We're in the money

The ceremony for the Peter John Loux award was Thursday, 1 December. Both of my parents and one of my best friends attended. I figured they'd read a bio of us -- which is embarrassing enough -- but they made each of us stand at the front of the room while they did. Awkward! As I've mentioned before, I don't see myself as doing anything particularly noteworthy or "inspiring", so watching people make a big deal out of me getting a BS and MS and working on my Ph.D. makes me uncomfortable. As for the disability activism, someone has to do it, but no one WAS doing it.

After, the folks, my friend, and I went to Bella Luna for lunch. I said screw my diet and had hummus and the six-cheese pasta. I requested grilled shrimp on top of the pasta, but it was delivered with grilled chicken. I mentioned this to the waiter, and he said, "Go ahead and eat that, and I'll get you some shrimp too." Bonus!

It was a great day, despite the cold.

And the winner is . . .

I just received a letter from the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation that I am one of this year's recipients of the Peter John Loux Award. The award is given "in recognition and honor of an outstanding Kansan who has demonstrated exceptional desire and dedication in overcoming the difficulties caused by physical or neurological disabilities." My friend MF nominated me, and my friends SB and AF and my aunt CS sent letters of support.

I receive $1000 which will go into my "special needs" trust with my Wreck settlement.

Guess I'd better finish setting up the trust.

Gimps unite!

Mom and I are heading out of town tomorrow to attend a disability caucus. We'll get home Friday afternoon or evening. I've never been to one of these, so it'll be interesting. Tomorrow's highlight is a performance by Flame, a rock group made up completely of people with disabilities.

Everyone be nice to each other and share your toys while I'm gone. *hugs*

The young disabled in nursing homes

This article was featured on Yahoo's homepage this morning. The major thing I don't like about the article is that it makes it sound as if PWDs under 65 living in nursing homes is a new phenomenon. What is true, though, is that it is a growing problem thanks to short-sighted, unempathetic, non-disabled politicians cutting funds to home health services in order to keep their ridiculously large paychecks intact. I'd love to challenge these fine individuals (she said sarcastically) to live in a rehabilitation facility -- nee nursing home -- for a month, relying completely on sometimes apathetic workers for every single need, even to give you one of your own cigarettes on a smoking schedule they determine. I don't think they'd make it two weeks.

What Adam Martin says at the end of the article is true: "It makes you feel old. If that's all you're around, that's what you become."