Category: Uncategorized

July 26, 2023 was the thirty-third anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Though much remains to be done to make the United States a truly equitable society for its citizens with disabilities, the work done in the name of this act, is undoubtedly noticeable in the present day. It is work that we at CIL want to celebrate and discuss.

Please enjoy this livestream recording of our panel discussion, featuring Representative Anna V. Eskamani, Representative Rita Harris, and Policy Fellow Hiram Helfman. They dive into detail on the ADA’s impact on the lives of people with disabilities, and the next steps needed to make a truly equitable society.

Abel has a lot to look forward to as a 15-year-old kid. Sure, another school year is right around the corner, but Abel likes to look farther into the future, thinking ahead about having a job and career one day.

This summer, Abel has been able to focus on what that career might be as he’s attended a pair of Career Camps hosted by the Center of Independent Living of Central Florida (CIL). He’s gotten an up-close look at a host of different jobs, and he’s learned skills he’ll need to help get hired in a few years.

Abel comes home from Career Camp – in mid-July, he was one of 23 students at camp in Winter Park – feeling encouraged and supported and excited in a way that his mother, Holly Whye-Schiffhauer, has not seen before.

“In my opinion, (Career Camp) is an unparalleled resource for youth such as my son,” said Whye-Schiffhauer. “Any chances for him to engage with other students and professionals in this way are rare and greatly appreciated. From my own interactions and what my son tells me, (CIL has) a team of dedicated, caring professionals who come prepared to give their best to these students daily.”

CIL provides its weeklong Career Camp program across its seven-county footprint to youth with disabilities enrolled in high school during times when school is out for break. The immersive program gives campers opportunities to build pre-employment skills and get exposed to opportunities that will ultimately help them to transition to adulthood and careers. Camp presenters are experts in their unique fields, so they can offer real-life, hands-on expertise, advice, and answers to any questions that campers may have.

Campers visit different agencies and businesses across several industries such as construction, hospitality, medical, marketing and human resources to learn about how to start their career, which levels of education are needed and what life on the job looks like, as well as how to manage a paycheck.

Abel and other camp members pose with their dollar bills after a lesson.

“We focus on work readiness,” said Career Camp Program Manager Eliezer “Eli” Agosto. “We let students know about their ADA rights, work with them on resume building and mock job interviews and let them work as a group to solve different problems and complete different activities.”

But the biggest benefits of Career Camp occur outside the classroom. Students learned to use maps and traveled via public transportation. They visited several large employers in the area, ranging from hospitals and hotels to police and fire departments. They took a tour of the fire station witnessed emergency calls come in and the firefighters on duty get ready and go. They learned how to give CPR.

By giving campers a wide variety of experiences, CIL’s Step Ahead team hopes they come away from the experience realizing that there are several career paths they can take.

“We want our students to start thinking about their options,” he said. “We want to give them what they need to help them get where they want to go and understand what their long-term goals are and how they can start working towards them now.” (Agosto)

The results can continue to build, as many students like coming to camp so much that they come back – even when they don’t have to.

As for Abel, he is getting ready for the upcoming school year, but his time at Career Camp has him thinking farther into the future. He’s also $100 richer, as each camper earns $100 when they complete a week of camp.

“I’m very thankful to have this experience,” Abel said. “It has given me a lot more confidence. I cannot wait to get a job!”

Abel learns the process of voting and submitting a ballot from a poll worker.

CIL of Central Florida Career Camp

• Summer, Spring and Winter break camps
• Students can attend 2 camps per calendar year
• Eligible students must be 14-21 and reside in a county CIL serves
• Students who complete camp earn $100
• For more information, reach out to Brad at BReil@cilorlando.org or 407-961-5530.

By Matthew Louis LaGassa Published May 1, 2023

Reviewed by Victoria Wells

All About Service Animals

If you’ve spent any time in the past couple of years in public spaces, or even some offices, then chances are, you’ve seen an animal, usually a dog, in a vest with some variation of “do not pet” emblazoned on it. Though service animals are neither brand new nor uncommon in today’s society, knowledge of their history, rights, and behaviors, is not as widespread as it should be. In this article, we at the Center for Independent Living in Central Florida (CIL) will endeavor to shine some much-needed light on these vital animals’ history, rights, how to get one, how to properly behave around them, and even discuss their contemporaries in similar fields, like therapy animals. These animals can serve by identifying allergies, alerting to oncoming seizures or drops in blood sugar for diabetic individuals, de-escalating symptoms of PTSD and Anxiety disorders, recognizing and responding to their owner’s disassociating by leading them to safety, retrieving and reminding you to take medicine, and seeing or hearing for a person.

Their History:

Though service animals, specifically dogs, have appeared in some form in earlier American history, with “seeing eye dogs or dog guides for people with visual disabilities,” having legal protections as far back as the late 1920s, service animals as we commonly know them did not receive legal recognition until the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), in 1990 (Access Press Staff, 2019). The ADA now defines them as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability” (Access Press Staff; “Service Animals,” n.d.). With the exception of miniature horses “that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities,” via their own provisions in the ADA, no other species of animals can be considered service animals (Access Press Staff).

Their Colleagues:

Though only dogs and miniature horses can qualify as service animals, felines, reptiles, and many other species can qualify for similar roles: emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy animals. Emotional Support Animals can provide “emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a person’s disability,” and may even “help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias,” but do not receive special training for “tasks that assist people with disabilities” (ADA National Network, n.d.). Comfort Animals, on the other hand, “offer a calming distraction to those impacted in an active disaster or emergency,” (ADA National Network). Finally, Therapy Animals “provide people with healing contact… to improve their physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning,” but neither they nor Comfort Animals are “trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability (ADA National Network). Despite these differences in function, these distinct groups, alongside Service Animals, all have their places in society, and enjoy rights that enable people to function at their best, regardless of location.

Their Rights and Training

As decreed by the ADA, “state and local governments, public accommodations, and commercial facilities… allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go” (Florida, n.d.). Exact specifications of how they are allowed vary between locations, but are all upheld by either the ADA itself, or other laws. If you or someone you know with a disability needs a Service Animal, “There are organizations who help pair a service dog with a disabled handler, and the training process takes time, substantial financial investment, and patience” (NSAR, 2022). The Service Animal-to be is first trained in “basic manners… [through] thorough socialization, impulse control and the specialized skills required to support their handler [, which continues into later stages of the process]” (NSAR). This initial stage of training concludes with the dog “passing the Public Access test and Canine Good Citizen Test, which assesses the capability of the dog to be a proper, unobtrusive helpmate in public,” (NSAR). Following this test, the dog and their prospective handler are then matched, and begin training together, “to be a working team,” with the work that this phase entails going “well beyond what usually occurs in pet dog training” (NSAR). Following training, while States cannot require Service Animals be registered, the handler can register their dog through registries like Service Dog Certifications for certain benefits, like “identifiers like a service dog identification card, tags, or vests to clearly signal their dog is an assistance animal to avoid unnecessary confrontations” (Servicedog, 2023).

Proper Conduct Around Service Animals:

Some good rules of thumb are to give the animal and their handler space, and not to pet the dog without permission from the handler. Even if a service animal is not in their vest, that should not be taken as an assumption that they are off duty; trust the handler when they say if their service animal’s on duty or not, and if anything you do directed towards one, whether it be petting them, taking pictures of them, etc., is considered too invasive of the animal’s space, stop and step back. As suggested by Jacquie Brennan and Vinh Nguyen (2023) giving the service animal and handler space is also a viable strategy if you are either allergic to or afraid of dogs: “Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals.” This all may not sound revolutionary to you, especially when you likely exhibit similar behavior around animals in general, but considering the importance of service animals, and the possible penalties one may face for obstructing them, it is worth mentioning.

Reviewing Their Importance:

For as long as the ADA has stood, so too have the many service animals and their handlers that have tirelessly stood as models for the equity and inclusion of all individuals with disabilities in all facets of everyday life. Next time you see one of these pairs, in or out of vest, we at the CIL hope that you remember their storied history and duties and, whether as a handler or spectator, always respect these very good dogs, and miniature horses, and their colleagues as emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals, in all that they do. As ardent supporters of the Independent Living Movement, we have always believed in the importance of community understanding and empowerment in ensuring all can live independent lives, and through these positions, we are honored to include animals in these shared empowering bonds.

References:

• Access Press Staff. (2019, January 9). HISTORY NOTE: The History of Service Dogs and the Protections They Have. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://mn.gov/mnddc/past/access_press/Access_Press_01-19.pdf
• Everything you need to know about service dogs. NSARCO. (2022, April 26). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.nsarco.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-service-dogs/
• Florida, D. R. (n.d.). Service animals. Disability Rights Florida. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/disability-topics/disability_topic_info/service_animals
• Service animal or emotional support animal: What’s the difference? ADA National Network. (2023, March 22). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://adata.org/service-animal-resource-hub/differences
• Service animals and emotional support animals. ADA National Network. (2023, March 21). Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://adata.org/guide/service-animals-and-emotional-support-animals
• Servicedog. (2023, March 9). How can I get my dog to be a registered service dog? Service Dog Certifications. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-register-service-dog/

By Matthew Louis LaGassa Published March 3, 2023

Reviewed by Victoria Wells

About the Author:

Matthew Louis LaGassa (born March 2002) was diagnosed Autistic when he was two years old, and has always thought of his neurodivergency as a core part of his identity. Outside of his internship here at CIL, he’s a Junior year student at Rollins College, majoring in in English and minoring in Writing, with a knack for analytical essay writing. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, videogames, tabletop roleplaying games, and baking.

A Word From the Intern, Matthew LaGassa, About CIL, Disability Referral Language, and You

Just as there are many types of disabilities, there are many ways to refer to disabilities, called disability referral languages. Though the language used by this CIL has remained consistent for decades, the decision to do so is not a unanimous one, as I can personally attest to. With the center refreshing its readers on all the various disabilities and how our services support people with them, I’m likewise taking this time to refresh readers on the variances in language surrounding said individuals. We will also discuss why CIL uses the language it does, my own story in regard to these languages, and how to properly use disability referral language in daily life.

People-First Language: What it is and Why the Center uses it

As our readers should know, CIL’s writing employs people-first language, “language that puts a person before their diagnosis,” manifesting through phrases such as “people living with disabilities,” (Okundaye, 2021; CIL, n.d.). This type of language is used to acknowledge “a person’s humanity before conveying an objective fact,” such as saying someone “uses a wheelchair,” instead of referring to them as “wheelchair-bound,” which evokes “the language of pity, as in ‘confined to a wheelchair’… as it makes the person seem powerless,” (Research and Training Center on Independent Living, n.d.; Woolfolk, 2018, p. 123). This language originated in the 1970s as part of the Disability Rights Movement, providing “a way to acknowledge that a person’s disability is only one aspect of their identity,” with the intention of eliminating dehumanizing stereotypes that can form from the language of pity. This language has seen use in landmark legislation like the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act with terms like “people with physical or mental disabilities,” and the People First Respectful Language Modernization Act of 2006, requires its use “in all new and revised District laws, regulations, rules, and publications and all internet publications,” (ADA.gov, n.d.; Office of Disability Rights, n.d.). This legal recognition is what motivates our Center’s adherence to the language, but on smaller levels, from groups to individuals, things are not so clear-cut.

Identity-First Language: What it is and Why I use it

Though the articles I have personally contributed to employ person-first language, I prefer to be referred to through identity-first language, “language that leads with a person’s diagnosis,” which, in my case, is being referred to as Autistic (Okundaye). As someone who was diagnosed Autistic at a very young age, I’ve always considered my Autism a vital part of who I am. The deep pride I take in my Autism serves as the backbone of my acceptance of being referred to as Autistic, Neurodivergent, and a special needs individual. Special needs individual is the referral term I prefer using in speaking and writing, as evidenced by my usage of it when editing “CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate” (2023) over the Center’s standard “individuals with disabilities,” as seen in the published version (Wells). I am, however, no stranger to people-first language. In my Educational Psychology class at Rollins College, the textbook we used, Anita Woolfolk’s Educational Psychology (14^th Edition), recommended the use of people-first language when referring to students with disabilities to avoid the language of pity, as described in the previous paragraph (p. 123). Though I understand the textbook’s perspective, and absolutely agree with avoiding the language of pity when referring to anyone with special needs, for others like myself, person-first language ironically victimizes us further, denying how we consider the disability to be vital parts or who we are and the lives we live (Okundaye).

Listening to and Using Language

There will never be a language type that works for everyone all of the time, especially in large-scale contexts like our Center’s work, so we use people-first language to err on the side of caution and remain consistent with legal history. Meanwhile, in individual and small group discussions which include people like us, where personal preference reigns supreme, what matters most is listening to us: listen to the language we use, recognize how the language you use to refer to us makes us feel, and give us our rightful say in how we want to be referred to. Whether we prefer people-first or identity-first language, listening to us is what truly safeguards our personhood.

References

• About Us. CIL. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://cilorlando.org/about/about-us/
• Americans with disabilities act of 1990, as amended. ADA.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/
• Guidelines. Guidelines | Research & Training Center on Independent Living. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://rtcil.org/guidelines
• Okundaye, J. (2021, May 27). Ask a self-advocate: The pros and cons of person-first and identity-first language. Massachusetts Advocates for Children. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.massadvocates.org/news/ask-a-self-advocate-the-pros-and-cons-of-person-first-and-identity-first-language
• People first language. Office of Disability Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://odr.dc.gov/page/people-first-language#:~:text=The%20People%20First%20Respectful%20Language,and%20publications%20and%20all%20internet
• Wells, V. (2023, February 16). CSR and CIL: Why we should collaborate. CIL. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://cilorlando.org/csr-and-cil/

What You Can Do To Make Halloween Inclusive For Kids Of All Abilities

Halloween is here and it’s time to get spooky. Halloween is a time when kids enjoy carving pumpkins, dressing up as their favorite characters, and going trick-or-treating. While we’re having fun, let’s not forget that every trick-or-treater is special in their own way. Making sure all kids have a fun time during Halloween activities is important to building a stronger community. Don’t forget – not all disabilities are visible! There are many children with disabilities that aren’t noticeable, but there are steps you can take to be prepared. Here are some tips provided by Wane Local News to help you make Halloween fun for all!

Keep a separate bucket of peanut-free candy for kids with allergies. The Teal Pumpkin Project, a campaign to get people to give out allergy-safe treats on Halloween suggests that putting a teal pumpkin on the doorstep signals that you give out non-food goodies that are safe for anyone trick-or-treating.

For kids who can’t eat candy, have a bucket of toys or non-candy treats. Non-food treats can be just as fun as candy. Some options are glow bracelets, bubbles, and playing cards.

Trick-or-Treating displays should be placed to the end of the driveway in order to avoid navigating driveways and sidewalks that could be difficult for those in wheelchairs or unable to walk easily.

“Don’t make a child say, Trick-or-Treat.” Ameridisability.com notes that children who don’t shout the famous phrase may be seen as rude when they’re nonverbal or have disabilities. They recommend searching online shops that sell personalized bags etched with communication such as, “Hello. I have special needs. I cannot say trick-or-treat but I am trying!” 

They can be found on Etsy at AwearGifts, RiverStreetGifts, LusCraftasticShop, TheresAlwaysMoore, or you can get creative and make your own.

Take some time to learn Halloween words translated into American Sign Language. Here is a great YouTube video from certified instructor, ASL Meredith that you and your kids can learn before it’s time for trick-or-treating.

Learn ASL: Halloween Vocabulary in American Sign Language

Costumes For Kids With Disabilities

Halloween costumes let kids show off their creative flair, but for some kids who use a wheelchair or walker, finding a costume can be tricky. Luckily, in 2019 Target launched Hyde & EEK! Boutique costumes that were designed with all kids in mind. Target’s affordable adaptive and sensory-friendly, “Hyde & EEK! Boutique collection features robots, dragons, space travelers, mermaids, unicorns and more, each with special design details like open backs for easy dressing, wheelchair-friendly fits, hidden openings and pockets for abdominal access and removable accessories, creating extra flexibility for those with sensitivities.”

If you’re looking for DIY ideas for Halloween costumes, here are a few common materials. You can make anything from a car to a plane with these items if you’re designing your own costumes for Halloween.

• Pipe cleaners
• Pool noodles
• Cardboard
• Tissue paper
• Felt
• Paint
• Tape

Check out this DIY costume featured on ABC News of 4 year old Caleb McLelland as “Superman flying through the clouds” in a wheelchair. This costume was designed by his mother Cassie McLelland for Halloween.