Autism Awareness Month

By Matthew Hobson

Since April is “Autism Awareness Month,” I wanted to tell what autism is like for me.  In my book, I’m So Glad You Found Me in Here, I give a little idea of what living with autism is like.

The Old and The New

By David Morstad

Those words were part of the keynote address by Patti Stonesifer at the annual conference of Lutheran Services in America. Ms., Stonesifer currently serves as Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions.

A Few Basic Things

 By David Morstad

Last week in Pittsburgh, Lutheran Services in America held their annual conference.  On Tuesday afternoon, the Disability Network of that group sponsored an open forum titled “Long Term Supports and Services,” featuring Dr. Charlie Lakin, director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

WWJD?

By Ellen Hierl

Several years ago the question, “What would Jesus do?” was common in Christian circles as a challenge to guide our day-to-day interactions.  It’s a great question and frankly, one that is very hard to live up to.  All too often I find myself being impatient or self-serving, characteristics that are definitely not in keeping with WWJD.

Recently, while traveling in China, I came face-to-face with a situation that made me question what Jesus would do in this situation. 

Advocacy for Change

By Gretchen Block

Change…change…more change. Why is it that things always seem to be changing? Who decided that a change was needed again? Can’t we ever slow down? We just get used to something and then there we go, changing things again. So this time, it’s a new employment opportunity for people that choose Bethesda as a provider?  Hmmm…

Bethesda is in the process of filling six new positions in our organization – Advocacy Mentors.

Listen, or Walk Away?

By Connie Horn

As I was getting ready for work this morning I was listening as my grandson was trying to ask my daughter something. My daughter did not understand what he was trying to say. He kept saying it over and over again, with more frustration in his voice each time. In the end, he threw his hands up into the air and walked away………he had given up. 

Just tell me how many!

By David Morstad

Occasionally, I have the chance to speak to people about developmental disabilities and the people who have them.  “How many people have a developmental disability?” is among the most basic questions.  People deserve a good answer and it would be helpful to provide a simple percentage upon which everyone agrees. Unfortunately, that’s just not as easy as it sounds.

Realities of Dementia

By Connie Horn

It is incredibly difficult to watch someone age, especially when they begin to have health issues.  I think one of the worst issues to have to deal with is when someone has dementia. I can say this with complete certainty, because my mom had dementia. Dementia is such a gradual disease, which, I suppose, is a good thing. As hard as it was to watch my mom slowly fade away, I think it would be much more difficult if she had lost her mental abilities abruptly, without warning. My mom is gone now, but my experience with her dementia has helped me to understand how dementia can impact someone’s life and the lives of their family, friends and others who support them.

Beyond Social Capital – Civic Wellness and Personal Sustainability

By Albert Van Kleeck
CEO, Van Kleeck and Associates, LLC

During the past several years I have dedicated a considerable amount of time to thinking about and developing different approaches to how we think about our lives and the lives of those we impact and support. I’ve thought about how moving through life one day to the next or from dawn to dusk could be so much easier and make much more sense for so many of us. And I’ve framed this thinking with the terms Civic Wellness and Personal Sustainability. I haven’t yet come to a decision regarding which of these terms is the best fit for the concept. Perhaps either or both would work, maybe neither one. I’m open to suggestion and all contributions to a wider body of knowledge are always welcome.

I Will Survive the Darkness

By Thomas Heuer

In a recent blog posting I wrote about my son Ryan’s dilemma regarding the Tenebrae service at St. Paul’s. I thought perhaps a follow-up was in order.

Up until the actual day of the Good Friday Tenebrae service, Ryan was vacillating between the ‘safety’ of sitting with Mom and Dad in the balcony and the move toward independence of sitting by himself downstairs.

Questions like: ‘When will the service be dark?’ – ‘How can I see to get my offering out of my pocket?’ – ‘How can I find my way out when the service is over?’ were frequent. I knew he was struggling with his decision to do more things on his own.