Self Advocacy!!

 Tully runs the Peer Support  Network, at Yooralla.

A while ago she asked if I would write something about self advocacy for the blog.

I thought about it for a while and decided to put a slightly different slant on things.

As usual these days the grammar is a bit strange,

but here it is ----------------

People who do not have a disability often wonder why 

    I am frequently complaining about something.

I am not really a negative person, 

but because I live in a wheel chair, the system makes me appear that way.

 Just imagine if you could not drive, and the public transport system was not accessible,

Or the driver "can’t see you" 

because he just cannot be bothered pressing a button, or getting out of his cab and loading you.

You want to go shopping, but you can't get into the shop because there is a step, or worse still,

a whole flight of stairs! 

Narrow doorways, counters that are high, shops with crowded aisles, too high shelves, checkout lanes that are too narrow!

       AND shopping carts!! 

They are almost impossible to wheel ,even without trying to dodge other shoppers.

The list of problems seems to be endless and sometimes overwhelming.

These are the things I thought of, when Tully asked me to write something about self advocacy.

 Then I thought again, these are big problems that concern everyone who is disabled, 

 we all need to work together to get these changes.

Personal advocacy can be the little things that happen day by day.

 Each time I ask if chairs could be moved at a little street café, [so I can get through], I am advocating for myself.

If I come back another day and the chairs have been rearranged, I know I have succeeded in making a difference for all of us.

I think the secret is to smile and explain to people 

what you need and why, most people like to help if they can.

Now, my local butcher, small supermarket, fruit shop and variety shop all greet me at the door with a smile and happily organize everything for me.

These may be small things, but they make my day easier and happier.

 I hope they also help other people become aware of our needs.

           

              REMEMBER, SELF ADVOCACY 

                 BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS!

Well that is what I wrote, I hope it makes  people think.

Here is a link to The Peer Support Network ----

  http://tully.tinbrain.net/

                                     

                                   

       Until next time --- Hug a Puppy and love yourself!!

More Midnight!

 Midnight is almost nine months old!

Have you ever seen a pair of eyes like these,

when Middi looks at me like this, I melt, 

he is so trusting and loving.

This is my problem, 

it is my responsibility to help him become the best Asistance dog he can possibly be.

Sometimes I feel I cant do it, that I am not good enought, 

this is when I need to look back at all the things we have both learned,

IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS!

We have learned to trust each other enough to travel 7kms in any direction from our home, we can go on trains,

ride in hoist buses together,

attend council meetings 

and even go through the scarry underpasses. 

I can protect Midnight from potentially dangerous dogs

and he gives me the courage to attempt things I would not do before having him.

None of these things would we have been able to do 

without the help of "Chris".

We met when I was looking for a puppy school for Middi.

I wanted us to learn basic obedience skills

and him to play with other pups.

The trouble was, we couldnt get up the stairs

at the puppy school, so Chris came to us! 

This is her web site ---

http://www.baybark.com.au/index.html 

it explains the way she teaches - always positively

and with patience. 

Midnight and I, are her first "disabled team", 

so it is a learning experience for all of us.

Here she is with her own dogs --

read about them on her web site.

Here she is working with Middi --

"sitting" beautifully for a treat.

practicing "look".

having a cuddle at the end of a session.

walking with "Angel", 

it is very important that Middi learns to walk on a lead, not just in his harness.

this is Kimmy, she is Chris's rescue dog,
she doesn't stand any nonsense 
from adolesent poodle boys!
I have a prettier picture of Kimmy, but I love tongues!!


This is a very small part of the training Chris and I do together.
I think I am very lucky to have found someone as caring and dedicated, 
who can also put up with
unsure 66 year old wheelies!!!!!


Next time I will talk about what we do in our sessions together.


Until then --- love a puppy, [and yourself]