How One Woman-Born Without Arms-Leads an Inspiring Life

Recently we had the chance to interview Sheila Radziewicz, who was born with TAR syndrome which left her without arms or kneecaps. Despite these difficulties and challenges, Sheila has gone on to be awarded a Master’s Degree, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and is now an inspirational speaker. Sheila shared with us some of the things she has overcome in her life, and how the experience has made her strong. Read more

Scouting with a Disability: A Story of Inspiration, Goals and a Very Worn Pair of Shoes

As with any organization, The Boy Scouts of America have rules and guidelines that must be adhered to. When Nathaniel Schrader of Chantilly, Virginia, joined a local Boy Scout troop, the leadership was hesitant. They werenʼt sure how a boy with cerebral palsy would be able to fit in or even progress within the ranks with all his limitations. The leadership offered information on another troop in the area that served mobility impaired scouts but Nathaniel wanted to stay with his Cub Scout friends, all of whom chose this particular troop. Leadership wasnʼt sure how to teach a scout with so many limitations. Read more

The Amazon Kindle as Reading Device for the Disabled

Most people take it for granted: holding open and reading a book. But for those without full use of their hands or another similar physical disability, this can be a much more difficult process than for an able-bodied person. Holding open a small paperback book and turning a single page at a time can be difficult for a quadriplegic. That’s why new ebook readers such as the Amazon Kindle have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of those who otherwise would have a difficult time reading. Read more

The Employment Gap Between People With and Without Disabilities is still Huge

I just recently read in a research report from Cornell University that a dramatic 42 percent employment gap separates working-age people with and without disabilities in the workforce.

It saddens me to read those kinds of statistics. There is no reason why the gap has to be that big in our information economy, where work is much less about physical labor than ever before. Nowadays employment possibilities for people with disabilities are huge. Having computer skills is the key though, but any person with a physical disability can be trained to learn those skills thanks to adaptive technologies and the many government programs in existence that help with funding educational programs for people with disabilities. The widespread availability of online classes makes getting an education even easier for a person with limited mobility.

However, employers must also be willing to hire people with disabilities. But hiring managers too often rather play it “safe” by hiring an able-bodied person instead of a person with a disability even though the disability has no impact on the job needing to be performed. What we need is a cultural shift in corporate America where a person with a disability is given a “real” equal opportunity based on his or her intellectual capabilities, while setting any physical barriers aside. Provide us with access to the office building, which usually doesn’t need to cost that much, or let us telecommute and we can perform most computer related jobs just efficiently as anyone else out there.

And for those people with a disability already employed, be a good ambassador by giving it your best shot showing your superiors and peers that your contributions are just as valuable or better as anyone else’s. At least that’s what I try to do. Of course, I am in it to make myself a comfortable living and to provide for my family, but I always think about how my performance might convince some hiring manager to give another person with a disability an opportunity to flourish. We have dreams to be productive and successful in life like anyone else. Just give us a chance and we will show you we can prevail!

Detoxifying a Disabled Body Through Juice Feasting

As part of our New Year’s resolution my wife and I decided to do a 60 day juice feast to cleanse our bodies from years of a build-up of toxins. You read that right; that is 60 days of only drinking fruit and vegetable juices. You might be surprised, but during the entire juice feast, I felt better and more energetic than I ever have since I was a kid.

What is juice feasting?

First of all, juice feasting is not to be confused with fasting where you ingest no food and starve the body of nutrients. On the contrary, during a juice feast you typically consume about 12 to 15 pounds of fruits and vegetables (preferably organic) each day. Your body actually gets many more nutrients through a juice feast than the average American diet. The 12 to 15 pounds of fruits and vegetables turns into an equivalent of four quarts of juice and you will not feel hungry. Read more