We are happy to announce that this week, August 2-8, 2020, is International Assistance Dogs Week! An assistance dog, also called a service dog, is a dog who has been individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate the complications of a disability or medical condition. Examples of tasks an assistance dog can be trained to… Read more »
Year: 2020
Finding Meaningful Relationships Is Worth the Effort
For many young people with disabilities, finding reciprocal, age-appropriate peer relationships at the adolescent and young adult level can be difficult, but it can and does happen. Through consistent social skills therapy over a period of 3.5 years, I was able to learn the skills to help me become more confident socially around my peers… Read more »
Interactions Between Law Enforcement and Young People with Disabilities
On May 25, George Floyd, a 40-year-old black man from Houston, Texas, died after a police officer kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Floyd was placed under arrest for a nonviolent offense. Although the officers called to the scene thought he was armed, Floyd was not carrying a weapon. Despite his… Read more »
Looking Ahead: Life After High School
May and June Bring Significant Transitions May and June bring the start of new beginnings, and I do not mean the flowery bumblebee type. For many high school and college students, the months of May and June mark a significant time of transition and bring a fresh start in their lives. For many students with… Read more »
Promoting Literacy Among Teens and Young Adults
Learning to Love Reading at an Early Age Following the announcement of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners in early May, I wanted to do a post on the importance of literacy and ways to encourage and promote literacy in teens and young adults. Books and reading have always played a big role in my life,… Read more »