DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

I am one of the 56 million disabled Americans in this country. I am scared.

I began to be afraid when at the start of your campaign, you mocked a reporter with a physical disability. I wondered how anyone could be so insensitive. I wondered if you thought about the message you were sending. The message I got was that people with disabilities are not worth respect, but instead, it's okay to laugh and make fun of our physical differences and limitations. 

I am scared that the Disability Integration Act is dead. The act that would have given hope to people like me, who have been forced to live in nursing homes. I hope that we may someday get our lives back. Hope that we will be part of our communities again. No one should be penalized and placed in a nursing home because states won't pay for the services necessary to keep them in their homes. Nursing homes are for the sick. They should not be used to warehouse people with disabilities. Nursing homes are understaffed and the staff that is working is extremely overworked. These two factors affect resident care, not in a positive way.

I am scared that cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will limit my freedom. I use a  power chair. Medicare doesn't think residents of nursing homes need power chairs. It can take up to six months or longer to get chairs or parts for chairs using Medicaid. My chair is very old. I have not gotten a new one because I don't want to have to depend on other people to push me around. That is just another way of limiting my independence.

I will never be able to support myself.  My family helps tremendously. They see that I have what I want as well as what I need. I want to be able to pay for some of my expenses myself.  That's why getting a job. is so important to me. I am labeled severely disabled. The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation has deemed me unemployable. Insurance won't allow me to earn much. I won't let that stop me. I know that I will get a job. The question is not if, but when. 

I hope that you will create jobs as well as bring jobs back to the United. States. The revenue from those jobs can be used to help fund Medicare and Medicaid. Disabled people cannot afford to lose funding to support services we need to live full lives.

I hope that you will remember that we are people. Please don't forget about us. 

I am praying for you and our country as you begin. your term in office. 

TINY SUPERHEROES

Robyn Rosenberger didn't set out to do anything special. She just wanted to make a superhero cape as a birthday present for her nephew, She wanted to make him feel cool and special.  She never imagined that the superhero capes she'd made for family and friends would turn into something much bigger. And, help so many

Robyn sent superhero capes to a little girl named Brenna after reading a blog about her. Brenna had been born with a rare and severe skin condition. Robyn also sent one to  Brenna's brother.  Out of that simple gesture of kindness, Tiny Superheroes was born. https://www.tinysuperheroes.com/
.
Robyn's superhero capes have helped children battling serious illnesses like cancer and disabilities. like autism.  When a child wears a cape they feel empowered. They have the courage and strength necessary to face whatever challenges they may encounter. The cape is a symbol of hope to a child. Or, maybe a child just needs to know how awesome they are. Robyn has a cape for them too.

In the first year, 4,000, capes were sent out. Superhero capes have been sent to all 50 states as well as 16 different countries. That is amazing when you remember Robyn began making superhero capes as a hobby/ 

You can help by nominating a child you would like to have received a superhero cape. All you need to do is submit their story. Take a minute to read the stories of the children who are on the waiting list to receive a cape. You may decide to sponsor a deserving child. 

If your child becomes a member of Tiny Superheroes, each month they will receive a mission to complete. Upon completion of their mission, they will receive a patch for their cape. how cool is that?

It is about bravery, courage, hope and being proud of who you are.

Get involved. Read the stories. Sponsor a child. Nominate The Tiny Superhero in your life. Make a difference. You'll be glad you did.

IT'S A NEW YEAR , MAKE IT A GOOD YEAR

2016 is drawing to a close. We lost many talented people in the entertainment and music industry. Many police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. Many in our country were dissatisfied with the outcome of the presidential election. Instead of uniting, we were divided as a country. It made me sad.

I have been trying to work on changing my behavior. I am a very sensitive and emotional person. I have been, and am continuing to, work on controlling the way I react to people and situations. I try not to fly off the handle.   I still make mistakes/. I am not perfect. I always apologize. All I can do is keep trying. I know I am improving.

With the help of The Starkloff  Disability Institute, I am working toward getting some kind of writing job that I can do from the facility. This is the first step in my plan to find a new living situation/ My resume is now completed. I may be physically dependent on other people, but, I am a proud person. I know I can't earn much, but I need
to have a job to feel productive and improve my self-worth.

 I learned that I angered the individual .who forced me from my house. It's true, I yelled, begged and pleaded to remain in my house. If by some remote chance you are reading this, please accept my apology. My whole life was taken away. I am sure, had you been in my position, you would have reacted the same way.

I keep busy. I am even learning Spanish online. People here just exist. I cannot do that. I want a life. For the first time in a very long time, I have hope that positive changes will happen for me in 2017.

I hope the country and the world will become more united in 2017. I pray that the incoming administration does not cut funding to programs needed by so many.

Thank you to my family for their continued love and support this past year. I love you all very much. To all of my readers, I hope the coming year brings many positive changes to your life. Thank you for taking life's journey with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Make it a good year.



 . . .

CHRISTMAS WISHES

When you're little, Christmas is about Santa, toys, and decorations. 

I would beg my mom to let me transform our house into a winter wonderland. We had every Christmas decoration known to mankind,. Well, it seemed that way anyway. Closets were bursting. My mom finally had to tell people to stop giving me decorations because she had no more room to store them.

My brother put lights on the outside too.  No inflatable snowman or Santa for us. We had the big heavy plastic ones from when we were little. My brother worked hard on the house. When he was finished, ours was by far, the best-decorated house on our street.  Christmas was an exciting and magical time when my mom was alive.  My favorite time of year. 

Christmas in a facility is just another day. Many residents have told me that. It is so important to have visitors not only during the holidays but all through the year. My wish for all the residents in long term care is that they may have lots of visitors throughout the year. No one should be forgotten. Everyone should have someone who cares about them. 

It's been almost seven years since my mom died. I have not always treated my family with the respect they deserve. All I want this Christmas is for them to forgive me.  
I am not perfect. I screw up. I keep trying. I am becoming a better person. I appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do. for me. .I love all of them very much.  I am sorry.

My second wish is for the gift of hope.  I hope that I will be given a chance to live outside of this facility. I look forward to working with Paraquad and Starkloff Disability Institute to make my goal a reality. If given the chance, I won't blow it this time.

My wish for the world is that someday, we can accept each other's differences. That we live in peace.

My wishes are not things you can wrap with a bow.-They are the most important things I have ever asked for. 

Happy Holidays.

LAURIE BAKER'S OUTTAKES ARE THE BEST TAKES

Laurie Baker grew up watching Days of Our Lives.  She was just a fan like millions of others. Now, though, she is not only a fan, she is a reporter. Her internet radio show, Outtakes Interviews, is a hit with soap fans.  She has interviewed stars from all four soaps, but Days is still her first love. She gets the answers to questions that fans are dying to know the answers to. 

Laurie has attended major soap events like the 50th-anniversary party of Days of  Our Lives. Her videos and photos of the gala were amazing.  I felt like I had attended the event with her.

I wanted to know more about Laurie and Outtakes Interviews. I emailed her some questions. Thank you, Laurie, for taking the time to answer them

What is your professional background?  Were you a journalist/ reporter?

I have not gone to formal journalism school…but I participated in a lot of writing and acting all throughout high school, college and my early years in New York City.  I think those experiences taught me quite a bit.  And I am still learning all the time.

How long how you been a soap opera fan?

I grew up watching DAYS OF OUR LIVES with my family.  But I really fell in love with the show around 1982 with Tony/Renee, Marlena/Roman, and Liz/Neil.  DAYS was and is my main soap opera.  With the internet, it became easier for me to watch the other soaps.  In 2009, I began watching all the ones that were still around.  And now every televised soap has something about it that I’m in love with.

Where did the idea for your outtakes interviews come from?  The concept is a unique one. you have combined your interest in soaps with reporting.

As the internet kept growing, some websites came along that were very inspiring to me.  “Daytime Confidential” and “We Love Soaps” were two of them that really would write good articles, have wonderful podcasts and do great interviews with soap opera actors.  And I said to myself, “I would love to do that.”  I am also a fan of “Inside the Actor’s Studio”.  I love to find out what makes actors tick…and so many soap opera actors are brushed off…although that form of acting under such high pressure with little rehearsal time is probably the hardest type of acting there is.  And I am interested in finding out their real insight into the characters they play.  I don’t particularly care for fluffy questions.  And I rarely ask about what will happen next in the soap opera because the actor would only get in trouble by answering anyway

Who was your first outtakes interview subject? Who has been your most memorable interview subject/experience?

James Reynolds (Abe from DAYS OF OUR LIVES) was the first actor to give me a yes.  We did an interview about a play he was doing at Cape May Stage in New Jersey.  I was nervous…and there were some tech problems with the first radio show, but James was gracious and wonderful about it.

It is hard to pick the most memorable because there have been a lot of interviews I’ve cherished.  The show with the all-time highest listen count I did was with Eric Martsolf (Brady DAYS) and Christian LeBlanc (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) where they were promoting a Christmas comedy event that they were doing together.  They were so wild and crazy!  It was hysterical.  Some were on my wish list from day one…and when I got them, it was terrific!  Matthew Ashford, Patsy Pease, Charles Shaughnessy, Thaao Penghlis and John de Lancie (yes, all DAYS actors!) were a few that come to mind.

How do stars react when they learn you want to interview them?

Usually, it is either “Sure, let’s do it”; or no reply at all.

Have you ever had a star react negatively?

No.

Is there anyone you are dying to interview but haven't yet? 

Joseph Mascolo, Michael T. Weiss, Charlotte Ross, Roger Howarth, Kassie dePaiva and Peter Bergman.  I am sure there are more that I am forgetting!

What's it like to cover major events like day of days or days 50th anniversary?

The DAYS 50^th Anniversary Gala was surreal.  It was like a dream where every actor you ever watched on the show was right there.  And I was like…do I want to talk to this actor who I’ve loved forever on my right?  Or this actor who I’ve loved forever on my left?  And meanwhile, Stephen Nichols, Ari Zucker, Eric Martsolf and others were all singing these terrific songs on stage.  So I was trying to film some of that…but I also wanted to socialize at the same time.  Not complaining…but truly a situation where there was too much of a good thing!

By doing interviews at Day of DAYS, I just try to focus on my love of DAYS OF OUR LIVES and the actors/characters involved.  And I try to go for questions that I am guessing fans would want to know about specifically for each character/actor.  Not anything too general or cookie cutter.  In the press room, they bring in two actors at a time to interview every ten minutes; so you have to be prepared and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

How long does the editing process take?

It truly depends on the interview itself.  Sometimes with audio, there are technical problems with volume or static that have to be edited out.  The video itself does not take as long, except for montages, etc.

What are your future plans for outtakes interviews?

I would love to do more interviews on-site and on camera as opposed to long-distance and audio.  But that is a matter of opportunity more than anything else.  Mainly it is just a matter of persistence, continuing to look for good guests and building up more audience.  I just hope to keep the momentum going!

Links:

outtakesinterviews.com – Website
@LauriesOutTakes – Twitter
OutTakes Interviews on Blogtalkradio – Facebook page
outtakesinterviews -- Instagram

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

This past weekend was one of the worst weekends I have had in the two years I have been here. I won't go into detail Unerstaffing is a major problem here. Aides don't show u[. This leaves the staff that is here scrambling to fill the void. Aides don't come in on time. Either way, this leaves just one aide on the floor. If you are not a resident in that aide's assigned area, most of the time, they will not help you.

Sundays are the worst.  A lot of aides are just here for a paycheck.  I know this is true because most of the time when two aides are helping me, they are talking to each other about personal issues or other residents. Sometimes I wonder if they are paying any attention to me at all. I am not bashing this facility, I know the staff is doing the best they can to meet everyone's needs.

Wait. Don't stop reading., There is a silver lining, I have an aide who is kind and caring. She does everything she can to make sure I get the best care. Her name is Tiffany. Tiffany works part-time. When she is here I am up on time and all my needs are met. She is considerate. She treats me like a person. Tiffany listens.

I tried to nominate Tiffany for a caregiver of the year award, That is an award given by Voyce to a caregiver that goes above and beyond their caregiving duties.  Unfortunately, I was too late. There is always next year.

Thursday is Thanksgiving. Tiffany is off. I am wondering who'll be here to help us. Will it be someone who is kind and listens like Tiffany? Or someone who is just doing their job for the money? I am praying for the former.

We need more aides here. We need more aides who listen and care. We need more aides like Tiffany.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for Tiffany. She comes in on time. She does her job, She makes life here better.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. I spent the majority of today wondering what that would mean for all of us with disabilities. And, yeah, I cried. 

My tears were born out of fear and frustration. Fear that funding will be cut on services those of us with disabilities require to live independently. /Frustration that if the dire predictions of funds come to fruition, I will never get out of here. Disabled Americans currently living independently, may be forced to live in nursing homes. I don't wish my situation on anyone/ Disabled Americans deserve to keep the quality of life they now enjoy. 

.If I lived in Great Britain, I would not have been forced out of my home. I have been told that in Great Britain, people with disabilities are treated with respect and dignity. They are treated just like everyone else. 

I have begun looking at my options. Currently, the state pays for just six hours of attendant care,  You can get up to eleven hours, but that's difficult/ People more disabled than I am are living in apartments with assistance. I deserve a chance too. I will continue to explore my options and learn how others manage  I don't need to be in a facility. After meeting other people with disabilities who live in the community, I believe that now more than ever. 

I am not angry. I am not going to rant and rave. The people made their choice. Now, we have to work together to make this country the best nation it can be.

I am just going to remind the incoming administration that there are 57 million disabled Americans. We fight daily to be heard, to get the services we need, and to be treated equally. 

All I am asking for is a chance. That is all anyone with a disability wants. To be able to choose where and how we live, to be able to work so that we have a sense of self-worth and can be proud of the contribution we are making.  

I have said all of this before. I pray funding is not cut. Cutting funding will mean that people with disabilities don't matter. But we do matter. I ask one thing of the incoming administration. Please don't forget about the disabled community. Show us that we matter.