Just letting you know!

As a brief post today. I have diced to take a break from posting for now until I get back to school August 20. Please keep looking at my facebook page. I am getting more ideas and taking a break to find them.  Be on the look out when I am back.

Recent News

1. The famous koko the gorilla died. Was the first to learn Sign Language. Many people will live up to what the gorilla again. He will live on for ever.

2. More to come with this. The there is bill out there in our senate. The first is having more accessible Uber and Lyft cars. Then having more fordable housing like for nursing homes and private homes. That for people who do not make median income. 

Be aware of older people they Rule!

Older Adults are people we look up to as young people.  For most people our caregivers are the first to give us guidance. You know help us out with our first walk or even the first break up. when it comes down to it we have to take care of the adults in our lives that made the most impact. Within this group physical and psychological changes are on the rise.

Here a key term that most people should know and understand when reading this all the way through.
Ageism - form of discrimination against older people. 
Older Americans Act - Funds for age related research. Government programs for age related research.
As a reminder changes can be good or bad.

Middle age is around the 40-60 years old range.That is called the changing midlife. That is the last and finial step of life.  That stereo type  of that family man that decides to buy a red sports car with out telling the wife for some reason. 

Baby boomers are born from the year 1946 and on. That is a total of 26 million people over the age of 60.  You know it could be the grandparent you know that is still alive. Families living with each other is on the rise as much as ever. I know would know that because I have a grand mother who lives with me. One reasons for all of this is that homelessness is on the raise in this community.   

My friend Brendan birth is really big on caring about this area and what this is all about. He Really wants to work with people with ageism. Get him to talk about what Gray Panthers is all about to ageism. Get him to add a picture of what he does in action with the group. You might here from him again in the near future.

what we forget!!

In Today's world we have to be more aware of things ever so more. This post is all inclusive with things I have been blogging about for awhile. Things we all have to be aware about ever so more since the election of president or being more aware of our own biases when it comes to these topics at hand. 

We have to realize that 35% of the United States population is non-white. Being aware about multiculturalism in our society. It is about being aware. Noticing the out ward appearance about what makes us different from other people. Having the Knowledge that we are all equal and not one race is on top of another. It is all about having the skills to and education to realize that. Then when you do not know something be willing to learn and consult. Sometimes if you do not know someone race just ask and they will be more than willing to let you know who they are. Lastly knowing that race is unique to the individual at hand. 

As a new things I will post a preview about what next week topic is about. 

Next Week Topic: 

The elderly population and why they are on the rise. Spotlighting a friend who works with them through Gray Panthers in New York. 

Get help as Soon as you Need It! Sometimes before that?

Depression can be a serious thing for people. Not everyone experiences the same way that other people do. Sometimes mad can equal sad. It is not always if the person is truly sad it can be if the person anger lots of it also. 
This ties into my post about the keys of suicide. It is also about my other post about drugs and drinking. Do not wait get help.  Act quick because you matter the most. No matter who you are or what age you are as a person. Depression hits 2 million people over the age of 65. Be Careful if you have grandparent who lives or is currently in a nursing home. We should all watch out for each other because it can be your next door neighbor and you might not even know it. 


I know what it is like to struggle as a human being. Being gay and being a special needs person. When I was in middle school having a classmate of mine calling me slow and the teacher doing nothing about it. That is sad and upsetting. It took me awhile I spoke up to my family and finally got the help I need. That bothered my a lot and I got professional help to get over that. I thought at times recurrently in my mind about who cares about me.

I do not mean to be using my friends blog post again. He does write something similar on the same topic. He post though a good reference on this particular blog post. If you do not know who is you can dig deeper in his blog or the other post I used him for.

https://blindinjusticeblog.com/2017/07/25/chester-benningtons-death-needs-to-be-a-call-to-help-not-demonize/

Here You Go.

I thought I should give an update on my blog. I am starting to post relevant videos about things I posted. It is more powerful about the put what I have to blog to people out there in the world. I will be doing more real world things like going to my first ever disability pride event in Philadelphia. All about celebrating all the things that people can do things and can not do things.

In a few months I will become a senior at university. I will have three semesters left. Within my degree I am required to have a internship that is 40 hours a week over one semester. I am just currently looking for one and will tell you how my journey goes on that. I have also decided to take on another minor along with my minor in Special Education. That will be Deafness and Hearing studies. Along, with my journey I am also working to towards applying to the Peace Crop. 

LET's Go Maybe No.

Today, I am going to talk about about one of the main things that a lots of special needs people have trouble with and that is mobility. I care about how people get around in there daily life.

At school I attend a Church called Wellspring in State College. It is about 15-30 minutes away from school depending on traffic. Every Sunday there are rides to church. They are just people personal cars that get people to church. My church does not have a van to help someone if they were on a wheelchair. I am working with my church on how they get more diversity and become more welcoming to people who have a disabilities. 

I have a friend named Brendan Birth Who I think touches on this subject very well to begin with. Here is the link to the post.  Just click the link and read.

https://blindinjusticeblog.com/2018/04/03/some-subtle-ways-that-people-with-mobility-issues-arent-accommodated/

Drug and Drinking.

Here are some reminder things to things to think about when it come to this post. This post might hit home for lots of people. I personally know someone who is currently this addiction. I have so many of my friends get out of the party scene at Penn state.

I am going to post on Fridays from now on at least for the summer.

Disability - a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, sense or activities.
inability to work if
- cannot do work before.
- medical condition
- disability last longer than one year.

Think about where drugs and drinking can fall into what categories. What category can drugs and drinking fall into?
Categories of a disability:
- Physical disability
- intellectual / developmental
- cognitive
- psychiatric 

When thinking about this culture can come into play because many cultures even here in this country emphasize more drinking then others. Lets understand what culture means if people who might have an idea of what that is.
Culture - a fluid system of learn beliefs, values and traditions, principles and guides for behaviors that are shared among members of a particular group. What can be visible?
- Age
- Race ( Maybe)
- Language 
- Gender ( maybe)

Here are some stages of person who drinks to much. Understand if you know a person who is an alcoholic.

Alpha Alcoholism - earliest stage as purely psychological dependence.
Gamma Alcoholism - shows a lost of control in their drinking behaviors.
Epsilon Alcoholism - finial stage interferes with parts of their life.

Here are some quick notes on the powerful War drugs in the United States.

- Highest reason for why people are in jail.
- Ethical minorities such as black are four more times are as likely to jail for drug related offense.
- 90% of prisoners are African Americans.
- It totally targets people of color. 














   

Counseling Certain populations

This is a presentation I did with people back When I was a Sophomore in college. I did it for a class I took called Introduction to Disability Culture Class. I am not writing much because I am allowing the presentation to speak for its self. Click the link and I hope you learn something new.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UZr3O3DRh93QGjD-AylBAgV3Lgl8QQU9ni_pb6wt6Dk/edit?usp=sharing

School Counselor

       


      Since, now many people have an idea of what counseling is and why it is not only for people who who have mental illness or anything like that. I will be focusing  on an over view of what a school counselor to what kind of education they might need to be one to many other things.

      To be a school counselor you do not need to have a PHD. Although, you could obtain in the field for you want to teach a university. Although, at a university level you do not need  a PHD to become a professor. All you really need a master in education degree.

     I went Freire Charter school in Philadelphia. I had a guidance counselor who helped with just college entrance stuff. She helped me put the basic things to gather like my college admissions essay. She even put helped me apply to college. Then we talked about what I wanted to major in college. Just about what I possibly wanted   It looked a little different depending on what college I wanted to apply for. She just cared about my well being and how I  am doing in all of my classes. 

That what a summary looks like to what it is to be a school counselor  from my own life and to the kind of education they will need to be one.

Understand it and get Rid of it.

Counseling what is it? There are lots of things that go in to it people say. There is that stigma that people say it is only for the mentally ill. Sorry, for people who are reading this. That is not true and anyone can go to it. Although, there are studies out there that show mostly white women go to counseling than anybody else who goes to it. Remember that counseling will fit the needs of anybody who goes to it and is willing. To know that a counselor or a therapist is highly qualified is they go through this program called called council for Accreditation . The program is for two academic years. As an undergraduate many people do major programs like Sociology,  Psychology, Human development and Family Studies. Also, Like what I am doing or Social Work. I even heard Pre-medical major program also works.  There is more out but those are the most popular that I have come across doing. To truly get  certified you need a master's degree and to go this through that program.

Here are some programs here at The Pennsylvania State University who are followers of my Blog. They are offered here at University Park. They are through the University Health Services. They offer many support groups for Men and Women. To even Loss groups and eating disorders groups. There is no charge or extra charge. It is all paid through your tuition. Later, on this blog I will take about group counseling is and why it does not work for everybody.

The Great Theorist Stephen Hawkins

Born: January 8, 1942

Died: March 14, 2018

Many of you heard and many of you did not. I will be going back to my regular schedule post next week that I was going to write about. This week was the passing of the Great Stephen Hawkins. 

He was a good man and really smart. He was a great example and always will be a person who has over come his disability. Many of you might not know he had a disability called motor neuron disease. In a summary that means his motor are delayed or can be involuntary. At times he could not control his motor movements. This disability is also called Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis or ALS as many people know it by.  Despite his disability he able to achieve his PHD in Physics specializing in the great black holes from the University of Cambridge.  He did his undergraduate work at University of Oxford with Honors in Natural Science. He was also able to start a family of his own and teach at the university were gotten his PHD from. 

He had big interest in the great outer space with black holes and a passion for disabilities until the day he died. Even, though people thought it was risky, he flew on a zero gravity space. From the things I read he loved and enjoyed that experience. He basically, helped gain a lot of rights for people who are disabled. Because of his accomplishments they made a biological documentary about his life featuring himself. Finally, the former president Obama awarded him the medal of Freedom. 

What is coming next?

Since you learned a lot about different things. Moving on from the ideas on disability culture and keys of suicide. You are going to learn about different people who work and help in this kind of field. Understand what kind of what education these people and what kinds of professionals work with what populations. Finally, understanding how these people really work within choosen jobs.  All this has to do with Human Services. Here are videos posted to preview what will be coming in the future.

Keys of Suicide

My Blog is also about mental health and what that is all about. Todays post will be about Human Services topic about Adolescents and the challenges they might go through. I will be focusing in one one thing in that is scary that needs to be talked about more than less.  

During Adolescents is a time period were many kids go through a transitional phase. Understanding what they want to do in life Many kids decide to go to some kind of college or university. Then their are those some who want to go to a certain branch of the military. Basically, the adolescent stage is very developmental. With being a Adolescent again there are some challenges they can go through.  

Suicide ( second leading cause of death.) 

This is a model called the pimp model. A model that most people follow who are considering suicide. 

Plan

Intent

Mean 

Pros ( meaning what is good about there plan.) 

- Teenage girls are more likely to attempt. Most teenage boys complete suicide.  

- sometimes though people talk openly about wanting to die. 

Psycho-social factors and Risk Factors 

- hopless

- Gun

- or knowing someone who did complete suicide  

- As a key watch for the markers of suicide or the lack of sometimes. 

Then a dear friend of my mind also writes a blog that I want you to check out. He wrote about this very topic but in a whole different way. Go and Check it out. Here is the link to the blog post.

https://blindinjusticeblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/chester-benningtons-death-needs-to-be-a-call-to-help-not-demonize/

Laws and Protection

Today, I am going to write about some laws that protect people who might have mental health or special needs. When You are hired for a job you can voluntarily give that you have a disability.  You have to disclose if you have a record as if you were ever arrested. Then there some states that require you to disclose your sexual orientation such as if you are gay or straight. Today, I will be focusing in on the laws that protect a lot with people who have a disability or some kind of mental health. I will be focusing on a brief summary of only three laws. 

The first law is about  (HIPPA) Health insurance portability and accountability Act of 1996. That is were health professional of any sorts can not tell anyone one about your health care or mental status at all. The exception to that if you give them permission to tell certain other people. Usually it needs to be written consent. Then they need to be even more on the alert with files on the computers.

The second law is about (FERPA) Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. That is were your school records are sealed. If your in college and mom asks if your grades and you do not have to give them to her because of this law.

The next law is called (IDEA) Individuals with Disability Education improvement ACT. Under this law everyone has an equal opportunity to get education. Under this law I am able to get extended test or quiz time when I need it. Sometimes I accept or sometimes I do not.

Do not Hide.

Today I went to a training offered by my school called Diversity in Education. I was in one session today. A women was speaking about how she has schizophrenia. There is no cure for it. She said that "I am not a monster." Just someone who can not turn off their nightmares even when I am awake.  I am student here who just needs a little extra help through life.

She said that she is a student here at The Pennsylvania State University. Who decided to start a student group called Students with Schizophrenia. She researched to see if their was anything across the country but their was not anything. She starting here own organization and told her I would love to join her. She told me it is going to start in the fall semester. I will be looking out for that when the time comes. One thing that stood out that she said not every person who has schizophrenia is the same who experience it.

for people who do not know what Schizophrenia here the signs and symptoms. This is just a guide and their not just one guide to it. Again, remember their is no cure for it.

Schizophrenia 

1. Delusions 
2. Hallucinations
3. disorganized speech  
4. Disorganized Speech 
5. Negative symptoms ( Such as extreme upsetting  moods)

Why in the world do we have to be silent about who we are as people. We have to be understanding, learn and educate people. People who have disabilities are just like you and me. We are not monsters but just like you and me.

Watch the video I posted about this women. she is true and powerful.

Identity

I am back and ready to blog again. I was of for awhile because of semester break and going on starting a new semester. I was dealing with somethings but ready to get back into action. I am ready to get back to into action. This time a around I will be blogging actually every Saturday instead of every Sunday. I am still counting my series in culture of disability everything here goes well with the series.

In school this semester I am taking a class called Introduction to Rehabilitation and Human Services. It is basically a class were I learn what I can do in the Human Service filed. This past Tuesday we talked about identity, multiculturalism and acceptance.  First we have to understand some basic concepts. 

Multiculturalism: 

• individual, group and universal dimension of existence
• Universal and culture - specific strategies 
• Individualism and collectivism 

Etic or Universal Approach:

counseling approach that holds that all loci of identity or shared circumstance are essential to the formation of cultural identity. 

Since knowing these things think to you do this activity by yourself. Think about the strongest identity you have as person. I am doing this activity giving examples through my own life. 

1. Race - White 
2. Gender - Male 
3. Sexual orientation -  Gay 
4. Social Economic status - Working class 
5. Nationality -    United States of America 
6. Ability/Disability - Learning disability and hard of hearing 
7. Religion - Christian 
8. Age - 21 
9. Body Type - fair 
10. Job - Wage worker and Full Time undergraduate college student    
11. Location - Northeast Philadelphia 
12. Individualism/ collectivism - Individualism 
13. Rural/ urban - Urban