Disability and Dental Care PART II – All About Dentists

Disability and Dental Care

Welcome to PART II of our dental care and disability blog series, where we break down what you need to know about how to keep good oral hygiene when you or your loved one has a disability. PART I was all about the basics, so if you haven’t checked that out, be sure to take a look. As with the previous article we sat down with  Keith Libou, D.M.D. of Delta Dental of New Jersey to answer all our questions about disability and dental care. This time we are focusing on dentists – how do you get the most out of your visits? How do you choose the right one for you? Let’s dive in so you can make the most of your next visit.

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Raising a Child With a Disability – 8 Vital Reminders For Parents

Raising a Child with a Disability

Raising a Child With a Disability

When you’re about to have a child, you prepare for everything. You paint the nursery, you buy the crib and you do a million other things. And no matter how much you prepare, you will never be ready for a child, but you do your best. One thing many parents don’t consider though, is raising a child with a disability. If you aren’t exposed to the world of disability, you might feel lost and unsure what to do next. So, we compiled a list of eight important reminders

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#DisabledAndCute – How Author Keah Brown Is Taking On Negative Body Images, One Word at a Time

Taking on Negative Body-Images

When you read a piece from Keah Brown, you realize a few things. The first is that she is a tremendously talented writer. The second is that she has a unique perspective that brings to life stories and experiences that need to be shared. We were privileged enough to interview her to discuss her thoughts surrounding media, negative body-images, and disability.

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9 Critical Questions to Ask When Applying to a Special Needs Camp

Special Needs Camp
Easterseals Camp Merry Heart
Easterseals Camp Merry Heart

The flowers have bloomed, the trees are green, and the sun has melted away the last remnants of a brutal winter. The time is ripe, for camp. Now, if you are a person with a disability or a parent/guardian of a person with a disability or special need, you might be a little hesitant to sign up for a special needs camp. You might think the over-night camp experience isn’t “for” you. Well, let’s dispel that myth right now

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I’m 19 and I’m Spending My Third Summer at a Camp for People with Special Needs: Here’s Why

Camp for People with Special Needs

Summer Camp, Special Needs, and a Reason to Return

Camp for people with special needsIf you’ve ever attended a summer camp, Easterseals Camp Merry Heart will be a familiar sight. You’ll find it has all the same amenities: cabins, a dining hall, forest trails, a lake… but if you take a closer look, you’ll spot some differences.

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Employment First In New Jersey – What’s It Mean and How Can It Help You?

Employment First - New Jersey Gets to Work

First Employment – Disability Second

Employment First - New JerseyIn April of 2012, Governor Chris Christie declared New Jersey an Employment First state. With this simple declaration, New Jersey became a part of a national movement that is “centered on the premise that all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life.” (Via Departement of Labor) This urges local publicly-financed systems to adjust their programs and policies to promote integrated, competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs.

Phew. That was a lot of three-syllable-words.

In plain-speak though, what does it all mean? It means

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How I Make Accessible Trips from New Jersey to the Big Cities

Disability and the City

Those of us living in New Jersey are lucky enough to have easy travel access to two of America’s greatest cities: New York City and Philadelphia. However, having a disability can make these trips tricky to manage. Hi, my name is William Volkmann and I have Cerebral Palsy. When I was younger I could walk down city streets and hop into cabs, although it was demanding. Now that I’m older, I see now how much harder

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5 Essential Tips on How to Shut Down Offensive Labels

R-word, Labels

A War of Words: “Politically Correct” vs “Plain Speaking”

Political Correction for the Politically Incorrect Labels

When it comes to the community of persons with disabilities and special needs, labels are a hot topic. We use certain words to describe individuals or ourselves. Unfortunately, words have the power to hurt feelings and limit expectations. We’d rather those words NOT be used to label us. On the other hand,

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The Truth about Medicaid in New Jersey

No Medicaid Cuts

As this article is being written, the Senate Republicans are drafting a bill behind closed doors that could repeal The Affordable Care Act and replace it with the American Healthcare Act. The bill, as it currently stands after being passed through the House, would convert the current Medicaid expansion into “block grants,” shifting program costs over to the states. This provision has the potential to dramatically

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