The Voiceless Minority

I was turned onto to a book entitled “Kasey to The Rescue” by Ellen Rogers by my aunt Eileen this past weekend. This book was immediately captivating it dealt with a subject matter close to my heart, challenges related to living with a disability. The main character was a 22-year-old named Ned who got into a car accident at the beginning of the book. Not only does the author who happens to be his mother do a great job of detailing what it is like dealing with a Spinal Cord Injury from the perspective of a loved one she also introduced this reader to a new form of "assistive technology", that of a helper monkey. Immediately I was intrigued by the concept of the story and wanted to do more research on the helper monkey concept as it could relate to my physical needs. While I have not yet completed my research, I am definitely hopeful about what I have found. This book also holds a special place in my heart because it was turned into a movie which I am going to see later tonight...

It has been several weeks since my last post in the Getting Back Out There series. It would be an understatement that a lot has changed. I am in a transition period with my aid care and on top of that, I have been given more responsibilities at FSA Central. That being said I figured now would be perfect to review a show I went to a couple of weeks ago. On July 16th I attended the Carnival of Crue show at the Reilly Arts Center what follows is a review of the show and the venue itself in terms of accessibility.  From the beginning, I could tell this night was going to be a particularly enjoyable evening. I once again found myself at the Reilly Arts Center which is a quaint medium-sized venue. For those of you who have been keeping up with my blog, you may remember I reviewed the Lynard Skynard cover band "Nothin' Fancy." That event also took place at the Reilly Arts Center. As with Nothin' Fancy, the Carnival of Crue show was part of a local classic rock radio station...

  This blog is the second installment in the Getting Back Out There series. Today, we will review a play I attended on June 12 th at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. The show was entitled Green Day’s American Idiot. It chronicled a year in the life of the American rock band Green Day, as they were developing their identity as a band. I was turned onto the play by my friend, Kyle. I was immediately enthusiastic about seeing the show as the band was huge throughout my formative years. I won’t say I was their biggest fan, but I enjoyed their music tremendously.   When the day finally arrived, I was unsure what to expect. I should’ve assumed it would be a musical, but I did not. However, it was a surprise. My girlfriend and I got to the theater right as the opening number was concluded. Immediately I knew that this show would be good. As the show progressed, my expectations were exceeded. The actors and actresses who put on the show were highly talented. You could tell th...

    Anyone who hasn't lived under a rock for the last two years knows that most concert venues are just now beginning to reopen. If one looks hard enough, you will find that the music scene is slowly coming to life again. Whether you like rock, country, hip-hop, or a mixture of these genres of music, it does not take long to find a local show. While the big stadium tours are great, local venues will start to breathe life into the music scene first. Often ticket prices at these venues are lower. Economically, people are hurting now more than ever before. Small venues like the Riley Performing Arts Center in Ocala, Florida, host monthly summer concerts to satisfy the public's desire to get back out there and support the music industry.   The Riley Performing Arts Center has teamed up with WindFM to present "WindFM Rock's The Riley," a monthly concert series that will see different classic rock tribute bands. It will include everything from Lynard Skynard to ACDC...

    Those that know me know that I love to read. I even go as far as creating book lists of authors that I want to read. I follow up by reading all of their work. I usually stick to the mainstream authors such as James Patterson, John Grisham, and Dan Brown, to name a few. I also enjoy biographies and memoirs. Recently, I finished a book titled Being Human by Judith Heumann. This book was not only a good read, but it was relatable.   Ms. Heumann is a disability advocate who is a disability superstar. Not only does the book document her life within the disability community, but it also highlights key events that took place in the disability rights movement. Ms. Heumann was involved in the sit-in that took over the San Fransisco federal building to get the regulations that give power to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 signed. This law laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26 th , 1991, by George H.W. Bush. Whi...