Wow, Great Re-blog from owningitlog

Published November 14, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Dismissed

In junior high sex ed, we were asked to come in with anonymous questions written down for the next class. What should I ask? My head was spinning. If I asked it right, maybe I would spot another one. But that would be wrong. The questions couldn’t identify me. I had to be general, but specific. I was tempted to work it out on paper, but that was too dangerous. I had to hold it in my head and quickly scribbled it just before class in the hallway.

I had it in my pocket, tightly folded. The teacher stood at the door with a shoe box. My hand reached for my note. I tried to make it look like it wasn’t important. When I dropped it in the box there was no going back. The box precariously sat on his desk, guarded by him, but easily knocked over.

I wondered where it would be for the next week. If he figured out it was my question, would he call me in? Would he tell anybody? If there were others, would he let me know who they were? Maybe another one had a better question than mine and I’d find out more!

The week passed, the answer session began. Half way through the clock became a vice squeezing probability into possibility, unlikely, bell. He didn’t answer it. The class bell rang. We were dismissed. I didn’t know if two boys could be in love.

Left This Out of My Book FALLOUT

Published November 13, 2016 by Nan Mykel

I was struck by the depth of feeling expressed in the following line, but didn’t use it in my book because I’d lost the source, which I just found: (Kirschner, Kirschner and Rapaport, 1993):

Upon a mother learning of her husband’s sexual abuse of their daughter: “Should I cut off my right arm or left?”

I Don’t Have the Source for This

Published November 13, 2016 by Nan Mykel

“We fear death like a baby fears

being shifted from one breast

to the other.”

Leonard Cohen Passes

Published November 12, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has died at the age of 82, according to a post on his official Facebook page (via CNN).

cohen

“We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries,” the post said.

A highly respected artist known for his poetic and lyrical music, Cohen wrote a number of popular songs including the often-covered “Hallelujah.” His 14th studio album, “You Want It Darker,” was released on October 21.

Apart from his successful musical career, Cohen also wrote novels and numerous collections of poetry.

I have earlier read (without noting the source) that he was a survivor of child sexual abuse.

I loved is style of reading his works.

My Tree Huggers

Published November 11, 2016 by Nan Mykel

DAUGHTER (R) and GRANDDAUGHTER (L)

tree-huggers

Spilt Milk

Published November 9, 2016 by Nan Mykel

She was taught to grin and bear it.

At least to bear it. Head turned in

another direction, she surveyed

a new landscape. Speechless, she

was without words. But she could

not yet wipe up the milk.

Response from my Cousin

Published November 8, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Ever wonder why so many people visit my blog? THEY’RE RELATIVES! Seriously, here’s a comment in response to the post below re me not liking “Disability Rights” Ohio:

Barbara

4:43 PM (14 hours ago)

to me

RE” Donor Attachment

I had to call and ask for it as there was no link to it in the letter you posted. She has now put it on the DSS website. I ssent her a link to your blog, think you may have another fan! Maybe you could post the link there, too.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Caroline Lahrmann <calnwal@aol.com>

Subject: Donation Form

Date: November 7, 2016 at 4:36:00 PM EST

To: bwms@windstream.net

Thank you for your phone call today. The donation form for the Ball v. Kasich Legal Defense Fund is now up on the Disability Advocacy Alliance website.

Here is the link to the form:

http://nebula.wsimg.com/59c28b6388dd6b6fb68eb5ad235a0f97?AccessKeyId=3AA4F2DE7107738E8E2F&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

You can also go to www.DisabilityAdvocacyAlliance.org and a link to the form is included under the first item listed on the home page.

Thank you very much for your support of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ohio.

Caroline Lahrmann

614-359-9323

THANKS, COUSIN!

	Barbara Williams
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I’m AGAINST “Disability Rights” Ohio

Published November 7, 2016 by Nan Mykel

Let’s follow the successful actions of the state of Illinois in this matter!

Letter to Guardians Re: DRO Lawsuit

Caroline Lahrmann <calnwal@aol.com>
Attachments8:51 AM (35 minutes ago)
to Caroline
November 3, 2016
Re: Lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Ohio
Phyllis Bass, et al. v. John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, et al.,
Case No. 2:16-cv-282 (S.D. Ohio)
Dear Parent and Guardian:
We are parents, family members and guardians of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who reside in an Intermediate Care Facility (“ICF”) in Ohio and also support sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. We are members of the Disability Advocacy Alliance (DAA), a volunteer advocacy organization which protects the rights of individuals with I/DD.We are writing to share our concerns about a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Ohio (DRO). The lawsuit seeks to impose substantial changes to Ohio’s system for caring for persons with I/DD. The lawsuit, Ball v. Kasich, was filed on behalf of seven plaintiffs who are seeking to have the court allow a class action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 27,800 people, including approximately 5,800 residents of ICFs in Ohio. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit assert that “with appropriate services and supports even individuals with complex conditions can be safely and effectively served in integrated, community-based settings.” The lawsuit attacks the disability care model involving ICFs, sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs and asserts that “virtually any person institutionalized or at serious [risk of] institutionalization in a large ICF can be served safely and successfully in an integrated, home and community-based setting.”

We fully support the full continuum of care for individuals with I/DD, including community settings. However, parents and guardians know that there is a diverse range of disabilities and the funding to provide care for individuals with disabilities is limited. We believe that the clear intent of the current lawsuit is to take away substantial funding from ICFs, sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs and to shift that funding to programs in community-based settings. We further believe that, if such an effort is successful, the result would be that individuals who require and choose more intensive care, at present or in the future, will not be able to obtain the services and support they need, because ICFs, sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs that care for them will have little to no funding.

We want to ensure that the rights of our family members and others receiving facility-based care at present or who may choose this care-level in the future are not diminished simply because we don’t have a seat at the table in this litigation. We want to ensure that someone is involved in the proceedings who represents our interests, and the interests of our loved ones, in preserving ICFs, sheltered workshops, facility-based day programs and the level of care they provide. Accordingly, we are reaching-out to concerned parents, guardians and caregivers to raise funds for legal counsel who can participate in the lawsuit. Through such participation, we seek to ensure that the needs of our loved ones are represented in the lawsuit, and to make sure the court accounts for the interests of the most disabled citizens of Ohio.

A similar lawsuit was filed in Illinois a number of years ago. An organized effort by an attorney who is also the guardian of his severely disabled sister was successful in presenting the Illinois court with the complete picture regarding residential disability services and the desires of those who receive them. Faced with overwhelming support for the services of ICFs, the Illinois court de-certified the class in that case, which paved the way for a resolution designed to ensure sufficient funding for ICFs in Illinois, while protecting the rights of individuals desiring more community-based services. Based upon this model, our goal is to retain an attorney who will: (1) seek to intervene in the lawsuit or to file an amicus brief supporting the concerns of individuals who rely on higher levels of care; (2) attempt to defeat class certification; and (3) advocate to ensure the availability of an ongoing, adequately funded, system of ICF, sheltered workshop and facility-based day programs to continue to serve severely disabled Ohioans. We need your help to accomplish these goals.

VOR, a national organization which advocates for high quality care and human rights for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has established a fund to receive donations from Ohio families and guardians to effect a legal defense in the lawsuit filed by DRO. DAA member Caroline Lahrmann serves on the Board of Directors of VOR. VOR’s involvement with this effort is soley as the administrator of the account. Funds collected will be used for legal fees relating to representation in connection with the lawsuit.

We urgently ask for your financial help in protecting the legal rights of individuals with I/DD who require higher levels of care. Any amount that you can contribute would be greatly appreciated. Please complete the attached donation form and return it with your check to the address provided on the form.

Additionally, we are organizing the filing of affidavits with the court from parents and guardians wishing to express the reasons your loved one needs and thrives in the facility-based care models you and your loved ones with disabilities have chosen. We also welcome affidavits from families who want to ensure this care-level is available for possible future needs. It is important for the court to hear from families directly in order to understand the vast array of needs and circumstances which lead us to the care decisions we, as family members, make. Please reply to this email if you can participate in this effort.

Our efforts in this matter are time sensitive. Please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Lahrmann if you should have any questions by email at calnwal@aol.com or by phone at 614-359-9323.

Put quite simply, we will not be able to move forward without your generous support. Please consider giving today so that a proper legal defense can begin.

To learn more about Disability Advocacy Alliance and VOR, please visit their websites at DisabilityAdvocacyAlliance.org and VOR.net.
Very sincerely,
Caroline Lahrmann
Peter Tamborski
Dan Jones
Attachment: Donation Form

New Image for Our Shadow Selves Page

Published November 6, 2016 by Nan Mykel

pumpkin

I couldn’t resist this!

Thanks to cousin Paul Craighead for sharing this.

From Pinterest

Birth Dream?

Published November 6, 2016 by Nan Mykel

1997 – I am in a car with someone else. We pull up to an area of danger. We go into a room or cave with a hole in the bottom. I go down headfirst through 2 or 3 very tight places. It seems I did this once before, perhaps. After each tight hole there is a place of respite. I come out in a room with 2 or 3 people. I seem to have landed on something like a table. Part of it is very smooth and white like marble with the suggestion of large squares marked in it. Sandy Lansford is standing up and she has a book in her hand. I ask don’t books mildew down here? I think she agrees. It seems to me now the book is The Tree by J. Marvin Spiegelman. I am made aware of he danger in this locale–it seems there are Indian attacks. We are expecting someone who’s been sleeping upstairs in a tent to come down soon, to escape the Indians. I try to think of hiding places down there if the Indians come. As I came down the hole and now I wondered how I was going to get out again. Coming down I had gravity on my side, but getting out would be more difficult. I awoke immediately feeling claustropphobic.