Resourceful Woman 

Women with Disabilities Striving toward Health and Self-Determination

Summer-Fall 2009

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Letter from the Director

Welcome to the premiere issue of the Resourceful Woman e-newsletter. We are thrilled to now offer a cyber complement to the hard copy edition of Resourceful Woman, which continues to be available in limited supply. Through this blend of formats we hope to expand the depth and breadth of dialogue among women and girls with disabilities, collaborators and providers locally and globally.

We are profoundly grateful to the Louis R. Lurie Foundation for its continuing belief in our mission to empower women and girls with disabilities to practice self-determination in achieving lifelong physical and emotional wellness. This e-newsletter is among several new community outreach initiatives that are supported by a Lurie legacy grant awarded to The RIC Women with Disabilities Center for 2009-2010. As a funder that seeded our dreams to start a community based health center run by and for women with disabilities in 1993, the Louis R. Lurie Foundation has once again risen to the challenge of furthering our dreams for the next phase of growth: community integration.

In this issue you will discover how the Lurie award empowered us to build new community programs and expand the outreach of our girls mentoring, domestic violence advocacy, and breast health promotion programs beyond the walls of RIC’s 345 Superior Street hospital into the streets and neighborhoods of the city and surrounding suburbs of Illinois.

Bringing services and programs into the communities is exciting, but growth can be challenging. After 15 years of providing accessible, affordable, quality ob/gyn services to women with disabilities in the Chicago area, RIC is no longer in a position to provide these services through the Women’s Clinic and therefore needs to transition them into local healthcare clinics.  While we are proud to launch a process to mainstream the ob/gyn services into a cluster of community-based clinics and women’s health initiatives throughout the city of Chicago, we are aware of the barriers we face. As we work to build alliances with midwives, physicians and reproductive clinicians to transition the services, we encourage you to join us in our work to improve the quality of health and social services available to women and girls with disabilities in the community.

You can help by spreading the word about our e-newsletter and community integration efforts.  Please urge your friends and colleagues to contact us by phone or e-mail with their e-mail addresses and any questions or suggestions they have regarding our outreach efforts. We can be reached at wwdc@ric.org or 312-238-8004. We look forward to hearing from you!

Judy Panko Reis, MA, MS

Director, Women with Disabilities Center

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

The Audacity of Hope: What Barack Obama’s Presidency Means for Women with Disabilities

By MaryMargaret Pucci

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.... It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled.”

In his acceptance speech of November 4, 2008, then President-Elect Barack Obama specifically mentioned people with disabilities, a first in America’s history of presidential acceptance speeches.

When Barack Obama stepped up to the podium at the 2004 Democratic National Convention few outside of Illinois knew anything about him. On his breathtaking ascent from local legislator to president, Mr. Obama stopped along the way to visit with RIC’s Women with Disabilities Center. He called on WWDC as the go-to resource in helping him understand issues important to Illinois women with disabilities. The Senator impressed upon the RIC audience that women with disabilities have the power to set off important changes in Social Security, Medicare and end-of-life issues. Now, President Obama has a certain power too.

His agenda on disability is extensive, and as we approach the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2010, it seems that disability bloggers across the country are encouraged by the president’s tenor of hope and promise.

Obama has vowed to press Congress to pass the CLASS Act and the Community Choice Act to help Americans with disabilities live independently in the community and help them pay for the direct care workers and assistive technology that make independent community-based living possible. He has pledged full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the educational opportunities children with disabilities need to succeed. He has outlined plans for increasing the employment rate of workers with disabilities and promoting equitable access to health care.

President Obama’s consideration of people with disabilities seems to flow naturally from his character. But can he elevate a disability agenda at the same time he wrestles with a shattered economy, global unrest and bipartisan setback? Perhaps recent hiring activity is proof that he will try.

Obama has established a small but well-regarded inner circle of disability advisors that includes native Chicagoan Kareem Dale, who was appointed Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. “He is going to have absolutely direct access to the president” affirms Vice President Joe Biden. Dale, who is partially blind, served as the Obama campaign’s Disability Vote Director and headed up the transition team’s dialogue with disability communities.

New Special Assistant Paul Steven Miller, an internationally renowned expert in disability and employment discrimination law, will manage the appointment process for attorneys in President Obama’s administration. Former U.S. Congressman, Tony Coelho, primary author of the ADA, is also playing an active role in advancing disability interests and hiring within Obama’s administration.  And long-time close friend Mike Strautmanis was appointed Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Liaison. In the words of Strautmanis, “Every American with a disability, or who has a loved one with a disability, should be fortunate enough to have a friend or a president like Barack Obama.” The Obama’s consider Strautmanis’ son Jori a friend, and perhaps even subtle policy advisor, as they watch him grow up with Autism Spectrum.

In yet one other subtle way, the First Lady will likely influence the president’s perspective on disability policy too. Michele Obama’s personal connection to disability comes from her late father who had multiple sclerosis (MS).

Whether Obama can create real and lasting change for people with disabilities remains to be seen. It calls for a dash of optimism. It’s true our hopes have been frustrated before, but not by President Barack Hussein Obama, the man who made hope a national agenda, the man they call a walking hope machine.

For those old enough to remember the presidency of John F. Kennedy, the similarities between the two men come easily: the intelligence, the charisma, the grace, the compassion, and the hope of a nation resting on their respective shoulders. But this time the politics of hope includes Americans living with disabilities too.

Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities

  “We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination…policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities.”  Barack Obama, April 11, 2008

President Obama’s plan to Empower People with Disabilities is available on video and PDF format at www.barackobama.com/issues/disabilities.

President Obama is committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history. To send questions, comments, concerns to the President or his staff, visit www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

Taking It to the Streets

In April 2009,  Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL, 9th District), held a forum on women’s health care at the Northwestern University Feinberg  School of Medicine. The forum included presentation and discussion of pertinent issues including inclusion of insurance coverage for reproductive health care and abortion services for women with disabilities. Representative Schakowsky urged all people to reach out to their legislators with the issues important to them. 

Responding to this call, WWDC Director Judy Panko Reis wrote a letter to Representative Schakowsky adding to the forum's message a call for the need for full access to medical equipment and services for people with disabilities.  The need for accessible and affordable health care is urgent. Judy Panko Reis along with Dr. Kristi Kirschner authored a White Paper: a policy paper that concisely offers a description and solutions to accessibility concerns, which was cited by the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2004 Call to Action for Wellness for People with Disabilities.

We encourage you to contact your representatives and now is the time, as health care reform is brought to the national table. To find out who your House and Senate representatives are, visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

Women on the Move: A Global Celebration of Women

By MaryMargaret Pucci

Throughout history, women with and without disabilities have helped shape and strengthen America. In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women’s History Week. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women’s Day, observed each year on March 8 since the early 1900s. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution and the president has issued a proclamation in honor of women and their extraordinary role in shaping American history. 

President Barack Obama signed the 2009 proclamation saying, “With passion and courage, women have taught us that when we band together to advocate for our highest ideals, we can advance our common well-being and strengthen the fabric of our Nation.” This year pays particular tribute to the efforts of women in preserving the environment for future generations. The President went on to say, “These women helped protect our environment and our people while challenging the status quo and breaking social barriers. Their achievements inspired generations of American women not only to save our planet, but also to overcome obstacles and pursue their interests and talents.”

Like the honorees referenced by President Obama, women with disabilities know a thing or two about challenging the status quo, breaking social barriers, overcoming obstacles and pursuing our dreams. In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Resourceful Woman celebrates the spirit of women with disabilities the world over.

Zimbabwe is an unforgiving place for people with disabilities, a place where children with disabilities are often abandoned, neglected and left to die. Prudence Mabhena, abandoned by her family at a young age, is the lead singer in Liyana, an internationally renowned Afro-fusion band. The band’s eight members are self-taught musicians, all with physical disabilities. They met at the school where disabled children and their families are historically shunned due to cultural beliefs linking disability with witchcraft. Liyana completed its first American tour earlier this year and the upcoming documentary iThemba (My Hope) will soon chronicle their story. Mabhena, who has arthrogryphosis, says, “I am not a disabled singer. I want people to know that disability does not mean inability. I plan to do something amazing with my life.”

Wendy Booker climbs mountains. She is set on becoming the first person with MS to climb the Seven Summits (the highest mountain on each of the seven continents). Booker has already successfully scaled six of the Seven Summits and will make her dream complete with an attempt on Mount Everest in the spring of 2009. Mount Everest at 29,035 feet is the world’s highest peak. Booker, an American, says she climbs mountains not because she has multiple sclerosis but because she wants to “inspire others to see obstacles not as mountains in the way but as challenges to climb over and around.”

In July of 2008, Judy Panko Reis, Director of RIC’s Women with Disabilities Center visited with the Association of Women with Disabilities of Hong Kong, bringing a message of advocacy and empowerment. As many disability activists suggest, the United States has a critical role in sharing its experiences on inclusion with the international community, and advocates like Panko Reis are working to change attitudes not only here in the United States but also across the globe.

Women with disabilities, their families and caregivers remain some of the most excluded people in the world. In many developing countries, family shame, limited mobility or lack of communication discourage women with disabilities from making contacts outside the immediate family. Girls with disabilities, marginalized for reasons of both gender and disability, are particularly vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse. The global literacy rate of women with disabilities is just one percent.  In cultures where marriages are arranged, a woman with a disability is not considered a suitable bride. All too often women remain hidden, silent and without a place in society. Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Perez de Cuellar, called it “the silent emergency.”

The discrimination is not always silent, sometimes it is outspoken. Just ask Cerrie Burnell, the British television personality and children’s host who found herself the subject of recent public debate. Burnell is missing the lower half of one arm. Parents have alleged her appearance is unsuitable for a children’s show, saying the sight of her will scare children to the point of nightmares. Nine formal complaints were filed with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) requesting her removal. The flurry of public reaction that followed wavered between panic and ignorance and passionate backing of Burnell.

Burnell, who has no interest in wearing a prosthetic arm, said, “People assume there is a sadness attached to a disability like this. But to me, there is no sadness. If I had to change anything about myself, it would not be this. It would be to make my hair blonder so I don’t have to keep paying for highlights.”

Children are not born with prejudice. They are not born believing disability is something to be shunned or feared. They ask questions and take their cues from the answers given by adults. So what are the children scared of, precisely? And what is the enduring message if they are told this beautiful woman is too frightful to behold?

We have an awfully long way to go. But if Women’s History Month has taught us anything, it is to believe in the power of women who refuse to settle for the world as it is and work to make it as it should be. By celebrating their stories, we all stand to gain. 

Learning To Breathe

By Chris Wisniewski

Stress—we see it all around us. The economic crisis, lost jobs, housing foreclosures, rising health care costs. It’s difficult to turn on the news without hearing something about these topics.  And then there are those messages in the media that encourage us to get away from it all – take a vacation, go to a spa. But what happens when we have to return to reality?

The good news is that all of us already have the tools necessary to face our stressors head on so we don’t need to escape. And one of the most powerful tools is our breath. Simply paying attention to our breath brings us to the present moment, grounds us in reality, and has the ability to bring an immediate sense of calm to our bodies. 

When we experience stress, our bodies react. The “fight or flight” response can be activated, which is effective when we are in serious danger, but not so effective when we’re dealing with daily stressors. In fact, prolonged exposure to the fight-or-flight response can contribute to secondary medical conditions such as hypertension, sleep disorders or anxiety.

Even one mindful breath in the middle of a stressful situation is beneficial because the act of paying attention slows down the body’s reactive response to stress. And, while you can tune into the breath at various locations in your body, experts recommend that tuning in at the belly has the most calming effect because it is your center of gravity and far removed from the thinking mind. 

Sound too good to be true? Try it.  Notice your breath right now. Is it smooth or uneven? Fast or slow? Do you find yourself becoming distracted?  Inevitably, thoughts will come into your mind and distract you from your breath. If this happens, simply notice the thought and return your attention to the breath.  It is sometimes helpful to place one hand on your belly and notice how it rises and falls. It can also be helpful to imagine a balloon in the belly, inflating with each in-breath, and deflating with each out-breath. 

Regardless of the method you use, taking even one minute out of the day to pay attention to your breath will benefit your mind and body.  Your stressors may not go away, but you will be empowered with calmness and clarity to better manage them. 

Chris Wisniewski, MSW, is a pediatric care manager at RIC and program manager for the WWDC.  She has a personal interest in mindfulness meditation and has been studying Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for the past two years.

Around WWDC

Hands-On Approach to Mammography Positioning for Women with Disabilities

On May 2, 2009 mammographers from six facilities throughout the Chicagoland area experienced a rare  educational opportunity at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Lynn Sage Breast Imaging Center for hands-on demonstrations of mammography positioning techniques for women with disabilities.  The seminar opened with presentations by Dr. Teresa Kurtiza of NMH and Dr. Kristi Kirschner of RIC, addressing the importance of proper mammography positioning and the healthcare access challenges faced by women with physical disabilities. Next, Ginger Lane of Access Living discussed disability awareness and etiquette, followed by a panel of women with disabilities who discussed their mammography experiences. The panel included Laverne Walker, Peggy McCusker, Karen Boyd, Cathy Saunders, and Octavia Mitchell. Following lunch, mammographers from the Lynn Sage Breast Imaging Center demonstrated positioning strategies with the panel members in individual treatment rooms. Seminar participants rotated to the individual rooms in order to learn positioning techniques for individuals with a range of disabilities. Research has indicated a need for education on positioning strategies for mammographers and radiology technicians, and feedback from participants reinforced this need and affirmed the benefit of the training. This training was made possible by funding from the Office of Women’s Health at the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the WWDC has applied for additional funding to continue to educate health care professionals on the needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, thanks to generous funding from the Louis R. Lurie Foundation, this training was recorded and will be posted on the WWDC website (www.ric.org/wwdc) for both mammographers and women with disabilities to access. The WWDC would like to acknowledge all of the collaborators who contributed to the success of this training including Access Living, Rush University Medical Center, Progress Center for Independent Living,  Anixter Center, and most of all, Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Lynn Sage Breast Imaging Center which very generously donated staff time and meeting space.

Meet, Greet & Eat: A Special Event for Women and Teen Girls with Disabilities

The WWDC held a seminar at the RIC Day Rehab Center in Northbrook, Illinois on April 25, 2009 for women and girls with disabilities who reside in the northern suburbs. 

This seminar was an opportunity for participants to hear about the experiences of M&M Roll Model members, engage in an expressive art activity, and network with other women in their area. One current mentee shared her original poetry, and another shared a play she wrote about the need for disability education in standard school curricula. Twenty-five people attended, despite the heavy rains that poured from the sky that day, and it is our hope that this event has been a catalyst for the development of new friendships and on-going support and wellness.

The WWDC Women’s Center Clinic Moves Toward Community Integration

Since 1991, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, in collaboration with our OB/GYN colleagues at Northwestern has had the pleasure of offering women with disabilities reproductive health-care services through its outpatient Women’s OB/GYN clinic. The clinic was founded in order to meet a pressing need for basic, accessible reproductive health-care services.

But times change. RIC, as it embarks on its new strategic vision, needs to now focus its energies and resources on its core mission, the provision of world-class rehabilitation services. We here at RIC WWDC also believe the era for such a clinic in a rehabilitation hospital has passed and it is time to integrate these services into the broader community. Thus, as the clinic closes on August 31, 2009, we have started to build new alliances with midwives, OB/GYN physicians and reproductive health staff at various clinics in the community.

Though women are welcome to transition their OB/GYN care to any specialty provider of their choice, we are committed to keeping you informed about new accessible alternatives for reproductive health care as these services become available for appointments.

As always, we are eager to work with you to improve the quality of health care for women with disabilities in the community. Please email us at WWDC@ric.org or call Rebecca Thompson at 312-238-8004 with questions or suggestions.

We realize the transition may be difficult, but we feel that together we can build a better, more widely available network of affordable, accessible community-based health care resources for all women with disabilities across Chicagoland.

Seminar Aims at Preventing Diabetes Through Nutrition, Fitness and Stress Reduction

Given the fact that there are millions of children and adults in the United States diagnosed with diabetes and millions more who remain unaware they have the disease, it makes sense that so many would give up their Saturday to increase their understanding of this daunting disease caused when our bodies do not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone our body needs to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy.

The all-day seminar held August 1, 2009 at RIC, coordinated by Delrita Carson, opened with Michelle Thomas, nutritionist from CEDA WIC, who gave information on diabetes, including signs and symptoms, carbohydrates and how to/not to eat and much more.  Licensed massage therapist, Nora Jones, accompanied by assistant Danella Andrews, explained that stress can cause high blood glucose levels and stated that massage is beneficial in alleviating stress. As a treat, all participants were invited to a 15-minute massage.  Justin Bomkamp, RIC Fitness Specialist, led a hands-on presentation on exercises for people with disabilities. Chris Wisniewski, MSW, RIC Program Manager, taught on mindfulness meditation and stress reduction. Encouraging audience participation, she led a brief session on awareness of the unity between mind and body.

A special thank you to RIC Women’s Board Liaison Maureen Byron for providing the delicious breakfast snacks and lunch.

Packed with information and resources on diabetes, participants left empowered to eat right, exercise and use relaxation tools to cope with the stress of everyday life.

Disability and Domestic Violence: Awareness and Prevention

To spread knowledge and build community awareness of domestic violence, WWDC offered a seminar aimed at identifying the warning signs of domestic violence, utilizing prevention strategies, and accessing community assistance and resources. In conjunction with Officer Lisa Benigno from the Chicago Police Department, the WWDC’s Domestic Violence Coordinator, Linda Miller, presented this community education seminar on May 20, 2009 at the Oak Park Public Library in Oak Park, Illinois. Participants included women with disabilities, their family members, and providers of domestic violence services, and all who attended indicated a positive experience.

Calling All Chicago Area Parents with a Disability

The RIC Women with Disabilities Center is delighted to support a new resource in the Chicago area for parents with a disability and their children – an organized community-based parenting group! Open to mothers and fathers (and grandparents too), the parenting group will meet every other month for networking, socializing, solution sharing, and of course, playing for the kids!

Being a parent is one of the most challenging and rewarding responsibilities one can embrace. Being a parent with a disability can compound those challenges and sweeten the reward in parenthood. The group will offer parents with a disability the opportunity to connect with each other and build a broader community for themselves and their children.

Supported by a legacy grant from the Louis R. Lurie Foundation intended to expand opportunities for women with disabilities in the community, the group will take advantage of myriad resources throughout the Chicagoland area. The goal is to foster a self-sustaining community of parents and their children who connect regularly throughout the year beyond the life of the grant.

The groups plans to meet the third Saturday of every other month from Noon to 2:00 pm. A light lunch will be provided. Three of the dates will feature a speaker who will address meaningful issues that will be determined by the parents.

The first outing is planned for August 29, 2009 at River Park located at 5100 N Francisco Avenue in Chicago from noon-2:00 p.m.

If you would like to join the parenting group, please contact Chris Wisniewski at 312-238-8012.

RIC Athlete Breaks the Ice

Erica Mitchell is a member of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Blackhawks sled hockey team. Perhaps the bright pink boots she wears on the ice give it away, but Erica is the only female on the team and one of a handful of women who play in the country.

Sled, or sledge, hockey is one of the largest Paralympic spectator sports. Following International Hockey Federation rules, sled hockey athletes skate on modified two-blade sledges and use two sticks, which have a spike-end for pushing and a blade-end for shooting. The game is fast and physical and has attracted a growing number of women.

Watching Erica glide on the ice is exhilarating; she’s swift, sharp, and quick with the puck. Her skill has earned her the respect of her coach and teammates. And it’s her skill and athleticism that has garnered her a spot to try out this past July for the United States’ national team that will be competing at the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Until recently, Erica’s hopes would have been dashed but on April 3rd, the International Paralympic Committee announced that it would open the game up to women for the 2010 Paralympic Games. A sure step in the right direction given the international popularity of sledge hockey. Even here in the United States, Erica is involved in an effort to unite female sled hockey athletes from across the country, with the development of a national women’s team.

Erica made a respectable showing during try outs and though she didn’t make the national team this this year, she isn’t discouraged. The 2014 Winter Paralympic Games will be held in Sochi, Russia and are only a short four years off. If the International Paralympic Committee decides to keep Paralympic sledge hockey open to women, Erica plans on being there...with sticks, sled and her pink boots.

Focus on FRIDA

Forced Sterilization Bill passes Illinois House

HB 2290, the Illinois state bill for a protection process against forced sterilization passed the Illinois House by a vote of 111-1, with one abstention.  The bill now goes to the Illinois Senate.

HB 2290 calls for an update of  the Probate Act of 1975, requiring that guardians of people with disabilities get court orders for a doctor to perform sterilization surgery on their wards.  Right now in Illinois, people with disabilities have no protection against involuntary sterilization.  This means that someone’s guardian can choose–without the permission or knowledge of the person with a disability–to have a hysterectomy/vasectomy done on his/her ward.  This bill will change that.

Dorothy Dixon murderers go to trial

Michelle Riley, one of the adult defendants in the Dorothy Dixon torture case went to trial on April 13 in Madison County Criminal Court, Edwardsville, Illinois.  The other adult defendant, Judy Woods, was scheduled for trial on June 1.

This is a real reminder of the impact hate crime legislation would have on the disability community.  FRIDA coordinated a memorial and march in Dixon’s memory last year in Alton, Illinois, and is discussing involvement in an anti-violence memorial this year.

SKIN: FRIDA Town Hall

About forty women came together on May 16, 2009 at Access Living in Chicago for Skin, the FRIDA Town Hall Meeting. Skin focused on the topic of body image, which is a critical issue for women with disabilities. Skin  addressed everything from how we look in the mirror to gender and body image. The issue of body image turned out to be a really hot topic! FRIDA encourages all women with disabilities to look good and feel proud of yourselves, no matter what body shape or size or color you are!

FRIDA, Feminist Response In Disability Activism, is a Chicago-based feminist disability rights group interested in taking action and building an international network in the fight against gender-based disability discrimination. Click here for more information about FRIDA.

Announcements

New HHS Adviser on Disability  Services Announced

Henry Claypool has been named top Health and Human Services Disability (HHS) Adviser, where he will oversee all HHS programs pertaining to people with disabilities and advise HHS Director Kathleen Sebelius on disability-related issues. 

Claypool brings personal experience of disability to his position: following a spinal cord injury 25 years ago, he relied upon Medicaid and Social Security Income while obtaining his college degree. Claypool worked for five years at an independent living center and as the director of the University of Colorado’s disability services office. He has held  various advisory positions at the US Department of Health and Human Services, including Senior Advisor for Disability Policy to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Clinton administration and as a Senior Advisor in the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability and Income Support Programs.

Kathleen Martinez Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy

On June 25, 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Obama’s nomination of Kathleen Martinez to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. She will be the third person to hold the post.

Blind since birth, Martinez is a long-time disability rights advocate who brings a wealth of experience to her new position.

In 2005, Martinez was appointed Executive Director of the World Institute on Disability (WID), where she directed Proyecto Visíon, WID’s National Technical Assistance Center to increase employment opportunities for Latinos with disabilities in the United States. Additionally, she directed Access to Assets, an asset-building project to help reduce poverty among people with disabilities.

She was appointed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as one of eight members of the newly established State Department advisory committee on disability and foreign policy in  2005 and in 2002, former President George W. Bush appointed her to the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency advising the President and Congress on disability policy. 

Amber Smock Presents at Chicago Foundation for Women Impact Awards

2008 Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) Founder’s Award recipient and local Chicago disabled feminist activist Amber Smock presented at CFW’s Impact Awards ceremony this past March where she remarked on how she utilized the Founder’s Award purse money. Ms. Smock traveled to eleven cities in four countries talking with women with disabilities about issues that affect us. She wanted to find out for herself what women were and were not discussing. She found that some of the top issues affecting women are accessible health care, parenting, and being able to live in an accessible home. Ms. Smock brought these issues to CFW to emphasize that these are issues ALL women should care about.

 

 

 

Worth a Read

Sticks and Stones: Disabled People's Stories of Abuse, Defiance and Resilience

Edited by Marsha Saxton, this collection of stories about facing abuse and violence is published by the World Institute on Disability. The stories are told by a diverse group of people with disabilities, as well as family members, services providers, and other allies, and cover a wide range of mistreatment and recovery experiences. By sharing their stories, these writers hope to empower similar survivors to resist and to disclose abuse and violence, to recover if abuse occurs, and to move ahead to live strong, fulfilling lives. Saxton's introductory comments frame complex abuse issues as part of the larger picture of societal mistreatment of people with disabilities, going far back in history. Many of the stories featured in Sticks and Stones are wrenching; all the authors' voices are strong. Yet the reader is left with a sense of hope and encouragement that mistreatment can be challenged and  empowered disabled people can end abuse in their lives.