Month: July 2017

Still Calling for Stephen

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Autism, Autism Activism, Autism Activism Advocate, James 2:14-17 New King James Version (NKJV) Faith Without Works Is Dead, QCP, Queens Centers for Progress (QCP), Stephen, Stephen as a Mighty Autism Warrior!!!, Stephen as Autism Warrior!!, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Uncategorized12 Comments

 

 

Sent this message via Facebook to the Representative for Stephen’s district — Rep. Tom Suozzi.
 
Good Morning Rep. Suozzi. My brother Stephen Palmer resides in QCP Bellerose, Queens, NY. Stephen does not have conversational language nor can he read or write so I speak for him. Medicaid and SSI are what pay for Stephen to be in his Group Home Residence and to receive health care. Obviously I cannot pay for his health care when I’m barely able to take care of myself. Please Stand Up for those with Disabilities. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves!!
 
Due to budget cuts often when I call his Group Home Residence I find that there are not enough staff to care for the developmentally/intellectually disabled residents who live there. Gradually as time goes on more and more programs and services are being eliminated. Not only do you need more trained staff but these people need to make more money. Presently Fast Food Workers make more money than Direct Service Providers. This situation makes for high turnover or in some cases neglect.
 
I do not want to return to the warehousing of special needs people ie Willowbrook that took place during the 50s, 60s, & &70s. Funding for our most vulnerable populations needs to be increased not decreased.
PLEASE NO MORE BUDGET CUTS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY/INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS!! Thank you.
Just finished up a call with Rep. Tom Suozzi’s office. Spoke with one of his Assistants. Explained my concerns about the health care bill, the budget cuts and the need to increase staff, services and programs to the developmentally disabled persons residing at Queens Centers for Progress (QCP) ~~ Bellerose, Queens, New York. Suggested that Rep. Suozzi make a visit and get to know the residents who live there. Their needs, dreams, goals, desires. I cannot stand by and be apathetic when my brother Stephen’s life is on the line.
Stephen May 3, 2010 Birthday
Sober Stephen. Tipsy friends
Stephen Birthday May 3, 1997
Stephen posing by Christmas Tree
Stephen with Spider-man Party Shirt

 

James 2:14-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Me at around age five or six

Throwback Thursday ~~ Vintage Family Photos

On By dancingpalmtreesIn DeBorah, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer -- Grandmother, Hattie Banks, Hattie Finney Banks, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Stephen, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Throwback Thursday ~~ Vintage Family Photos, Traces of the Past, Uncategorized17 Comments

 

https://bopaula.wordpress.com/2017/07/13/thursdays-special-traces-of-the-past-y3-07/

Traces of the Past

 

Throwback Thursday ~~ Vintage Family Photos

A Pictorial Ode to Happier Times

Once Upon a Time When Innocence and Joy Reigned in Our Lives

 

 

Dads 1st car
Dad’s 1st car early 1950s. DeBorah Ann Palmer

 

Those I hope to see again in Heaven

Mom & Dad
Aunt Carrie ~~ George Gordon’s Sister
Grandfather William Palmer with 4 of his children 1923
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer
My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
The King had found his Queen and for 40 years they reigned together.

 

Happier Times of Long Ago when Life was simpler and filled with Joy

Childhood when I was Happy, Healthy and the World was my Oyster

 

Me. Easter 1964. Complete with Black Patent Leather Shoes and matching handbag! I was very cute!

 

Montreal 1970
School Days
Baby Me & Lamby Pie
Me and Stephen 1961
Little Me
Me and My brother Stephen December 1961
Stephen, Me & Daddy 1977
Me and Dad
Our Florida vacation around 1986

 

 

 

Predatory Landlords, Debt, and Repairing the World

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Uncategorized

This is a timely article. Gives some reasons for the increase in homelessness. My Brownsville, Brooklyn neighborhood is undergoing gentrification. My rent is rapidly approach $1K per month. Obviously when I retire next year I won’t be able to live here enjoy though I Love the neighborhood. I will be pushed out to the edges of the city limits all due to lack of money and inability to pay high rents. Food for thought.

ShiraDestProjectDoBetter's avatarContext, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest publications Offers Project Do Better

Dr. King said that,

“True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring. ”

The question is how does such “restructuring” happen?

Following up on my earlier post regarding debt as a problem of financial self-defense, particularly in the case of apartment renters who are forced to live in a lemon or face Breach of Lease, Biblical Law may have something to say about the long term consequences of artificially pushing people into debt (talking about otherwise frugal folks who do not spend profligately).

I respectfully submit that we have had one possible tool in our hands for several thousand years, and it may need to be examined in the context of our present debt crisis -the release of debts, both short term and long term, at different times.  Below is a handout from one…

View original post 228 more words

Thankful for… and A Little Help wThis IDentity Thing, pls?

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Uncategorized

Shira is a Great Blogger with fascinating, interesting and thoughtful posts. Please stop by Shiradest wonderful blog!! ❤

ShiraDestProjectDoBetter's avatarContext, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest publications Offers Project Do Better

The problem with thinking is that you start to ruminate, and that’s not good when a tractor comes by!   Today at least I got to finish my morning run before I started seriously ruminating.  (Kind of like the cows, but less smelly, I hope.)

But then I started, and Lo and Behold, my only good childhood memory came for a visit: Grandma Marie!

I must admit that I am thankful for my (adoptive) Great Grandmother, who taught me to fry chicken, to read, to write, and that “Cookin Lasts, Kissin Don’t.”

But the oddest part is that today I feel guilty for not dealing with my whole family of origin thing.  Not finishing my reading for the Latino Slaves research I started after looking up my 5xGr grandfather Miles Manzilla, for the WikiTree Slavery Project which, btw desperately needs someone to take it over, if anyone has time…

View original post 130 more words

I’m Calling for Stephen! Who are you calling for?

On By dancingpalmtreesIn ACA, Affordable Care Act, ASAN, Autism, Autism Activism, Autism Activism Advocate, AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK, Medicaid, National Disability Community Call-In Day, Stephen, Stephen as a Mighty Autism Warrior!!!, Stephen as Autism Warrior!!, Stephen the Transformer, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Uncategorized6 Comments

 

 

This post pertains to my Followers/Subscribers in the USA.

 

Today July 12 for a National Disability Community Call-In Day to urge Senators to oppose the ACA repeal bill. The Senate is planning to vote NEXT WEEK — and with a bill this dangerous, we can’t let up until there’s no chance of it passing. That’s why we’re asking you to join this call-in day – to intensify our collective voices and tell the Senate to defend our right to health care.
 
I made my calls. Are you making yours? I called for my brother Stephen Palmer who does not have conversational speech. Stephen cannot speak for himself so I called for him.
 
I made Two (2) calls to Senator Chuck Schumer. Called Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , & Rep. Yvette Clarke.
 

I’m Calling for Stephen. Who are you calling for?

 

Medicaid and SSI are what pay for Stephen to be in his Group Home Residence and to receive health care.  Obviously I cannot pay for his health care when I’m barely able to take care of myself.  Americans Stand Up for those with Disabilities. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves!!

Below is a Copy and Paste from the Email ASAN sent me. For those of you in the USA please use your Zip Code to find the Congresspersons, Senators and Representatives for your District.  Thank you.

I’m Calling for Stephen. Who are you calling for?

ALSO NO MORE BUDGET CUTS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY/INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS!!

 

Asan

 
Join ASAN, July 12 for a National Disability Community Call-In Day to urge Senators to oppose the ACA repeal bill. The Senate is planning to vote NEXT WEEK — and with a bill this dangerous, we can’t let up until there’s no chance of it passing. That’s why we’re asking you to join this call-in day – to intensify our collective voices and tell the Senate to defend our right to health care.
 
Why call?
A single day when we all converge on the Senate’s telephone lines will show them just how big, determined, and relentless our community is. The disability community has a long history of organizing and fighting for our rights – and we need to show the Senate that we won’t stop.
 
Since postponing the vote, some Senators who’ve pledged to vote “yes” are using the extra time to try to bring more of the “no” votes over to their side. With all that backroom negotiating going on, we have to make sure our Senators know that no deal is good enough to justify taking our health care away.
 
Senators who oppose the bill need to hear from their constituents that they’re doing the right thing. Some Senators have pledged to vote “no” on the repeal bill, and that’s great! We need them to stand firm and keep working to convince their colleagues to oppose the bill.
 
How can I join?
Look up your Senators’ phone numbers by entering your ZIP code at contactingcongress.org. When you call, you’ll be speaking to one of the Senator’s staffers, not the Senator themselves.
 
If you want to call, but don’t want to talk to a staffer on the phone, you can call after work hours and leave a message on the answering machine. Your message will still be counted.
 
If you don’t speak, you can call using your AAC device, or get a friend to call in and read your message.
 
However you do it, we need your calls during tomorrow’s national call-in day.
 
Here’s a script you can use:
 
My name is [your full name]. I’m a constituent of Senator [Name], and I live in [your town]. I’m calling to ask the Senator to vote NO on repealing the Affordable Care Act. This bill would take health insurance away from 22 million Americans, and destroy Medicaid as we know it. Disabled people in our state would lose access to lifesaving health care and be forced into institutions – all to fund a massive tax break for the wealthiest Americans. People with disabilities like [me/ my family member/ my friends] are not disposable, and our Medicaid is not your trust fund. Please vote AGAINST repealing the Affordable Care Act. We’re counting on you to do the right thing.
 
Tomorrow’s national call-in will be thousands of voices with one message: Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege afforded only to a select few. Every single person that calls tomorrow will help amplify our message and make sure that the Senate hears us. We hope you’ll join us.
 
P.S. – Need help understanding what the ACA repeal does? You can read about how it would change the ACA and Medicaid in our plain-language toolkits.
 
AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK © 2017
PO Box 66122, Washington, DC 20035

 

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