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THE BEACON for [dis]ABILITY™
World Association of Persons With Disabilities [WAPD]
A Non-Profit, Non-Political-Association
The Beacon of Knowledge & Refuge for the World's Largest Minority
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June 29, 1998 BOOKMARK: <http://www.wapd.org>
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A free newsletter sent to 22,000 subscribers around the world.
Feel Free to forward this newsletter to interested associates.
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"Let us be among those who renew this world
and bring prosperity & solace to creation"
_ Zarathushtra.. about 1738 B.C. _
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In This Issue:
You Have To Make Success Happen
1. Letters to Editor
2. The Graduation Present
3. Resources
A. Diabetes Coalition of Canada Forum
B. Technology Expo
4. ABOUT WAPD
A. Bulletin Board
B. Welcome
5. Humor
6. More Support for Disabled Athletes
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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YOU HAVE TO MAKE SUCCESS HAPPEN.
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The mold to your success and fortune are in your hands.
Your life will always be to a large extent what you make of it.
You must choose the thoughts and actions that will lead you on
to success.
Nobody can do it for you. Nobody will do it for you.
You have to make it happen.
Always accept the responsibility for your actions.
Always set a higher standard for yourself.
You cannot do everything, but you can do something.
Your success and freedom are but a determined action away.
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[-LETTERS TO EDITOR-]
Dear Editor,
I'm canvassing local businesses, churches, and
private citizens on our niece's behalf.
My niece and her husband and four children just
returned here to Little Rock on Easter Sunday of
this year. She wanted to be near her family and
they had hoped to start a new life. Her husband
found a job working for a fence company here in
Little Rock and it looked like they might be able
to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Then, this past Monday, they took their children
to swim in Hot Springs. My nephew, the father of
four, dove into shallow water and broke his neck.
He will never walk again.
Right now he is still in the hospital. A local
charitable organization paid the due electric
and gas bills and gave them some gift certificates
for food. This, however, will not last long, and it
takes so long for social security to begin. Do you
know a church or organization or any source that
you think may help them?
Their oldest of four kids is only 7. I will be happy
to give the details to anyone that might be interested
in helping so that it can be determined that their
needs and my story are indeed true and not a scam of
any kind.
At this time, they have about $50.00 cash on hand.
If no other help can be provided, please pray for
our family members.
I can be reached at 501-565-5601 through Monday and
at 501-562-2913 after Tuesday at 10:00 am.
Thank you.
Janise A. Wolfe
<[log in to unmask]>
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Dear WAPD,
In Sunday, 21 June 1998's issue of The Beacon
you reported the introduction of the UK's Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA).
I just wanted to let you know that the DDA has many
different sections, each of which is being introduced
at different stages. Some are already in power, others
are yet to become law.
There is a great deal of information on the Disability
Discrimination Act on Disability Net at: <http://www.disabilitynet.co.uk/>
I should also like to inform you that the DDA is
considered a weak piece of legislation by the UK's
disabled peoples' movement and we are campaigning for
its replacement. A number of organisations are working
with the government to produce more fully-comprehensive
civil rights legislation, with the back-up of an
enforcement agency to ensure that the legislation is
complied with. Details of this can also be found on
Disability Net.
Regards,
Paul Matthews, Disability Net
Disability Information, News and Related Services
<http://www.disabilitynet.co.uk/>
mailto: <[log in to unmask]>
Tel +44 (0)1773 824343 Fax +44 (0)1773 824353
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Dear Friends,
My name is Richard Lindquist and I need your help.
I am not a solicitor or a business. What I am is
a small town guy who has a very creative mechanical
mind. I am in the process of designing a powered
wheelchair that is not limited by conventional
designs. I have several exciting ideas, what I do
not have is practical knowledge in using a powered
wheelchair.
What I would like is to be educated by people who
use powered wheelchairs daily.
Please answer some these questions.
1. Can you live where you want to, or are you
restricted to warm, urban areas?
2. Are there types of terrain that you would like
to be able to cross, such as snow or soft ground,
but cannot?
3. How often is it necessary to manually move your
wheelchair?
4. Can children comfortably sit on your lap?
5. Can your chair fit where you need it to, such as
at a desk or table?
6. If money was no object, what would your wheelchair
have or do? Let your imagination run wild! We won't
know until we try.
7. Would you like your next powered wheelchair to
blend into the background or make a bold statement?
8. Is your seat comfortable, if not, what would you
change?
9. Do you "feel good" in your chair? Do you like
how you look in it?
10. Would you change the size, shape, look or
dimensions of your wheelchair, and if so, in
what way?
Please e-mail me at <[log in to unmask]>
or you can write me at:
Richard Lindquist
1206 W. Michigan St.
Sandpoint, ID 83864
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Dear WAPD,
My name is Doreen Martel and I am the Secretary of the
Franklin MA Lions Club. We are working with another local
organization to see if we can locate anyone who will provide
at low cost wheelchairs for children with disability in our
areas. We have over 100 children in our area who suffer with
Cancer, Aids, MS, MD and other debilitating illnesses.
We raise all our funds locally and due to the cost involved
we would have difficulty purchasing more than 1 wheelchair
on an annual basis. If you have a name or phone number of an organization
that might be able to assist us, we would be
greatly appreciative.
Doreen Martel
<[log in to unmask]>
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Dear Editor,
In case you haven't heard, the One Step Ahead web site
is now defunct. Unfortunately, even though we received
many positive responses to it, EKA was no longer able to
support this news and information forum.
Thank you for being a continuous source of
disability-rights information.
Sincerely,
Mary-Louise Piner
former editor
One Step Ahead and osanews.com
[WAPD Note] We are very unhappy to see One Step Ahead
and osanews go down. The disAbility community needed
the services they were providing!
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IF IT'S GONNA BE...IT'S UP TO ME
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THE GRADUATION PRESENT...
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college.
For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car
in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could
well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited
signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally,
on the morning of his graduation, his father called
him into his private study. His father told him how
proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how
much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully
wrapped gift box.
Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible,
with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he
rose his voice to his father and said "With all your
money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful
in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family,
but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps
he should go to him now, instead of ignoring his requests
to talk. He had not seen him since that graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram
telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of
his possessions to his son. He needed to come home
immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and
regret filled his heart. He began to search through his
father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped
Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears
flowing, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages.
His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11,
"And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father,
which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back
of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the
same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On
the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words
PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's blessings because we
can't see past our own desires??
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KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
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[-RESOURCES-]
DIABETES COALITION...
The Diabetes Coalition of Canada Forum.
To join our discussion, simply go to
<http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=
CanadaDiabetes&isp=if&pic=in-MORTICIAX0827>
If you've never used Delphi before you'll
need to go through a quick registration
(so you can post messages). It only takes
a minute and it's free!
Hope to see you there,
Candace Chamberlain (MorticiaX)
<[log in to unmask]>
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TECHNOLOGY EXPO
Southwest Technology Expo 1998
a showcase of products and services for people
with disabilities 8/21/98 from 10:00-6:00 and
8/22/98 from 10:00-3:00 at McBeth Recreation
Center in Austin Tx.
For more information please vist:
<http://www.taicenter.com/expo.html>
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SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION
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[-ABOUT WAPD-]
BULLETIN BOARD
Stay up to date on a daily basis!!!.....
Heavy Daily Postings of disAbility news and items
of high interest is being made on the WAPD Bulletin
Board at: <http://www.wapd.org/bbs/index.html>
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WELCOME!
Disabled Student Cultural Center
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus
at: <http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/g021/dscc/>
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The Worst Bankrupt In The World Is A
Person That's Lost Their Enthusiasm!
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[-HUMOR-]
A professor of chemistry wanted to teach his 5th grade
class a lesson about the evils of liquor, so he produced
an experiment that involved a glass of water, a glass of
whiskey, and two worms.
"Now, class. Observe closely the worms," said the professor
putting a worm first into the water. The worm in the water
writhed about, happy as a worm in water could be. The second
worm, he put into the whiskey. It writhed painfully, and
quickly sank to the bottom, dead as a doornail....
"Now, what lesson can we derive from this experiment?" the
professor asked.
Johnny, who naturally sits in back, raised his hand and
wisely, responded, "Drink whiskey and you won't get worms."
==========================================================
Specially Adapted
Alternative
Manufactured Homes
<http://www.samh.com>
Take a good look!
Mid South Home Center
==========================================================
REPORT URGES MORE SUPPORT FOR DISABLED ATHLETES...
TOKYO, June 29 (Kyodo) -- An advisory group to the
Health and Welfare Ministry submitted a report to
the ministry Monday calling for improved facilities
for disabled athletes and new programs to help such
athletes improve their skills.
The report, citing the success of the Paralympics
held in March in Nagano as well as the national
interest generated by the Japanese Paralympic team
at the event, calls for a change in the status of
sports for disabled athletes from ''rehabilitation''
to that of ''competition.''
The advisory group, which met to discuss the current
status of sports for disabled athletes, also urged the
Health and Welfare Ministry and the Education Ministry,
which oversees the nation's sports programs, to cooperate
more closely on the matter.
Among the proposals set forth by the report include
improvements in regional sports facilities to make them
more accessible for disabled athletes, more support for
research in the field of sports for disabled athletes,
the further development of sports equipment to be used by
the athletes, and the support of the Japanese Olympic
Committee in securing coaching for the athletes.
The report also called attention to the discrepancy in
financial support between disabled athletes and those
unhampered with physical disabilities.
It urged the government to look into ways of providing
disabled athletes with more financial support to help
them participate in international competitions.
The national soccer pool, which is expected to begin in
2000, was mentioned in the report as a possible source
of income.
[WAPD Note] This move can spur all countries to increase
the level of funding for disabled athletes since it is
all about competition..
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You Cannot Discover New Oceans
Unless You Have Courage To Lose Sight Of The Shore
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SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE...
The WAPD BEACON for [dis] ABILITY is a newsletter
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Copyright© 1998 World Association of Persons with Disabilities
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