| Action Alert |
[Oct. 12th, 2005|12:10 pm] |
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What is an action alert? ?An action alert is a message that someone sends out to the net asking for a specific action to be taken on a current political issue.? By: Phil Agre
Why should you take action to an action alert? The issues addressed in the alert might concern you, and the action you do take allows you to tell your governmental representatives what they should do regarding the issue.
When Action Alerts are available they will be posted here. If you would like to be notified when another action alert is posted please sign up for LDNS newsletter and weekend updates. If you know of an action alert and would like to get the word out to others, please e-mail learning_differently@yahoo.com Thank you.
Action Alert for October 11, 2005 This action alert was sent by Putnam Independent Living Services (PILS)
Please go to LDNS Action Alert page for more information. Thank you!
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| Looking Back - Looking Forward |
[Sep. 18th, 2005|04:13 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  happy | ] |
Hi all,
I know I should of wrote this at the first week of September when everyone was going back to school or got a new job or people were just thinking about the end of summer. Sort of like a “looking back, looking forward” or “what I have learned” sort of thing. Since I know now that I should of done this …well, better late than never. :-) (also posted to yahoogroups e-mail discussion lists http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learning_differently/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningdifferently/ and LDNS’s website)
LOOKING BACK - LOOKING FORWARD...
The whole educational experience, for me, has kept me at a distance from some of my own personal goals. One of which is being here for those that have been cheering me on and supporting similar dreams I have. It has been a difficult road towards those dreams. I struggled, fought, and won a trophy (my master’s degree) to lie on the path, as a stepping stone leading me closer to those dormant dreams. But this is not always true for people that are devoted to their goals. At times there are “walls” that block those dreams from becoming tangible. This is one of the reasons why I believe it was hard for me to speak about my own aspirations. I knew I would let EVERYONE know how scared and timid I felt for just trying! Someone like me usually gets questioned for trying to achieve more, and if someone like me states how difficult the work is, then usually I am told to give up or that I am not “felt sorry for”. First, I never want anyone to feel sorry for me. I want their understanding of me. Second, I NEVER give up. So, I did not want to hear the degrading talk to divert me from my goals.
Another reason I had trouble talking about my educational experience is because I am suppose to be an advocate, a mouth piece, a voice for those like me, for when they have trouble speaking, the words just don’t seem to magically appear, they are afraid of speaking out and do not want to be ridiculed for their opinions and beliefs. As this type of person, I did not want to infringe my fears and difficulties on to others like me. I want to help motivate and empower others to proceed with their ambitions. After I had tried and succeeded in completing my degree requirements, someone had asked me, “was it worth it, would you do it again?” My reply was, “of course, in a breath.”
Lastly, who would really hear me, who would really listen while I was going through the motions? Honesty, friends, family and others, just get tired of hearing, I have to take a test and I am scared, I need some help , this is frustrating, I am tried, I do not understand, this is taking a long time, I am nervous, it is difficult, and a host of other verbs that could define my learning process. So… I just stopped speaking out and started doing.
WHY I DID THIS…
First and foremost, BECAUSE IT IS THERE!
I entered my masters degree program in social work because I wanted to assist others like me, to enhance community awareness about learning, and to help society recognize all people are worthy and deserving of higher learning opportunities. While working on my masters, other reasons came into play. To be educated makes a powerful statement to those in the same profession, politicians, and in the community. Broadly speaking, people like me do not try to obtain master degrees. Additionally, most do not triumph. Why did I continue? Because someone like me had to – in order to make the powerful statement, “…it is within reach, it is possible!” And then to take it one step further, to publicize it afterwards. If someone like me can attain a masters degree, then others like me can too!
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED…
I had gained more than an MSW degree. I had gained the awareness that ALL people are different, therefore, ALL people learn differently. With every struggling task, difficult moment, and “walls” I came across, I knew there was something special in me, I knew I had the ability to overcome, persevere and achieve my goals. In general, to learn differently, have a disability, or to deviate from the norms of the general population should NOT be a humiliation. This should be celebrated. Strengths should be recognized and encouraged to grow. Diversity of self is the right of passage to exploration of the human spirit. It is to what degree an individual learns differently or diversely from another that is viewed, measured, judged and labeled. I had learned from others who are not labeled, but who also learn differently, that help, services, and any type of support sort after is not an entitlement. I have learned that even with supportive services in place for those that are labeled that their successes are still seen as unworthy. Yes, I had services, help, and support from many individuals. And I thank them all dearly for this. However, it is through my own self-determination, that my name is shown - on my masters degree.
WHAT IS NEXT…
n A Job
n Changes and New Additions to
Learning Differently Network Support (LDNS)
website http://www.LDNS.org
n A Book
n Political Involvement
n The Next Generation
n Public Awareness Activities
n Research
n New Endeavors
Blessings,
Anita Schwartz, MSW 
www.LDNS.org - Learning Differently, Learning for Life! |
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| it has been a while... |
[Jun. 13th, 2005|11:36 pm] |
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Hi all, if you are reading this, well...
It has been a while. I just don't know what to say...
But I am back and...
I just "walked" w/my MSW from Fordham University. But still finishing up one class this summer. While doing that and
looking for a job :-) I am in the process of updating my website http://www.ldns.org
I am going to be having a section called "on the issues" and I would love for any of you or your friends to forward me term papers that have social issues that need to be addressed to be posted on my website. Please e-mail me directly. learning_differently@yahoo.com
Thanks! Anita
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| from learning_differently@yahoogroups.com |
[Aug. 1st, 2004|07:33 pm] |
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This is a cross post from learning_differently@yahoogroups.com Unfortunely you can not sub to the list at this time because I think a yahoo or a hacker messed up my account. But by next Sunday you will be able to sub to the group or another, I will keep all posted about this situation. Here is the x-post.
Hi All, I know that this might be a PA, but since I am getting no where as for yahoo, can you all please e-mail me or the list w/your e-mail addresses because I do not have them in anyother file except in learning_differently@yahoo.com for the group. This way if by weeks end, I can forward the list over to another name til yahoo fixes the problem. Sorry if this upsets folks, it upsets me too. Hackers, don't you just love them! LOL But, it won't stop me from doing what I am doing, and it won't stop what needs to be done. Heck, I rather bear the burdon of this mess then to let the HACKERS and LURKERS on a list that I created that I feel will do others good. I rather protect the ones that stand up for what they beleive to be right then to allow some dunce I rejected to the list because they did NOT want to give me a straight answer. You guys on the list now, I know I can trust you with what I say, with what other memebers want to say too. That is PRICE-LESS! For the few folks that I deleted from the list, from the few that I rejected, to keep (or try to keep) the list as safe as possible, then well, it is worth the agravation to me to do this. Anyway, Anita's off the soap box. Blessings, Anita ps...x-posted to live journal |
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| Excite.com |
[Jul. 14th, 2004|04:18 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | excited | ] |
Hi! I am so excited, had to share. We are now listed in www.excite.com (http://www.ldns.org) It is not much to look at but, if you type in "learning differently network support" (w/the quotes of course) we were #8 (our poetry page). So I am very excited to say the least! In just alittle bit over a month time of the site's first page being up, we are actually in excite.com Thanks guys! :-) Many blessings, Anita |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 9th, 2004|12:42 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  annoyed | ] |
Hi all, well it has been an interesting week. First, http://www.ldns.org has a featured poet for the Month of August, please check out our site to find Bill there. And if you would like to be one of featured poets, writers, artists, students, homemaker, what ever it is you do well, drop me a line and I will see what I can do for you. :-) At least I still got a sense of humor. LOL
Next, Meetup.com cancelled our meetup because not enough folks were interested in the meeting. But we are trying for August so please keep stoping by and VOTE.
Lastly, I got this, and I am not thrilled... or a happy camper, for feeling too good right about about National Institute of Mental Health...
From: "NIMH Information Center"
To: Anita
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 16:04:19 -0400
Subject: Re: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/learndis.cfm
Thank you for your e-mail to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIMH conducts and supports research and distributes information about mental health and mental disorders.
The NIMH publication) you requested, "Learning Disabilities" is out of print. There are no plans to reprint or to make the publication available online.
Many out of print NIMH publications are still available for loan through the U.S. Government Printing Office's State Depository Library System (SDLS). Information on the SDLS can be found on the GPO Web site http://www.gpoaccess.gov/libraries.html.
Ask the reference librarian at your local library for assistance.
New publications and reports are available online through the NIMH Web site at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/index.cfm.
For information on learning disabilities, we suggest you contact the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the NIH at:
NIH Neurological Institute
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Phone: (800) 352-9424 or (301) 496-5751
TTY: (301) 468-5981
Website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/index.htm
Would you be upset w/them too??? |
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| NO dead links! |
[Jul. 6th, 2004|11:24 pm] |
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Hi all, I am very pleased to announced that I have NO dead links on http://www.ldns.org and I got up art work, and a poet for next month! Check it out! :-) Let me know what you guys think. Blessings, Anita |
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