Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. I personally feel that "most" disabled folks have a lesser sense of self-esteem then most non-disabled people. Am I right?

Anyway, when it come to starting your own business self-esteem plays a huge part in the start up and relative success of the venture. I believe as a vital segment of society, we are needed to invest our time and effort toward contributing to the business community. We have much to offer.

Here is an article on starting your own biz and the help which is available. I have researched the grant money possibilities but apparently they exist.

If you think the job market is tough for the able-bodied, consider the case for those with disabilities.

In Florida, estimates of the jobless rate among disabled, working-age adults — including large numbers of young, severely injured soldiers returning to civilian life — run as high as 50 percent.

To address the problem, nonprofit organizations and government agencies recently have begun pushing an option that many with disabilities may have once thought unlikely: becoming entrepreneurs.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-12/business/os-disabled-jobs-20111112_1_disabilities-business-incubator-business-plans

US Labor Department awards more than $21 million in Disability Employment Initiative funding to 7 states.

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $21,166,560 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

"During these difficult economic times, it is important to ensure that all workers, including those with disabilities – who as a group face employment barriers even during times of prosperity – are able to benefit from the Labor Department's employment and retraining services," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These federal grants will help to provide services and support to individuals with disabilities in seven additional states, and put them on the path to permanent and secure jobs."

Ya know, It's wonderful to see the disabled receiving well needed financial support toward securing better job opportunities. I do hope that this money is not being spread too thin by extending it into sectors such as "Medicaid Infrastructure Grant-supported activities, independent living centers, business leadership networks, and other community and nonprofit organizations". Make sure to put the money to use for the disabled and not "collaborations"

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/27/3942316/us-labor-department-awards-more.html#ixzz1ZMW7Lrfj

I post an article (and comments of course) on "Navigating Growth Attenuation in Children with Profound Disabilities" on my forum awhile back and thought it would be a great idea to post it here as well for those who missed it.

So, here we go. The process of growth attenuation involves stunting the growth of an individual (adolescent) with profound disabilities. Here's the article snip:

Our working group sought to engage the underlying ethical and policy considerations of growth attenuation—that is, administration of short-term, high-dose estrogen to close growth plates, thereby permanently limiting height. We hoped to move beyond staking out positions with divisive and polarizing rhetoric about growth attenuation in order to find common ground and better identify and understand the areas of deep disagreement. In this paper, we offer sympathetic accounts of differing views so that those who hold a particular view can better understand others’ concerns. We also reach for a middle ground—a moral compromise based on respect for sustained disagreement rather than on consensus. Most of our group agreed to the compromise that growth attenuation can be morally permissible under specific conditions and after thorough consideration.

http://www.thehastingscenter.org/Publications/HCR/Detail.aspx?id=4961

Article about a 9 year old girl they performed this on.

GROWTH ATTENUATION, PARENTAL CHOICE, AND THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN:
LESSONS FROM THE ASHLEY X CASE.

Most medical cases involving parental choice on behalf of a child proceed with no public oversight. Parental choice is, by design, a private matter. A parent makes medical decisions for a child behind the closed doors of the family doctor or pediatrician’s office after evaluating the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed course of treatment. The choices are generally implemented without note in the media or in law. Only the exceptional parental choice, such as a decision to forgo potentially life-saving treatment for a child, may be deemed so risky to the child’s future well-being that it triggers court intervention. Other parental choices, such as those to use elective cosmetic surgery on children, occasionally generate media attention, but those decisions are not legally regulated. With few exceptions, the general rule is that unless a particular decision can be characterized as medical neglect, parental decisions about children’s health care are subject to virtually no attention or legal limitation.

http://www.law.uh.edu/hjhlp/Issues/Vol_82/Ouellette.pdf

My forum thread: http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com/forum/index.php?topic=160.0"

What do you think of this growth stunting process?

I was reading an article today concerning a study done by a pediatric group. The study concluded that children who are disabled are bullied more often than children who are not disabled. It also stated that special health needs children also fall into that category. They pondered what could be done to to stop the bullying of these children.

It all starts at home. Those who are doing the bullying need to be taught empathy and respect for others. This can only be done through example and encouragement.

Oh man, it's been 4 years since I posted on the blog? A lot has been happening that's kept me busy. 2008 I had a kidney/pancreas transplant. It was pretty dicey for a while. In ICU a couple of times, re-admitted at least twice and a follow-up operation for a incision hernia (ouch). I'm doing well right now, no more insulin shots and the kidney is working well. I have side effects going on and BP probs but I won't complain.

My two sons both got married and I'm a g-daddy now. WoW, she is a great little girl.

I'm on facebook now with alot of new info. Plus, a whole new look to the main website and forum.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Disability-Help-Site
http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com
http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com/forum

Hope you'll stop by and if you do take a look at a sponsor's info. There maybe something of interest for you.

Dave