Ahhh, the joy of sharing during wonderful gift-giving times: holidays, birthdays, and more! What’s on your shopping list? Toys, clothes, electronics, books, DVDs, or…? Your friends and loved ones will be happy with the gifts you give. Did you know you can give even more without spending a penny? Read more...

THINK ABOUT IT . . .

The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right.
Anonymous

If we wonder often, the gift of knowledge will come.
Arapaho Proverb

Whenever there is chaos, it creates wonderful thinking. I consider chaos a gift.
Septima Clark

The best aid to give is intellectual aid, a gift of useful knowledge...Nothing becomes truly “one’s own” except on the basis of some genuine effort or sacrifice...The gift of material goods makes people dependent, but the gift of knowledge makes them free.
E.F. Schumacher

NEWS

OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence) offers several great documents on "apps" that could be helpful for people with a variety of disabilities. The documents describe the apps and the areas they can address: "communication, cognitive challenges, social competence, sensory, visual motor and movement, accessibility" and more.

Her smile will put a smile on your face: "How Taya, who was born with Down syndrome, became the darling of the modelling world."

The Blind Advantage: How Going Blind Made Me a Stronger Principal and How Including Children with Disabilities Made Our School Better for Everyone by Bill Henderson. Thanks to Tracey Lehman for the heads-up about this new book.

Free online courses covering a variety of important disability-related topics are available at the Partners in Policymaking website. And the "Making Your Case" course (about telling your personal story) is now available in Spanish. Take advantage of these valuable (and free) online courses!

VISIT DISABILITY IS NATURAL

New Books! We're "retiring" our 101 Reproducible Articles book, replacing it with two new books of articles—both are bigger and better:

144 Reproducible Articles: How You Can Create Positive Change for Children with Disabilities (for parents, teachers, therapists, child care centers, and/or anyone who cares about children with disabilities—includes a section on inclusive education); $30.00 book only or $36.00 book and CD.

153 Reproducible Articles: How You Can Create Positive Change for People with Disabilities (for provider agencies, disability organizations, and/or people who work primarily with adults with disabilities); $30.00 book only or $36.00 book and CD.

Other affordable goodies—posters, badges, bookmarks, magnets, and sticker sheets—are available in 30+ designs that promote new ways of thinking about disability.

Disability is Natural: Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities ($30.00) provides effective strategies that can ensure children with disabilities of all ages live more natural lives, included in all areas of society—disability does not have to be a barrier to living a wonderful, normal, successful life!

My Apple-Bites book ($10.00) is a little book full of big ideas!

While you're visiting Disability is Natural:

• Take the People First Language Pledge and download the Pledge certificate and the ever-popular People First Language article.
• Browse the 150+ FREE articles on our site—download your favorites, share with others, and use for trainings. There are so many ways to embrace positive ways of thinking and effective strategies for change—let's do it!
• "The World Would Be a Better Place If..." features thoughts and ideas worth considering. (Scroll to the lower half of the page.) Why not contribute your own suggestions?
• "Your Stories" features a variety of amazing, insightful, and powerful testimonies. Do you have a story to share?

PRESENTATIONS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Thanks for your interest in Disability is Natural! You're welcome to share the link to this newsletter with others. Before using the contents of this E-Newsletter on websites/blogs, in newsletters, etc., please review our Terms of Use.

Remember to always Presume Competence in people with disabilities!

Kathie

Copyright 2011 Kathie Snow, All Rights Reserved, BraveHeart Press, www.disabilityisnatural.com