Universal ReDesign

Universal ReDesign Group Presentation for my Comm Planning and Public Policy for Disability Class today.

Our presentation was very well received. We tackled the state of the city of Berkeley's street infrastructure. Our proposed solution was a three-pronged approach looking at it in terms of Physical (Built environment), Social (Changing attitudes/awareness) and Institutional (Policy/funding). Especially loved the visuals of the environment redesign by the design architects in our group.

And of course the increasing number of kiwibots and the obstacles they present were very much part of our discussion. Have you noticed that they park on the curb cut itself before crossing the street and thus potentially block a wheelchair user.

with Josh Lavine Anna Whitney Vincent Dharma Darren Pirono Rudi Skowronsk,  Victor Pineda — at Wurster Hall, UC Berkeley

OMG: A poetry collection

A contemplative pursuit from the outer internet to the Inner-Net in search of answers. 

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/04/30/omg-a-poetry-collection/

My last piece this semester for The Daily Californian Weekender was a collection of faith-based poetry.

It is a contemplative pursuit from the outer Internet to the Inner-Net in search of answers in 

"O God Where art Thou?" 

 But my contemplation did not stop there. The questions kept pouring out in -  "Questions for God."

We are often told “Life is a challenge, meet it”. I dove further into my inner-net as I grappled with this conundrum in - "Life is a Challenge, Meet it"

Vitamins A-F are for the body but Vitamin G is for the soul- "Vitamin G"

Dr Victor Pineda

End of an amazing semester with Professor Victor Pineda for my Comm Planning and Public Policy for Disability course.

Oh wow, his class is an experience! Growing up, you are only exposed to a little slice of your world of disability and your specific disability. This semester really opened my eyes to thinking about the bigger picture and issues up to a global scale and implementation at grassroots level.

I now also have a totally new level of respect for those yellow tactile curb cuts on the crosswalks, and the multitude of ways we interact with our built environment, the mismatches, inclusive design and universal design.

Appreciate it all the more as I am one of those PWD (person with disability) and being taught by a PWD who helped write the UNCRPD. The whole disability movement rests on the core principle of "Nihil de nobis, sine nobis" - “Nothing about us without us.” A big driving force behind my desire for higher education is to earn a seat at the table.

Lots of progress has been made but still much to be done. Hope I get to be in the thick of that change for the better.

It really is a spectrum. The Neurodiversity of Autism at UC Berkeley

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/04/28/it-really-is-a-spectrum/

My longest article yet and semester-long in the making, with a series of interviews with 7 students with autism at UC Berkeley. Ready in time for April, Autism Acceptance Month.

Shout out to my autistic peers Anna Bernick, Brazos Donaho, Brian Liu, Cole Hasserjian, David Teplitz, Joaquin Nelson, Tiffany Ceja - Thank you for sharing your perspectives.

And to my editors Anna Ho and Alex Luceli Jiménez @ Daily Cal Weekender for your patience and edits for this really long 5600+ word article, and Design Editor Ariel Lung, for the cool cover art based on our photos. 

Love the cover picture.

The cover art for the feature was based on actual photos submitted by the students

Looks like the article was trending too !!!

This Edition of the Daily Cal Weekender was an Autism Special. 

Check out these other fantastic articles on autism by members of "Spectrum at Cal" Board. 

2. Why I listen - Eli Oh and Tory Benson 

https://www.dailycal.org/…/why-i-listen-an-essay-collection/

3. Why I self-advocate - Cole Hasserjian
https://www.dailycal.org/…/why-i-self-advocate-a-personal-…/

4. Why I Support - Helen Lee , Judy Xu, Carter Horan, Silvia A. Nolasco
https://www.dailycal.org/…/why-i-support-an-essay-collecti…/

5. A Letter to my Sister - Ashley Soliman
https://www.dailycal.org/…/a-letter-to-my-sister-a-persona…/

Make your Anxiety work for you

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/04/10/in-own-it-make-your-anxiety-work-for-you-caroline-foran-advises-moving-away-from-curing-anxiety/

The thing about anxiety is that everyone gets it. Anxiety is inevitable, as stressors are unavoidable in today’s society. ...“This whole idea of ‘curing’ your anxiety … only serves to makes you feel worse in the long run.” Instead, Foran advises readers to “own your anxiety so that it no longer negatively impacts your life.”

Psi Chi Honor Society

Honored to be part of the Psychology Honor Society. 

Induction Ceremony presided by Pyshcology Department Chair

Mental-Cripple

The term "mental cripple" has been used historically as a derogatory term to refer to people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities, and was often used in a way that reinforced negative stereotypes and discrimination against this population.

The term mental-cripple was used to refer to autistics as seen in this 1965 nice-page photo essay in Life Magazine featuring Dr Ivar Loovas and ABA therapy. 

The R-Word

The use of the R-word slur ("retard") to refer to people with intellectual disabilities has a long and complex history. The term "retard" is derived from the word "retarded," which was originally used as a medical term in the late 19th century to describe individuals with intellectual disabilities.

However, the R-word quickly became a pejorative and was used to demean and dehumanize people with intellectual disabilities. The use of the R-word as an insult became more widespread in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, as it became more common to institutionalize people with disabilities.

Throughout much of the 20th century, the R-word was used in official language, such as in medical diagnoses and educational assessments. However, in recent years, there has been a shift towards using more respectful and person-centered language to refer to people with disabilities.

Many disability advocacy groups have worked to raise awareness about the harmful effects of using slurs like the R-word and as a result, there has been a decline in the use of the term in mainstream culture. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed "Rosa's Law," which replaced the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" in federal health, education, and labor policy.

Despite these changes, the use of the derogatory R-word still persists in some communities and can have a harmful impact on people with intellectual disabilities and their families. 

Neurodiversity is an Umbrella Term

 

What Neurodiversity Brings to the Table

 

Busting Autism Myths

 Busting Myths → 

Autism does not magic away in adulthood!!

Neurominority

 

The term "neurominority" refers to individuals who have atypical neurological differences, but are not necessarily considered to be a disorder or a pathology. This can include individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia. Neurominority is often used in the context of neurodiversity, which emphasizes the value of diversity in neurological functioning and the need for societal acceptance and support for individuals with neurological differences. The term "neurominority" is intended to promote a more positive and accepting view of neurological differences and to reduce stigma and discrimination. 

The Feeble Minded

The term "feeble-minded" was commonly used in the United States and Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to describe individuals who were perceived to have intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or mental illnesses. The term was intended to be a catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that were poorly understood at the time, and was often used to refer to people who were deemed socially or morally "undesirable".

The use of the term "feeble-minded" was deeply stigmatizing and contributed to the marginalization and oppression of disabled people. The term was often used to justify forced institutionalization, sterilization, and other forms of eugenic control over disabled people, as well as to deny them basic human rights such as education, employment, and the right to marry.

In the United States, the term "feeble-minded" was used in the landmark 1927 Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell, in which the Court upheld the constitutionality of forced sterilization of individuals deemed "feeble-minded" and "unfit" to reproduce. The decision gave legal justification for the widespread practice of eugenics, which resulted in the forced sterilization of tens of thousands of people in the US and Europe.

The consequences of the use of the term "feeble-minded" were devastating for disabled people and their families. Many were subjected to forced institutionalization, where they suffered from abuse, neglect, and social isolation. Others were sterilized against their will, which had lasting effects on their physical and mental health, as well as their ability to have children.

The term "feeble-minded" fell out of use in the early to mid-twentieth century as medical and psychological professionals began to adopt more standardized and scientific classifications for intellectual disabilities. However, the use of the term persisted in some legal and bureaucratic contexts until the 1970s, when the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandated the removal of discriminatory language from federal laws and policies related to individuals with disabilities. Today, the use of terms like "feeble-minded" is generally considered outdated and offensive.