September Coloring Sheet

New Projects:

I was reading this afternoon.... and this was my takeaway.

ATTITUDAL BARRIERS 9/8

Our view of the disability people group is often tainted by what we’ve been taught or at least always believed.

One such perception is that a person with a disability has a problem that requires medical attention; they need help, or ‘fixing’ to be like normal people.

The opposite perspective is, they are disabled and they just have to deal with it.  They have the problem, so they need to figure out how they are going to climb that staircase when they enter a public building, drive a car, get from point A to point B when they are blind, understand what is being said on a TV screen when they can’t hear, and the list goes on and on.

Thoughts?

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS 9/7

Breaking down barriers can be hard. We run away from those things that go against the grain; those things that have always been.

We all have things we can and can not do. That does not make us disabled. Just this morning my husband bought lumber. As we were headed for the truck, an employee from the lumber yard walked up and asked if he could help load the material into our vehicle. I was grateful.

I am not disabled. But I am small and lumber, from my 102 pound weight, is heavy. He helped load and saved me the strain. And, what’s more, he seemed pleased to be able to do it.

Yet, a disabled person is viewed as incapable but often ‘with a different attitude’ than the man who helped us this morning because of my size. He was being kind and seemed pleased to help. Often when the disabled are being helped it’s an obligation and sometimes even a judgmental —or— critical one.

Our latest Chapter book “Crossings” came out several weeks ago. I’ve posted the first few pages. I hope you find it interesting!

Crossings

Chapter 1
A New Identity

Emily swallowed hard. Looking at the room around her, she recognized her clothes hanging in the closet; the dresser with her things; her canopied bed and cuddle swing she’d always sat in to read, hanging from the corner ceiling; all decorated in the perfect shade of lavender, along with white sheer curtains hanging just beneath the white valences trimmed in lilacs. Splashes of white and lavender pillows and comforter finished the look. The room was totally feminine and it had always suited her.

Now she wondered who it belonged to. Was it her, the real her, or someone she has yet to meet? Was it the person she was supposed to be, before she was adopted? Her stomach tightened as the knots grew. “Who am I?” she asked aloud, although alone in her room. “I’ve got to find out,” she answered herself bitterly. “I can’t keep living like this and wondering every day, who I really am.”

Determined, the petite form with dark brown hair, walked to the kitchen. Her mom was at the counter creating festive spring salad to add to their dinner of steak and potato. Her dad was sitting at the table working on the computer; not an unusual scene since he often brought his work home with him from the office. “Mom, Dad,” she said quietly, her brown eyes flitting between

parents, while cracking her knuckles, betraying her signature sign of nerves and stress, “I’ve got to talk to you.”

“Sure, Honey. What do you need?”

“I need to find out who I really am,” she answered, looking away, avoiding eye contact now with either of her parents.

Lauren Jackson stopped what she was doing and grabbed onto the counter next to her, feeling the color drain from her face, and certain her legs were going to give way. “You’re kidding, right?” she asked, her heart pounding.

Emily stared at her. “No, I’m not kidding!” she said more harshly than she intended.

“Emily,” said Colin Jackson, sternly. “I understand your determination, but be careful with your tone.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound mean. But no, I’m not kidding and I have to do this. Will you help me?”

’No. No, we can’t,” said her mom despairingly. “Besides, we don’t know anything. We brought you out of the hospital as a newborn. We never met your biological mom. She wanted it that way. I didn’t ask questions. I just knew I wanted you.”