[Vision2020] Peculiar Presents for that Peculiar Friend/Relative

[Sue Hovey]

Sure.  I guess it comes down to perspective.  For example, my mother used the bowl years and years ago when she cut the boys’ hair, just to keep it off the floor.  The leg circulation device is commonly used for people without disabilities, but that doesn’t preclude its use in other ways.  I think those of us who work with people with disabilities do, in fact, respond to stimuli which other folks can be forgiven if they miss.  I always choose to use most terms as nouns, not adjectives to modify terms about disability.  I would say my daughter with a disability, not “my disabled daughter.”   Comes with the territory, don’t you guess.

Sue 

From: Donovan Arnold 
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 5:42 PM
To: Sue Hovey ; Tom Hansen ; Moscow Vision 2020 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Peculiar Presents for that Peculiar Friend/Relative

Sue,

Yes, most of those devices are used to assist people with disabilities in way or another. I have had clients that have limited use of their arms and hands, for example MS or partial brain damage. If they want to shave without the fear of messing it up they can use a device like the Goatee saver. It keeps independence for a person that can also have a style they prefer to have or keep. The umbrella can be used to keep an adult or child from interfering with a hair cut. Ever try to cut hair on someone who scratches? Or someone that bites themselves? It isn't easy. 

The leg device is used to keep circulation in the legs for people. The bouncing ball is also used for restorative and maintaining motion in people that are disabled. I have used them before with clients. They are in every rehabilitation facility I have been in. Gritman even has them.

See, it may seem silly to the average user because they lack understanding of others needs and disabilities. But independence for people that are very reliant on others, even if it seems something small like picking their facial hair style, is very important for not just their physical health, but also for their psychological health to remain independent. Imagine if you had to use a device that the media was encouraging people to make fun of for using it? Or worse, what if a loved one had to endure that loss of dignity? It isn't a nice thing to do to people. 

Donovan Arnold



From: Sue Hovey <suehovey at moscow.com>
To: Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>; Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>; Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Peculiar Presents for that Peculiar Friend/Relative


Donovan,   are you SURE we looked at the same link?  Most of the ones I saw weren’t assistive technologies for people with disabilities—personally I might agree a goatee is a disability.    Actually, I bought the reading glasses and really like them, but my children are vastly unimpressed when I use them in a dark restaurant.  Maybe my computer didn’t upload the whole link. 

Sue H. 

From: Donovan Arnold 
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 7:53 PM
To: Tom Hansen ; Moscow Vision 2020 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Peculiar Presents for that Peculiar Friend/Relative

Sorry, but I don't find this article funny. Most of these products are assisting technologies for people with disabilities and need these to live a more independent life. For a media publication to shame people who use them is just one step shy of making fun of people with a disabilities. 

If you want to make fun of people that should be ashamed of using assisting technologies, you should target the users of AOL. 

Donovan Arnold

From: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>
To: Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 1:29 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Peculiar Presents for that Peculiar Friend/Relative

My choice for best peculiar present is the "Women's P-EZ Travel Urinal".  I wonder if they gift wrap.

Which one is your favorite . . .

http://www.cracked.com/article_19425_11-useful-products-too-embarrassing-to-actually-use.html

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho





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=======================================================
List services made available by First Step Internet,
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
               http://www.fsr.net
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================


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