Top Schools for Disabled Students

The U.S. has the most educational opportunities for disabled students because of the American Disabilities Act. Canada, legislatively, supports educating students with disabilities in regular classrooms as a first option. Laws vary from province to province in Canada. The level of specialized services for students with disabilities in public schools is not standardized across the nation as it is in the United States.

According to the government’s website, Statistics Canada, Prince Edward Island has 73% of their disabled students in regular classrooms while Quebec has 48%, but the site also states that this is most likely a result of specific services not being available rather than intentional programming. There are a few other options to consider. There are schools that cater to specific disabilities and can be found by searching with canada 411. Below are some of the possibilities.

  • Deaf Education – Canada has deaf education schools K-12, mostly in the province of Ontario. The Clinical and Educational Centre for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children in British Columbia is a top program as well.
  • Schools for the Visually Impaired – Institut Nazareth is a music focused school for blind children in Montreal. The Alliance for Equity of Blind Canadians is working to increase the number of educational and work opportunities for all visually impaired Canadians. Programs are scattered and few.
  • Schools for Autism -There are few public school programs for this condition. There are many nonprofit organizations filling the gap. AutismOntario is a full service website that gathers information across Canada on research, treatments, education, and chapters that give parent support.
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Best Travel Accommodations for the Disabled

This is the internationally recognized symbol ...

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The time has passed when a disabled traveller found it hard to enjoy a vacation on a cruise ship. Although some of the smaller and older ships may still leave a bit to be desired, the larger vessels owned by the more prominent shipping lines are usually fitted out to be disabled friendly. They usually have at least 20 or more wheelchair friendly staterooms which have widened doorways, wheelchair enabled showers, lower placed sinks, more accessible furniture and handrails.

It is advisable that when booking cheap cruises for disabled people you make certain enquiries such as:

  • Are there any additional fees required to get access to handicapped friendly staterooms?
  • Are elevator buttons low enough to reach?
  • Are corridors wide enough to pass through?

It is always advisable to ask for a copy of the ship’s deck layout. This will allow you to ask for a cabin that is best suited to your particular situation, e.g. near the lounge or elevator.

Cunard Cruises are a cruise line that will be happy to help you understand a particular ship’s limitations concerning an individual’s specific disability.

An important matter to consider is that not all ports of call are at the side of a wharf. On some occasions small boats are used to take passengers ashore from where the ship is anchored out at sea. These smaller boats are not always capable of accommodating wheelchairs and it would not be in your interests to join such a cruise.

The safest way to make sure all your needs are met, and that your voyage will be memorable for all the right reasons, is to make your booking through a reputable travel agent, or directly through the cruise company’s special service department.

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How the Disabled can Find Employment

Aids for the Disabled

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Many disabled individuals find it difficult to find jobs. However, with the right tools, disabled people can find gainful employment that will help them becomes productive members of society in the job market while also providing them with a sense of independence.

There is a great amount of information at sdcepd.org that can help individuals with disabilities realize the services available to them. Things like taking advantage of the vocational rehabilitation services that are offered in each state can help disabled individuals immensely. Here, a disabled individual can get training that can help them get a job. A good option to consider in employment training is computer training since it is becoming mainstream in just about every employment field.

An organization such as the American Association of People with Disabilities is a great place to start when trying to find a job for disabled individual. This organization offers published lists of employment opportunities and offers a yearly mentoring program. You can call and inquire about organizations that are located in your local area.

The federal government is also a great place to look when trying to find a job for a disabled individual. The federal government prides themselves as being models for hiring the disabled in both non profit and commercial sectors. You can contact the United States Office of Personnel Management for information concerning disability hiring in the federal government sector. There are also for- profit or nonprofit organizations that can give a disabled person an internship job. This gives a person the ability to demonstrate their work ethic through performing duties and showing a willingness to work.

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What to Do When You Become Disabled

Social Security Adminstration building on Edsa... 

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Becoming disabled is more than just a physical limitation. It also places limitations on your ability to care for yourself and to build the type of life you want to have. However, knowing that there are resources to help you can help take away a small portion of the fear and concern.

Getting Help

There is help available for most people looking for it. If you are in need of any emergency support, contact your local hospital. Otherwise, here are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Turn to local hospitals as your primary tool. These organizations often have extensive tools to help you to find financial aid and to set up donation appeals for you. Your hospital may have a fund for patients, too.
  • Do look into options for disability from the Social Security Administration. This federal program provides individuals who cannot work, but who have contributed to the system previously, the means to receive income. The amount you receive and if you qualify is dependent on the SSA’s rules regarding your condition.
  • Find out if you qualify for Medicaid, a state or county program that can help pay for your medical care while you are unable to work. This program is often available to low-income families.
  • Ask for help from family and friends. Often, this is the best source of not only financial aid but also emotional help.
  • Turn to a church or other charity for guidance and support.

These are just a few ways you can get yourself back on track financially. It may not be easy, but it can be one of the best ways to pay for your medical costs.

 

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Discover the World Institute on Disability

The World Institute of Disability (WID) is an internationally renowned public policy center created by leaders of the Independent Living Movement in 1983.

The vision of WID is to fully integrate the lives of people with disabilities both economically and socially all over the world by focusing on issues that directly impact their ability to live full and independent lives.

Their mission is to eliminate barriers in communities and nations worldwide with a goal for full social integration, economic security, health care, and increased employment opportunites for persons with disabilities.

WID’s aspiration is to work towards equality for those with disabilities. They are working towards a world where:

  • Asset building barriers are removed
  • Information, tools, and resources to achieve economic security are realized
  • Services such as quality health care and support are seamless, accessible, continuous, and affordable
  • Equal rights to self fortitude and making informed choices are achieved
  • Public policy, issues, and priorities are driven
  • Economic security and independent living are accomplished
  • Being disabled is recognized as a natural and normal part of the human circumstance

WID conducts research, provides technical assistance, educates and trains the public, and creates innovative programs including:

  • Access to Assets
  • Work Incentive Initiative
  • Disaster Preparedness & Response
  • Map to Health Access Project
  • Heatlh Access and Long Term Services
  • Personal Assistance Services
  • Proyecto Visión
  • Curriculum on Abuse Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE)
  • Training and Public Education Program
  • Technology Policy Program
  • International Program
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Know More About Learning Disabilities

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There are countless people among us who live with learning disabilities. A lot of times, it isn’t even obvious enough for us to notice that the person is challenged in any way. However, in severe cases, the person with a learning disability can stand out in a crowd and you just know that they are mentally or physically challenged. Learning disabilities like Dyslexia is hard to detect until and unless you ask the person to read or write something. Autism, on the other hand, is a condition with much more obvious symptoms.

People suffering from learning disabilities need all the support and encouragement they can get in order to overcome their challenges and lead a healthy and normal life. However, to tackle disabilities intelligently, you first need to understand what they are. Learning disabilities are neurological defects that cause the lesser functioning of a child’s brain, hindering him or her from fulfilling certain tasks like normal people. Disabilities are usually present at birth but its takes a while before the symptoms of a learning disability can be identified. The brain damage could be caused by various factors like infections, premature birth or, in some cases, accidents during the first few months of life.

It has been noted the fetuses that have been exposed to alcohol and drugs are more likely to have learning disabilities. Poor nutrition can also lead to impaired brain development in a child. People often assume that children with learning disability are not as smart that as children with normal learning ability. This isn’t true as learning disability children can be equally intelligent and often smarter than kids with normal brain function.

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National Organization on Disability

The National Organization on Disability was founded in 1982. NOD is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to improve employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities and to promote and expand the participation of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life.

NOD’s vision is to increase the visibility and importance of the disabled in the workplace, which in turn gives disabled workers gainful employment and positive incentives such as financial security, economic independence, health benefits, and educational training for productive careers.

The aim of NOD is to increase the employment prospects for disabled professionals by acting as an employment resource to employers and to the field. They are able to carry out their work through four activities:

  • Innovation

Piloting innovative projects and approaches to test employment practices through the delivery of service, evaluation of results, and communication of findings.

  • Consultation

Providing consultation and technical assistance to employers, policymakers, public agencies, and even the military. The goal is to develop high quality programming, strengthen their capacity, implement effective data collection systems, and establish methods for continuous improvement.

  • Program Design

Designing programs to address employment issues for individuals with disabilities through work with researchers, employers, government agencies, and foundations. Program topics include flexible work arrangements, universal design, and ways to transition those with disabilities into the workforce.

  • Research

Performing research and analysis to better understand the issues and help to develop effective employment policies and practices.

NOD is proud of the following programs they have developed:

  • Wounded Warrior Careers – assisting severely injured veterans find new careers
  • Universal Design for the Workforce Development System – helping employers to become more disability friendly
  • Bridges to Business – transitioning disabled students into the workforce
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Council for Disability Awareness

Council for Disability Awareness

The Council for Disability Awareness is a non-profit organization founded in 2005. They are committed to inform and educate the population through education, research, and communication concerning disabilities and their emotional, physical, and financial impacts.

The mission of CDE is quite simple:

  • Expand public awareness concerning the occurrence of disabilities among the working population
  • Provide helpful resources and information to employers, employees, and their families
  • Increase public knowledge concerning the financial hardships wage earners and their families incur when a disability happens
  • Demonstrate the importance of planning for the event of a disability and the impacts it may have
  • Empower working Americans to make responsible decisions in preparation for and maintenance of their financial security should they become disabled and no longer able to work.

The changes of becoming disabled are higher than one thinks. It is a problem that cannot be ignore once you know the facts:

  • 3 out of every ten individual entering the work force will become disabled before retirement
  • Accidents are usually not the cause of the disability.
  • Health issues such as back injuries, heart disease, cancer, and other major illnesses cause most workers to require long term medical absences.
  • Most injuries are not work related and are not covered under worker’s compensation
  • Many workers are not prepared for this to happen and either don’t have disability insurance or emergency savings to last at least 2 years.

A good way to lower the odds of becoming disabled is to embrace a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise, eating right, avoiding smoking, and drinking only in moderation. Schedule regular appointments with a doctor, take all medications as prescribed, and learn to relax and avoid stress as much as possible.

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The Disabled Businesspersons Association

The Disabled Businesspersons Association was founded in 1985. It is a national non-profit charitable and educational organization that is dedicated to assisting active innovative individuals with disabilities increase their potential in the business world.

As part of their 20 years in service, DBA has worked closely with vocational rehabilitation services, businesses, and government agencies to encourage changes in perceptions and policies, and to create new business and work opportunities for the disabled. The organization is proud to be and will continue to be the foremost leading advocacy group for entrepreneurs and professionals with disabilities.

The organization has assisted more than 12,000 people since it was founded. It is comprised of professionals, executives, and successful business owners with disabilities who donate their time to assist other enterprising professionals and would be entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Services they provide include:

  • Free Internet based business consultations for anyone with a disability or those working directly with individuals having disabilities
  • Personal business advisor
  • Business identification and evaluation
  • Assistance with business planning process and launch phases
  • Identifying financial resources, assistance, and business management
  • Assistance with marketing, advertising, and public relations
  • Research of market and product
  • Research and evaluation of technology and equipment
  • Educational workshops, conferences, and seminars
  • On-going business assistance and services

While the services performed by the Disabled Businesspersons Association are free, they ask only one thing in return. When the individual is ready to start his business and hire a staff, they request that 20 percent of the employee base be individuals with disabilities.

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Travel Tips for the Disabled

Traveling can often times be challenging and is even made especially more exhausting and difficult if the traveler is disabled.  Planning ahead using a travel agent who specializes in accommodations for the disabled or making the plans independently can remove some of the stress.

Before going on the trip, plan the details as far ahead as possible. Most airlines only allow one wheelchair per plane, so call ahead before booking the flight to make sure that you can be accommodated. Contact the hotel to see if transportation to and from the airport is available with wheelchair accessibility

Research the hotel before booking a room. Hotels have a limited amount of accessible rooms so when making reservations discuss special needs including request for wheelchair ramps, in room refrigerator for medications, and lower level accommodations. Ask what services they have available for disabled travelers and have them give specific information about the room you book. Don’t forget to inquire about hotel restaurant accessibility, meals for dietary restrictions, and room service access.

Research the destination for details on accessibility. Most European cities have cobble-stone or hilly streets making it difficult to get around using a cane or wheelchair. Tall old buildings may be narrow and only have stairs to access different levels.

Pack medications with care and make sure they are part of your carry-on luggage. Request your doctor to write spare prescription using generic medicine names in case of emergency and the prescription needs to refilled in another country. Consider obtaining private health insurance that will cover you while abroad, since most carriers will only cover medical services within the US.

Make sure your wheelchair or scooter is labeled with departure information, destination information, hotel information, and home address. Call the airline at least 48 hours before you travel to ensure they have all the details of special requests that you have made. Check in early if you need help with boarding and verify that an aisle seat has been confirmed.

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