2011 July — Invisible Disabilities Association

Nominations for 2011 IDA Volunteer Award

July 25, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

NOMINATIONS CLOSED 7/31/11

From July 16 – 31, IDA partnered with 710 KNUS and 94.7 KRKS Radio Stations to find the next IDA Volunteer Award recipient! IDA visitors and radio listeners were invited to nominate a friend, co-worker, neighbor or family member who is giving of themselves as a volunteer by supporting people touched by illness, pain and disability.

Thank you everyone for submitting your nominations!

LISTEN TO THE RADIO BROADCASTS:

Colorado Issues on KRKS and KNUS with Mark Crowley

Along the Way on KRKS with Tom Moller

VISIT OUR SPONSORS:

Visit 710 KNUS

94.7 KRKS

About

The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) encourages, educates and connects people and organizations touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe. Formerly known as The Invisible Disabilities Advocate, IDA was founded in 1997 and incorporated in 2004 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. IDA reaches out through our websites, projects, articles, pamphlets, booklet, social network, resources, videos, radio interviews, seminars, events and more! Get the word out! Share a link to our articles and pages with Google Plus, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and through Email by clicking on the Share link. Leave a comment!

Filed Under: IDA Awards Others, IDA Events, IDA in the News, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: awards, awareness, banquet, caregiver, disability, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, radio, support, volunteer

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Facing the Mountain of Loss: Losing a Pet

July 21, 2011 by Angela Pierce Leave a Comment

It takes time to appreciate the value of climbing a mountain. You do not know if you will be able to make it to the top, get stuck half way, or be so frightened you stand at the bottom, afraid to take the first step. Choices in real life are the same. Some things we can do very easily; others we begin, but midstream we freeze and have no idea what our next move should be.

The hardest thing is when I have faced mountains that seem insurmountable. I have been trapped at the bottom several times, afraid of what to do next. Pushing myself forward has taken minutes, days, weeks, months, even years. Each time I have worked through the difficulty, I see something amazing that I did not know or understand about myself and life. Recently, I faced a big mountain. My husband and I lost our 18 year old cat Sebastian. We do not have children so when he died our hearts were left empty.

He was part of our family. The next few weeks we started looking for a new cat, but we were not into it. It felt foreign to not have a cat but it was hard to think how we would replace Sebastian. Two days ago we found two kittens.

They are so fun and playful. The mountain of losing something or someone you love makes it hard to want to give to anything or anyone else. The beauty is that when you do, you appreciate life in a brand new way.

About Angela Pierce

In 1985, Angela Pierce survived a 125-foot free fall while mountain climbing, breaking her bones in 168 places. Her story of survival is a miracle. The lessons she has learned over the last 27 years are an incredible inspiration to others who must climb their own mountains every day. Visit her website, Falling Off the Mountain.

Filed Under: Living with Invisible Disabilities, Personal Journey, Relationships Tagged With: angela pierce, challenges, encouragement, facing the mountain of loss, life's journey, loss, personal story, pet

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IDA 2011 Keynote Speaker, Luis Carlos Montalván on David Letterman

July 19, 2011 by admin 20 Comments

Keynote Speaker for IDA’s 2011 Banquet, Luis Carlos Montalván and his Service Dog Tuesday were on the Late Show with David Letterman in July.

Fmr Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván is the author (with Bret Witter) of Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. The book debuted on the the New York Times Best Sellers List!

This book is a story about one soldier’s battle after the war, with several debilitating wounds including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Until Tuesday came into Luis’ life, he could barely leave the house due to Agoraphobia. Read this incredible, real-life “tail” of how Tuesday rescued Luis and how they are bringing awareness and hope to others living with invisible disabilities!

Don’t miss Luis as Keynote Speaker at the 2011 IDA Honor Awards Banquet 10/2/2011 in Denver!

ARTICLE RESOURCES:

Luis and Tuesday on the Late Show with David Letterman in July (watch clip on YouTube).

Meet Luis and Tuesday at the IDA Awards Banquet 10/2/2011

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Check Luis and Tuesday’s Event Schedule for an Appearance Near You

CNN: F mr. Army Captain: Dog saved my life

CNN: Service dogs essential to military

East Coast Assistance Dogs (where Luis found Tuesday).

IDA’s Service Animal Page

Luis Carlos Montalvan Received 2011 VOICE Award

New ADA Revisions Limit “Service Animals” to Dogs

Project HEAL – Service Dogs for Wounded Warriors

Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him – Book

Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him – Video

Woman with Cryoglobulinemia and Her Service Dog Bring Hope to Others

What Makes An Animal More Than Just a Pet? Pamphlet from IDA

RELATED STORIES ON IDA

Actress Marlee Matlin Raises a Million Dollars for the Starkey Hearing Foundation

Actor Gary Busey Wins 40K for Brain Injury Center

Actress Candice Accola Gives Voice to Lyme Disease

Country Music Star, Clay Walker Diagnosed with MS

Former Professional Baseball Player, Ed Hearn, Battles Kidney Disease

George Clooney Battles Pain, Insomnia and Bouts of Loneliness

Hit Country Singer, Trace Adkins, Brings Awareness to Food Allergies

IDA Keynote Speaker, Luis Carlos Montalván on David Letterman

Kathy Buckley, Comedian, Actress, Motivational Speaker

Rocker Bret Michaels Lives with Type 1 Diabetes

Tim Tebow Makes a Difference for Youth Living with Illness and Injury

About

Filed Under: Becoming Visible, Celebrities, Invisible No More, Personal Stories Tagged With: advocate, author, awareness, book, brain, celebrity, david letterman, disability, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, late show, luis carlos montalvan, pain, personal story, post traumatic stress disorder, service dog, television, traumatic brain injury, until tuesday, veteran

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Mum Discusses Summer Break in Routine for Son with Autism

July 1, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Morven Da Fomo of Ullapool, discusses summer challenges for parents of children with Autism and Asperger’s. Morven says they want the children to have fun, but there are always concerns with the break in routine. Many parents of children with other developmental differences may also relate to the challenges.

Morven said, “Parents of a child with autism want them to have a fantastic summer, but when days don’t go so well you can feel drained, disappointed, isolated and even a bit of a failure.” She added, “Autism is known as ‘the invisible disability’, so to an outside observer it can look like your child is just being naughty when they are actually really struggling to understand what’s going on around them and cope with the anxiety of it all, like a mini nervous breakdown.”

Read Full Article

RESOURCE:

Ross mum’s advice on summer trips with autistic children. June 17, 2011. Boss-shire Journal.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

A Stranger Among Us by Lisa Lieberman, MSW, LCSW.

A Wiser Mind

About Autism.

Autism awareness Month a special time for Wayne family.

Autism Facts and Statistics.

Autism Society Applauds the Introduction of the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.”

The Autism Society Calls for Awareness and Action this April to Support 1 in 110 People with Autism in the United States.

Autism Society