GimpGirl Community:

gimpgirl @ 2008-05-09T20:17:00

2008-05-10T03:21:01Z

(Note: For earlier notification of events, please see our website as original postings are generally there much earlier than this repost.)

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

We are holding our next support gathering for women with disabilities on:

Saturday, May 10 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(3:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

In May, we'll be talking about women with disabilities and healthcare. What are your experiences with healthcare as a woman with a disability? Tell your story, or learn from others. Share resources, opinions, myths, and facts.

We hope for a continued lively discussion, in a safe and supportive space.

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

My post on the MDA and me

2008-05-08T18:38:45Z

I wanted to share with you all a post that I have recently made to my blog on my recent goings-on with the MDA and how I feel about that. Here is the link to the post: http://jennylin.livejournal.com/78797.html

GGC Dance Party today! (on Second Life and IRC, and music online!)

2008-05-06T00:02:25Z

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

GimpGirl is having a party tonight! We couldn't book our fave GimpGirl Ally Second Life DJ Namav at the last minute, so the newly minted sometimes-DJ Aleja will be taking the wheel, playing a little bit of everything! May be a contest or two!

Monday, May 5 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(9:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/172/24/23
You should land on the dancefloor on our roof!

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this party online via IRC, and listen to the music (see below). To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

To LISTEN TO THE MUSIC online, click here:
http://brown.neostreams.info:11020/listen.pls

new new new

2008-05-04T08:00:11Z

I am new to the community and wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Ann Marie but most of my friends call me Annie. I currently live in Cleveland, Ohio with my boyfriend and his family. I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy a few months after birth. Beyond that I don’t know much about the illness. I was wheelchair bound until about maybe four years ago. My wheelchair was in the trunk of my friend’s car and the car got backed into so no more wheelchair. This forced me to get up and use my walker, which I now see as a blessing. I recently called and made an appointment to see a physical therapist and my first appointment is Tuesday. I am scared about this because this will be the first time I have been in therapy since I was around fourteen or younger. I have a tendency to start and stop things so I thought I would seek out a community on LJ for support.

May 2008 TOPIC OF THE MONTH: Women with disabilities and healthcare

2008-05-01T21:43:47Z

In May, we'll be talking about women with disabilities and healthcare. What are your experiences with healthcare as a woman with a disability? Tell your story, or learn from others. Share resources, opinions, myths, and facts.

Healthcare for women with disabilities varies greatly from place to place, and culture to culture. Most agree that women with disabilities are still greatly underserved. And our needs are as complex as we are, varying by age, disability, and access to healthcare, among other things.

We want to talk about the issues surrounding women with disabilities and healthcare. During the month, we'll also have a chance to make our opinions known to people in the medical profession (based in the U.S.), and those who are studying to become medical professionals. We can give them a head start to understanding the needs and barriers faced by women with disabilities when it comes to receiving respectful and appropriate healthcare.

Feel free to share your thoughts in this forum, or any of our communities online (see GimpGirl Communities for a list of where you can interact).

We'll be having our first online support meeting of the month on Friday, May 2 (see our website calendar or this post for details). Join us and start the conversation, which will undoubtedly lead to many other topics along the way.

Here are a few links which may be useful, or worth discussing. Feel free to suggest others (particularly with info about issues outside of the U.S.):

Medical Care Often Inaccessible to Disabled Patients (NPR Morning Edition, September 13, 2007)
Women with Disabilities: What You Should Know About Preventive Health Care (New York State Department of Health)
Access to Health Care (from womenshealth.gov)
Women First: Breast Health for Women with Developmental Disabilities Handbook (Developed by the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND))
Women with Disabilities: Health, Reproduction, and Sexuality (by Laura Hershey)

GimpGirl Support Meeting Online, May 2 @ 6 PM SLT/Pacific

2008-05-01T21:40:08Z

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

We are holding our next support gathering for women with disabilities on:

Friday, May 2 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(9:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

In May, we'll be talking about women with disabilities and healthcare. What are your experiences with healthcare as a woman with a disability? Tell your story, or learn from others. Share resources, opinions, myths, and facts.

We hope for a continued lively discussion, in a safe and supportive space.

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

Bobby

2008-04-30T22:58:57Z

I so wish that my friend could take her dog with her.

It's a link to her husband (who's already in a nursing home) and she told me that Bobby was "the only thing that kept her going". If only there was some way she could go to a nursing home and have Bobby with her here.

YESTERDAY

2008-04-30T16:48:35Z

I went to my friend's and was with her for over four hours. It was the most stressful time I've had.

I watched as she couldn't transfer from the wheelchair to her sofa. I helped her do this later but we both knew that this meant that she could no longer stay in her flat. For a while she was in denial of it and said that she wouldn't take the taxi back to rehab. We watched a video - maybe for the last time ever - it was Dr Strangelove.

The most upsetting thing for me was to see her simply give up. She feels beaten and broken and in no way looks forward to going to a nursing home. Almost at the last moment she asked if I could stay the night with her. I couldn't, I was totally unprepared for that, and maybe the fact that I couldn't (if only she'd asked in advance, I would have) was what really brought her down.

We had to organise an ambulance to take her back to rehab as I couldn't help her transfer back to the wheelchair - I didn't know how and Jenn told me it was a two person job. I had my counselling appointment at 3:30pm (though I thought it was at 3pm) and didn't want to leave her alone until it arrived. She phoned her mother who came out and her step-father gave me a lift to my appointment. May be the last time I see that flat. I packed my cup and bowl away and took them with me.

I've not cried so much as this in a long time as I did at the counsellors. I feel as if I've utterly failed my friend and yet there is nothing that I can do, other than be there for her and look after her dog Bobby. I got home feeling very wretched. Kevin, my boarder actually turned up riding his bike (he'd been away at Cessnock for the day) as I was walking down my home street. He almost had an accident at a cross street when a car, trying to avoid me, almost (but didn't) ran into him 20 metres away from home.

Couldn't take that. There was a house full of dogs to unlock, and when he wanted to whine about this I just shouted "I DON'T CARE! I DON'T CARE - YOU'RE UNHURT AND THE BIKE'S UNDAMAGED SO IT DOESN'T MATTER - I JUST WANT TO SIT DOWN AND DO NOTHING!" I fed the pets and then retreated to my bedroom. Fell asleep watching TV. Been up for just over an hour and need to type this out before trying to get back to sleep.

Very stressed, very sad, very tired. Tempted to "run away" to Sydney tomorrow (today?) and leave the mobile home and not come back until very late.

Accessible housing

2008-04-30T00:56:24Z

Awesomeness!

Clicky

The apartment industry has developed an effective means to connect individuals with disabilities with apartments that have been designed for them, or adapted to meet their needs. With all of life's challenges, the National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse (NAAC), believes that finding a place to live should not be one of them.

Hmm... Why have not heard of this before? In this day and age age, I think that it is unspeakably sad that we need to have resources like this.
If you've EVER gone apartment hunting, then I'mm sure you know how rare accessible housing really is.

NAAC maintains the ONLY national database of accessible apartments, with a registration of more than 80,000 units in 50 states.

Keyword: ONLY Why is it thee only one?

Here we have your typical brown box type apartments:

These particular ones are in La Habra,CA... not that it matters much at all. There is very little variety anywhere.

GimpGirl Support Meeting, 4/27 @ 12noon PST

2008-04-25T14:49:57Z

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

We are holding our next support gathering for women with disabilities on:

Saturday, April 27th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(3:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

Our opening subject of discussion will be April's topic of the month: gender roles. What role does gender play in our lives (or not), particularly as women with disabilities?

In our last weekly meetings, discussion of this topic led us down several paths, including politics, media, abuse, parenting and physical needs. We hope for a continued lively discussion, in a safe and supportive space.

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

A long long day

2008-04-25T14:42:37Z

I feel very worn out and discontent after yesterday.

My plan had been to visit my friend and then do some much needed shopping. I took the large trolley with me on the bus, and dragged it around all day on and off buses. It poured down with rain all day yesterday, with only minor breaks.

I went to Rankin Park to visit her and tell her myself that I couldn't be a live-in carer. When I got there she said that no one had told her anything, and that they were mostly ignoring her because she was trans. She felt totally powerless - her mobile phone was blocked, her mother had her debit cards, the spare keys to the flat were inside it, and that they were pushing her into a nursing home so that they could forget about her.

I tried to get her mobile to be unblocked but failed to do so. I discussed with her the different issues. It seems that she can voluntarily discharge herself but doesn't choose to do so. She really just wanted to go back in the flat, however she'd failed the "transfer test" last week. She claimed that this had been rigged because she'd been hindered by a "safety belt" and the bed hadn't been made. In the end I felt like I knew less about what was happening than before.

Went to ACON via the bus to get a 2nd opinion from one of the staff there. In the end they gave me a letter to give to her treating doctor at the hospital asking that she be assigned a case worker who would find appropriate accommodation as soon as possible. I then caught the bus to Wallsend to do some shopping.

However, just as I arrived there I got a phone call from the social worker at the hospital. Seems that she's already doing exactly what the letter was requesting. Not only that, but that my friend had been told about the outcome the day before, and had already signed the forms to be placed in a nursing home.

It felt like she'd lied to me, and that I'd been more than a little used. However, there's a good chance that my friend can be placed at a home in Wallsend (near where her flat is) and even get a private room. She might even be able to hire a PC and get cheap broadband and access to the Internet. But in the process involves her giving a list of at least six nursing homes and there's no guarantee that she'll get the one she wants.

Also, she wanted to go home to her flat for a couple of hours. I agreed to be there with her, and we've set up early Wednesday afternoon to do that, which will most likely be after she's had a look at the Wallsend home. She can talk to me about it, and do whatever else she wants in that time. And afterwards, well I have a counselling appointment two blocks away, and something tells me I'm going to need it.

In a difficult place.

2008-04-23T06:26:42Z

A good friend of mine who's MS and has been housebound has gone into the local rehab hospital. Last year she had pneumonia and while she was in hospital I (and my boarder) looked after her cat and dog for a couple of weeks. When she came out again she was unable to look after the cat as it needed to go out and in all the time, so I adopted it. This time around we've been looking after her dog, but this may be permanent.

See, she went in to rehab because she couldn't transfer from her wheelchair to her bed, sofa or toilet seat. Normally a "home care" worker would come and help shower her, prepare her meals and do other choices. But they won't if she can't transfer. She's had any number of periods where she's fallen down and been stuck in that position until someone came. Before she went into rehab, she in the local hospital several times for a day, taken there and back by ambulance. So this time, when she went into rehab, I looked after her dog, and it's been three weeks since then.

Last week they took her home to see if it's viable for her to live by herself. Apparently it wasn't. However, on the weekend, her mother contact me to ask if I would stay with her for a few days so that she could test this properly. I wasn't sure that this was exactly what what was wanted, as her mother often gets the details garbled. But yesterday after I finished a first aid course I stopped in at the hospital to find out what she wanted.

As she told me, she wanted someone there "just in case" while she was there for a few days for a full 24 hour period, testing the viability of living alone. That seemed reasonable to me, as it gave her a chance to live a bit longer the way she wants. And I'm a on disability allowance, not employed, so I could do it, provided I had advanced warning so I could plan ahead.

That seemed reasonable, so I agreed. On the way out I gave her my home number to pass onto the staff there so they contact me, and apparently give me the "proper training" (whatever that was). I had a phone call today from that staff, and the first thing they asked me, was if I was prepared to be a live-in carer. Huh - this isn't what my friend had asked of me, and is a much deeper commitment! We're not talking about a few days here, but a permanent thing.

I had to say no.

Much as I love my friend, I couldn't do this. I have a house with a mortgage. If I could bring her here I would, but the place was built in 1905 and has narrow doorways, steps (the toilet in in a small room nowhere accessible by wheelchair) and an old bathtub on legs. It'd be a death trap for her. And I've been training (room attendants course followed by first aid certificate) so that I can look for work in hotels and motels. And I'm doing that so I can finance my masters in fine arts at the local university. But if I did what they wanted, I can't see how I could do either.

And I have epilepsy, depression, some social phobia and suffer from panic attacks. Not a good combination in a carer. And my father, who had a double stroke on his birthday wasted away in a nursing home for six years before he died. Ever time I'd visit Perth (where all my family is - over 3000 km away) and visit him, it was all I could do to cope seeing him that way. I can just imagine how I'd be as I watched my friend slip away close hand. I think I'd last about 2-3 weeks and then break down. I just know I can't do this. Three days to a week, maybe, but forever? No.

I spoke to the counsellor there afterwards and she said that my friend would probably go into a nursing home. Her husband Ron (who has the first stages of dementia) is already in a nearby nursing home. But if she were placed in there she'd lose all privacy and control over her environment. Jenny smokes dope to help ease the pain - that'd be gone for good in there.

I went the best quality of life for my friend, but I can't be the carer she needs.

Have I done the right thing in saying no?

Presentation at Dreams Community Fair, 4/19 @ 1pm SLT/PST

2008-04-16T21:43:04Z

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

Come learn about the history and future of GimpGirl Community at the Dreams Community Fair 3 on Second Life! Everyone is welcome.

When: Saturday, April 19 at 1pm SLT/Pacific (4pm Eastern, for other times click HERE)

A full transcript will be made available afterwards under "Event Transcripts" on our website.

TO ATTEND ON SECOND LIFE:
Go to: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dreams%20East/46/190/25

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

Building anti-oppression and sex-positive communities

2008-04-16T18:04:21Z

I just finished a major update and revamp of the Acsexxxable Working Group website, for which I am the volunteer web editor. I believe many of you may be interested in this project. (It's currently centred around Toronto, Canada, but we want to expand to other cities!)

Minor fixes to do:
-In Internet Explorer, the black line is too high. It should line up with the bottom of the blue navigation tabs. Works perfectly in Firefox.
-Make the dildo blue like the navigation tabs.
-Create a web form on the contact us page for people who don't have an e-mail client, e.g. in a library, etc.

If you know how to fix these or catch anything else to improve, please let me know!

CORRECTION on GimpGirl Support Meeting post

2008-04-16T17:02:50Z

When typing up the post for this week's support meeting I made a typo in BOTH the day and time, proving I should never do these things when a 9 week old puppy is chewing on the sheets.:>

Updated post: http://community.livejournal.com/gimpgirl/98737.html

GimpGirl Support Meeting, 4/18 @ 6pm PST

2008-04-16T02:44:28Z

Our opening subject of discussion will be April's topic of the month: gender roles. What role does gender play in our lives (or not), particularly as women with disabilities?

In our last weekly meetings, discussion of this topic led us down several paths, including politics, media, abuse, physical needs, parenting and being in leadership roles. We hope for a continued lively discussion, in a safe and supportive space.

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY. Gatherings will be announced for the general public.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

Jordan opportunity for high school students

2008-04-15T17:15:43Z

Journey to Jordan
Arabic Language and Culture
June 15 - August 12, 2008
Application deadline May 8
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
A scholarship program worth $10,000!* for high school students.

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay announces an exciting opportunity for
high school students: several days in Washington, D.C. and a seven-week
Arabic language institute in Amman, Jordan. A diverse group of 21 students
from across the U.S. will be selected to participate in this
once-in-a-lifetime experience along with four previous participants (special
assistants) and program staff.

a.. Must be age 15-18 when the program begins.

b.. A GPA of 3.0 is required.
c.. No previous Arabic experience required.
d.. Pre-departure and follow-on learning online using podcasts and other
fun materials, with assistance from instructors of Arabic.
e.. Pre-departure and return activities in Washington, D.C., including:
cross-cultural orientation, "Arabic in Careers" presentations, and visits to
Washington museums and monuments.
f.. Cultural immersion activities in Jordan including: field trips to
places like Dana Nature Reserve and Petra, the "Lost City of Stone;" visits
to museums, government offices, multinational organizations, and other
special places of interest; community service and civil society projects
with Jordanian youth organizations; a four-week home stay with a host
family.
g.. Accompanied for the duration of the program by Arabic-speaking
American staff who have traveled and worked in the region.

*Participants are responsible for partial expenses.
For more information and the application package:
uwgb.edu/intlprojects/jordan.htm

Application Deadline: May 8

April 2008 TOPIC OF THE MONTH

2008-04-12T19:03:04Z

This month's topic is gender roles. Wikipedia defines gender roles as:

A gender role is defined as a set of perceived behavioral norms associated particularly with males or females, in a given social group or system. It can be a form of division of labour by gender. ... Gender is one component of the gender/sex system, which refers to "The set of arrangements by which a society transforms biological sexuality into products of human activity, and in which these transformed needs are satisfied" (Reiter 1975: 159). All societies, to a certain effect, have a gender/sex system, although the components and workings of this system vary markedly from society to society.

How does the way that your society defines gender roles impact your life especially as someone with the disability? Do you choose to define gender in a different way? What do you think your society expects of women? How does that intersect with what they expect of someone with a disability? How do you choose to define yourself and what impact as that had? Any other thoughts?

We look forward to everyone's reply! :)

GimpGirl support meeting online, April 13 (see post for details and topic)

2008-04-11T23:45:08Z

This is an online, international event that will be held in Second Life, but is accessible to those not on Second Life via IRC chat. See below for details.

We are holding our next support gathering for women with disabilities on:

Saturday, April 13th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(8:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

Our opening subject of discussion will be April's topic of the month: gender roles. What role does gender play in our lives (or not), particularly as women with disabilities?

In our last weekly meeting, discussion of this topic led us down several paths, including politics, media, abuse, and physical needs. We hope for a continued lively discussion, in a safe and supportive space.

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY. Gatherings will be announced for partners and the general public.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

Transcript for "Avatars, Identity, and Expression of Disability" on 3/30

2008-04-09T20:38:25Z

The transcript for the on-line seminar that was held on March 30th, "Avatars, Identity, and Expression of Disability" (presented by the head of the Avatar Identity Research Center on Second Life), is now available via our Web site by clicking on "Event Transcripts" in the menu on the upper left hand side. If you don't want to sign in to our website, you can login as a guest. Nearly 60 people were present via Second Life and our IRC channel. It was an amazing event! At the top of the transcript there is also a link to our Flickr group where you can view screen shots of the event. Enjoy!

Support Meeting: TODAY @ 5pm Pacific

2008-04-05T17:12:18Z

Special time! Take notice Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc.

We are holding our next support gathering for women with disabilities on:

Saturday, April 5th from 5:00 - 6:00 PM SLT/Pacific.
(8:00 PM Eastern Time, for other timezones, click HERE)

NOTE: This gathering is for women with disabilities ONLY. Gatherings will be announced for partners and the general public.

Second Life Location:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/3DE/174/22/21
(PLEASE CLICK ON SKYBOX ON 3D MAP TO TELEPORT TO MEETING)

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SECOND LIFE:
You can still attend this meeting online via IRC. To visit our IRC/Second Life chatroom, go to:
http://chat.on.quickfox.net/GimpGirl

...and choose the option that works best for you.

Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight

2008-04-05T14:47:15Z

I found the following very interesting, as it matched some experiances with my epilepsy:

A 20 minute video of Jill Bolte Taylor talking about her stroke.

Hearing Aid Compatible Headphones

2008-04-05T14:46:51Z

I'm looking for a pair of headphones that are compatible with hearing aids. I have the over-the-ear kind, and obviously I can't wear any sort of earbuds with them in. And a lot of the bigger headphones (the ones that go outside your ear, I don't know what they're called) press on my hearing aids and hurt my ears.

Any suggestions?

GimpGirl Community now on Twitter!

2008-04-02T18:33:12Z

GimpGirl Community now has an additional way to keep up-to-date on our events, news and various other goings-on related to our community! Join us at: GimpGirl Twitter Community

REMINDER: On-line Presentation: "Avatars, Identity, and the Expression of Disability" (3/30/08)

2008-03-30T18:07:04Z

A reminder to join us online today for the seminar: "Avatars, Identity, and the Expression of Disability", at 12 PM SLT/Pacific (3:00 PM Eastern)

See linked post for full details. Remember that you can attend this event via text chat on IRC even if you are not on Second Life.