Friday, March 27, 2009
We are now the OWNERS of the new building!
Just wanted to let everyone know, we closed on our new building for The Mill House today, so we are now the owners! Construction permits were approved by the Henrico County this week and we hope to begin our new building next week, with a planned moving date towards the end of April. Our new address will be: 7812 Shrader Road, Richmond, VA 23294.
Partners in Policymaking
“Partners in Policymaking”: People Learning History, Attitudes & Perceptions About Disabilities & People with Them
· Minds are like parachutes- they only function when open.
· Disabilities are a natural part of life; 1 in 5 Americans have one, making people with disabilities the largest minority group in the country.
· A disability is, first & foremost, a medical diagnosis. It simply represents a body part that works differently. Stop using the words “wrong”, “disabled”, “special needs” and DON’T apologize!
· VA is the 6th Richest state, but it ranks 48th. In Medicaid money given to people to support community programs. Instead, most is going to institutions.
· Words like “handicapped”, “suffers from”, “afflicted with”, victim of”, “low/high functioning” or “special needs” are archaic terms (no longer used in federal legislation) that evokes negative images of pity, fear & more. “Handicapped” is often used to describe modified parking spaces, hotel rooms, restrooms, etc. But these usually provide access for people with physical or mobility needs & no benefit to visual or hearing impaired. This is one example of the misuse of the “H”-word as a generic descriptor. “Disabled” is used to describe vehicles. Sports reporters say “the disabled list”; they once said “injured reserve”. Other uses today are “broken/non-functioning”. People with disabilities are NOT broken! If a new toaster doesn’t work, we say it’s “defective” or “damaged” & return it. Shall we return babies with “birth defects” or adults with “brain damage”? The accurate & respectful descriptors are “congenital disability” or “brain injury”.
· 75% of all people with disabilities are unemployed because employers doubt they can have valuable job skills. If merchants saw us as customers with money to spend, we wouldn’t have so many inaccessible stores, theaters, restrooms, and more.
· Minds are like parachutes- they only function when open.
· Disabilities are a natural part of life; 1 in 5 Americans have one, making people with disabilities the largest minority group in the country.
· A disability is, first & foremost, a medical diagnosis. It simply represents a body part that works differently. Stop using the words “wrong”, “disabled”, “special needs” and DON’T apologize!
· VA is the 6th Richest state, but it ranks 48th. In Medicaid money given to people to support community programs. Instead, most is going to institutions.
· Words like “handicapped”, “suffers from”, “afflicted with”, victim of”, “low/high functioning” or “special needs” are archaic terms (no longer used in federal legislation) that evokes negative images of pity, fear & more. “Handicapped” is often used to describe modified parking spaces, hotel rooms, restrooms, etc. But these usually provide access for people with physical or mobility needs & no benefit to visual or hearing impaired. This is one example of the misuse of the “H”-word as a generic descriptor. “Disabled” is used to describe vehicles. Sports reporters say “the disabled list”; they once said “injured reserve”. Other uses today are “broken/non-functioning”. People with disabilities are NOT broken! If a new toaster doesn’t work, we say it’s “defective” or “damaged” & return it. Shall we return babies with “birth defects” or adults with “brain damage”? The accurate & respectful descriptors are “congenital disability” or “brain injury”.
· 75% of all people with disabilities are unemployed because employers doubt they can have valuable job skills. If merchants saw us as customers with money to spend, we wouldn’t have so many inaccessible stores, theaters, restrooms, and more.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Meals on Wheels
When we go to Meals On Wheels, we get in a van, and drive up to the office where the Meals On Wheels site is at. We get all of the meals and we go to the Fairmont house to deliver them. When we are done we come back to the Mill, because we have the bags that are ours so we do not need to give them back to the Meals On Wheels station. We help out about 12 people every week. :)
Check out the Meals on Wheels Website and consider volunteering with this great organization: http://www.mowdelivers.com/
Check out the Meals on Wheels Website and consider volunteering with this great organization: http://www.mowdelivers.com/
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Interview with a Communications Unit Member.
I have been in The Mill House since September 2005. I am in the Communications Unit. When we move I am going to go to the Kitchen Unit because I want to do something different. I was born with hydrocephalus (water on the brain). I am “29 again” (41). I have a friend at The Mill House from way back. I have known her since I was 14. I enjoy typing & photocopying. The photocopier has lately been amusing me because of the “Read-End” message that I do not know the meaning of. I love to read (especially fiction & the “…For Dummies” books), listen to ancient classical music (especially the King’s College Choir of Cambridge, England), play the piano & organ, & walk in the park. Twitter is a sound that birds make. Cute word, isn’t it?
Feelings towards the move.
We asked several people at The Mill House how they felt about moving and here are the responses:
1. I’m excited, can’t wait!
2. I think its going to be roomy.
3. EXCITED!
4. Good I’ll be able to help people.
5. Good. Fantastico!
6. Looking forward to it.
7. Positive.
8. Overwhelming.
9. I don’t know.
10. I don’t have a choice.
11. I’m so impatient that I’m fidgeting!
12. Great.
13. Great. We’ll finally have a bigger place.
1. I’m excited, can’t wait!
2. I think its going to be roomy.
3. EXCITED!
4. Good I’ll be able to help people.
5. Good. Fantastico!
6. Looking forward to it.
7. Positive.
8. Overwhelming.
9. I don’t know.
10. I don’t have a choice.
11. I’m so impatient that I’m fidgeting!
12. Great.
13. Great. We’ll finally have a bigger place.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Our New Building!
The Mill House will move to a different location sometime at the end of April. Below you can view a video of our new building:
Background of the Mill House
The Mill House, operated by the nonprofit organization, Community Futures Foundation, is an innovative vocational rehabilitation program for individuals with brain injury who live in the Metro Richmond area. The program seeks to help survivors of brain injury achieve greater levels of independence and productivity.
http://www.communityfuturesva.org
http://www.communityfuturesva.org
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