These self improvement activities will help you become more productive, get into the positive state of mind and achieve better quality of life.
In this article you will also find out how to use your energy effectively, what is the quickest way to achieve personal growth and how to excel in every activity.
1st Self Improvement Activity: Use your energy on important things
If you want to succeed in life, you should not waste your energy on activities that do not bring any benefits.
Such useless activities include surfing the Internet without any purpose, watching TV, worrying and wasting money.
When you are involved in such activities, you have no or little energy left for activities that can create a better future. It is worth prioritising and accomplishing important tasks first, and then if you still have enough energy, you may decide to do the unimportant.
2nd Self Improvement Activity: Focus on one task at a time
If you want to get perfect results, you should only concentrate on one activity. This way all your energy will go into it and you will accomplish it perfectly.
If you waste your energy on several things at the same time, you will get average results because you will divide your energy between the activities.
3rd Self Improvement Activity: Control your thinking
To avoid chaos in your mind resulting in chaos in the outside world, you should try to observe your thoughts. Once you start doing that, you will notice how many negative thoughts you get daily.
By observing negative thinking you will be able to emotionally disengage from it. As a result, negative thinking will affect you less and you will notice that your days are getting more peaceful and positive.
4th Self Improvement Activity: Get organised
When you live in an organised manner, you do not suffer from stress and your life is peaceful and balanced.
To start living this way, you should start planning your day in advance. This will eliminate any stress caused by being late to a meeting or forgetting to complete some task.
You should also live in tidiness because by keeping your home clean you also keep your mental state clear and peaceful. Such mental state will benefit you in many ways, including improved memory and less negativity.
5th Self Improvement Activity: Live in the present
Although this self improvement activity may seem strange to you, it is a very important activity that many ignore. The majority of people do not live in the present. They either dwell on their past or daydream about the future. They seem to forget the most important time of all - the present.
You should enjoy every present moment because your current state of mind always manifests in the outside world, creating your future accordingly.
Therefore if your main mood is very positive, you will experience only happy days. However, if you dwell on negative thoughts, you are sure to encounter many obstacles and misfortunes in the present and days to come.
6th Self Improvement Activity: Complete each task in a perfect manner
Whenever you are working on some project, try to accomplish it in the best way possible. Always ask yourself 'Is this project turned out as perfect as it could possibly be?' If the answer is no, try to correct or add something to it until there is nothing that you can improve.
This way you will make sure that each single task you accomplish is done in an excellent manner. By doing this you will create successful future because you cannot possibly fail if you only get perfect results.
Also, when you entirely focus on one task excluding everything else, you will notice that you start enjoying the task. If you concentrate on the task but still do not enjoy it, that means that you probably see the task as a means to an end rather than the process.
You should start focusing on the process itself to find enjoyment in the task. Such enjoyment will fuel motivation and you will accomplish everything quicker and better.
If you enjoy your work, you will put only positive energy into it. As a result, your completed tasks will bring you success.
7th Self Improvement Activity: Challenge yourself
Nothing develops you more than challenges. Challenges force you to shift your comfort zone, experience new situations and make you grow. Without challenges life would be very boring and depressing.
Challenges are necessary for every human being who is seeking quality life. Only through trial and error you realise who you really are, which activities you like and what preferences you have.
You can easily measure the success of a person by the amount of challenges s/he had.
8th Self Improvement Activity: Read personal development books
There is nothing more important than searching information about self improvement. Without reading any self improvement books or articles you cannot improve yourself.
I have written an article about 20 life changing personal development books. It might be worth checking them out. Many of them are available for free! Click here to read this article.
9th Self Improvement Activity: Socialize only with positive people
Positive people can inspire, empower and make you happy. It is so much worth to be at least once in a while with positive people rather than constantly spend time with negative friends or relatives.
If you spend your days with, for example, lazy people, you may notice that you are becoming lazy.
If all your friends' main qualities are negative, try to avoid all of them. This way you will not be affected in a negative way and after some time will start attracting positive people.
10th Self Improvement Activity: Exercise
Daily exercise develops determination, focus and patience. It improves your health and strengthens your body. It makes you more active, positive and invincible.
People who exercise every day are always perceived as strong-willed and disciplined.
Conclusion
These personal improvement activities are sure to put you on the track to success. I hope that you will apply the steps in this article and, as a result, will greatly improve the quality of your life.
When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only bird that, in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the cloud. ... Winners win by pushing their limits until their limits become the norm. Disability is not inability. Many have proved it. Instead of Blaming the darkness let us light a Candle. Give the disabled a little encouragement and a little appreciation. It will serve OUR purpose. - BINDUMADHAV - bb.katti@gmail.com 9833729029
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Dyslexic? You're not alone...
Dyslexia is a syndrome of many and varied symptoms affecting over 40 million American children and adults. Many with dyslexia and related learning and attention disorders realize quite early that they are not like their peers. Their learning and coordination or klutzy difficulties often lead to ridicule and/or self-recrimination — leading them to feel dumb and depressed-isolated. As a result, one can only wonder just how many potential creative geniuses — how many Einstein’s and Da Vinci’s — have been stigmatized and pushed aside? All too often, learning-disabled children grow up to be underemployed adults, shunted into routine, dead-end occupations for life. Some have difficulties maintaining families and raising children properly. Many drift into drugs and alcohol — even crime. Their loss and cost to society is incalculable. And tragically, this staggering loss was, and is, preventable!
Since dyslexia is often a self-compensating disorder that can often be overcome with time, effort and understanding, it is crucial to provide dyslexics with success stories of well known individuals so that they don’t give up and indeed persevere. Thus for example, there have been many dyslexics that have made tremendous contributions to mankind. They include famous entertainers, designers, architects, writers, athletes, jurists, physicians, scientists, and political and business leaders.
These successful dyslexics learned to overcome or sidestep their barriers, permitting them to accomplish their dreams and desires. In fact, at times their disorder was found to be a catalyst for success — forcing them to develop and utilize hidden talents. Often, their most crucial "life-saving"characteristic was perseverance. They never gave up no matter how difficult the task before them seemed. Their successful lives, despite dyslexia, shows us that "miracles" can be accomplished so long as dyslexics are encouraged by loving parents and caring teachers to believe in themselves.
An inspiring sample of some self-compensated famous and successful dyslexics follows. But just remember — for every famous or well-known dyslexic, there are thousands and thousands more who have made it, despite their disorder. Sadly, there are millions that have not — that could have!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pablo Picasso
ablo was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He was a famous, controversial, and trend-setting art icon. Pablo attended local parochial schools and had a very difficult time. He is described as having difficulty reading the orientation of the letters and labeled a dyslexic, and despite the initial difficulties was able to catch up with the curriculum. However, dyslexia made school difficult and he never really benefited from his education. Dyslexia would trouble Picasso for the rest of his life.
Pablo’s father was an art teacher in Malaga, and encouraged Pablo to attend. Pablo enrolled in the school in 1892. Despite the difficulties that his learning disabilities posed, it became clear that Pablo had an incredible talent. From an early age Pablo Picasso had developed the sense of how people wanted to be seen and how others saw them. Over the course of his career he developed a unique sense of beauty and style that seemed to call to people. Pablo painted things as he saw them — out of order, backwards or upside down. His paintings demonstrated the power of imagination, raw emotion, and creativity on the human psyche. As others before him, Pablo Picasso took art to a new level. A prolific painter, some of his famous works includes The Young Ladies of Avigon, Old Man with Guitar, and Guernica.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Cruise
om Cruise was born fighting. He grew up poor, and his family moved around a lot while his father looked for work. Tom never spent a lot of time any one school because the family moved around a lot. Tom, like his mother, suffered from dyslexia and was put into the remedial classes at school. Tom is right handed when writing, but does most things left handed. While Tom was not an academic success, he focused on athletics and competed in many sports. A knee injury derailed his hopes of a promising athletic career.
Tom Cruise then spent a year in a Franciscan monastery, but the priesthood was not for him. While in high school, he appeared in a number of plays, and with his mother’s encouragement and support, pursued a career in acting. Tom focused all his energy on developing his acting career, once again revealing his drive and dogged determination. He never let his learning disability stand in the way of his success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Branson
ichard Branson, founder and chairman of London-based Virgin Group, didn't breeze through school. In fact, school was something of a nightmare for him. His scores on standardized tests were dismal, pointing to a dismal future. He was embarrassed by his dyslexia and found his education becoming more and more difficult. He felt as if he had been written off.
However, his educators failed to detect his true gifts. His ability to connect with people on a personal level, an intuitive sense of people, was not detected until a frustrated Richard Branson started a student newspaper with fellow student Jonny Gems. The incredible success of the Student was but the start of a richly diverse and successful career.
Despite the difficulties and challenges posed by his dyslexia, by focusing on his inner talents, Richard Branson successfully overcame his difficulties. From his first taste of success and believing in himself, Richard Branson never looked back.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard Da Vinci
orn in 1452, Da Vinci was sent to Florence in his teens to apprentice as a painter under Andrea del Verrocchio. He quickly developed his own artistic style which was unique and contrary to tradition, even going so far as to devised his own special formula of paint. His style was characterized by diffuse shadows and subtle hues and marked the beginning of the High Renaissance period.
Da Vinci dedicated himself to understanding the mysteries of nature, and his insightful contributions to science and technology were legendary. As the archetypal Renaissance man, Leonardo helped set an ignorant and superstitious world on a course of reason, science, learning, and tolerance. He was an internationally renowned inventor, scientists, engineer, architect, painter, sculptor, musician, mathematician, anatomist, astronomer, geologists, biologist, and philosopher in his time.
Da Vinci was also believed to suffer from a number of learning disabilities including dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. Some believe that the initiation of many more projects than he ever completed suggest that he had attention deficit disorder. Strong evidence in Da Vinci’s manuscripts and letters corroborates the diagnosis of dyslexia. It appears that Leonardo wrote his notes backwards, from right to left, in a mirror image. This is a trait shared by many left-handed dyslexic people. In addition to the handwriting, the spelling errors in his manuscripts and journals demonstrated dyslexia-like language difficulties.
Da Vinci overcame his learning disabilities by funneling his creative talents into visual depictions of his thoughts. His creative, analytic, and visionary inventiveness has not yet been matched.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Edison
orn in 1847, Thomas Edison was a brilliant scientist and inventor. He was thrown out of school when he was 12 because he was thought to be dumb. He was noted to be terrible at mathematics, unable to focus, and had difficulty with words and speech. It was very clear, however, that Thomas Edison was an extremely intelligent student despite his poor performance in school.
In the late 1860s and early 1870s electrical science was still in its infancy and Thomas Edison was keeping abreast of the latest developments. He was an avid reader of the latest research of the day and frequently contributed articles about new ideas in telegraph design to technical journals. Over the course of his career Edison patented 1,093 inventions. Edison believed in hard work, sometimes working twenty hours a day. He has been quoted as saying, "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
Hard work and perseverance helped Thomas Edison focus his keen insight and creative abilities on the development of ingenious tools that have laid the foundation for our modern society.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay Leno
ay Leno has worked very hard all his life. A mild dyslexic, he did not do very well in school getting mainly C’s and D’s. Jay, however, was determined to accomplish his goals. Despite his poor grades, he was determined to attend Emerson College in Boston. While told by the admissions officer that he was not a good candidate Jay had his heart set on attending the University and sat outside the admission officers’ office 12 hours a day 5 days a week until he was accepted into the University.
Jay credits his dyslexia with enabling him to succeed in comedy. He credits his dyslexia with helping him develop the drive and perseverance needed to succeed in comedy, and life in general.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoopi Goldberg
hoopi Goldberg, born Carolyn Johnson, is an outstanding American entertainer, having acted in major motion picture hits like Ghost, Sister Act I and II, Made in America, Jumping Jack Flash, The Color Purple, and Star Trek: Generations.
Whoopi had a lot of difficulty in school, but it was not until she was an adult did she learn that she had dyslexia. When Whoopi was growing up, she remembers being called dumb and stupid because she had a lot of problems reading. It was clear to her teachers and family that she was neither slow nor dumb, but had some problem that had not yet been well defined.
Despite her dyslexia, Whoopi Goldberg has gone on to have a successful film and television career.
Since dyslexia is often a self-compensating disorder that can often be overcome with time, effort and understanding, it is crucial to provide dyslexics with success stories of well known individuals so that they don’t give up and indeed persevere. Thus for example, there have been many dyslexics that have made tremendous contributions to mankind. They include famous entertainers, designers, architects, writers, athletes, jurists, physicians, scientists, and political and business leaders.
These successful dyslexics learned to overcome or sidestep their barriers, permitting them to accomplish their dreams and desires. In fact, at times their disorder was found to be a catalyst for success — forcing them to develop and utilize hidden talents. Often, their most crucial "life-saving"characteristic was perseverance. They never gave up no matter how difficult the task before them seemed. Their successful lives, despite dyslexia, shows us that "miracles" can be accomplished so long as dyslexics are encouraged by loving parents and caring teachers to believe in themselves.
An inspiring sample of some self-compensated famous and successful dyslexics follows. But just remember — for every famous or well-known dyslexic, there are thousands and thousands more who have made it, despite their disorder. Sadly, there are millions that have not — that could have!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pablo Picasso
ablo was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He was a famous, controversial, and trend-setting art icon. Pablo attended local parochial schools and had a very difficult time. He is described as having difficulty reading the orientation of the letters and labeled a dyslexic, and despite the initial difficulties was able to catch up with the curriculum. However, dyslexia made school difficult and he never really benefited from his education. Dyslexia would trouble Picasso for the rest of his life.
Pablo’s father was an art teacher in Malaga, and encouraged Pablo to attend. Pablo enrolled in the school in 1892. Despite the difficulties that his learning disabilities posed, it became clear that Pablo had an incredible talent. From an early age Pablo Picasso had developed the sense of how people wanted to be seen and how others saw them. Over the course of his career he developed a unique sense of beauty and style that seemed to call to people. Pablo painted things as he saw them — out of order, backwards or upside down. His paintings demonstrated the power of imagination, raw emotion, and creativity on the human psyche. As others before him, Pablo Picasso took art to a new level. A prolific painter, some of his famous works includes The Young Ladies of Avigon, Old Man with Guitar, and Guernica.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Cruise
om Cruise was born fighting. He grew up poor, and his family moved around a lot while his father looked for work. Tom never spent a lot of time any one school because the family moved around a lot. Tom, like his mother, suffered from dyslexia and was put into the remedial classes at school. Tom is right handed when writing, but does most things left handed. While Tom was not an academic success, he focused on athletics and competed in many sports. A knee injury derailed his hopes of a promising athletic career.
Tom Cruise then spent a year in a Franciscan monastery, but the priesthood was not for him. While in high school, he appeared in a number of plays, and with his mother’s encouragement and support, pursued a career in acting. Tom focused all his energy on developing his acting career, once again revealing his drive and dogged determination. He never let his learning disability stand in the way of his success.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Branson
ichard Branson, founder and chairman of London-based Virgin Group, didn't breeze through school. In fact, school was something of a nightmare for him. His scores on standardized tests were dismal, pointing to a dismal future. He was embarrassed by his dyslexia and found his education becoming more and more difficult. He felt as if he had been written off.
However, his educators failed to detect his true gifts. His ability to connect with people on a personal level, an intuitive sense of people, was not detected until a frustrated Richard Branson started a student newspaper with fellow student Jonny Gems. The incredible success of the Student was but the start of a richly diverse and successful career.
Despite the difficulties and challenges posed by his dyslexia, by focusing on his inner talents, Richard Branson successfully overcame his difficulties. From his first taste of success and believing in himself, Richard Branson never looked back.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leonard Da Vinci
orn in 1452, Da Vinci was sent to Florence in his teens to apprentice as a painter under Andrea del Verrocchio. He quickly developed his own artistic style which was unique and contrary to tradition, even going so far as to devised his own special formula of paint. His style was characterized by diffuse shadows and subtle hues and marked the beginning of the High Renaissance period.
Da Vinci dedicated himself to understanding the mysteries of nature, and his insightful contributions to science and technology were legendary. As the archetypal Renaissance man, Leonardo helped set an ignorant and superstitious world on a course of reason, science, learning, and tolerance. He was an internationally renowned inventor, scientists, engineer, architect, painter, sculptor, musician, mathematician, anatomist, astronomer, geologists, biologist, and philosopher in his time.
Da Vinci was also believed to suffer from a number of learning disabilities including dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. Some believe that the initiation of many more projects than he ever completed suggest that he had attention deficit disorder. Strong evidence in Da Vinci’s manuscripts and letters corroborates the diagnosis of dyslexia. It appears that Leonardo wrote his notes backwards, from right to left, in a mirror image. This is a trait shared by many left-handed dyslexic people. In addition to the handwriting, the spelling errors in his manuscripts and journals demonstrated dyslexia-like language difficulties.
Da Vinci overcame his learning disabilities by funneling his creative talents into visual depictions of his thoughts. His creative, analytic, and visionary inventiveness has not yet been matched.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Edison
orn in 1847, Thomas Edison was a brilliant scientist and inventor. He was thrown out of school when he was 12 because he was thought to be dumb. He was noted to be terrible at mathematics, unable to focus, and had difficulty with words and speech. It was very clear, however, that Thomas Edison was an extremely intelligent student despite his poor performance in school.
In the late 1860s and early 1870s electrical science was still in its infancy and Thomas Edison was keeping abreast of the latest developments. He was an avid reader of the latest research of the day and frequently contributed articles about new ideas in telegraph design to technical journals. Over the course of his career Edison patented 1,093 inventions. Edison believed in hard work, sometimes working twenty hours a day. He has been quoted as saying, "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
Hard work and perseverance helped Thomas Edison focus his keen insight and creative abilities on the development of ingenious tools that have laid the foundation for our modern society.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jay Leno
ay Leno has worked very hard all his life. A mild dyslexic, he did not do very well in school getting mainly C’s and D’s. Jay, however, was determined to accomplish his goals. Despite his poor grades, he was determined to attend Emerson College in Boston. While told by the admissions officer that he was not a good candidate Jay had his heart set on attending the University and sat outside the admission officers’ office 12 hours a day 5 days a week until he was accepted into the University.
Jay credits his dyslexia with enabling him to succeed in comedy. He credits his dyslexia with helping him develop the drive and perseverance needed to succeed in comedy, and life in general.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoopi Goldberg
hoopi Goldberg, born Carolyn Johnson, is an outstanding American entertainer, having acted in major motion picture hits like Ghost, Sister Act I and II, Made in America, Jumping Jack Flash, The Color Purple, and Star Trek: Generations.
Whoopi had a lot of difficulty in school, but it was not until she was an adult did she learn that she had dyslexia. When Whoopi was growing up, she remembers being called dumb and stupid because she had a lot of problems reading. It was clear to her teachers and family that she was neither slow nor dumb, but had some problem that had not yet been well defined.
Despite her dyslexia, Whoopi Goldberg has gone on to have a successful film and television career.
The World's Most Famous Disabled People
Albert Einstein
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing.
Alexander Graham Bell
Had a learning disability
Cher
Has dyslexia
Christopher Reeve
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again.
David Blunkett
The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP is without doubt Britain's most famous guide dog owner. Often photographed with his guide dogs - Ted, Offa and Lucy - David Blunkett also holds the powerful political post of Home Secretary. Joining the Labour party aged 16, he was elected to Sheffield City Council aged 22. He was the council leader from 1980 to 1987 until he was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside. Seen as the archetypal municipal Socialist, he is in many senses a traditional Labour man - beard-wearing and blunt-talking. Arguably, he is a role model for disabled people who just want to get on with their lives.
Thomas Edison
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt had Polio, was governor of New York State then elected President of the United States for 4 terms.
George Washington
Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor grammar skills.
Francsico de Goya
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century.
Helen Keller
(Devoted Life to Persons with Disabilities) She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute
Ian Dury
movement/walking disability, resulting from polio. Hits from 1978 ("Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick") into 1980's. Recorded "Spasticus Autisticus" which was banned from radio, not surprising, as lyrics could be mis-construed as disabled-ist
John Milton
English Author/poet (1608-1674): He became blind at age 43. He went on to create his most famous epic, Paradise Lost.
Lord Byron
"Mad, bad and dangerous to know", Britain's great romantic was also born with talipes, a club foot. It is said that he "walked with difficulty but wandered at will". He toured Europe extensively and captured the popular imagination through his poetry and his personality. From gloomy egoism through to satiric realism he was renowned for his writings, his sexual ambivalences and his championing of Greek independence from the Turks. Disability activist Tom Shakespeare summed him up in the following way: "Most of his poetry hasn't stood the test of time, but he was a blockbuster in his day, and like very few other heroes, his name is still used as an adjective - 'Byronic', meaning dashing.”
Lord Nelson
Viscount Horatio Nelson is certainly Britain's greatest naval hero. His skill as a naval commander is, of course, well-documented. He won crucial victories at Trafalgar in 1805 and the Battle of the Nile in 1798, during the wars with revolutionary and Napoleonic France. What is less often remarked upon is that a great part of his naval career and his major victories were won as a disabled person. Going ashore in Corsica following the fall of Toulon, a French shot flung debris into his face leaving him without sight in his right eye. Later, an assault on Tenerife resulted in a shattered right elbow - back on his flagship the arm was amputated. He carried on as a disabled seaman for nearly ten years, securing his most important naval victories at the Battle of the Nile and the infamous Battle of Trafalgar - where he died on October 21, 1805. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't say "I see no ships". Instead he said, during the Battle of Copenhagen, "... I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes" and, raising his telescope to his blind eye, "I really do not see the signal".
Ludwig van Beethoven
(Famous Musician) - known to be deaf
Marla Runyan
One of the women representing the Unites States in the 1500 metre track event at the 2000 Olympics was Marla Runyan. The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary heat and rose to sixth in the semi finals to qualify for the finals. During the final race, Marla lost track of the major competitors. She finished in eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner. In 1996, Marla set several track and field records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that success, Marla wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind. The 31-year-old runner has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. This is a condition that leaves her with a limited ability to see what is in front of her. In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in an Olympics.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films include A Dead Silence, My Party,A Hear No Evil, A Bridge to Silence, A Walker, and A Children of A Lesser God. In 1987, she captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film A Children of a Lesser God. Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum. However, deafness has not disabled her or her career.
Michael Bolton
(famous Singer): Deaf in one ear
Robin Williams
(famous Hollywood Star) was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams.
Sarah Bernhardt
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah".
Stephen Hawkings
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak.
Sudha Chandran
(Indian actress and classical dancer) This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title - is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was added following her marriage in 1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner of five London marathons - in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter - including BBC TWO's From the Edge disability magazine programme.
Tom Cruise
(Hollywood Star): is severely dyslexic
Walt Disney
Had a learning disability
Woodrow Wilson
U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing.
Alexander Graham Bell
Had a learning disability
Cher
Has dyslexia
Christopher Reeve
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again.
David Blunkett
The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP is without doubt Britain's most famous guide dog owner. Often photographed with his guide dogs - Ted, Offa and Lucy - David Blunkett also holds the powerful political post of Home Secretary. Joining the Labour party aged 16, he was elected to Sheffield City Council aged 22. He was the council leader from 1980 to 1987 until he was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside. Seen as the archetypal municipal Socialist, he is in many senses a traditional Labour man - beard-wearing and blunt-talking. Arguably, he is a role model for disabled people who just want to get on with their lives.
Thomas Edison
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt had Polio, was governor of New York State then elected President of the United States for 4 terms.
George Washington
Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor grammar skills.
Francsico de Goya
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century.
Helen Keller
(Devoted Life to Persons with Disabilities) She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute
Ian Dury
movement/walking disability, resulting from polio. Hits from 1978 ("Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick") into 1980's. Recorded "Spasticus Autisticus" which was banned from radio, not surprising, as lyrics could be mis-construed as disabled-ist
John Milton
English Author/poet (1608-1674): He became blind at age 43. He went on to create his most famous epic, Paradise Lost.
Lord Byron
"Mad, bad and dangerous to know", Britain's great romantic was also born with talipes, a club foot. It is said that he "walked with difficulty but wandered at will". He toured Europe extensively and captured the popular imagination through his poetry and his personality. From gloomy egoism through to satiric realism he was renowned for his writings, his sexual ambivalences and his championing of Greek independence from the Turks. Disability activist Tom Shakespeare summed him up in the following way: "Most of his poetry hasn't stood the test of time, but he was a blockbuster in his day, and like very few other heroes, his name is still used as an adjective - 'Byronic', meaning dashing.”
Lord Nelson
Viscount Horatio Nelson is certainly Britain's greatest naval hero. His skill as a naval commander is, of course, well-documented. He won crucial victories at Trafalgar in 1805 and the Battle of the Nile in 1798, during the wars with revolutionary and Napoleonic France. What is less often remarked upon is that a great part of his naval career and his major victories were won as a disabled person. Going ashore in Corsica following the fall of Toulon, a French shot flung debris into his face leaving him without sight in his right eye. Later, an assault on Tenerife resulted in a shattered right elbow - back on his flagship the arm was amputated. He carried on as a disabled seaman for nearly ten years, securing his most important naval victories at the Battle of the Nile and the infamous Battle of Trafalgar - where he died on October 21, 1805. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't say "I see no ships". Instead he said, during the Battle of Copenhagen, "... I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes" and, raising his telescope to his blind eye, "I really do not see the signal".
Ludwig van Beethoven
(Famous Musician) - known to be deaf
Marla Runyan
One of the women representing the Unites States in the 1500 metre track event at the 2000 Olympics was Marla Runyan. The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary heat and rose to sixth in the semi finals to qualify for the finals. During the final race, Marla lost track of the major competitors. She finished in eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner. In 1996, Marla set several track and field records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that success, Marla wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind. The 31-year-old runner has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. This is a condition that leaves her with a limited ability to see what is in front of her. In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in an Olympics.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films include A Dead Silence, My Party,A Hear No Evil, A Bridge to Silence, A Walker, and A Children of A Lesser God. In 1987, she captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film A Children of a Lesser God. Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum. However, deafness has not disabled her or her career.
Michael Bolton
(famous Singer): Deaf in one ear
Robin Williams
(famous Hollywood Star) was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams.
Sarah Bernhardt
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah".
Stephen Hawkings
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak.
Sudha Chandran
(Indian actress and classical dancer) This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title - is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was added following her marriage in 1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner of five London marathons - in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter - including BBC TWO's From the Edge disability magazine programme.
Tom Cruise
(Hollywood Star): is severely dyslexic
Walt Disney
Had a learning disability
Woodrow Wilson
U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic
Monday, November 15, 2010
Conqueror of disability•
Her parents abandoned her at primary 3 because she is physically challenged, but she took up the challenge and trained herself. Today, she’s the only graduate in her family and runs an NGO which takes care of the disabled By VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA Saturday, November 13, 2010
•Nwafor• Photo: The Sun Publishing
Living index
For those who suffer one disability or another and hopes to make a mark in the society, the story Mrs. Gloria Nwafor would serve as a testimony that there is ability in disability. Mrs. Nwafor has gone through thick and thin, but ended as a success. She is a graduate and now runs a non-governmental organisation, which caters for the physically challenged people.The journey to her current feat is tortuous and rough. When Mrs. Nwafor was three years old, she was struck by polio, one of the deadly diseases among children. In the cause of treating the illness, she was deformed by an injection administered on her. From then, the story of her life changed. Her parents, had enrolled her into primary school, but stopped the sponsorship when she was in Primary 3. Her family felt that it was a waste of time and resources to train a physically challenged child. She said of this: “I was dumped by my parents, without education. They said I cannot achieve anything in life as a physically challenged. They felt that training me in school would be a waste of time and resources. Then I asked myself, if this was true. I never believed it.”With her resolve to prove her family wrong, Nwafor braced up for the challenges of life. She succeeded in completing her primary education, made possible by the free education programme of government. Thereafter, she took up the challenge to train herself in skill acquisition. She had learnt how to plait hair and made money doing that. With the proceed from this, she sponsored herself to secondary schoolTelling Saturday Sun her story, Mrs. Nwafor revealed that after her secondary school, she got a job at Orumba North Local Government Area, as a social welfare officer. She, thereafter, obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in social work, from the Federal School of Social Work, Enugu, in 1995.When asked what life was when her parents abandoned her, she said: “It was horrible. Things were not going fine for me because I took care of all my needs. Nobody cared. None of my relatives cared. I was left without any assistance. But I overcame them by the grace of God. He was all and all. I decided that I will not give up nor surrender myself to be used and dumped by any man. I dedicated myself to God. God was my only hope and I relied on Him, not man.”Despite her educational attainment, Nwafor had a major hurdle to scale. Her desire to get married became a subject of controversy, as her husband’s relatives kicked against their marriage. “Their reason was that I would not be able to get pregnant and have children, because I limp, following the effect of the injection at childhood,” she said.However, her husband insisted on marrying her. And they got married. Today, their marriage is blessed with three children, all through normal delivery. Mrs. Nwafor has also gone to the university, having got a scholarship from Orumba Local Government Area authorities. She studied Adult Education and Economics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and has become the only graduate in her family. She is proud of her accomplishment. “Now that I have achieved my aim, people admire me. In fact, I am almost talk of the town. They see me as a role model and I’m seen as a woman to emulate, an achiever.”Talking about her immediate family, Mrs. Nwafor said she did everything to ensure that none of her children has the bitter experience she had. “None of my children is physically challenged. I was extra careful. I normally take them to the best hospitals, when they are sick and immunise them at the appropriate time to avoid what happened to me. I don’t want them to be embarrassed the way I was.” Recounting her embarrassing moments, she said: “At times, drivers refuse to stop to carry me, because they feel I waste their time. Some of them even say that I would bring them bad luck or cause accident for them. I feel so bad because most times I wouldn’t be able to get to where I wanted to at the right time, as a result of this ordeal. When I was seeking employment with my qualification, I was supposed to be placed on GL 04, but I was told to manage grade level 03 because of my disability. During my school days, especially at the university, very few students feel free to associate with me because they were feeling shy when others castigated them for associating with a physically challenged person. “All these challenges made me take care of my children very well and also prove to the world that there is ability in disability. I also decided that I must prove to the world that nothing is wrong, in the reasoning and thinking of a physically challenged.” Despite all her ordeal, Mrs. Nwafor does not have any grudge against her parents, who refused to train her in school. Rather, she saw their behaviour as a challenge in life. “I don’t have any grudge against them because I believe that one’s destiny can’t be wiped out. I believe that it is what God has destined for me. If my parents or relations had helped me, I may not be able to become what I am today. I see what I passed through as a challenge, which I have overcome. I advices my co-physically challenged not to be discouraged.” To help other people, who may be in her shoes, Mrs. Nwafor established an organisation called Care for the Physically Challenged and Destitute Foundation (CAPCAD). “It was after this that I knew that I can achieve things even without the help of anybody. I took it upon myself to go and encourage the physically challenged, who are helpless. It was after my experience that I discovered that there is ability in disability. So I have to encourage my co-physically challenged to identify their talents and develop it for their self-actualisation.” According to her, care for the physically challenged is an idea she nursed when she was experiencing discrimination. When she became a staff of the social welfare unit of Orumba North Local Government Area, she was convinced that she should go into the programme without delay.“As I interacted with them, and came face to face with their numerous problems, the urge to establish a foundation for the physically challenged, to compliment the efforts of the government became almost irresistible,” she said.Does she look forward to a time when a physically challenged could be the president of the country? Why not, she declared, adding that if a physically challenged becomes president, things will be better in the country. She would, however, want the government to give physically challenged incentives to participate in politics.On the achievement of her NGO, she said: “We have gathered more than 300 physically challenged. The NGO started her sensitisation in Orumba North Local Government Area and we have visited 16 communities. We have visited more than 50 churches in the communities to sensitise the public on the need to project the physically challenged and destitute in our midst to the world and to enable them realise their God-given talents and to actualise the purpose for which God created them. “We have acquired and surveyed five acres of land at Umuonyiba village, in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State. We have produced the architectural drawings of all the buildings to be erected in the proposed International Rehabilitation Centre to be built by CAPCAD. We started meeting and having seminars and symposia aimed at changing and re-directing the minds and psychological disposition of the physically challenged. We made ourselves understand that contrary to the notion and opinions of people, God has not finished with physically challenged, and that given the necessary education and direction, the physically challenged can make meaningful contributions to the development of the society.“I want to eradicate illiteracy among the physically challenged, poverty and begging culture by the destitute. We will promote literacy and skill acquisition among the physically challenged.” Mrs. Nwafor urged interested individuals, groups, parastatals, government, NGOs and international donors to assist her in her quest to make lives of physically challenged meaningful. “We want partnership. I promise that the messages to the physically challenged and destitute will be properly delivered and accounted for. Support us to actualise our vision and objectives. We can be reached on 07034532170 or capcadf@yahoo.com, www.capcadf.org.”
•Nwafor• Photo: The Sun Publishing
Living index
For those who suffer one disability or another and hopes to make a mark in the society, the story Mrs. Gloria Nwafor would serve as a testimony that there is ability in disability. Mrs. Nwafor has gone through thick and thin, but ended as a success. She is a graduate and now runs a non-governmental organisation, which caters for the physically challenged people.The journey to her current feat is tortuous and rough. When Mrs. Nwafor was three years old, she was struck by polio, one of the deadly diseases among children. In the cause of treating the illness, she was deformed by an injection administered on her. From then, the story of her life changed. Her parents, had enrolled her into primary school, but stopped the sponsorship when she was in Primary 3. Her family felt that it was a waste of time and resources to train a physically challenged child. She said of this: “I was dumped by my parents, without education. They said I cannot achieve anything in life as a physically challenged. They felt that training me in school would be a waste of time and resources. Then I asked myself, if this was true. I never believed it.”With her resolve to prove her family wrong, Nwafor braced up for the challenges of life. She succeeded in completing her primary education, made possible by the free education programme of government. Thereafter, she took up the challenge to train herself in skill acquisition. She had learnt how to plait hair and made money doing that. With the proceed from this, she sponsored herself to secondary schoolTelling Saturday Sun her story, Mrs. Nwafor revealed that after her secondary school, she got a job at Orumba North Local Government Area, as a social welfare officer. She, thereafter, obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in social work, from the Federal School of Social Work, Enugu, in 1995.When asked what life was when her parents abandoned her, she said: “It was horrible. Things were not going fine for me because I took care of all my needs. Nobody cared. None of my relatives cared. I was left without any assistance. But I overcame them by the grace of God. He was all and all. I decided that I will not give up nor surrender myself to be used and dumped by any man. I dedicated myself to God. God was my only hope and I relied on Him, not man.”Despite her educational attainment, Nwafor had a major hurdle to scale. Her desire to get married became a subject of controversy, as her husband’s relatives kicked against their marriage. “Their reason was that I would not be able to get pregnant and have children, because I limp, following the effect of the injection at childhood,” she said.However, her husband insisted on marrying her. And they got married. Today, their marriage is blessed with three children, all through normal delivery. Mrs. Nwafor has also gone to the university, having got a scholarship from Orumba Local Government Area authorities. She studied Adult Education and Economics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and has become the only graduate in her family. She is proud of her accomplishment. “Now that I have achieved my aim, people admire me. In fact, I am almost talk of the town. They see me as a role model and I’m seen as a woman to emulate, an achiever.”Talking about her immediate family, Mrs. Nwafor said she did everything to ensure that none of her children has the bitter experience she had. “None of my children is physically challenged. I was extra careful. I normally take them to the best hospitals, when they are sick and immunise them at the appropriate time to avoid what happened to me. I don’t want them to be embarrassed the way I was.” Recounting her embarrassing moments, she said: “At times, drivers refuse to stop to carry me, because they feel I waste their time. Some of them even say that I would bring them bad luck or cause accident for them. I feel so bad because most times I wouldn’t be able to get to where I wanted to at the right time, as a result of this ordeal. When I was seeking employment with my qualification, I was supposed to be placed on GL 04, but I was told to manage grade level 03 because of my disability. During my school days, especially at the university, very few students feel free to associate with me because they were feeling shy when others castigated them for associating with a physically challenged person. “All these challenges made me take care of my children very well and also prove to the world that there is ability in disability. I also decided that I must prove to the world that nothing is wrong, in the reasoning and thinking of a physically challenged.” Despite all her ordeal, Mrs. Nwafor does not have any grudge against her parents, who refused to train her in school. Rather, she saw their behaviour as a challenge in life. “I don’t have any grudge against them because I believe that one’s destiny can’t be wiped out. I believe that it is what God has destined for me. If my parents or relations had helped me, I may not be able to become what I am today. I see what I passed through as a challenge, which I have overcome. I advices my co-physically challenged not to be discouraged.” To help other people, who may be in her shoes, Mrs. Nwafor established an organisation called Care for the Physically Challenged and Destitute Foundation (CAPCAD). “It was after this that I knew that I can achieve things even without the help of anybody. I took it upon myself to go and encourage the physically challenged, who are helpless. It was after my experience that I discovered that there is ability in disability. So I have to encourage my co-physically challenged to identify their talents and develop it for their self-actualisation.” According to her, care for the physically challenged is an idea she nursed when she was experiencing discrimination. When she became a staff of the social welfare unit of Orumba North Local Government Area, she was convinced that she should go into the programme without delay.“As I interacted with them, and came face to face with their numerous problems, the urge to establish a foundation for the physically challenged, to compliment the efforts of the government became almost irresistible,” she said.Does she look forward to a time when a physically challenged could be the president of the country? Why not, she declared, adding that if a physically challenged becomes president, things will be better in the country. She would, however, want the government to give physically challenged incentives to participate in politics.On the achievement of her NGO, she said: “We have gathered more than 300 physically challenged. The NGO started her sensitisation in Orumba North Local Government Area and we have visited 16 communities. We have visited more than 50 churches in the communities to sensitise the public on the need to project the physically challenged and destitute in our midst to the world and to enable them realise their God-given talents and to actualise the purpose for which God created them. “We have acquired and surveyed five acres of land at Umuonyiba village, in Ufuma, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State. We have produced the architectural drawings of all the buildings to be erected in the proposed International Rehabilitation Centre to be built by CAPCAD. We started meeting and having seminars and symposia aimed at changing and re-directing the minds and psychological disposition of the physically challenged. We made ourselves understand that contrary to the notion and opinions of people, God has not finished with physically challenged, and that given the necessary education and direction, the physically challenged can make meaningful contributions to the development of the society.“I want to eradicate illiteracy among the physically challenged, poverty and begging culture by the destitute. We will promote literacy and skill acquisition among the physically challenged.” Mrs. Nwafor urged interested individuals, groups, parastatals, government, NGOs and international donors to assist her in her quest to make lives of physically challenged meaningful. “We want partnership. I promise that the messages to the physically challenged and destitute will be properly delivered and accounted for. Support us to actualise our vision and objectives. We can be reached on 07034532170 or capcadf@yahoo.com, www.capcadf.org.”
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Employing disabled people - myth-busting workshop by Helen Williams
Employ ability is a touring workshop run by Jobcentre Plus, aimed at busting the myths about employing people with disabilities and promoting the benefits of a diverse workforce. Helen Williams went along to a session to find out more.
Margaret Tullett has seen more than her fair share of conference rooms in the past year, having spent days at a time on the road talking to HR professionals and general managers about employing people with disabilities. But she loves her hectic job.
"It's great to be able to do something you can be so passionate about," she enthuses.
Tullett is part of the small team in charge of Employ ability, an initiative from Jobcentre Plus (part of the Department for Work and Pensions) that challenges employers' assumptions about disabled people in the workplace.
The interactive workshops, which are run across the country, highlight the benefits of employing people with disabilities.Ironically, today's venue - the beautiful 19th century Putteridge Bury near Luton, part of the University of Bedfordshire - has woeful disabled access, limited by its protected architectural status.
Not a passive course
Tullett kicks off proceedings by assuring delegates that this is not a passive course, with her talking at us for three hours.
There is a lot of excellent, clearly set-out literature to take away (which can be downloaded from the DWP's website at www.dwp.gov.uk), but the purpose of the day is to get everyone thinking about how they recruit disabled people, remind them about the pool of talent they are missing out on, and inspire them to want to think and act differently.
The day also demonstrates what resources are available, allows delegates to meet the local Jobcentre Plus support team, and outlines the legal context and the Disability Discrimination Act(DDA).
True to her word, Tullett gets everyone thinking, with a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-style quiz, which has some surprisingly difficult questions. For example, would you be able to guess what proportion of the UK working-age population is disabled, given the choice of 10%, 15%, 20% or 25%? The answer is 20%.
"Some people think that's quite high, but the obvious question that raises is how you define disability," points out Tullett.
"The DDA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long-term effect on someone's ability to carry out day-to-day activities."
Mention the word 'disability' and people often think of mobility problems,but in factjust 5% of people with disabilities are wheelchair users. The largest group is actually those with mental health issues, at 40%, according to the Employers' Forum on Disability.
And, of course, people are not necessarily born with disabilities - just 17% of disabled people have their disability from birth. Many disabilities are long-term illnesses - asthma or diabetes, for example - although those with such conditions might not see themselves as having a disability.
"It could happen to you or a colleague at any time," says Tullett.
Later in the session, we watch a witty film that portrays the world as if having a disability was the norm, in which an able-bodied jobseeker is singled out for pitying looks, patronising comments and prejudiced assumptions. The story highlights the four main barriers facing disabled people in the workplace - attitude, physical, practice and procedure, and institutional - and is the catalyst for lively discussion.
Tullett says the strong business case for employing people with disabilities often surprises delegates on the course. The spending power of people with disabilities is vast - they and their families spend an astonishing £80bn per year.
"Employers think I am just going to talk about the ethical or corporate social responsibility reasons for employing people with disabilities," she says.
"Of course, these are very good reasons, but it's also very commercially viable. If you are not dealing with your customers - or potential customers - with disabilities, you could be missing out on significant spending power. The business case is one of the main ways of engaging people with this agenda."
Bottom-line benefits
Indeed, research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shows that almost two-thirds of businesses believe that having a diverse pool of talent contributes to the bottom line.
One of the biggest problems for employers is that people with disabilities are often reluctant to disclose their status for fear of discrimination.
Research out this month shows that jobseekers with disabilities are still wary of disclosing this to potential employers. Less than half (43%) will tell recruiters about their disability at the pre-application or interview phase, but 33% did not tell potential employers at all, according to figures published by diversity communications agency Greenlight. Of those who did tell employers, 44% were worried it might have an adverse impact on their application. A third were clearly getting little reassurance from employers about disclosure.
But, as Tullett points out: "If they don't disclose, the employer can't make a reasonable adjustment to accommodate their needs."
The concept of 'reasonable adjustment' is the key. "It doesn't mean huge, expensive changes," says Tullett. It can range from a phased return to work after absence; putting in automatic doors; software, such as an advanced spellchecker for someone with dyslexia; or providing a mentor.
"Mental health is the area where most flexible help is needed," she adds. "A person's condition can deteriorate unexpectedly, so ad-hoc access is needed."
Some adjustments don't cost anything, such as allowing someone to work from home, or having more meetings to keep in touch with their progress. Jobcentre Plus can also offer a work psychologist, something Tullett says is not widely known.
"It's important that managers know how to put reasonable adjustments in place as soon as possible, to prevent the person affected getting discouraged, and colleagues becoming resentful."
A particularly worrying statistic is that only 25% of employers have heard of the Access to Workscheme, despite the fact it has existed since the mid-1990s. It focuses on the individual's needs, and can pay, in part or entirely, for all sorts of support, including software, adaptation to premises, travel to and from work, a support worker, even awareness training for colleagues.
Awareness training is particularly helpful - a survey from the Employers' Forum on Disability suggests 49% of people are scared of disability; afraid of saying the wrong thing. The DWP's easy-to-read Don't know what to say?guide is a good place to start.
If you feel your organisation is not making the most of the talent pool available, or not fully meeting the needs of its entire workforce, Tullett suggests signing up for an Employ ability session and find out what help is available. Go to www.dwp.gov.uk/employabilityto find your nearest venue.
Employ ability in practice
An important part of each workshop is the live case study - a short presentation from employers and employees on their experiences of disability in the workplace, often involving long-term illnesses.
These have included an Asda employee who was able to carry on working, in a less stressful role, after being treated for breast cancer; an employee who returned to work at the Ipswich Holiday Inn following a stroke; and Sharon Goodyer, joint managing director of Cake Bake - the company that made 400 sponge cakes for the Skoda Sabia 'cake car' TV advert - who has Parkinson's disease and employs two members of staff with long-term health conditions. Goodyer's attitude is purely rational, despite her own condition. She finds that employees with disabilities have an excellent work ethic and are less likely to be off sick, maximising the company's productivity.
At the Luton workshop, the planned case study has been cancelled. However, the venue's conference officer, Maxine Decent, has come up trumps with a case study from within the building. Breda O'Kane works on reception, and is a great favourite with the students, who greet her enthusiastically as they wander in and out of the building.
Many have no idea that Breda has a disability. She worked in the catering department at the university for a few years before suffering a back injury. Her confidence knocked, she was initially reluctant to take up the suggested role on reception.
"I didn't want to let anybody down," she confesses. "I felt embarrassed. But I was given a chance, and it's been great. I feel very fortunate."
She has now been in the role for 10 years, and finds the job perfectly manageable, thanks to her special orthopaedic chair and limited working hours.
Decent admits that when she was initially told about Breda's disability, her heart sank. "We felt a bit resentful, that she was getting the job even though she had no admin skills and that we were obliged to give her a chance because of her back. We thought it would create extra work for us.
"The university runs courses for computer training, but as Breda has dyslexia she found it very difficult to keep up with the rest of the class. We have found it easier to train her ourselves within the office. We now train Breda on a need-to-know basis - when she encounters a problem, we show her how to get round it. Now she attempts everything and we love having her here. It's been a learning curve for all of us."
The HR professional's view
Employ ability's Margaret Tullett says HR can play an important role in getting management buy-in to disability awareness.
"You need commitment from senior level in the company. Without that, you can't make the changes needed; there are institutional barriers. HR can play a key role here," she says.
Yvonne Thiedeman, employee relations manager at North Herts District Council, attended the Luton workshop. She agrees that while HR professionals have much to gain from the course, the best approach would be to involve line mangers as much as possible.
"The session was great at highlighting and refreshing my focus on the real issues for disabled people either seeking work or being in work," she says. "It provided important information on what support is available, and challenged standard assumptions and stereotypes about disability and disabled people in the workplace."
She adds: "I am in the process of completing equality impact assessments on the full HR service, in line with expectations under the equalities duties for public bodies. The Employ ability session allowed me to reassess the work I had done to make sure I had considered services properly with regards to disability.
"Fortunately, we have thoroughly considered disability issues in our recruitment processes and have strong relationships with our occupational health partners, which help us to support and manage any adjustments to the working environment that our employees need. That said, like most other employers, we aren't perfect and are working to improve all the time, which the equality impact assessment process helps us to do."
Thiedeman concludes: "I think all HR professionals would benefit from the Employ ability sessions, but even more so if they attend with their line managers as this could help develop a shared understanding that isn't HR-led. It is important that the recruiting managers know how simple the process is to access funds for adjustments to support a disabled person to begin a job, or to continue working in an organisation."
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Disabled People in Germany – "We're Great People, Too!"
… says Manfred Beslé who lives in a flat share for people who are mentally disabled. He is appealing for more social acceptance of disabled people in a society that venerates vitality and is afraid of anything that might reveal people's fragility or imperfections. How do disabled people deal with this? And who is disabling who? Statistics and fates
In Germany "8.6 million people are officially recognised as being disabled. This means that one in every ten people is disabled," according to information from the German Federal Statistical Office. Behind all the figures there is a multitude of individual fates – moving cases like that of Manfred Beslé, "I was in hospital all the time and couldn't walk until I was seven. My brothers and sisters taught me." In Germany there are more and more people like Manfred. Over the last five years the number has grown by over half a million.According to statistics three per cent of all children are born with a disability. Two out of every hundred suffer some sort of impairment during pregnancy or at birth. Most of the disabilities however develop in the course of people's lives due to illness or accidents, resulting in 74 per cent of disabled people being over 55 years of age. Most of them, about 6.7 million, are severely disabled; 1.9 million are classed as slightly disabled. But what does this word "disabled" mean? The German Social Security Code (9) defines disability like this, "People are disabled if their physical functions, intellectual skills or mental health are likely to deviate more than just temporarily and hence their participation in the life of the community is adversely affected." By virtue of this definition disabled people have become outsiders and refuse to accept this – they see disability as "Any measure, structure or behavioural pattern that curtails, restricts or hampers the lifestyle of people with an impairment," as stated by a special forum set up by disabled lawyers.
Life beyond the norm
Back to Manfred Beslé – up to the age of 20 he attended a special needs school and afterwards went to work in a workshop for the disabled. He lives in a flat share run by Lebenshilfe, one of the four big organisations that help disabled people to live as independent a life as possible. His life and the lives of other disabled people is completely different from the lives led by people of his age who are not disabled. Most disabled children have to go to a special needs school and 15 per cent of them leave it without any qualifications. Among non-disabled schoolchildren the rate is a mere three per cent. When it comes to the German higher education entrance examination 11 per cent of disabled students pass – 15 per cent less that non-disabled students. 70 per cent of all disabled people are gainfully employed up to the age of 44, only 15 per cent are jobless. About 27 per cent work in the fields of education, health and social services, eleven per cent in public administration. Most of them find work in the supervised workshops for outside on the labour market only a few manage to get a job," says the Lebenshilfe organisation. And on a private level? Half of all disabled people between the ages of 25 and 44 are unmarried and live at home with their families. Others live in homes run by the social services and only a very small number indeed live alone. Almost all of them are in fact in need of care and help – from their relatives as well as from the state. For the year 2006 the state spent 10.5 billion euros on integrating disabled people, 64 per cent more than ten years before. With a share of 58 per cent of the total net expenditure on social security this integration support for the disabled is by far the most significant form of aid provided by the social security system in Germany.
Dismantling barriers
"Nobody may be discriminated on the basis of his or her disability" – this was the amendment introduced in 1994 to Article 3 of Germany's Basic Law. "A milestone for disabled people," was the way the Lebenshilfe organisation reacted - for it makes everybody aware that disabled people, irrespective of the type and severity of their disability, have the same rights. The Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (General Equal Treatment Act) of 2006 emphasises this, as well as the special laws for equal treatment of disabled people introduced by the individual German states. They compel the authorities and public institutions to dismantle barriers, so that people have access to everywhere – to buildings, offices and also to workplaces, whether they are in a wheelchair, using a blind person's stick, a hearing aid or not. On 30th March 2007 Germany signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is now bound to instigate the ratification process, i.e. to obtain the approval of the Bundestag (German Parliament) and the Bundesrat (Upper House). One year later various lobbies are still fighting over it "for the aim of this social development process has to be to enable and support disabled people to participate more in the life of the country, as this is the key to being included in society – all members of society co-existing as a matter of course," explains Michael Conty from the Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfe (Federal Evangelical Association for the Disabled). This matter-of-course approach has been given a huge boost by the new, unlimited legal right to, what is called, the personal budget. Since January 2008, instead of the usual non-cash benefits, disabled people have been able to draw money or vouchers to finance the care and help they require and to combine it in a way that is really in line with their needs. Everybody is entitled to do this – and, because of this, many now even see a better hope of being treated more equally by society.
More open and more respectful interaction
"It is so often the case that other people think they know what is best for us," was heard from a group of mentally disabled people on a visit to former German Federal President, Johannes Rau. And, "I still get really upset inside whenever I hear the word disabled." How, though, should people who are not disabled deal with the disabled? Openly and with respect, is the answer given by the Aktion Mensch campaign that first made this slogan popular. "We are not disabled ourselves, it is the environment that disables us." This makes it quite clear that it is not the disability that makes life so difficult, but the way others deal with it. This is why most disabled people strive for self-determination, respect and openness. For as Manfred Beslé said at the beginning, "We're great people, too!" NONE could stop them becoming famous : The world's most famous disabled people
The world's most famous disabled people....let me know if I have missed any out!
Albert Einstein
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing.
The Mathematician/Physicist who had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing maths in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing.
Alexander Graham Bell
Had a learning disability
Had a learning disability
Cher
Has dyslexia
Has dyslexia
Christopher Reeve
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again.
Never has a person with a disability commanded so much media attention in recent history. Christopher Reeve, crippled after a horse-riding injury, wants to be up on his feet & wants to help others stand confident too. His life is now dedicated to harnessing the power of medical research to get up & ride again.
David Blunkett
The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP is without doubt Britain's most famous guide dog owner. Often photographed with his guide dogs - Ted, Offa and Lucy - David Blunkett also holds the powerful political post of Home Secretary. Joining the Labour party aged 16, he was elected to Sheffield City Council aged 22. He was the council leader from 1980 to 1987 until he was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside. Seen as the archetypal municipal Socialist, he is in many senses a traditional Labour man - beard-wearing and blunt-talking. Arguably, he is a role model for disabled people who just want to get on with their lives.
The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP is without doubt Britain's most famous guide dog owner. Often photographed with his guide dogs - Ted, Offa and Lucy - David Blunkett also holds the powerful political post of Home Secretary. Joining the Labour party aged 16, he was elected to Sheffield City Council aged 22. He was the council leader from 1980 to 1987 until he was elected MP for Sheffield Brightside. Seen as the archetypal municipal Socialist, he is in many senses a traditional Labour man - beard-wearing and blunt-talking. Arguably, he is a role model for disabled people who just want to get on with their lives.
Edison
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older.
Edison had a learning disability. He couldn't read until he was twelve years old and had a very difficult time writing even when he was older.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt had Polio, was governor of New York State then elected President of the United States for 4 terms.
Roosevelt had Polio, was governor of New York State then elected President of the United States for 4 terms.
George Washington
Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor grammar skills.
Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor grammar skills.
Goya
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century.
Spanish painter (1746-1828): At age 46, an illness left him deaf. He went on to create the most famous Spanish art of the 19th century.
Helen Keller
(Devoted Life to Persons with Disabilities) She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute
(Devoted Life to Persons with Disabilities) She was Blind, Deaf, and Mute
Ian Dury
movement/walking disability, resulting from polio. Hits from 1978 ("Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick") into 1980's. Recorded "Spasticus Autisticus" which was banned from radio, not surprising, as lyrics could be mis-construed as disabled-ist
movement/walking disability, resulting from polio. Hits from 1978 ("Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick") into 1980's. Recorded "Spasticus Autisticus" which was banned from radio, not surprising, as lyrics could be mis-construed as disabled-ist
John Milton
English Author/poet (1608-1674): He became blind at age 43. He went on to create his most famous epic, Paradise Lost.
English Author/poet (1608-1674): He became blind at age 43. He went on to create his most famous epic, Paradise Lost.
Lord Byron
"Mad, bad and dangerous to know", Britain's great romantic was also born with talipes, a club foot. It is said that he "walked with difficulty but wandered at will". He toured Europe extensively and captured the popular imagination through his poetry and his personality. From gloomy egoism through to satiric realism he was renowned for his writings, his sexual ambivalences and his championing of Greek independence from the Turks. Disability activist Tom Shakespeare summed him up in the following way: "Most of his poetry hasn't stood the test of time, but he was a blockbuster in his day, and like very few other heroes, his name is still used as an adjective - 'Byronic', meaning dashing.”
"Mad, bad and dangerous to know", Britain's great romantic was also born with talipes, a club foot. It is said that he "walked with difficulty but wandered at will". He toured Europe extensively and captured the popular imagination through his poetry and his personality. From gloomy egoism through to satiric realism he was renowned for his writings, his sexual ambivalences and his championing of Greek independence from the Turks. Disability activist Tom Shakespeare summed him up in the following way: "Most of his poetry hasn't stood the test of time, but he was a blockbuster in his day, and like very few other heroes, his name is still used as an adjective - 'Byronic', meaning dashing.”
Lord Nelson
Viscount Horatio Nelson is certainly Britain's greatest naval hero. His skill as a naval commander is, of course, well-documented. He won crucial victories at Trafalgar in 1805 and the Battle of the Nile in 1798, during the wars with revolutionary and Napoleonic France. What is less often remarked upon is that a great part of his naval career and his major victories were won as a disabled person. Going ashore in Corsica following the fall of Toulon, a French shot flung debris into his face leaving him without sight in his right eye. Later, an assault on Tenerife resulted in a shattered right elbow - back on his flagship the arm was amputated. He carried on as a disabled seaman for nearly ten years, securing his most important naval victories at the Battle of the Nile and the infamous Battle of Trafalgar - where he died on October 21, 1805. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't say "I see no ships". Instead he said, during the Battle of Copenhagen, "... I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes" and, raising his telescope to his blind eye, "I really do not see the signal".
Viscount Horatio Nelson is certainly Britain's greatest naval hero. His skill as a naval commander is, of course, well-documented. He won crucial victories at Trafalgar in 1805 and the Battle of the Nile in 1798, during the wars with revolutionary and Napoleonic France. What is less often remarked upon is that a great part of his naval career and his major victories were won as a disabled person. Going ashore in Corsica following the fall of Toulon, a French shot flung debris into his face leaving him without sight in his right eye. Later, an assault on Tenerife resulted in a shattered right elbow - back on his flagship the arm was amputated. He carried on as a disabled seaman for nearly ten years, securing his most important naval victories at the Battle of the Nile and the infamous Battle of Trafalgar - where he died on October 21, 1805. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't say "I see no ships". Instead he said, during the Battle of Copenhagen, "... I have only one eye. I have a right to be blind sometimes" and, raising his telescope to his blind eye, "I really do not see the signal".
Ludwig van Beethoven
(Famous Musician) - known to be deaf
(Famous Musician) - known to be deaf
Marla Runyan
One of the women representing the Unites States in the 1500 metre track event at hte 2000 Olympics was Marla Runyan. The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary heat and rose to sixth in the semi finals to qualify for the finals. During the final race, Marla lost track of the major competitors. She finished in eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner. In 1996, Marla set several track and field records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that success, Marla wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind. The 31-year-old runner has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. This is a condition that leaves her with a limited ability to see what is in front of her. In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in an Olympics.
One of the women representing the Unites States in the 1500 metre track event at hte 2000 Olympics was Marla Runyan. The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary heat and rose to sixth in the semi finals to qualify for the finals. During the final race, Marla lost track of the major competitors. She finished in eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner. In 1996, Marla set several track and field records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that success, Marla wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind. The 31-year-old runner has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. This is a condition that leaves her with a limited ability to see what is in front of her. In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in an Olympics.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films include A Dead Silence, My Party,A Hear No Evil, A Bridge to Silence, A Walker, and A Children of A Lesser God. In 1987, she captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film A Children of a Lesser God. Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum. However, deafness has not disabled her or her career.
Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films include A Dead Silence, My Party,A Hear No Evil, A Bridge to Silence, A Walker, and A Children of A Lesser God. In 1987, she captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film A Children of a Lesser God. Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum. However, deafness has not disabled her or her career.
Michael Bolton
(famous Singer): Deaf in one ear
(famous Singer): Deaf in one ear
Robin Williams
(famous Hollywood Star) was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams.
(famous Hollywood Star) was diagnosed to be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) as a child. He never refuses a role related to medicine e.g Awakenings, Patch Adams.
Sarah Bernhardt
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah".
French actress (1844-1923) Disabled by a knee injury, her leg amputated in 1914, she continued starring on stage until just before her death. She is regarded as France's greatest actress -- "The Divine Sarah".
Stephen Hawkings
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak.
Physicist/mathematician has Lou Gehrigs Disease and is in a wheelchair. He needs a computer to speak.
Sudha Chandran
(Indian actress and classical dancer) This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials.
(Indian actress and classical dancer) This brave lady dances with a Jaipur foot. She has acted in a movie on classical dance called "Nache Mayuri" & today acts in a variety of TV serials.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title - is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was added following her marriage in 1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner of five London marathons - in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter - including BBC TWO's From the Edge disability magazine programme.
Tanni Carys Davina Grey-Thompson OBE - to give her full name and title - is the disabled athlete that most people instantly recognise. Formerly Tanni Grey - the Thompson was added following her marriage in 1999 - she has competed in Paralympic Games since 1988, representing Britain at distances ranging from 100m to 800m. She has won fourteen paralympic medals including nine golds, and has broken over twenty world records. As a wheelchair athlete she was also the winner of five London marathons - in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001. In recent years, she has established herself as a TV presenter - including BBC TWO's From the Edge disability magazine programme.
Tom Cruise
(Hollywood Star): is severely dyslexic
(Hollywood Star): is severely dyslexic
Walt Disney
Had a learning disability
Had a learning disability
Woodrow Wilson
U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic
U.S. President from 1913-1921. Had a learning disability - he was severely dyslexic
Great People and great thoughts
For what is the best choice, for each individual is the
highest it is possible for him to achieve.
~ Aristotle
Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at
all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self confidence
of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.
~ Thomas A. Bennett ~
Do we take an easy way out when we make decisions? Why do we choose certain courses and paths? Is it because they appeal to our aptitude? Attitude? Or inertia? Set your goals high. The sense of achievement that comes after a struggle needs to be experienced by all.
Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look
at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly
prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small
advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.
~ Confucius ~
Here is another perspective. Looking for small advantages...."My friend has chosen to do this.... If I choose to do this I will get a job immediately...." These may be points in favour of your decision. But are you making them the pivot? Choose what is best for you.... in the long run.
Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't
be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come
true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarised
in four C s. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and
constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence. When you
believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and
unquestionably.
~ Walt Disney ~
Believe. Believe that you are a winner....and you are one. Believe that you can achieve, and you will. Believe in yourself. You are your most precious asset. Your most valuable qualification.
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small
things brought together.
~ Vincent Van Gogh ~
It is so easy to fall into a trap of excitement. To decide on impulse. To act and then regret. Or wonder. Whether you did the right thing. Look at the details. Draw up a game plan. God is in the small things .... in the details.
My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success.
She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have
studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you.
Success is being praised by others. That is nice but not as
important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget
about success.
~ Helen Hayes ~
So now we know what is the difference between success and achievement! Aim for achievement. Decide to win. Reach your full potential.
Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.
It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when
you've had everything to do, and you've done it.
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
Isn't that a great thought? You can't wait for such a day! Good luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)