Spotlight: Greta Thunberg

Since it's the end of 2019, this is the last opportunity to write about TIME's Person of the Year, environmental activist Greta Thunberg. In August of last year, Thunberg (who turns 17 on Friday) initiated school strikes by students in Stockholm, Sweden, and beyond in protest of inaction on climate change. She also encouraged her parents to make lifestyle choices like giving up air travel to benefit the environment. Thunberg has a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome as well as OCD, but she expresses herself in an articulate manner when giving speeches. Besides being selected TIME's youngest individual Person of the Year, she has received other honors such as the Rachel Carson Prize. Although not everyone agrees with her views, Thunberg should be commended for having the courage to stand up for what she believes in. For more information, go to https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-greta-thunberg/. Happy New Year, readers!

Greta Thunberg

(image via newrepublic.com)

Season's Greetings

I'm writing from a handicap accessible suite at a hotel outside of Buffalo, New York. I'm visiting relatives on both sides of my family this week. I hope you're with the people you love. Thank you for reading my blog all year long, and I wish you a happy holiday season!

Event: Autism & Related Disabilities Town Hall Symposium

The Autism & Related Disabilities Town Hall Symposium will take place from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the Space Coast Health Foundation in Rockledge. At this event, there will be a discussion about how to strengthen services and develop new ones. The symposium will focus on the following areas of concern: transportation shortage; employment, training, and programs for people with disabilities over age 22; sub-minimal wages; lack of housing options; mental health programs and supports; respite, after-school, and summer programs for kids and teens; and Medicaid issues related to services and treatments (ABA and speech and occupational therapies). Political leaders, medical professionals, educators, business leaders, and recreation experts will also be in attendance at the symposium, where refreshments will be served. For more information, you can go to Brevard Town Hall Disability Advocacy's Facebook page.

Note: I'm unable to attend the symposium due to work obligations. However, I was invited to speak about the impact of disability legislation on my life. My remarks were recorded and will be aired at the symposium.

My speech recording session

(Photo by Tracy Jensen-McGrath)

Pope Francis's Message About People with Disabilities

Last Tuesday, December 3, was the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. On that day, Pope Francis released a message that emphasized the dignity of the disabled. He said while the lives of individuals with handicaps are better than they used to be, a change in attitude toward their challenges is needed for further improvement to take place. As a Catholic with disabilities, I'm pleased the Pope took the time to remind people how to treat those with impairments. To read more about what he had to say, go to https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-12/pope-make-the-world-more-human-by-guaranteeing-the-dignity-of-t.html.

Pope Francis greets people with disabilities.

(image via vaticannews.va)

Spotlight: Sydney Mesher

The Radio City Rockettes recently returned to Radio City Music Hall in New York for the holiday season. One of them, Sydney Mesher, is the first member of the dance company to have a visible disability. She was born without a left hand due to symbrachydactyly, a condition in which limbs don't fully develop before birth. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Mesher has been dancing since age three and saw the Rockettes perform when she was in middle school. She will be doing high kicks and other dances as part of the Christmas Spectacular show at least twice a day until January 5. For more details on this story, go to https://www.kptv.com/news/portland-woman-born-without-left-hand-making-history-with-the/article_5696b3fa-1112-11ea-a9e1-cbd0bad18bd8.html.

Sydney Mesher

(image via oregonlive.com)