The End of the Semester

As my semester comes to close, this will be my last blog post for a bit. I hope to come back and add to it in the near future, but when I'm going to is uncertain. I would like to thank the 28 members of my FACEBOOK group, my 6 FOLLOWERS, and those of you who have shared my content with others. I hope I have served my community well and if you have any suggestions for the future of the blog, please feel free to e-mail me @ s.a.kondracki@gmail.com.

Best Regards and Happy Holidays,
Susan Kondracki

Driving and Disability

Growing up with a disability, nothing has ever stopped me from accomplishing any of my goals or dreams, but learning to drive has definitely been a big obstacle. The CT Department of Motor Vehicles has a handicap sector where you can get a handicap permit and qualify for special training or controls. I can drive foot controls, but it was extremely difficult. I lift my foot up back and forth instead of moving my ankle, so it gets tiring.
I now have hand controls and even though it is much easier, getting a license test is such a hassle. After failing my test in 2007, I went to apply for the test again in August and was put on a waiting list. Even though it is great to be able to use hand controls, working with the handicap DMV is awful.
In order to qualify for hand controls, get training, and a test, you must file medical paper work to document your disability, even it is unchanging. Then you must call to check on the status of your application. This past summer I filed my paper work in August because I could not get through to them all summer. I started calling for an application in June and having to call the Commissioner's office because NO ONE would call me back.
Not only is communication difficult, but the test requirements are ridiculous! The test is 90 minutes long and includes going on two highways 30 min of city driving and backing in, K Turns, and Parallel Parking. The "able bodied" person's test is 15-20 minutes and does not include highways. I feel this is an extremely unfair process. The DMV also gives the same test to everyone, whether you have a minor disability like mine or you are paralyzed. The whole process is very frustrating, and I was wondering what everyone thought about it. Has anyone else had to go through the Handicap Sector of the DMV?
If you want to look into getting special training, you can call 860-263-5097. I hope you'll have better luck than I have. I will be taking my test in January 2010.

Breaking Down Barriers

Twenty-seven-year-old, Derek Downie has dreamed of becoming a doctor since age 6. Now a senior chemistry major at Texas Tech University, Downie has plans to go into the pharmaceutical field and hopes to be accepted to medical school soon. What sets Derek apart from every other college student in America? He has been deaf since the age of 7 and is unable to speak.

After reading about Downie in, Student Lives Life in Silence, Dreams Big, from the Daily Toreador, Texas Tech's student newspaper, I knew I had to feature him here.
Living a mobility disability I tend to compensate for any physical discrepencies by bringing out my outgoing, bubbly personality (I talk too much ha), so it is hard to imagine living a life in silence. Even though he cannot verbally express himself, Downie finds other ways to communicate and has never let his disability get in the way of his goals and living day to day life.
"'I never think that I had a communication barrier,' Derek Downie said. 'To be honest, I have barely experienced any communication barrier in my whole life. I taught myself to be independent and depend on myself to make the communication work effectively between students and myself.'"
Downie communicates by lip reading, using American Sign Language and sometimes writes things down with pen and paper. Being deaf has certainly never stopped him from advancing academically or socially. His best friend Robert Morrison explains in the article that at first glance, Downie seems like he would have a hard time in life, but his confidence and abilities inspire many.
"'I’m sure everybody he met thought there was no way this kid can make a contribution in anyway: He can’t communicate in the way society says he has to communicate. But he is an incredible inspiration to me in setting my own personal goals and living out my life without excuse.'"

Overall, whether you have physical impairments, mobility issues, or sense related barriers, disability should never allow you to push the pause button in life. Having a disability can and is a rewarding part of life for many.

Discovering Hidden Talent

Every week I try to find an inspiration person with a physical disability. This week's inspiration is Cindi Bernhadt. After reading her story in the article, Drawing From Inner Strength, it is clear that Bernhadt does not let disability stand in her way.

After becoming quadriplegic or paralyzed from the shoulders down, Bernhardt had to learn how to write with her mouth. After learning how to spell her name and began to doodle. She never dreamed she could or would become a professional artist, but doing so has definitely given her a life purpose.



"When you're first disabled of course, it seems hopeless and helpless. But there is always something that we can contribute to society,'she says." "'Whether you have a physical disability or an emotional, or whatever it might be, if you can't change it, you got to work with it,' Bernhardt advises."

Before becoming a successful artist, she was a student at the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, which is an organization that helps disabled artists advance their skills and create a community to display and sell their work.


Bernhardt's story sets the example that whether you are born with a disability or acquire one later in life,it does not have to stop you from discovering your dreams!

Dating and Disability

For many people with physical disabilities, dating is a hard subject, but if you've ever been afraid of dating before, college is the time to break out of your comfort zone.
Growing up with cerebral palsy I never experienced many problems in the dating department. I was your normal teenager with crushes and things, and had my first real boyfriend at sixteen. That lasted on and off for 4 years, but I had other boyfriends in between the breaks and after and my disability was never an issue for him.



Although we broke up for reasons unrelated to my disability, when we became serious (being together for three years), his father had A LOT of degrading concerns. He asked my mother who is a strong woman who would stick up for anyone if "Our kids would be messed up?" and if "My problems were genetic." This made my mom enraged and caused a huge feud between his father and I for a long time. He regrets saying that now, but exemplifies the ignorance of some.

Besides the run in with his father, I have never had any other issues with dating prospects or their parents.

For Sacred Heart graduate Emily Lupica, 23, who also has Cerebral Palsy and walks with the aid of a walker, dating hasn't been impossible, but she has had some challenges.


"I always have to disclose right away for the most part because the walker is there," Lupica says. "I mean with people I talk to online I let them get to know me first before saying it, and I wont bring up what I have unless asked so even if I'm standing talking to a guy in my walker I wont be like by the way I have CP."
She claims that no one has refused to date her because she has a disability, but she too has seen the ignorance of people.
"My last ex told me to get faith healed, so obviously it can be an issue!" Lupica adds.

Best Advice for Dating
--Be open and honest about it
--You don't have to tell him/her right away, but embrace questions
--Relax!
--Appear confident, even if you totally don't feel confident! (If you appear confident, it will radiate and you'll be very surprised of the positive results and encouragement)
--Don't let your disability stop you, let your awesome personality shine

Anything Is Possible

Stephen J. Wampler is a prime example of my life philosophy, just because you have a disability does not mean you're disabled! In Summer 2010, Steven Wampler will become the first person with cerebral palsy to climb to the top of El Capitan peak in Yosemite National Park,according to an article put out by PR Web entitled, New Website Launches Wampler Foundation:Helping Physically Disabled Kids Have Richer Lives The peak is twice the size of the Empire State Building.



He is doing the climb for two reasons:
1) To prove anything is possible
2) To raise money for The Stephen J. Wampler Foundation

This foundation provides wilderness programs for disabled childern. It is a week long sleep away camping program set to teach disabled childern that they can be independent and live fulfilling lives. It provides them with many oppuntunities to gain daily living and social skills. "As one participant noted, 'I now realize that I'm NOT just disabled, I've got so many things to do and accomplish!'", as stated in the article.



Wampler decided to create this foundation that provides these services because he too was sent to an Easter Seals camp for disabled kids at the age of nine. He calls it a "life changing adventure". He wants other disabled kids to have these experiences and thats why he created a foundation that pays for kids to attend various programs.

For more information about Wampler, his life and his efforts, you can visit his wife's blog, Elizabeth's blog and check out this Saturday Night Live video below.

Wamp Video from Michael Brueggemeyer on Vimeo.

Connecticut Colleges and Handicap Accessibility

Under the ADA, college campuses and universities must provide students with a disability services office that contains educational resources and the proper handicap accessibility options. Connecticut Colleges and Universities, specifically CCSU, WCSU, SCSU, ECSU, and Uconn, have done a lot to make their campuses more accessible to students, but some still have a long way to go.

Most of the CSU System's disability services goals are the same. "Our principal responsibility is to provide services and supports that promote educational equity for students with disabilities," SCSU's Disability Resource Center.
"The Office of Student Disability Services has been charged by the University to provide students, faculty, and staff with assistance and information on issues of access and full participation for persons with disabilities at Central Connecticut State University," CCSU Disability Services mission statement.

Although Central and Southern sound similar in their mission, Eastern and Western seem to take a more personable approach to help those with special needs.
"We foster a welcoming environment of mutual respect that treats all people as individuals in a courteous, friendly, fair, helpful, and respectful manner. We strive to identify and remove barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from being full and equal participants in the university experience," says AccessAbility Services representative, Laurel Obstgarten.
**To the right is Laurel (3rd in back row) and other staff at Western** (WCSU Website)

For anyone with a physical mobility issue, one of the biggest concerns on a college campus is handicap accessibility.


As far as CCSU is concerned, there are ramps throughout the campus to help students get to class and elevators in each building, but from a personal standpoint, I believe disability access needs to be looked at and reworked. I am afraid of some of the academic and dorm building elevators because they need to renovated. I often refuse to take the elevator and prefer to take the stairs, but for students who cannot do that, I suggest CCSU Disability Services look into this issue.
Southern, Western, and Uconn seem to all be very accessible. Uconn even being one of the top universities in the country for their handicap accessibility and disability resources.
"It is very handicap accessible," says SCSU Disability Resource Center Director Deborah Fairchild. "We pride ourselves on that. Every building has an accessible entrance and elevator."
"As of right now, all buildings have handicap accessible entrances, and working elevators. We have worked with the Facilities department by developing a new curb cut outside of the Science Building so that wheelchairs can move easier," adds Obstgarten. "We are also working with that department to ensure that all bathrooms are handicap accessible. Students with mobility impairments that are registered with our office are also granted the accommodation that if an elevator breaks, the class is asked to move to an accessible floor. We have a student/faculty group called the Accessibility Committee that meets to discuss any changes that need to be made to the campus."

On top of having a great disability services center Uconn is taking their services above and beyond the CSU schools with their Beyond Access Program

Beyond Access can be broken down into three separate programs:

--SEAD (Strategic Education for students with Autusim spectrum Disorder)
--FAST (Focused Academic Skills Training)
--TASE (Technologies for Academic Skills Enrichment)

The overall program goes above and beyond "typical" disability service duties, and I would highly recommend you check it out. Once again, if you have a disability a lot goes in to picking the right school for you. It is hard to know which campuses will be most handicap accessible and/or fit your personal needs, but it is important to look into the Top 10 most accessible universities in the country.

Disability Laws and Your Education

In today's world, it is hard to imagine a disabled person not being able to access the educational resources or having the educational opportunities they need to succeed. In previous posts, I discussed the ample amount of accommodations and resources one can receive upon venturing into higher education, but disabled people have not always been as lucky or accepted as you and I.

Historically, people with disabilities, physical or mental, were often thought of as dregs of society. Many "able-bodied" people felt those with disabilities could not be functioning members of society, hold a job, or even be capable of getting an education.

Prior to 1970, disabled people had little to no rights! It was not until the passage of the Rehabilitation Act in 1973 that the disabled were recognized as regular people, able to live stimulating and fulfilling lives.


Under the Rehabilitation Act, the government recognized that:

--there were a number of Americans with disabilities
--the number would always be increasing
--a disability is a natural part of life for many humans and their rights should be diminished because of it

The Act provided people with disabilities with many opportunities such as:
--living independently
--the ability to pursue a career
--integrate themselves in all aspects of society

Before the Rehabilitation Act was instated, few college and universities were accessible, both literally and figuratively, to the disabled. If they did have access to higher education, they were often segregated attending schools that only educated individuals with certain disabilities. Gallaudet University and Rochester Institute of Technology targeted only hearing impaired or deaf students. Today, both universities service both deaf and non-deaf students.





With the Civil Rights and Womens Rights Movements in full swing, many disabled people felt it was their turn for rights. This led to the passage of the Rehabilitation Act, which gave disabled people equal access to colleges and universities, but the act did have its flaws. The Act provided the disabled with program accessibility, but did not mandate handicap accessibility.


In 1990, President George Bush Sr. passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which "prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications" (ADA.gov).

Under Title II Section 504, all public and almost all private colleges and universities are required to be program accessible and handicap accessible. If a building or course materials are not readily handicap accessible to the student, the university may have to relocate classes or provide other alternatives for the student. As of 1992, buildings on public and private campuses must meet certain accessibility guidelines, thanks to ADA.

Overall, the disability rights movement has come a long way since 1973 and has provided you and I with access to education and other resources we need to live independent successful lives. With the ADA's 20th anniversary coming up in 2010, a documentary and stage production entitled "Invisible Voices" is being put out to convey the struggles and triumphs of those involved in the disability rights movement.

Blogs, Blogs, and More Blogs

Since my blog has a very narrow focus, I felt it was important to provide my community with links to blogs about other disability topics.

My goal was to find links to blogs about specific physical disabilities, but I came across a bit of everything.

I plan to add to the list throughout the semester as I come across others, but for now I have found the following:

1)Coral and Opal-- This is a blog about various disabilities. It focuses on new technologies made to assist those with disabilities and tells disabled people's stories.

2) Disability is an Art-- Written by the Director of Disability Services at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this blog contains some great information for college students. It also analyzes how having a disability can be an art and a blessing.

3) Down the MS Path--Written by a woman with Multiple Sclerosis , this blog contains information for all types of people that may be affected by MS or know someone who is.

Again, I will be adding to the list as the semester continues, but feel free to leave other blog suggestions!

Does Physical Disability Affect Relationships?

Along with your education, your social life becomes a high priority when you enter college. Having a physical disability may hinder your confidence in yourself and/or social interaction/dating. Within the American culture, physically disabled people are widely accepted among their communities, and disabled advocacy is more prevalent than ever before, but not all countries are as accepting.

In Nigeria and other African countries, physically disabled people are discriminated against and often even segregated in their communities. Upon doing research for my "Dating with a Disability" post, that I will be doing in the near future, I found this article in Vanguard, a newspaper that has a basis in Nigeria.

The article entitled "Physical Disability, a barrier to true love?", is a great prequel post to my "Dating with a Disability" post. Because Nigerian people often view physically disabled people as "having a disease", it is hard to believe (for Nigerian people) that people with disabilities can even have a relationship.

The points brought up in the article seem outlandish to me on a personal level, but I felt I needed to share this with my readers and get their feedback.
Basically the writer, Bridget Amaraegbu is talking to celebrities and upper class people about their views on the physically disabled. The view of the majority is that physically disabled people often use their disability as an excuse to be lazy, allowing them not to have careers, thus making them less appealing to the opposite sex.

These celebrities and upper class individuals in the article actually advocated for physically disabled saying that more and more are becoming actors and actresses, writers and celebrities alike. The only reason they would like them though is because they were making lots of money.

I did appreciate one source who was in love with a physically disabled person at one time and was willing to do anything to help her, but the overall view is that the physically disabled cannot have a relationship because they are incapable of holding jobs and making decent money.

I felt the article was extremely bias and the people in it were materialistic and money driven. Maybe I find it such an extraordinarily negative article because I have never encountered such a negative view of the physically disabled and relationships.

What does everyone else think?

Has anyone ever encountered relationship problems because of your disability?

Or has the American public viewed you as incapable of having a relationship because of your disability?

Standardized Testing Accommodations

Whether you are an incoming college freshman for the 2010-2011 academic year, or a college senior looking to expand your education by taking the GRE, if you have a disability, you are eligible to receive accommodations for your testing.

I remember taking the SATs and being allotted extra time for the test. I never really understood why, because my disability is merely physical, not learning, but the extra time made it less stressful.

Here are some useful links on how to apply and become eligible for any accommodations for anything from college board tests like SAT, GRE, to Praxis, and LSAT

If there any other tests that you feel would be important to mention, please feel free to leave a comment.

A Reader's Response

After linking this blog to a co-worker's Facebook page, I got more than I expected.

The following is a response directed towards the NYT article post from last Thursday. Note: This is coming directly from the Facebook link, it has not been edited or changed!

-- Ann Patterson, San Francisco
You asked, so I'm sharing my personal experience as a disabled person. Yes. People who live in areas that are high crime...which tends to be because those are the cheap apartment areas, too, get clobber quite often.

And disabled people who take public transportation and who are slightly slower than the flow of foot traffic are more likely to get clobbered....and this is not for the purpose of robbery or anything like that, its just because SOME people need to make other people "less" in order to feel good about themselves. And this is not limited to disability...just recall you last run-in with the boss at work.

I've been disabled since I was a baby so I know all the ways that slightly more crazy people do this stuff. I've always defended myself when attacked, sometimes even to the point of purposefully making the original attacker utterly terrified of disabled people. I'm thinking in particular of one incident where a young woman (30 years my junior) decided to try to kick me to the curb so, with one arm, I flipped her over my shoulder on to her back and kicked her back, once. A few minutes later, I got on another bus, and the woman was there, and she started screaming. I laughed. Not because it was funny, but because I defended myself quite adequately...enough so that I don't think that she will ever raise ANY limb to another human being.... Read more

I have been advocating for equal access since I was three when some elitist dance teacher refuse to allow me to participate in her class. ALL of the 3-year-old kids in that class were as spastic as I was. But this teacher had her mental health problems.

The basic problem is that disabled people, when they are discussed out of their own earshot. by 'able-bodied' folks are labeled as "less".

But those who would attack people with mobility disabilities need to understand that when one has lifted one's own weight for approximately 17 miles of "walking" per day, these people are so strong from that experience that, by comparison, people without disabilities are disabled.
(I won a lot of arm-wrestling money in bars in my college years on this basis of this)

The final thing that I want to say about this is: judges should not see the act of clobbering a disabled person as solely a criminal act. They should see it as something that REQUIRES effective mental health incarceration. Because, in my experience, doing something like this is an "entry level" crime.
Y'all know the kind of people who torture cats and then kill dogs. The kind of people who harass the disabled at work and then "go postal" for no discernibly good reason.
Criminal justice will never truly be justice until it recognizes the mental states behind the discrimination against all 'special' groups of people. It happens every day, every minute. And YOU could be one of those people.

Work on your problem, please.--

Please refer to the comment section below for my personal ongoing commentary and other comments from Ms. Patterson.

Physically Disabled, Victims of Crime?

Today, the New York Times posted an article that I felt would be of interest and I would love to get other people's feedback as well.

The Justice Department has just released a study claiming that disabled people are more likely to be victims of crime than non-disabled people. I guess this would make sense, but the article makes the bigger picture unclear, leaving me with lots of unanswered questions.

In a survey done in 2007, 716,000 disabled people were victims of sexual assault and/or rape and nearly 2.3 million were victims of crimes, such as burglary and motor vehicle theft, according to the article.

It also states that the survey made it unclear, the physical status of these victims and to what extent, their disabilities played a role.

So, here are my question:
How valid are these findings?
What types of disabilities do these "victims" have?
In what ways does their disability play a role in their victimization?
Are they being targeted simply because they are less likely to fight back due to disability?
Are they saying disabled people cannot defend themselves?

What does everyone else think? It may not be completely false, but I need a more detailed credible report

Connect-Ability

Listening to the radio over the past couple of days, I came across a commercial for a program called Connect-Ability. Having never heard of it before I set out to investigate and thought it would be perfect for my next blog post.
Since this is a blog dedicated to college students with physical disabilities, it is important to not only discuss college based issues and triumphs, but also post graduate issues and most importantly opportunities.

Connect-Ability is a program run by the Connecticut Department of Social Services that strives to bring people with disabilities and Connecticut employers together.
"Connect-Ability began in late 2005 with a federal grant to the State of Connecticut to identify and remove barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities," according to Connect-Ability Website.





**Side note: I believe James and Matt examplify the attitude that all physically disabled people should have, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals and living your dreams!! I certainly would not have gotten as far as I have without this attitude.**

It is mostly funded by the Medicare and Medicaid services and over the past five years has issued grants to various states to help integrate disabled people, previously facing challenges when it came to entering the workforce, into the working community.
The program works with all types of employers and physically disabled people ranging in age from 16 to people of retirement status.

The website has a page for everyone with questions or looking to get involved:

--Career Center (this helps a disabled individual better create a career path for him/herself)
--Transportation
-- Employers
-- Youth
-- Parents

If you looking to know more about the program, they even have a strategic plan document that outlines their purpose, so you can decide if it'll benefit you.

You can also contact Connect-Ability via phone at 1-866-844-1903

How to Live on Campus With A Disability

Hello All,
Take it from someone who knows all too well, living on campus with a disability isn't always easy, but it is definitely worth it, if you can afford it, and can overcome some mobility issues

For this post, I would like to take blurbs and ideas from an article I wrote for a Magazine Writing class in February of 2008.

***The biggest challenge for any physically impaired college resident is recognizing his or her own abilities and disadvantages when navigating the campus. Whether your disability causes you to be in a wheelchair, on crutches, or lack balance, make sure there are no surprises on move-in day.

***Second, make your presence known. The two greatest rewards of living on campus with a disability are claiming independence and bringing a unique form of diversity to the community. On the first day of class after hitting the snooze button ten times and dragging yourself out of bed, visit the disability services office. Explain who you are and depending on your situations what accommodations you may need for your room or class. If you need a table to sit at instead of a desk or you need a chair in your shower...let them know... they are there to help you.

***Lastly know your social boundaries. There is no doubt that the college life is full of parties. Whether you are into partying or not, any social event can present challenges.

The following is a quote from Central student with Spina Bifida

"It's quite hard to go to house parties because you don't know if you will be able to get up and down the stairs or in and out of the bathroom unless you have been to the house before. It doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't go, it just means its better to know the house layout and the person that owns it” --Danny Friar, 20

Also, I am no way promoting underage drinking, but if you are going to drink, know how it affects your disability and the human body.

Overall, your "living on campus checklist" may be different than the average persons', but the key to living on campus and claiming independence is simply to plan ahead!

Introduction and some disability student statistics

Hello, my name is Susan Kondracki, a fourth year journalism student at Central Connecticut State University. As one of my last requirements for my BA, which I will receive in December, I must create a beat blog for my Web Journalism class.
Having a minor case of cerebral palsy, I felt disability issues for college students was perfect for this project.

Welcome to "Know No Limits"- a blog written by and dedicated to Connecticut State University students with physical disabilities. It may also include learning disability information, but for the most part I would like to have it solely surround physical disabilities.

According to the National Center for Education April 2005 Statistics, nearly 45.8% of undergraduate students and 8.5% graduate students 15-23 of had a disability. Of undergrads 24-29, 15.5% had a disability and 33.9% of grad students had one also. Overall, you are not alone.

Having a disability does not make your college experience any less rewarding. Whether you live on campus or at your home, you can and will succeed regardless of minor or severe impairment and your university is there to help you with learning centers and disability services.

"Know No Limits" is here to help you and will address issues such as:
--Handicap Accessibility
--Disability Laws
--Campus Disability Services
--Physical Disability and the CT DMV
--Dorm Life and Disability
--College Social/Dating Scene and Disability
--And Much More...

I will do most of the posting, but if any of you have information that I cannot access that you believe will be beneficial to others, by all means, you can contribute. I wish to bring CSU students with physical disabilities together.