IT"S NOT CHRISTMAS BUT...

 Indulge me. I wondered what my mom was thinking as she knitted my Christmas stocking.  What emotions was she feeling?  She had no way of knowing I would have a disability. On my first Christmas, I was a fat, happy baby. What were her hopes for me that Christmas?

CAN SOMEONE WHO NEEDS CARE PROVIDE CARE?

 

I hope I made my mom's last months on this Earth comfortable and happy. I wanted her free from pain. Rest in Peace, Mom. I would give anything for one more day with you. I love you.

 

A LONG ROAD, BUT I DID IT

The road to achieving my goals of getting an undergrad and a master's degree was bumpy, filled with potholes and naysayers. I was on the verge of quitting, but my career took a different path. I did not become a social worker, graduate school in the 80s is not something I'd wish to repeat. I can say with pride that I got through it. I did not let the naysayers stop me.

 

MELVYN WAS A GREAT MAN

 I learned so much from Melvyn. Your life can still be meaningful despite being in an LTC.  He did not demand respect; his presence commanded it. 

MY WACKY STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON A MONDAY

This video has a little bit of everything. From my favorite bands and books to Insta. Check it out.

 

I'M A SQUARE PEG TRYING TO FIT IN

I am a square peg (square being the operative word) trying to fit into a world that was not made for people with disabilities. Trying to adapt. Trying to be seen and heard, If I go out to dinner, I expect to be included in the conversation of those I'm dining with. Not to just eat my food while the others in the group chatter away. I try to break into the conversation, but I am ignored. I am the only person with a disability. I was good for a smiling photo op of the group. I was invited; not included. This was not my first time. It won't be the last. 

I am grateful to friends and family who accept and include me for me. 

 

A BABY BEAR IS BORN

Illustrations by Gerrie Brinker

My book would not have become a reality without my family's unwavering support.

SHE WAS THE BEST

JoAnn took this photo of me with Paulette

 So many memories. JoAnn was like a sister to me. 

GOSSIP GIRL IN A THNUNDERSTORM

 

I loved Rona Barrett, her magazines, and TV specials.  As a teen, she was my idol.

Tornado sirens, hail, and wind. Every storm my mind\ goes back to the storm on Good Friday, April 22, 2011

My favorite magazine

   Thunder and lightning yikes.

I AM NOT MY LABEL

The first time I realized how disabled I really was. It was sobering  

 

Read this post for more on this topic: https://confessionsofadisableddiva.blogspot.com/2020/03/see-me_46.html 

TO ALL THE CHAIRS I'VE LOVED BEFORE

A manual wheelchair was okay, getting a power wheelchair expanded my world by allowing me the freedom to explore it on my own. Freedom.

 

IT'S BACKWARD

 

Billionaires do not have a cap on how much they can earn. Those of us with disabilities do We are the largest minority group in this country. What is wrong with this picture?

THESE DREAMS

 

Thanks to Julie Boyer for the photo

I have many dreams. Most of them you'd laugh at.    Living where there are palm trees and warm weather is one, Oh, and a sparkling blue sky.\

A BARBIE GIRL WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND

Barbie was an awesome part of my childhood. She did anything I imagined/ I'm still a Barbie Girl.

When I was young, I wanted to be like everyone else. I didn't understand many things. My body was different from other kids, but my mind was not.

 

GRATITUDE AND EMPATHY 101

 

It can take a village.

I am grateful for mine.

Classes in empathy need to be taught/. 

Denmark's got the right idea.

A PLETHORA OF VLOGS

 

I talk about a little of everything in these 4 vlogs. Let me know what you think.

Don't you; love the word plethora?  

GOT QUESTIONS? I HAVE ANSWERS (PART ONE)

SOME REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.  AND THIS IS ONLY PART ONE/

STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO/

 

OH NO SHE DIDN'T

How a haircut became a teaching moment for both my stylist and me

And...

ASK ME (ALMOST) ANYTHING

 

...

 

ADVOCATING FOR RESIDENTS IN LTC COMMUNITIRS

 

Long-term Care is my passion. Those are my people. I identify with them.   I can't help it.  

I don't want Trump's Medicaid cuts to make conditions worse for them. (Four residents in one room)

Remember those in LTC. Let your voice be heard.

HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?

 Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide health and long-term care coverage to almost 82 million low-income children, pregnant women, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities in the United States.  

What will happen to me and countless others like me?  A co-pay at my eye appointment. What's next?

TWO IN ONE POST

My Moro Response and cataract surgery/ Two informative videos in one blog post. Don't miss them. Tell your friends

 

DISBELIEF

 An eleven-year-old girl was bullied so badly by classmates that she took her life. She was afraid that ICE would take her parents from her.  Our president refers to himself as king. I want to love my country. I want to be proud of my country again/ When will this end? 

THESE TWO WORDS MAKE A BIG IMPACT

Compassion and empathy. If we as a country practiced these values a bit more, we'd all be better humans. If our current leaders were building things up rather than tearing the foundation of this country down, they'd be leaders we could respect. Compassion and empathy are the first steps toward healing our broken nation.

 .

STOP! FOR THESE IMPORTANT VLOGS

Two vlogs. Different subjects. Yet the same. One talks about disabilities that are not visible. Society, in its judgmental way, declares these individuals to be fakers.  If I can't see it, they must be faking it, trying to get attention.

The second one talks about making it through tough times. Those with hidden disabilities make it through. They may not talk about what they are going through, but they continue to get up each day They live their life as best they can.

I know one such individual. They are amazing. Just like Cher and that bumper car, they are never down for too long.

This blog is for them.

THERE'S MORE TO ME THAN WHAT YOU SEE

This pic has nothing to do with this post. I just look cool

.

For as long as I can remember, people have ignored me. Waitstaff and caregivers, medical staff, you name it.  They look at me and assume I am intellectually impaired. It happened again yesterday at an event I attended. I asked a young woman a question. She talked to my caregiver, not to me.

Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?  It's one of the reasons I shy away from attending events. I have spent my entire life trying to get people to treat me as they would anyone else, I hope this young woman gets the memo, there is more to me than what you see.

 

SOMETIMES ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH

 

The response to my two previous videos was overwhelming. It was necessary to express my gratitude for my videos' likes, shares, and comments. I am just talking about things that are important to me. Hopefully, they are important to you too. Stick with me. Thanks for watching.

DON'T FORGET

 

I was a resident of a long-term care facility for over three years. I made lasting friendships. However, there were times when I was lonely. I want to encourage you this Valentine's weekend to make someone's day by visiting them. People with disabilities as well as the elderly need to know that they have not been forgotten.

if you make a promise to the elderly or a disabled person do your best to keep your word. It matters to them.

A VALENTINE'S DAY REMINDER

   Remember...

To love yourself first.

And...

Outward appearance does not tell the whole story.

A good heart is what counts.

 

IT'S NOT A CLUB

I

 I have found that people have some misconceptions about the disabled community. In this video, I address four major ways we are misunderstood.

MEDICAID FRAUD

If you are able-bodied and receiving Medicaid, you are making it more difficult for us.

 

THE VLOG SPEAKS FOR ITSELF

I'll just leave this here/

 

DEI (AGAIN)

Had I not been fortunate enough to have people who believed in me. People who believed in my ability. I would not have held a part-time job teaching computer programs. Nor would I have been allowed to write for an online newspaper. It's about looking past a disability. Seeing an individuals  

worth, value, and what they bring to their job.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kick-in-the-teeth-disabled-federal-workers-fear-for-their-jobs-after-trump-remarks/ar-AA1yrLK6?ocid=BingNewsSerp

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/us/trump-faa-disabled-workers.html

JUST DO IT

I love vlogging.

Do what you love/

Love what you do.

Get excited/

Be inspired.

Just do it.

 

FRIDA KAHLO VLOG

 

Frida.

Her art tells of her pain.

Her words inspire me.

She was disabled.

Still, she soared.

If you want to learn more about the artist Frida Kahlo this article has information about her life relating to her disability,

https://www.coloradohomesmag.com/the-almost-daily-dose-frida-in-flight/

THANK YOU TIKTOK FOLLOWERS

People are thanking me.

When I should be thanking them.

Thank you, TikTok followers,

I am no authority on anything.

I am one special.

Just talking.

Eww. The video below.

Again, so geeky.

Thank you, TikTok followers.

A spaz with a heart/

That's me.

Putting myself out there.

For all the world to see.

And...

You accepted me.

Thank you, TikTok followers.

 

CHAOS

Our Country is in chaos.

You feel helpless.

You feel confused.

Your Family will get you through.

Talk it out.

Hug it out.

Cry it out.

Whatever you need to do.

Your family will get you through,

 

DIVERSITY. EQUITY. INCLUSION (DEI)

 

Photo Credit Dwight Carter

According to Google: DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which was defined as follows: Diversity is the presence of differences in dimensions of human identity. 

Our president has removed DEI guidelines from the FAA following the horrible collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter. Our president blamed DEI for the tragedy.

I fear our president will abolish the DEI standards altogether.   What will happen to the knowledge and unique qualities people with diverse backgrounds and skills bring to the workforce? What will happen to fairness when a woman applies for a job and is not hired for said job just because she is a woman?

What will happen to those of us with disabilities? Will we be considered for employment?  Will children with disabilities cease to have the same educational opportunities as their able-bodied peers?
Will the melting pot that was America be no more? Will it be replaced by people who all look, act, and think the same way?

I have been thinking of the words of Maya Angelou. My favorite poem of hers is STILL I RISE. 

What Ms. Angelo is saying to me when I read her words is simple.

WHATEVER OTHERS DO TO KEEP YOU DOWN, TO SILENCE YOU. YOU WILL PERSEVERE. YOU WILL RISE.

NO WORDS

First the horrible collision/

Then to place blame on the DEI.

No words can convey my sadness and outrage.

HAVING FUN WHILE SPEAKING OUT

If anyone had told me that I would become a content creator on TikTok, I would have told them they were crazy. I blog. I don't vlog. But here we are. My voice. OMG! Is that really me? Why is my head down? Am I trying to frown? I should stop—and fast—but I am having a blast.

When/if you watch me in all my geekiness trying to make my point on an issue, I hope you have compassion and empathy. Many individuals in this country lack these two traits. I love making videos, however, every day I ask myself, "What are you doing?" As an icy shiver of fear goes through me, I force myself to start talking. I try my best to look into the camera. These videos are important. They matter to me. You don't have to agree. 

That's the beautiful thing about living in this country. In America, we can respectfully agree to disagree.

 

MY CONCERNS

GOD BLESS (HELP) AMERICA

Today, President Trump ordered that sign language interpreters be removed from the White House's websites, including those on YouTube.  This act is reprehensible. What next for those of us with disabilities? I am afraid.

 

S C A R E D

I am...

Sensitive

Cautious

Aware

Real

Empathetic

Determined

MY BEST TIKTOK YET

I am burned out on blogging and writing (for now). I am working on typing using voice typing. There are days when I don't have the energy to type, or my arms hurt. I have never worked a forty-hour week. The most hours I have ever worked is sixteen. I will continue to honor my commitment to this agency by writing two newsletter articles a month as well as co-teaching the training classes. 

I am tired. I have nothing left to prove. I want to do things that are fun. I want to do things that challenge me.  Allow me to get my message out there from the comfort of my home/ I have found a way to accomplish that via TIKTOK.

I know you can make money via your videos. If that happens great. That's not why I am making videos. I am doing it because it's fun. Life's too short not to have fun.

https://www.tiktok.com/@justjoanneeeee/video/7459069044021284126?_r=1&_t=ZP-8t0cvmUmUOs&fbclid=IwY2xjawHw1f1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHf8_1_IOkrPCISi_cMa07YbkKrgR67kaj4VCu0VdyR4ViavpHV6IkzKOpQ_aem_dr2scrkrPqbK4ib-GfrZeg 

I hope you enjoy this video.

Peace out.

Have a great day

MY NEXT CHALLENGE? TIKTOK

Starting this blog was a challenge that I have conquered. This blog never won awards for its content. It probably never will. That's okay.  

This blog is the little blog that could.  I continue to be proud of it. I'm grateful to the people from countries around the world who read my posts. If one of my posts made you feel better or let you know that you are not alone, I am happy.

People here want me to tell my story. You know how much I would like to do a TEDx talk. I decided to post videos on TikTok for now.

My voice is not the best. Neither are the subtitles. I probably should not be making videos. It is important to me, so I am giving it a try.

Comments and topic suggestions are welcome. I ask for positivity and kindness as I begin this next challenge. I am working on looking and sounding better in my videos. Please be patient

My TikTok handle: https://www.tiktok.com/@justjoanneeeee?lang=en