Recent tragedies in Western Massachusetts have reminded us all that bullying can have heartbreaking consequences for students in our schools. For parents of special needs students, the threat of bullying is a particularly urgent concern. Unfortunately, these children are more likely to be bullied than their typically developing peers because they are different and because they are less likely to have the skills they need to seek assistance and avoid bullying.
34-year old Jason Crigler seemed to be on top of the world. The New York based guitarist was playing with stars like Norah Jones and Rufus Wainright, readying his first CD, and expecting his first child. Then he had a massive stroke. But that’s not the end of his story. Tonight, Chronicle documents Crigler’s amazing fight to regain control of his life.
John Lamie survived six roadside bombings in Iraq, only to have the Department of Veterans Affairs refuse to accept three months’ worth of medical tests he underwent for jaw and shoulder wounds — tests performed by VA-approved doctors at VA facilities.
Last week I made a presentation at a conference on disability rights held at Union College in Schenectady, New York. I was invited by my former student, Joe Stramondo, who is now teaching philosophy in Michigan. The topic that our panel addressed was the impact of enhancement technologies on the understanding of disability.
A gym is more than a space filled with exercise equipment. It’s a place to release energy or stress, a place to become healthier, a place to meet other people, a place to incorporate into a routine.
