This is our reader's page. Enjoy reading the articles and share your thoughts and experiences.
"Let's Tell It"
Ben's new book -"IQ of 63 - So What!" is now available in softcover and available online at
www.breakthroughinc.com/IQof63.htm
Below are our past submissions - Please email us your stories at
by@bendanderson.com
(please put "BT Digest Voices" in the email subject line)
Ben’s Reflections
As I reflect on these last 30 years. I’m not only amazed about where this organization has been, but by the people that have touched my life and allowed me to be a part of theirs. One important piece of the organization in the early years was to do home visits. To sit down with families, listen to them, discuss their child, and try to give them some encouragement. I have always enjoyed getting together with families because many of them become life long friends.
It is always fun to meet different congregations and to represent people with disabilities. What a humbling experience it is to have someone come up afterwards and say, “Your words have touched my life.”
Whether it is at school, camp, church or an event it is joyful and challenging to work at youth gatherings. Youth are full of fun and excitement and many times I get caught up in their energy. You can’t help but get caught up in their energy. Kids add a new point of view and new hope.
After being at many businesses and universities I can see that people are interested in learning how to relate better to others with disabilities and how to deal with their own disabilities.
It is really hard to know the impact of the message I have given over the years. But one hopes that it helps people. Many times I have received notes from someone I have been with in the recent past and they talk about what my message meant to them on a personal level.
My wife Dee and I look forward to meeting many more friends in the next decade.
Ben D. Anderson
"Readers' Corner"
"Leadership
conference changes viewpoint"
This summer I was fortunate to learn much about how people with disabilities should be treated. In today's society, you hear many people being called 'retarded' or 'idiot'. Do we really stop to think what these words mean? They are inappropriately describing people with mental illnesses. A simple solution to doing away with such a derogatory image of persons with disabilities is called 'People 1st Language'. It emphasizes the importance of putting the person before the disability. For example, you should refer to someone as a 'person with a disability' rather than that 'disabled person'. Society has come a long way from what people with disabilities used to be portrayed. We as the disability community have also become more independent and willing to stand up for ourselves. I hope that we can continue to educate others on disabilities and earn the respect that we deserve.
"Disability in small town America can be quite a challenge."
"Well I know one 18 year old who has a lot to say. It happens to be Rachel, my daughter. I don't know if it is what you want but her perspective is growing up in a small rural town being one of the only disabled kids in her school. What it's like when friends move on to sports you can't participate in, and the closest outlet to wheelchair sports is 100 miles away. What it's like to be friends with everyone but how they begin to "forget" about you when they start dating and driving cars and all the other things that teens do and you will never do, because of your limitations.
I will never forget, one day she came home and said - -
"Mom I got kicked out of class today"
- -and when I asked her why she explained that she was just feeling really good about herself that day and was being silly and popped off in class and said "I feel like Carmen Electra today!" IF you don't know who she is, she is a very busty swim suit model, (not sure what else she does) but every one thought she was freaking out and sent her out of class for being inappropriate. Of all the things other kids say this was really focused on because the teacher happened to know Rachel has Bi-Polar and she was being silly and saying something that seemed out of context. Really she just felt great that day and wanted to be silly and let the world know! How twisted it can all become, when you are a little different to begin with. Most kids would have gotten a good laugh from the other students a frown from the teacher and that would have been it. Rachel was kicked out of class and severely reprimanded for not being "socially appropriate". Go Figure!
Left out, less of a person, no where to fit in, most of the clubs etc. for persons with disabilities in this area really focus on those who have intellectual disabilities and less on those with physical difficulties. Disability in small town America can be quite a challenge. How that has affected her struggle with her Bi-Polar disorder and controlling the depression, dealing with the feelings of hopelessness and loss that she feels are a pretty graphic and moving story.
She was very excited yesterday though as she went to her first day of work development training at goodwill industries. They are looking at her clerical and reception skills to help her build an idea of where she wants to be working in the next few months or so. So she finally feels as if she is moving on with life, at least a bit at a time"
Jennifer