have been driving ever since ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489833 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:55:41 +0100 4489833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190336&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-falls%2F Unfortunately, multiple sclerosis and falls can go hand in glove. Please do not be alarmed if you have not had such gravitational events; not everyone is going to have every symptom of MS. The soup of weakness, vertigo, visual distortion, and other less common symptoms of multiple sclerosis can and do make us more susceptible to the occasion trip, face plant, or “yard sale” (the kind of fall where you and everything in your retention are splayed across the visible horizon). I took one such tumble this past week. Were it not for the lingering, deep-tissue bruise of my shoulder it would have been a pretty funny fall. Okay, who am I kidding? Even with a bit of limited motion in my shoulder and all, it must have been a damned hilarious sight for Caryn to walk in upon. It’s 2:30 a.m. ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190336 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:35:43 +0100 4190336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813096&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fjustifying-our-ms-disabilities%2F None of us want to live with multiple sclerosis (although, it is better than the current alternative). We’d much prefer to go to sleep at night and not wonder what this disease could take from us in the night. We would rather have all the capacities we once did. I would have liked to keep going down my old path, even though I admit that there have been some positives to be mined from this experience. Why, then, does it seem that are we constantly feeling like we have to justify what we can or cannot do? Whether it’s simply having to explain why we’re using a disabled parking spot when we “look so good;” pleading with the boss for an air conditioner in the office; or the monster-pile of paperwork for disability insurance – making it known how our disease affects us takes up valu... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813096 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:23:29 +0100 3813096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808644&cid=t_120464_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F01%2Fsunday-news-round-up-2%2F Some items of interest this week: Following up on the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, just a note to check out @Disabilitygov on Twitter, which tweets disability-related news and resources and is tied to the U.S. government site, disability.gov. Also, a new document has been released by the government, Access To Medical Care For Individuals With Mobility Disabilities. It is intended to be an educational tool for health care providers, as it provides standards and answers to frequently asked questions about patient care, but could also be a good tool for individuals who need to raise accessibility concerns with providers. There is also a PDF version that could be downloaded and printed. At Academic Ob/Gyn, Dr. Nicholas Fogelson describes his dislike for the term ... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808644 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:41:19 +0100 3808644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776381&cid=t_120464_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-%25e2%2580%259ci-get-it%25e2%2580%259d-moment-in-direct-pay-primary-care%2F2010.07.21 After seven years, my wife has finally stopped asking me for “The Power of DocTalker” story of the day. Now when I start with the details of the latest case report justifying the model, she stops me with “I get it, I get it! Go write the case report up and post it on your website for others to ‘get it,’ too.” Case reports center on the mission of our medical practice, with points regarding care that include quality, accessibility, convenience, affordability, empowerment, trust, and price transparency. Because our patients pay us directly for the service and don’t necessarily expect any insurance “reimbursement,” we are a very unique practice. We adhere to the points in our mission and also outperform all our local competition — i.e. medical ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776381 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:00:32 +0100 3776381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385397&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F20%2Fmis-expressed-lane%2F Today I’m on the Express Lane. (“12 items or less” — that ought to read “12 items or fewer”, but groceries are hardly models of grammar and punctuation.)  I’m not a “number Nazi” — if the other registers are busy, I don’t care if you’ve two dozen items; my goal is to get you checked [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385397 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:55:13 +0100 3385397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318599&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D607 Arguably the biggest reason I can blog now is my iPod touch. It allows me not only to communicate in words in the offline world while lying down (impossible otherwise), thereby potentially saving my life. But it also allows me to blog and read blogs while lying down. Despite its inaccessibiloty in other areas, it is nearly perfect for someone with my particular skills and difficulties. But then there is this new commenting mode for blogger. No matter which option I choose, if I am on my iPod I get an error. It’s the one with the pulldown menu and is the bane of my online existence. I am totally unable to comment on blogs that use it. Taking a Third Option is one of several blogs I follow that use the evil comment mode. Existence is Wonderful uses the most convenient of the several... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318599 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:29:14 +0100 3318599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3129548&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F29%2Fweb-buzzing%2F Just wanted to share some cool things I found recently! INSECT-RELATED FUN Amazonian ants apparently adore Tetris – ’tis a tee from Threadless Tees. and, NPR has a short episode with guest comments by the inimitable entolomogist and highly entertaining author, May Berenbaum, There has been a worldwide proliferation of urinal flies, observed May Berenbaum, head of the department of [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3129548 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:58:08 +0100 3129548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2973883&cid=t_120464_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F08%2Fweekly-news-round-up-118%2F Christine has a post at Our Bodies Our Blog about the passage of the health reform legislation last night. She notes As I watched Democrats congratulate themselves, it was difficult to feel celebratory. Passage of the Stupak amendment — which bars a government-run insurance plan from offering abortion *and* prohibits women who receive government insurance subsidies from purchasing private plans that include abortion coverage — sucked a lot of the energy out of the room. She has a number of posts on health care reform and especially the Stupak amendment from yesterday, with links to a number of additional resources and roll call vote results, so I won’t try to duplicate all of that info here – I’m still trying to catch up on and absorb all of the intricacies. See Our B... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2973883 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:44:46 +0100 2973883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894650&cid=t_120464_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalheroes.com%2F5-tips-improve-dental-practice-website%2F With over 5 years of experience as a web designer/developer, I’ve developed an intimate knowledge of web site “best practices”. Over the years, the most common mistake I see people make is thinking that simply having a web presence is enough. They take the “if you build it they will come” approach. Back in the 90’s that may have worked. However, the game has changed dramatically since then – in terms of consumer demands, web technologies, and search engine algorithms. No longer can you launch a website and simply hope for the best. You need to constantly evolve your web offering with the changing consumer demands, web technologies and search algorithms to beat out your competition. Certainly we can’t cover everything that you need to know ab... Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894650 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:36:02 +0100 2894650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681953&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F08%2Fgetting-there-or-not%2F The other day, my daughter sent me a link to this post by Xenakis, which describes the wonderful side of Universal Design. In other words, build something right from the start, and you won’t have to go back and tack on ugly access structures. There are a few problems I can see with this approach.  [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681953 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:11:07 +0100 2681953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570594&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F04%2Fhanging-around-the-web%2F My son and I recently hauled a long dresser+mirror up two flights of stairs, and I cleaned up the master bedroom in preparation for the return of the new baby & parents from the hospital.  The downside of course is that after a day of labor, I must spend a couple-three days recuperating.  (In other [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570594 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:22:46 +0100 2570594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441655&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F26%2Fcartfuls-of-spoons%2F They’re out.  Or, Out.  We have the exquisite “Privilege of Being Clouted By Cabbage” and are navigating the hazards of the supermarket.  When things are done the way they’re supposed to be, going to pick up a few groceries is just as boring, or as Dave discovered, lonely, for disabled people as much as it [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441655 Tue, 26 May 2009 05:06:21 +0100 2441655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074302&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F02%2Faccessibility-fail-and-win%2F We have a shiny new building on our campus.  It’s gorgeous, with several conference rooms named for money donors, and a huge glassed-in meeting room.  (Other faculty have pointed out that alas, said building isn’t a “LEED-building” meaning that the design lacks certain green/energy-efficient factors.) What I find annoying about the new building are its access [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074302 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:29:48 +0100 2074302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892042&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F21%2Fexcuses-excuses%2F WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS CUSSING. If such righteous indignation will damage your precious shell-like ears, then ye’d best hie off somewhere else. “Who they hell are you to complain?” “Everyone else is thrilled to have such crap circumstances.” “But that’s the way we’ve always done it.” “We’re treating everyone ‘fairly’ by giving everyone the same crappy environment.” “Everyone else just [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892042 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:57:51 +0100 1892042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775592&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F09%2Fgoing-mobile%2F Here, grab a cuppa and settle down, and I’m going to tell you a story … oh, pass me those scissors; I’m going to work on this quilt, too. Once Upon A Time, a long, long time ago (well, 25 years ago, but that’s before some of you were born), there was a bunch of disabled people [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775592 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:42:19 +0100 1775592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1501461&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F07%2Fhorrid-day-for-a-migraine-could-have-been-worse%2F Yesterday: it is very sunny, so bright the out of doors looks like over-exposed photos, all contrasty lights and darks and washed-out colors; even the trees were flickering masses of surface brilliancy against their internal heavy gloom. The previous night’s storms guaranteed humidity and muddy passage, and the tailwinds still rattle across the landscape, [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1501461 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:42:48 +0100 1501461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369708&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F14%2Fshucks-not-disabled%2F Of all the people in the world, my eldest would be the least likely to be dismayed by becoming a “wheelie”. Every time we visited the science museum in Denver, dad and I could always count on at least a solid hour of book-reading time as the kids played with the wheelchairs in the [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369708 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:35:46 +0100 1369708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336877&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F30%2Frepelled-from-the-garden%2F Trichocereus candicans There are few better times to visit a garden than when everything is unfolding in the fresh new flowers of the season. If you’re visiting a desert garden, spring is nice because it is not as hot as summer.* I’m a serious “garden-geek” and visit gardens where-ever I travel. Hubby has perforce acquired [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336877 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:32:42 +0100 1336877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1200893&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-loves-company%2F Last week I was in Olympia, Washington to do some group lobbying. There is a bill due out of committee which will exempt durable mobility equipment (scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and the like) from state sales tax. It’s a good bill; a compromise from a much bigger bill that got stuck in committee last year. No one seemed to be against the concept but in a tight budget year, some good bills don’t make it into the budget. I ran into an old friend with multiple sclerosis at the hotel where representatives of three chapters of the National MS Society were gathering to strategize. He told me something that made me very happy – happy for all of us. His news also concerned me a little bit and I want to address it today. Seems he was at one of those MS seminars recently, you know the ones s... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1200893 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:08:56 +0100 1200893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131055&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F05%2Fits-not-just-me%2F “It’s not just me.” I always feel ambivalent saying that. It’s part, “I’m not nuts or just being whiney, it’s real,” and part “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else.” Recent stories on BBC News describe how fluorescent light bulbs are not just good for saving energy — they can also be problematic for some people. [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131055 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:58:58 +0100 1131055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1048512&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F24%2Fnot-helping-my-blood-pressure%2F I went to the pharmacy to get some regular prescriptions refilled. Hubby has a new employer, which means we’re under a new insurance plan, which means sharing the newest insurance information with every one of our regular doctors and with the pharmacists. Oh the joys of paperwork - not. This time instead [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1048512 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:26:31 +0100 1048512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=989739&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F30%2Fi-done-tol-you-so%2F I wasn’t kidding. There’s yet another case up that illustrates the reason why we need the ADA Restoration Act: Orr used to close his pharmacy for 30 minutes every day at noon, and eat lunch. That helped him control his diabetes. The new boss ordered him to instead stay in the pharmacy and eat between helping [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=989739 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:22:26 +0100 989739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=988562&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fnotes-from-the-annual-conference-of-the-national-ms-society%2F I believe I mentioned last week that I was in Dallas for the annual conference of the National MS Society. There is something to be said for the way that big ol’ state of Texas throws a party. The event entailed three days of workshops, conferences, town hall meetings and socializing. Quite frankly, my head, heart and belly are chock-full. In the days and weeks ahead, I plan to tease out the bits of the conference that I think we’ll all find interesting as conversation starters. A couple thousand people attended the conference and there are a couple thousand stories from the meetings to tell…it may take me a bit of time to distill it all. The one thing that strikes me this Monday morning, as I begin to get my life moving again, is how many people really care and are working so h... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=988562 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:46:08 +0100 988562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=971458&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F23%2Fmore-captions-w00t%2F This is a really quick post, owing to the fact that I need to try for getting more sleep than I got last night, which was of the “not more than four hours, total” interrupted variety. I just found that those great folks at public television station WGBH in Boston, who pioneered closed-caption television shows lo-these-many-years [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=971458 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:20:39 +0100 971458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959069&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fim-tired-of-ms-and-im-just-plain-tired%2F I cannot tell you; I cannot begin to tell you how tired I am of living with multiple sclerosis… I’m tired of shots and infusions and injection site reactions. I’m tired of the MRI tunnel. I’m tired of explaining why I don’t have my cane one day and have it another. I’m tired of asking people for money for our cause. I’m tired… I’m tired of wondering when I go to bed what I’ll wake up with the next day. I’m tired of the pain and the numbness. I’m tired of the weakness and the rigidity. I’m tired of the lack of sensation and the hypersensitivity. I’m tired of the juxtaposition and diametric opposition of MS. I’m tired of my friends slipping and sliding down a slope and it being called “progression”. I’m tired… I’m tired of my brain working so hard to f... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959069 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:01:15 +0100 959069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=952157&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F16%2Ffairy-dust%2F Or maybe it was called pixie dust. Whatever it was Tinkerbell sprinkled over the children in the Peter Pan story that magically allowed them to fly. That’s the ticket — that’s what we needed! Because you know, otherwise we couldn’t fly. (Not even if you wear a superhero cape and jump [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=952157 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:03:21 +0100 952157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=939820&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F10%2Fm-f-na%2F Wow. Here I was ready to comment on one piece of news, when several more caught my attention. They all revolve around social ideas of gender rôles, and marginalised or disabled people. This first one struck close to home: Khadijah Farmer was kicked out of women’s toilet of a Manhattan, NY, restaurant because [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=939820 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:59:15 +0100 939820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=932051&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F06%2Fprove-youre-not-a-robot%2F Several weeks ago hubby emailed me inquiring if I was familiar with accessibility issues related to a Web technology function, “[The bank’s] Internet Banking site prompts users to enter a security code using — I forget what it’s called. It changes every time you sign in. You have to type in what you [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=932051 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 05:31:19 +0100 932051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=926261&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F04%2Fwicked-good%2F This is SO cool! The Disability Rights Commission put together a video (split into Parts 1 & 2). The official description for Talk: The award-winning ‘Talk’ portrays a society in which non-disabled people are a pitied minority and disabled people lead full and active lives. Jonathan Kerrigan, of BBC’s ‘Casualty’ fame, plays a business [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=926261 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:26:38 +0100 926261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=925544&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Foctober-check-how-is-your-ms-today%2F Days slip away as hours of sunlight diminish here in the north. I know our members Down Under are seeing warmer days and shrinking nights, but here, closer to the 50th parallel, the leaves, temperatures and rain have begun their long and steady fall. School years are in full swing and so are our social calendars. The rush for year-end deadlines is but days away. The sports pages contain more news of football than baseball and the ‘Boys of Summer’ have become battered and hardened men of October. That’s my artistic way of saying: It’s autumn again; where has the year gone? We take the first Wednesday of each month as an opportunity for you to check in. It’s already the tenth time we’ve done this in 2007, and I think this subject has been well-received. I know I’ve been able to... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=925544 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:12:23 +0100 925544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=897343&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fthe-many-hands-that-help%2F It’s an old saying about large tasks, but it’s true: Many hands do make for light work. This weekend, I played Tom Sawyer for friends, and everyone had a hoot of a time. I got a big job done, which would have been daunting alone. The fun part was how many times this “many hands” thing came into play. A few months ago, I bought this old cider mill at a rural yard sale; from that time to the actual pressing of the apples, many hands have lightened the work. The grinder and double-barreled pressing machine is made of solid, old oak and must weigh neigh 300 pounds. Simply moving this beast calls for many hands (though fitting many hands around this thing is easier said than done) and “light” is all relative. Neighbors helped me realize that the minor repairs that I thought ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=897343 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:28:22 +0100 897343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=886296&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F20%2Fbut-its-not-the-same%2F Dave Hingsburger recently had a very nice column about the pros and cons of labelling. He made some very fine points, including the key idea that, “the issue is how we value the difference that is labeled.” This reminded me of something similarly related, which is how we value the accommodations. With many [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=886296 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:31:54 +0100 886296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=885540&cid=t_120464_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fhow-ms-accessible-is-your-community%2F I am traveling this week and writing from a hotel business center…thus the reason I am rewriting this blog after writing it early on Monday morning…I love technology. I get to spend part of this week in one of my, if not all-time, favorite cities in the U.S., San Francisco. Travel takes a good bit out of every person but it especially does to those of us with MS. Fighting my MS “thing” and this damned hip thing are having me use my cane more than I have in the past months. As I travel with (and without) my stick as assistance, I somehow am made more aware of curb cuts, ramps and the like. I can get around all right without them, but they do help sometimes. It has got me thinking about the rest of you in other parts of the country and the world. How accessible is your commun... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=885540 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:22:51 +0100 885540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=836887&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F02%2Fanimal-farm%2F Yes, that “Animal Farm”, the book by George Orwell. That’s what I was reminded of, or rather, I was reminded of the famous quote, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Painting walls certainly gives one time to think, and I was stuck on the annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=836887 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:53:40 +0100 836887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=819558&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F24%2Faccommodating-the-normals%2F In your place of business, educational institution, or public service area, you will have to make certain accommodations for the “normal” (”Temporarily Able-Bodied”) patrons. (Please note that within Normal culture, it is considered appropriate to refer to them as “normal people” rather than as “people with normality”.) Normal people will usually succeed in schooling, [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=819558 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 10:52:28 +0100 819558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=817643&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F23%2Fmitigating-measures%2F “Ms Andrea, please explain to the Court how being homosexual substantially limits one or more major life activities.” “What?” “Your case to the Court is a discrimination case, claiming the defendant made homophobic remarks. Please describe to the court how homosexual you are.” “I … what, no. I never said I’m a lesbian, or bisexual, or [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=817643 Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:25:28 +0100 817643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=790593&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D435 I’ve been, offline, for many years, writing down things I do or have done that cause problems, either for me or for other people. This isn’t some kind of self-flagellation or anything. I just figured if I wrote everything down then maybe I could figure out how not to do some of these things. There’s a few sentences that I have had to work really hard to use on a regular basis and in their appropriate context: I don’t know. I don’t understand. I don’t remember. I say I don’t pass, and when I say that I mean that if you look at me you know something’s different. The most I ever passed for at my peak of passing was eccentric (to people who liked me) and annoying or crazy (to people who didn’t). But it doesn’t mean that I haven&#821... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=790593 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:40:17 +0100 790593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=788232&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F08%2Fon-holiday-disability-blog-carnival-20%2F Ah, the crowd’s starting to build up … the hurry-up-and-wait part of events makes me nervous, and there’s only so many times I need to check my To Do list, or line up the dishes and flatware on the serving buffet (but look, I lined up the napkins in rainbow order!) Over in the bandstand, Shiva [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=788232 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:13:02 +0100 788232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=763657&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D427 Last night I engaged in a very interesting conversation with a guy who works at the service that helps me out at night. I was in a lot of pain. By a lot of pain, I mean I was crying and periodically screaming. I don’t cry from pain usually. I didn’t cry when my gallbladder was well into emergency stage, I just went really quiet. If I’m crying from pain, it’s serious. And this pain (and related movement restrictions) was serious enough that a spinal tap was done when I finally did get to the emergency room, because it sounded to them a lot like meningitis. (Fortunately it wasn’t.) Anyway, I was sitting there trying to string sentences together, while barely able to keep auditory comprehension going, and trying to push through all the pain-induced shutdown to ac... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=763657 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:41:34 +0100 763657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=758707&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F26%2Fthe-pleasure-of-your-company-is-requested%2F Zephyr’s getting the Disability Blog Carnival set up over at Arthritic Young Thing, and it promises to be exciting because it’s about SEX! So wow, I get to follow that. That’s about as great a slot as getting to do an hour-long presentation in a warm, dark auditorium right after lunch when the audience is [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=758707 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:41:38 +0100 758707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=737574&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D423 My friend Joel recently told me he wanted to start a group for autistic people dealing with daily living crap. I told him I had for awhile wanted to start a group for autistic people who have (or need) support services for helping us out with daily living crap. We figured we’d instead co-moderate a group broad enough to encompass both things and more, and this is the result (Joel started it and wrote the description, everything from here on out is the same as he wrote in his blog except with the names reversed): Autistic Daily Living is a new group to discuss challenges (and hopefully some solutions) for daily living. Joel is helping me co-moderate this group. The full description of the group: This group will focus on issues relating to daily living needs for autistic adults, in an ... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=737574 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:37:27 +0100 737574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=726315&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F11%2Foperators-are-standing-by%2F I heard a phrase the other month that summed up a lot of my operating abilities. I was listening to the Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe podcast #93, (from May 3rd, 2007). About 40 minutes into the show they had an interview with Bug Girl concerning Colony Collapse Disorder. One of the [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=726315 Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:05:33 +0100 726315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=704494&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F29%2Fwan-foraging-behaviour-of-migrant-geek-populations%2F You may have seen people wandering around railstations or airports or other public areas with open laptops in hand, searching for wireless signal to access the internet. I always thought that would be a neat demographic study to do. Right now I’m one of them; “teh internets is broke” at home, and yesterday the cable service [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=704494 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:48:21 +0100 704494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683249&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D409 This is a purely pragmatic post I’m trying to write here. I don’t mean any offense to the guy I talked to today. I know he didn’t mean anything bad and didn’t know any of this stuff. He was perfectly nice to me and had no way of knowing what was going on. Etc. If you recognize me in public. And you don’t know me. (Knowing me online counts, as in interacting with me a fair bit on blogs and lists and stuff. That’s fine. That’s knowing me for these purposes.) There are some things you might want to know before you decide to strike up a conversation. Today was one of two days this month I’ve been outdoors for anything other than a medical appointment. I was going to the bookstore and then I needed to take care of something at the bank. The reason... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683249 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:40:40 +0100 683249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683250&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D408 And People Still Fail to Get It, Again and Again By a student who’s been fighting for accessible education for a long time. Quote from it: These things– accomodation, and related issues– are rights, not privileges. But even if I can acknowledge that intellectually, I’m so used to having to shut the hell up in order to get anything at all that my gut reaction when anyone gives me any kind of accomodation at all is fear– waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for them to decide I’m a horrible person who’s just making excuses and is trying to drag out some manipulative game to see just how much of a free ride I can get, and to decide I deserve nothing at all. I’m seen as some kind of puppetmaster, when in reality I’m the ones on the s... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683250 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:32:36 +0100 683250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676121&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D401 The theme was in bad need of updating anyway, and we’ve just changed servers at autistics.org (and various complications of that, rather than my mucking with themes, is what took my blog down the other day) which seemed as good a time to update as any. And I’m stuck inside for the most part until the pollen count goes down, and have little else to do. So I updated it. The picture at the top is the view from my old apartment window in California. It’s a view I’m quite familiar with because my old apartment was inaccessible to me in many ways (not just wheelchair — it was also too hot and the flooring patterns made me get stuck more easily) and I didn’t get the chance to move around a lot the way I do now. Plus my neuropathic pain condition wasn’t tr... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676121 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:56:06 +0100 676121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676174&cid=t_120464_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F08%2Fis-it-cc%2F Description: The Closed Captioning symbol, a black frame in a horizontal rectangle, with a white television screen shape inside, displaying a pair of letter Cs. This icon is used in North America to denote television programming that carried the accessory closed captioning signal. (I like to give artists credit, so I’ll mention that it [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676174 Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:09:50 +0100 676174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=629284&cid=t_120464_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D386 I am reposting this verbatim from a mailing list. As a friend just said, “That’s A) disgusting, B) deserves a lawsuit.” Call for Immediate Action: Below is a letter from a mother regarding an egregious example of mistreatment of her daughter, a member of our special needs community. Brigid, a girl with autism and a serious physical injury, will not be graduating with her class, and will lose out on a scholarship that she has earned to Cornell College because her school district has refused to accommodate her special needs! We cannot let this stand. As individuals, family members and friends of specials needs, and people who believe in justice, we must immediately voice our support for Brigid and demand that she be given credit for her work and be allowed to graduate with ... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=629284 Sun, 20 May 2007 18:11:59 +0100 629284