IDSnews.com | Disability Services planning events to change perceptions

IDSnews.com | Disability Services planning events to change perceptions

Yo everybody! My first article in the Indiana Daily Student was published last week, on my birthday no less!

Grants for Artists with Learning Differences

This past year, the Indiana Arts Commission received federal funding to distribute to artists with disabilities through their "Artist Access Program." My friend Sean Cortright recently completed his first album with these funds from the Indiana Arts Council and The National Endowment of the Arts!  Sean has PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) with Asperger's tendencies.  The album is available at http://banditsong.bandcamp.com/ and at record stores in Bloomington, IN.  I'm so glad that the government funds artists with disabilities and encourages them to showcase their talents!  Here is a small video interview with him to his music:

Sean Cortright's "Bandit Song" from James Walsh on Vimeo.


Other links:
ArtsWork Indiana: For Indiana artists with disabilities
http://www.artsworkindiana.org/
Indiana Arts Council
http://www.in.gov/arts/

Life With Lucy: The Little Things that Make it Worth It

Having a service dog in training is more than just the long hours of exercises and daily exposure to public environments.

"Mommy! She can't bring a dog in here!" is what I often hear children say as I walk into Target or the grocery store.
"That's a special dog," mothers say.
"Well, my dog is special! I want to bring him in here too!"

Training my own service dog is exhausting, and at times I've really just wanted to give up. When I see a child's first exposure to Lucy, it's one of those the little moments make me smile and say I'm thankful for Lucy despite the daunting responsibility. I want my partnership with Lucy to be a chance to teach children about the uniqueness of service animals as well as help them learn to appreciate and understand people with disabilities as people just like themselves.

Boy With Autism and His Service Dog:1 School District:0

Watch this YouTube video about a ten-year old Oregon boy and his family who have finally won the right to bring his autism service dog to school: