So I have never blogged before. Nor have I journaled or written out my thoughts in any way other that emails and texts. But I dream of writing a book some day so I decided it was time to start getting my thoughts and ideas out of my head and into a more concrete format. A friend and colleague suggested blogging. I also dream of being self employed as a consultant so this will also serve as a means for me to lay out those things about which I would like to consult.
I am and have been for as long as I can remember an advocate for folks with disabilities. I am a sibling, a friend, a teacher, a consultant of/for individual(s) with disabilities. I have been at this for a long time and my views, attitudes, ideals and knowledge have grown and changed over the years. My brother is 5 years younger than me. I am 58, he is 53. He has cerebral palsy. He has needed help with pretty much all basic daily living functions forever and I have always (though at times reluctantly) assisted as needed.
I will likely write more about him and our relationship at another time in an entry or two or eight devoted to my musings about being a sib. I will also talk about my views etc on school based services for students with disabilities, how FAPE is the least common denominator when it comes to said services, the purpose of those services and the purpose of the IEP and ETR (and all the people named in those docs), preparing students with disabilities to leave school ready for the next step, preparing adults in schools to prepare the kids for the rest of their lives rather than just getting them across the graduation stage, the construct of disability and how I see it as a demographic detail rather than a condition that needs to be changed (I think the environment needs to change to be more accessible to folks that identify as disabled, which includes people in general and their attitudes and beliefs)....wow that is a lot and I am not even done. I guess blogging is not a bad idea.