Fighting Forms

This is a painting entitled Fighting Forms created by German Expressionist artist, Franz Marc in 1914. It is one of my favorite paintings. I am posting it to my blog because this is the image I get when I am wresling with myself and God. This picture comes to mind when I am hashing out things that I do not understand. I know God is along side me when I am fighting myself to understand what is the reality of truth. God is right there fighting along side me.

Week 3 Global and Community Resource Analysis

Week 3 Global and Community Resource Analysis

My focus on ableism this week is looking at the community and global aspect of ableism. These may be two large topics in and of themselves. I think for our research it is important to look at both these topics. The community is very important, because like I said before many people living with disabilities often times feel marginalized and isolated from society. Like any other people group is good to get connected to community so one can share identity with others. Some of the websites that I wanted to share this week incorporate inclusion in various ways. The focus of this inclusion is sense of identity and community. Below I have listed organizations that provide community in different ways. The point that I hope you would take from these example communities is to understand the importance of identity and inclusion, not being isolated from society.

People living with a disability are capable of doing most things that an able-bodied person can do. They may just need assistance or adaptations to complete specific tasks. Many of the resources provide people with the assistance that they need to thrive in everyday society. For example the National Arts and Disability Center NADA and VSA arts, are organizations which provide disabled artists the necessary tools to develop their skills in creativity. Both organizations advocate for artistic students with disabilities to have engagement to the culture that surrounds them. NADA provides the technological assistance needed to create a piece of artwork. They also provide a directory of California artists living with a disability, so that artists can contact each other and provide a community where they can learn and teach each other. VSA provides a juried competition of artist who what to share their self expression. The Farm and the Dell is another organization which provides community. It is a residential community that provides vocational skills for people living with developmental disabilities. They live on site learning farming techniques. The Ability Explorations is another group assisting those who want to challenge the forces of natures and take on life through mountaineering, canoeing, and other out door activities.

Another important component to our research is the global aspect. This research looks at what other countries think about people living with disabilities. The generality I found within these articles are other countries are looking to include and accept disabled people into the larger community. Some of the articles advocate for change. Countries in Central Eastern Europe and the newly independent states are associating disabilities with isolation and institutionalization. In the article “Violence against Women with Mental Disabilities”, these women are considered invisible because they do not have the same value as others, there is a stigma against them and they are often abused. Many resources for mental disabilities are scarce so many women are labeled psychiatric, inappropriate medicated, and then hospitalized. One current solution to this victimization is The Farm and the Dell has built in Krygzastan a new resident facility, where people who have developmental disabilities can live life in society and not be isolated from it.

A comment from Michael Steer from the Office on Disability in New South Wales on the article “Aging and Developmental Disabilities Perspectives From Nine Countries” states “our goal must not be to add yet another societally devalued group to the world community, but to discover ways both attitudinal and pragmatic, to support our communities so that all, whether or not disabled, can share long lives together.” The goal for this research is to look at ageism and ableism in a humane way, where all people groups are treated with equality and respect from surrounding communities.

10 Resources on the Globe and the Importance of Community for Ableism

1. "Aging and Developmental Disabilities: Perspectives From Nine Countries," edited by Steve Moss American journal of mental retardation : AJMR. 99, no. 3, (1994): 322, this Journal can be located in the Fuller Library and may be on mirofiche.

2.http://nadc.ucla.edu/ the mission of the National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community.

3.http://www.vsarts.org/x16.xml VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA arts is creating a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts is committed to driving change - changing perceptions and practice, classroom by classroom, community by community, and ultimately society.

4. http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/ IDA represents more than 600 million people in the world with a disability.IDA has the following goals: Some of the goals are to idenitify some common positions on disability issues and then lobby them to the UN agencies and to encourage involvement at the regional, national, and local levels.

5. 22 residents live and work at the Farm in the Dell in Helena Montana. This is a place were people with developmental disabilities can live and gain vocational skills. The Bartels are committed to their effort. They have said, Our primary interest is to help local communities serve citizens in need. This a News paper article on the expansion of the Farm and the Dell in Krygyzstan Independent Record article.

6. Legislation in other countries this article about other legislations in other countries about Disabilities rights.7.Violence on Women with Mental disabilities is an article Article on about women in central Europe and Newly Independent States. Most of the women are issolated from society. The article tracks how mental disabilities are seen in these countries.

8. http://cirrie.buffalo.edu/bibliography/MEasttoc.html The response to how the middle east is treating disabilities, You can access it through this link.

9.European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions wrote this paper, Illiness, disabilities, and social Inclusion. This paper may help understand the European polices on disabilities.

10.http://www.ability-uk.org/explor.html Ability Explorations believes that adventurous, challenging and creative experiences should be made accessible to everyone, offering inspiration for personal change, new confidence through surprising acheivement, development of latent skills from latent talents, and lasting memories that can influence everyday life. Our activities range