13 August 2011 Lessons from the UK back in the US
Hi Trailblazers,
Just a month ago I left London and one of the best experiences of my life volunteering in the MDC Trailblazers office. I have volunteered many places at home in the US and have never witnessed nor heard of a system so thorough and comprehensive as the MDC and Trailblazers branch.
I couldn't be more thankful to Tanvi and Bobby for allowing me to join you for a month.
The best I can do in return is to take responsibility for what many of you taught me and help initiate change wherever I can... easier said than done.
What I had yet to factor in is that I have no credentials and no one is particularly interested in what I have to say here. So I suppose I have two options: (1) Find a way to get the community's attention (2) Become famous.
Option two is looking less promising by the day.
In Oregon, where I live now, I have already frequently witnessed people with physical disabilities being treated like second class citizens. It is not all negative - accessibility to buildings and transport is actually fantastic. (I will try to post some pictures, our underground can carry 4 wheelchairs per car with quick deployable ramps) But, I have found the attitude in the communities quite degrading.
Thus, I have decided to start small - just working on my immediate community - to provoke people to question their views on disability. I have decided to start by trying to influence the school system. Children seem to have ideal attitudes toward disability but many of the disabled community express frustration with ignorant teachers. I hope to create an informational video to compliment training for educators around treatment of students with physical disabilities.
As I wish I had even an ounce of the creativity Sulaiman has, I am hoping to continue to receive guidance from him during the process.
-Sending out my best wishes to all of you during a tricky time with the riots, I hope everyone is remaining safe.-
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