4 Families

Family Profile

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 21:57:00 +0000

FAMILIES WHO NEED OUR PROGRAM

Because of the constant press of potential temptations -- from peer pressure at school to enticements on the internet at the push of the button -- we know that there are many land mines that even great parents must navigate around in their efforts to encourage and empower each child. It is our opinion that no family is immune to the residue of bad choices that may trip up their youth. We believe that we can be of service to you.

TYPICAL FAMILY PROFILE

Target families would be those who are having trouble with a child and:

Are not ready to send him/her to a residential facility.
Have a child currently in a residential facility and would like assistance in phasing him/her back into the family.
Have a child in that is in juvenile detention or a mental health facility and need help with next steps.

If your family is dealing with one of these problems, we can help. We are looking for families who:

Understand that it is not just their child who may need assistance.
Realize that there may be pitfalls that can be adjusted to assist in the overall family's success.
Are humble and willing to do what it takes to make changes in their own lives as parents.

TYPICAL STUDENT PROFILE

Each youth is involved in our programs will be evaluated on a case by case basis and may be experiencing one or more of the following:

Diagnosis of a mental health issue such as ADHD, ADD, RAD, Bipolar Tendencies and or Depressive Disorders
Demonstrating self-harming behaviors such as cutting
School suspension or problems in school
Antisocial behavior at home or in school
Defiant, apathetic and/or disturbing behavior at home
Possible drug use
Increasingly disturbing obsession with video games, internet or pornography
Legal troubles , such as conviction for misdemeanors or possible felony
A consistent pattern of negative behaviors

Note:

We will not work with youth who have attempted suicide or have suicidal tendencies, except in unique circumstances.
We will not work with a student who has a drug or alcohol addiction, except in unique circumstances.
We will only work with those youth where it appears that the felony behavior seems to be a one-time behavior.

About Us

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 01:26:00 +0000

EQUIP. EMPOWER.
ENGAGE. ENCOURAGE.

WHO WE ARE

The mission of 4Families is 'to empower, encourage, engage and equip youth and families who are facing difficult challenges'. 4Families was begun after seeing many families at their wits end as they grappled with the challenges of a child making wrong choices.

WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING FAMILIES WHO MAY BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AN ADOPTED CHILD.

Our programs are therapeutic-based and Christ-driven. Though we know that we can change a youth's mind, it is our conviction that only Christ can change their heart. Changing one's mind is temporal, but changing one's heart is eternal.

Do you have:

A Youth in trouble with the law? Check out our Family Blueprint, a plan for success.
A Youth making wrong choices? Check out T.O.P., a youth accountability program.
A need for support as a Parent? Check out It's A-Parent for Parent Support.

These are just a few of the programs that may be of help to you. We invite you to check out our 4Programs to see all of the programs that we can currently offer to you and your family.

Encourage

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:57:00 +0000

4Families, in conjunction with blue hedgehog productions, llc, will come alongside other non-profit organizations who are of "like mind" to help support their endeavors and further the work of restoring and healing families. Their mission is to celebrate the joy of life by providing creative and highly satisfying events that stir the heart, stretch the body and stagger the limits of the mind. A percentage of the profits from blue hedgehog's events will support organizations in the communities where events are developed.
For more information, please contact our office.

TO COME ALONGSIDE

OUR 4PROGRAMS

Organizations can partner with 4Families to accomplish their collective vision through two types of Affiliate Partnerships:

Equal partnerships are developed with organizations are separate from 4Families in their organizational structure, but are working together with us towards a common goal.
Umbrella partnerships are organizations under the covering of 4Families and who experience the benefits from our services.

For more information, please contact our office.

Engage

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:55:00 +0000

GIVE
ATTENTION TO

OUR 4PROGRAMS

FAMILY BLUEPRINT PLANS

A Family Plan is a blueprint for change in the family.
We work with parents to develop a plan, make recommendations regarding services that are needed; and connect them with those services; write the plan; and be present as the family presents it to court or to others involved in their case. Throughout their process, we are able to provide a layer of accountability until the plan is completed.
We desire to work with those who realize the need for change and will do what it takes to get the job done.

PARENT TRAINING

We have developed a program called It’s-a-Parent, which was created as a result of many conversations with families in crisis and discovering what they would do differently.
If families have a youth involved in the mentoring, this parent training is included in the cost of the program. We can also offer the complete parent training as a conference or present each of the program topics separately as workshops or small group classes.

CONSULTING

We help families determine what they need and make recommendations, if needed, regarding therapists, counselors, and/or residential programs.
4Families works extensively with The Envoy Group, a national company who has vetted many organizations around the country. As consultants, we spend time with the youth and their families to get to know them and in turn, are able to assess their family system and provide tools and resources as needed, as well as to help create a Family Blueprint Plan; attend crucial meetings with attorneys and other professionals; be present in court; recommend other professionals as needed; and a variety of other crucial services.

THERAPEUTIC EVALUATIONS

We have a list of exceptional professionals that we recommend whom we have worked with throughout the years.
All therapists we refer to understand the Triage Effect and are able to access the degree of the urgency for the families who are in an emergency situation and need help quickly. Our goal is to respond to the family in crisis within 24 hours.

LIFE COACHING

Life coaching is a thought-provoking and creative life-changing process.
Distinct from traditional therapy, life coaching focuses on where a person presently is in their life and partners with the individual to help propel them forward by setting goals, creating outcomes, and managing personal change.

YOUTH MENTORING

Our youth mentoring program, The R.A.W. Initiative, is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2015 quarter.
While the youth still live at home during our program, we come alongside the family in hopes that we can redirect and bring the change needed.

MARRIAGE COACHING

Is your marriage needing rehab? Do you worry that there may be no hope left for you and your spouse? Are you in need of new tools in your marriage?
Using Prepare/Enrich, an amazing core relationship assessment tool, your strength and growth areas as a couple are identified and the needed tools and coaching are given to you to improve your relationship skills over 12 weekly or bi-weekly sessions .

Empower

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:48:00 +0000

GIVE AUTHORITY TO

THE CHARIS WOODS PROGRAM
(COMING 2017)

CHARIS = GRACE

4Families is in the process of developing Charis Woods, a four-phase residential program designed for boys aged 13-17 who are struggling and making bad choices for their lives while living at home.

Phase 1: Reconciliation – through living with others within our program
Phase 2: Relearning – through our education program
Phase 3: Redirection – through our vocational program
Phase 4: Restoration – through our spiritual program

Our Charis Woods program is designed to equip each young man and his family with the tools needed to be successful in walking on a new path and to help him to understand the plan that God has for his life. Through an intricate weaving of faith and ministry, activities, counseling, teaching, coaching, group sessions, personal relationships, and involvement of parents throughout the program, we create an arena which brings healing in the lives of our residents and their families.
Charis, meaning grace, is interwoven throughout our program to help our residents understand that they are worth more than their mistakes and that true life is about more than material goods and their self-seeking goals.
If you would like more information on the program as it becomes available, please fill out the contact form to the left.

OUR 4 PROGRAMS

Equip

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 20:47:00 +0000

IT'S-A-PARENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT PROGRAM

It's-a-Parent was developed by parents who had experienced, or were still experiencing, difficulties with a prodigal child. This allowed us to create a program based on the unique perspectives from those who had real life experiences.
Our parent program is available to in conjunction with families who have a student enrolled in our youth program, and covers many critical issues, such as:

The Parenting Problem: Addressing the important issues the family is facing.
The Veteran Voice: Learning from other parents who have experienced the same difficulties and are on the other side.
Simple Step Solutions: Exploring the steps and resources that can help the family address the problems.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

Parent involvement is critical to the success of youth in our program. Being such, parents will be involved with:

Parent's Life Group: In conjunction with their student who is enrolled our program, parents attend this group every other week. More information on dates and times can be found here.
Family counseling sessions one time per month.
Activities with increasing intensity during each of the four stages of the program.
Weekend conferences will be held in 2016.

COUNSELING AND COACHING

Counseling and coaching are important parts of our program. Through the initial application and interview process, we will determine the best steps for each student. All will be required to have one session per week in addition to a monthly family session. Additional counseling and/or coaching will be on an agreed-upon basis.

TO GIVE
NECESSARY TOOLS

OUR 4PROGRAMS

INQUIRY FORM

T.o.p. =

THerapeutic Outreach Program .

Youth today are being pulled every which way, whether it be from peer pressure, societal pressure, or even parent pressure. Often, for them to do the "right thing" can mean going against the flow of the mainstream, and for many of them, this is a near impossibility.

FOR YOUTH

The R.A.W. Initiative program is designed to help families with their prodigal youth (ages 13-17) and to bring clarity to them on the real meaning of courage and why it is important to go above and beyond the call of duty. Our goal is to provide a structure of "opportunity" for each young person, which in turn helps them understand that there is a better path for their life. While in our program, each student is assigned a mentor, who will work closely with them throughout the duration.

PROGRAM LENGTH AND STAGES

The R.A.W. Initiative program consists of four unique stages:

Learner. The word "learn" means to acquire knowledge or skill. This first stage will be a key time in which most youth decide to move forward or not.
Livewire. The word "livewire" means energetic and alert. We expect each student to be alert and ready to go before achieving this stage.
Levitator. The word "levitator" means ascending to new heights. This is the stage that we expect change to become internalized, not just learned.
Leader. The word "leader" means to be in charge or in command. We expect youth in this stage to be leading their peers.

Moving to the next stage is a big achievement and a time of celebration for each boy and their family. Mentors will be involved in these celebratory times as well. We believe that seeing times of victory helps other youth in the program desire to move forward in their lives as well.

INTERVIEW PROCESS AND ACCEPTANCE

If you are interested in applying for our program, the first step is to fill out our Inquiry Form. One of our admissions team will contact you to assess if our program would be a good fit for your family and answer any questions your may have.

The second step is an intensive interview process for the family and student will determine eligibility for the program. Realizing that we are not able to help everyone, we are particularly looking for youth who:

Recognize that they are in need of help, are in a downward spiral, and/or have a desire to change
Accept being in the program, even if begrudgingly at first

Being accepted into our program is a privilege. Although bad behavior is something that we address, we will not tolerate any youth bringing continued disruption to the program and other students. We reserve the right to dismiss a student for such behavior and will work with the family to help recommend next steps for them.

Please contact us with any questions you have and we'll be happy to help you.

The Wisdom of Charles Krauthammer

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:59:00 +0000

Charles Krauthammer is a brilliant writer and wordsmith who has had enormous success in more than one career. He was a Commonwealth Scholar at Oxford, then went to Harvard Medical School, where he became a board certified psychiatrist and later went on to be the Chief Resident of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. He even is credited with "discovering" a form of mania that is common in people who have Bipolar Disorder, before he gradually turned his attention to politics.

Krauthammer was in charge of psychiatric research in the Carter administration and later became a speechwriter for Vice President Mondale during his campaign for the Presidency in 1980. He later became a contributing editor to The New Republic and the Weekly Standard, and he writes a weekly column for the Washington Post that is read in over 200 newspapers across the country. In 2006, the Financial Times described him as the "most influential commentator in America."

Charles Krauthammer is also physically disabled. He became paralyzed in a diving accident during Medical School in 1972. In spite of his disability, he has brought his words and ideas into the thoughts and consciousness of many people today. Below are some of his most famous quotes.

"Take all your dukes and marquesses and earls and viscounts, pack them into one chamber, call it the House of Lords to satisfy their pride and then strip it of all political power. It's a solution so perfectly elegant and preposterous that only the British could have managed it."

"Doves oppose war on the grounds that the risks exceed the gains. War with Iraq could be very costly, possibly degenerating into urban warfare."

"Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians."

"Fairness through leveling is the essence of Obamaism."

"I am not religious. I do not believe that personhood is conferred upon conception. But I also do not believe that a human embryo is the moral equivalent of a hangnail and deserves no more respect than an appendix."

"I happen to believe that the preemption school is correct, that the risks of allowing Saddam Hussein to acquire his weapons will only grow with time."

"If Obama has his way, the change that is coming is a new America: "fair," leveled and social democratic. Obama didn't get elected to warranty your muffler. He's here to warranty your life."

"If we insist that public life be reserved for those whose personal history is pristine, we are not going to get paragons of virtue running our affairs. We will get the very rich, who contract out the messy things in life the very dull, who have nothing to hide and nothing to show and the very devious, expert at covering their tracks and ambitious enough to risk their discovery."

"If you believe that health care is a public good to be guaranteed by the state, then a single-payer system is the next best alternative. Unfortunately, it is fiscally unsustainable without rationing."

"Obama is a leveler. He has come to narrow the divide between rich and poor. For him the ultimate social value is fairness. Imposing it upon the American social order is his mission."

"Science has everything to say about what is possible. Science has nothing to say about what is permissible."

"This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of 'cowards' perpetuating 'senseless acts of violence' is complacent nonsense. People willing to kill thousands of innocents while they kill themselves are not cowards. They are deadly vicious warriors and need to be treated as such."

"Torture is an impermissible evil. Except under two circumstances. The first is the ticking time bomb. An innocent's life is at stake. The bad guy you have captured possesses information that could save this life. He refuses to divulge. In such a case, the choice is easy."

"When under attack, no country is obligated to collect permission slips from allies to strike back."

“When in 1966 Charles de Gaulle ordered France out of NATO and American troops off French soil, Secretary of State Dean Rusk asked him if that included the American soldiers lying dead in the cemeteries at Normandy and throughout France”

“After endless days of commuting on the freeway to an antiseptic, sealed-window office, there is a great urge to backpack in the woods and build a fire.”

“This is a formidable enemy. To dismiss it as a bunch of 'cowards' perpetuating 'senseless acts of violence' is complacent nonsense. People willing to kill thousands of innocents while they kill themselves are not cowards. They are deadly vicious warriors and need to be treated as such.”

“When under attack, no country is obligated to collect permission slips from allies to strike back”

“Post-Watergate morality, by which anything left private is taken as presumptive evidence of wrongdoing.”

“In the middle ages, people took potions for their ailments. In the 19th century they took snake oil. Citizens of today's shiny, technological age are too modern for that. They take antioxidants and extract of cactus instead.”

“In the old days one merely gawked at these unfortunates. Donahue's genius is to get them to talk.”

“A three-year diet of rubber chicken and occasional crow.”

Well Known People with Disabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:36:00 +0000

There are many well known people who have gone through incredible mental and physical challenges. in their lives. and have been successful, in spite of it all. Below is a beginning sample of names of people that you may or may not know, what they were known for and the disability that they had to deal with. If you know of some other names, leave me a note and let me know.

[A]

Armstrong, Lance [Cyclist] - Cancer

[B]

Bernhardt, Sarah [French Actress] - Amputee
Beethoven, [Composer] - Deafness
Bell, Alexander Graham [Inventor] - Learning Disability

[C]

Cher [Singer/Actress] - Learning Disability
Churchill, Winston [Prime Minister of Great Britain] - Learning Disability
Cruise, Tom [Actor] - Learning Disability

[D]

Disney, Walt [] - Learning Disability

[E]

Edison [Inventor] - Learning Disability
Einstein, Albert [Mathematician/Physicist] - Learning Disability

[F]

[G]

Goldberg, Whoopi [Comedian/Actress] - Learning Disability
Goya [Spanish Painter] - Deafness

[H]

Hawking, Stephen [Physicist/Mathematician] - Lou Gerig's Disease

[I]

[J]

Jenner, Bruce [] - Learning Disability

[K]

Keller, Helen [Writer] - Blindness, Deafness
Kennedy, John F. [President] - Addison's Disease

[L]

Louganis, Greg [Olympic Diver] - Learning Disability

[M]

Milton [English Author/Poet] - Blindness

[N]

[O]

[P]

Patton, George [World War II General] - Learning Disability

[Q]

[R]

Reeves, Christopher [Actor] - Paralysis, Quadriplegia
Rockefeller, Nelson [Vice President] - Dyslexia
Roosevelt, [President] - Polio

[S]

[T]

Tubman, Harriett [Abolitionist] - Narcolepsy

[U]

[V]

Von Braun, Werner [] - Learning Disability

[W]

Washington, George [President] - Learning Disability
Wells, H.G. [Actor/Writer] - Learning Disability
Wilson, Woodrow [President] - Dyslexia

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:13:00 +0000

"When I Googled 'windmill', I found that there was millions of applications. I was like, where was this Google all this time?" (William Kamkwamba on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.)

In late 2006, a Malawian newspaper first wrote about a remarkable young man from a remote rural village. This is his story.

William Kamkwamba was born August 5, 1987 in Malawi, Africa, a destitute country plagued with AID's and extreme poverty. His family of 9 people lived in a very small house; without electricity or water.

At age 14, after a severe famine made their lives even more dire, William Kamkwamba set out to try to make life different for his family. After reading about how to build a windmill that could produce electricity, William decided to do the impossible in his little world and build a windmill by himself.

The windmill was so unique to the area that people came from many kilometers away to see it. When the Malawian newspaper wrote his story, his life began to change forwever.

Now 22, William's story has been heard around the world. He has co-written his story in a book called The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. A movie of the same name will be out in 2011.

Though William is not physically or mentally disabled, he was disabled by extreme poverty. His innovation in spite of struggle is what makes him stand out. Check out some of these videos about him.

If you would like to know more about William Kamkwamba, go to: http://movingwindmills.org/

If you liked this story, check out one of these:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

William Kamkwamba

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Rally to Restore Sanity

Jon Blais (The Blazeman)

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:44:00 +0000

Jon Blais (The Blazeman) had been an elite athlete and multi sport competitor for a good part of his adult life. Competing in triathlons for 20 years, Jon's dream was always to compete in the triathlon of triathlons; the granddaddy of them all, the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. In 2005, Jon finally achieved that goal, just 5 months after he had been diagnosed with ALS.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gerig's Disease, is a horrible disease, a progressive degenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord. Death of these cells makes it impossible for the brain to control muscles and make them move. ALS is unpreventable, untreatable and incurable. The average life expectancy is 2-5 year.

By the time Jon competed in the Ironman, his hands were already becoming difficult to use. Jon chose to use his time in the spotlight to fight ALS the only way he knew how. He endured 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and 26.2 miles of running. At the end of the race, he stopped and rolled over the finish line, finishing in 16:28:56. Since that time, the "log roll" has been done, over and over again by countless athletes, as a tribute to Jon and in support of the battle that he began, raising awareness on the ravages of ALS.

In 2006, the devastation of ALS had already taken over Jon's body, but he went back to Kona, not as a competitor, but as a voice for ALS and as a cheerleader. Brian Breen, a Chicago native, had seen Jon's inspiring accomplishment the year before and he decided to take up Jon's cause. In 2006, he was competing in honor of Jon. At the end of his race, Brian rolled over the finish line, then immediately hugged Jon, an emotional picture that was seen by many.

Jon passed away on May 27, 2007, but his legacy lives on today.

If you would like to know more about Jon Blais and The Blazeman Foundation that he created, go to:

http://www.waronals.com/about_jon.php

If you liked this story, check out one of these:

Clay Marzo Rides the Waves of Autism

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:43:00 +0000

Clay Marzo is the new phenom on the pro surfing circuit. Born with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism, Clay's unique way of looking at the world has helped make him an innovator, specifically with his unorthodox stance, in the world of surfing. Check out this video called "Just Add Water" and read about him @ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/action/2009-09-27-marzo-surfer-autism-aspergers_N.htm

Man with Cystic Fibrosis Runs New York Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:17:00 +0000

On this day of the 2010 New York Marathon, it is important to tell the story of Chris Dopher. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes heavy mucus to affect the lungs and pancreas, Chris decided to do something amazing. His goal was to run the NYC Marathon.

Now, for those who may not know, a marathon is 26.2 miles. For those who have 100% lung capacity, running a marathon requires a lot of training and is a great challenge. Chris's lungs operate at 30% less than normal. The most fit athletes can have problems running, much less finishing a marathon (read Lance Armstrong's story). Chris, who struggles for every breath, decided that he had something to prove.

So, on Marathon Day, 2008, there he was at the starting line, the names of friends who had died of CF written on his shirt.

He ran, and walked, and ran, and walked; by mile 23 he was struggling, but spurred on by his many friends. He crossed the finish line at 5 hours, 50 minutes and 12 seconds.

Eventually, Chris will need a double lung transplant. His lungs continue to deteriorate, succumbing to the ravages of this horrible disease. But until then, he is thinking about his next marathon. It is his dedication to exercise that has kept him alive. It is this dedication that keeps him going, pounding the pavement, even when he can't breathe, one step at a time.

If you liked this post, check out one of these:

For more information on Cystic Fibrosis, go to the link below:

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:02:00 +0000

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes a thick mucus to develop that clogs various organs, specifically the lungs and pancreas. This thick mucus can also cause bacteria to get stuck in air passages, causing inflammation and infections that eventually leads to lung damage. Cystic Fibrosis affects one out of every 3,200 births.

It hasn't been too long ago that Cystic Fibrosis was considered a death sentence at a very early age. Within the last few decades, however, people with Cystic Fibrosis have lived longer and more active lives.

In the '80's, the life expectancy was 14 years.
Only ten years ago, the life expectancy was 18 years.
Today, the life expectancy is 35.

If you would like to learn more about Cystic Fibrosis, go to:

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

If you need more information about the symptoms and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, go to:

WebMD

If you are interested in reading inspiring stories about people who are dealing with Cystic Fibrosis, check out these stories:

Breathe, a story about Becky Stubbs
Man with Cystic Fibrosis Runs NYC Marathon

eLeg Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:15:00 +0000

A Berkley company has introduced a battery-powered exoskeleton that allows paraplegics the ability to get out of their wheelchairs and walk on their feet.

Called eLEGs, this exoskeleton works with a battery backpack, leg braces and crutches. As the user moves the right crutch forward, the mechanism moves the left leg forward and vice versa.

Exoskeletons are wearable, artificially intelligent bionic devices and have primarily been used in the military to enhance soldiers' strength and endurance in the battlefield. Only recently has the healthcare industry been looking at exoskeletons for assistance with people with disabilities.

The use of exoskeletons go way beyond giving paraplegics robotic legs. They can also teach people to learn how to walk again. Check out this amazing video about the future of robotics and the people who may benefit from them.

Berkeley Bionics is the company that has created eLEGs. Adapted from the Lockheed Martin’s Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) exoskeleton, a system designed to help military soldiers traverse through rough terrain without injuries, Berkeley Bionics modified the HULC to make the eLEGs extremely user friendly with a Velcro strap, backpack-style clips and shoulder straps; anybody should be able to slip it on and off in a minute or two. The eLEGS will fit most people between 5′ 2″ and 6′ 4″, weighing 220 pounds or less, and Berkeley Bionics said it was especially important to make the exoskeleton thin, lightweight and very quiet when operated.

The eLEGS will initially be available at select rehabilitation centers starting July 2011. The company also plans a mobile version of eLEGS for home use.

If you liked this, check out these articles:

Sarah Coiner: An Internet Missionary

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:59:00 +0000

"She can't even feed herself... but she is giving people around the world the Bread of Life." Though her severe physical disabilities limit her in everyday life, Sarah Coiner shares her heart and love for Jesus Christ with people around the world. Sarah serves as an online missionary with Global Media Outreach and leads other volunteers in responding to emails from spiritual seekers and new Christians.

Global Media Outreach is a global ministry presenting the good news of Jesus Christ on the internet 24/7. As a missionary for Global Media Outreach, Sarah communicates with people on a regular basis, being a friend when a friend is needed.

Sarah was born with Cerebral Palsy all her life. As she communicates with people, she painstakingly pecks on a computer using a pointer on a helmet on her head. Yet, though it can be frustrating and time consuming, it is satisfying because she is making a difference.

Having grown up loving to read, becoming an author is her goal in life. Sarah has a couple of novels in the works, but has tried numerous jobs in attempts to have some kind of steady income. Those attempts have included editing everything from grants to novels. Besides work, Sarah still loves to read, enjoys church, and being with friends.

Check out her story below

To communicate with Sarah Coiner, she can be located on Facebook.

If you liked this story, check out other incredible stories about those who are doing great things, in spite of their struggle with Cerebral Palsy:

The Network

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:02:00 +0000

The purpose of The jazzed4life Network is to ‘showcase and support’ those who have a disability, their families and those who support and sustain them. Our goal is to share their journey, including the amazing stories and insights that the Lord has given them along the way.

You can now be a participant in The jazzed4life Network. Here is how it works:

If you have a blog/website and would like to be a part of the Network:

Place your Full Name, Blog/Web Address (using http: format) on the wall.

Place The jazzed4life Writer’s Network button in the sidebar of your site.

As a member, we will:

Place your information in our directory @ http://jazzed4lifewritersnetwork.com

Showcase 5 selected blogs/month by streaming your articles onto the Christians with Disabilities - jazzed4life fan page.

Showcase selected stories and articles that we find most compelling (with permission from the author).

Showcase different organizations that have a similar mission.

If you have any questions or comments, contact Kent Robson @ kent@jazzed4life.com. Below are organizations and individuals that we have identified in our research.

Organizations that are jazzed4life

1) Abilities Church
http://abilitieschurch.org
The Church for "Real" People

2) Acceptance Ministries
http://acceptanceministries.net
God has a purpose for everyone

3) Alto Impulso
http://altoimpulso.com

4) A.N.G.E.L. Autism Network
http://angelautismnetwork.org
Reaching out to make a difference in a child's life.

5) Autism Help 4 U
http://autismhelp4u.com
Support, Understanding, Encouragement

6) Bridge Ministries
http://bridgemin.org
Building Relationships of Respect

Camp Barnabas Continues to Grow after TV Show 5 Years Ago

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 17:49:00 +0000

by Todd G. Higdon for Neosho Daily News

Purdy, MO - Five years ago this month, the TV show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” came to Camp Barnabas, located near Monett, to give the camp some help.

During the early morning hours of Aug. 17, 2005, the Extreme Team, campers and Christians In Action (CIA), knocked on the door of camp directors Cyndy and Paul Teas stating that they had been chosen as the weekly project.

As Paul, Cyndy, their daughter Kayman and their son, Trace, left the house, more than 3,000 volunteers descended to makeover the camp.

The camp exists to return childhood experiences to kids who have been robbed of them by disease, the Teas say, noting that many of the campers endure unthinkable pain and isolating treatment for illnesses such as cancer, hemophilia, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and AIDS.

During the weeklong process, the Teas' run-down home was burnt to the ground to make for a new home. In addition, the camp received a bunkhouse for volunteers, a media center, sewer and underground electrical lines, a layer of asphalt on the main road, a new "zip line" for the high ropes course and improvements to the playground.

When the Teas returned to their home and the camp, they, along with the thousands of volunteers, campers and the TV show's hosts shouted three words "Move that bus!," revealing what had been accomplished.

Since the makeover, the camp has grown.

To read the whole story, go to the link below:

Camp Barnabas continues to grow after TV show 5 years ago - Neosho, MO - Neosho Daily News

To know more about Camp Barnabas, go to http://www.campbarnabas.org/

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Check out this amazing video about Camp Barnabas

The Horse Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:17:00 +0000

The Horse Boy is a moving story about a family on an amazing journey. Rupert Isaacson and his wife, Kristin are having a difficult time trying to figure out what to do with their son, Rowan. Born with autism, Rupert and Kristin were devastated, unsure of what they could do for their son.

It was a chance encounter with a neighbor's horse and the obvious connection between Rowan and the horse that got Rupert, a lifelong horsemen, to thinking about doing something drastic. Why not take Rowan to Mongolia, the one place where horses and shamanic healing intersects. It is a journey of uncertainty. It is a self-searching journey. It is a journey that changes all of them, in one way or another.

As is written in the book review, "The Horse Boy is the dramatic and heartwarming story of that impossible adventure. In Mongolia, the family found undreamed of landscapes and people, unbearable setbacks, and advances beyond their wildest dreams. This is a deeply moving, one-of-a-kind story, of a family willing to go to the ends of the earth to help their son - and of a boy learning to connect with the world for the first time." [1]

Below is a BBC interview of Rupert and their story. Check it out.

You can download the complete movie by going to http://www.moviewatchlist.com/movie-the_horse_boy

To find out more about the book, the movie and The Horse Boy Foundation, go to http://www.horseboymovie.com.

If you enjoyed this, check out these articles:

[1] http://www.horseboymovie.com/Book.php

Movies with People that have Disabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:58:00 +0000

There are many movies that tell the stories of people who are overcoming amazing challenges. Below are a list of movies that either tell the story of someone with a disability or have an actor with a disability. If you click on the title of the movie, it will take you to a plot summary.

Title (Year) - Disability [Star(s)]

[A]

A Beautiful Mind (2001) - Mental Illness, Schizoprenia [Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly]
A Christmas Carol (1938) - Polio (?) [Reginald Owen]
A Christmas Carol (2009) - Polio (?) [Jim Carrey]
Above Suspicion (1995) - Paralysis, Quadriplegia [Christopher Reeve, Joe Mantegna, Kim Cattrall]
Adam (2009) - Asperger Syndrome [Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne]
All the Little Animals (1998) - Brain Damage [John Hurt, Christian Bale]
All Out For Victory (1943) - War Disabilities [Propaganda Film]
An Affair to Remember (1957) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr]
Anastasia (1997) - Amnesia [Meg Ryan, John Cusack]
Angel Eyes (2001) - Paralysis [Jennifer Lopez, Jim Caviezel]
Arts: A Film about Possibilities, Disabilities and the Arts (2009) - Autism, Asperger Syndrome [Documentary]
As Good As it Gets (1997) - OCD, Asthma [Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear]
Ashes of Time (1994) - Paralysis [Leslie Cheung]
At First Sight (1999) - Blindness [Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino]
Athlete (2010) - Blindness, Cancer [Artie Elefant]
Autism: The Musical (2007) - Autism [Documentary]
Avatar (2009) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver]
The Aviator (2004) - Mental Illness, OCD [Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett]
Awakenings (1990) - Comatose, Encephalitis, Catatonic [Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams]

[B]

Babel (2006) - Deafness [Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett]
Backstreet Dreams (1990) - Autism [Brooke Shields, Jason O'Malley]
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) - Amputee [Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan]
Bangkok Dangerous (2008) - Deaf-Mute [Nicholas Cage]
Beeswax (2009) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Tilly Hatcher, Maggie Hatcher]
Beethoven Lives Upstairs (1992) - Deafness [Neil Munro]
Being There (1979) - Aimless, Isolated [Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine]
Benny and Joon (1993) - Mental Illness [Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn]
Best Man: Best Boy (1997) - Developmental Disability [Philly Wohl]
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - Double Amputee [Frederick March, Myrna Loy]
Beyond Silence (1996) - Deafness [Matthias Habich, Sylvie Testud]
Birdy (1984) - Deformity, Mental Illness [Matthew Modine, Nicholas Cage]
The Black Balloon (2008) - Autism [Toni Collette, Luke Ford]
Blind Fury (1989) - Blindness [Rutger Hauer]
Blink (1994) - Blindness [Madeleine Stowe, Aidan Quinn]
Body and Soul: Diana and Kathy (2007) - Developmental Disability [Diana Braun, Kathy Conour]
Born on the 4th of July (1989) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Tom Cruise]
The Bone Collector (1989) - Paralysis, Quadriplegia [Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie]
The Boy who could Fly (1986) - Autism [Fred Savage, Bonnie Bedelia]
Boys N the Hood (1991) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Angela Bassett]
The Boys Next Door (1996) - Developmental Disability [Nathan Lane]
Braindamadj'd (2006) - Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI) [Paul Nadler]

[C]

Change of Habit (1969) - Autism [Elvis Presley, Mary Tyler Moore]
Charly (1968) - Developmental Disability [Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom]
Chattahoochee (1990) - Mental Illness [Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper]
Children of a Lesser God (1986) - Deafness [William Hurt, Marlee Matlin]
Choices (1981) - Hearing Impaired [Demi Moore]
City Lights (1931) - Blindness [Charlie Chaplin]
Clean Slate (1986) - Amnesia [Dana Carvey]
The Collector of Bedford Street (2002) - Developmental Disability [Murray Schaul]
The Color of Paradise (1999) - Blindness [Hossein Mahjoub]
Coming Home (1978) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern]
Copycat (1995) - Agoraphobia [Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney]
Crash of Silence (1952) - Deafness [Phyllis Calvert]
Cube (1997) - Autism [David Hewlett]

[D]

Dance Me to My Song (1998) - Cerebral Palsy [Rena Owen]
Dancer in the Dark (2000) - Visual Impairment [Bjork, Catherine Deneuve]
Daredevil (2003) - Blindness [Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner]
Darius Goes West (2007) - Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [Darius Weems]
Dark Victory (1939) - Brain Tumor [Bette Davis]
David's Mother (1994) - Autism [Kirstie Alley, Sam Waterston, Stockard Channing]
Dead Again (1991) - Amnesia [Kenneth Branagh, Andy Garcia]
Dead Silence (1997) - Deafness [James Garner]
Dear Frankie (2004) - Deafness [Gerard Butler, Emily Mortimer]
Dear John (2010) - Autism [Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried]
Digging to China (1998) - Mental Illness, Developmental Disability, Cancer [Kevin Bacon]
Dirty Filthy Love (2004) - OCD, Tourette's Syndrome [Michael Sheen, Shirley Henderson]
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) - Quadriplegia, Paralysis, Stroke [Mathieu Amalric]
Dominick and Eugene (1988) - Developmental Disability [Tom Hulce, Ray Liotta, Jamie Lee Curtis]
Donnie Darko (2001) - Mental Illness [Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze]
Don't Pull My Leg (1908) - Amputee [Silent Movie]
Door to Door (2002) - Cerebral Palsy [William H. Macy]
Down in the Delta (1998) - Alzheimer's Disease [Alfre Woodard]
Dr. No (1962) - Double Amputee [Sean Connery]
Dr. Strangelove (1964) - Mental Illness [Peter Sellers, George C. Scott]

[E]

Edward Scissorhands (1990) - Amputee [
The Eighth Day (1996) - Down Syndrome [Daniel Auteuil]
The Elephant Man (1980) - Disfigurement [Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt]
Emmanuel's Gift (2005) - Amputee [Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey]
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser (1974) - Physical Disability [Bruno S, Walter Landengast, Brigitte Mira]
Ethan and Jennifer (2008) - Autism [Ethan and Jennifer]
Extraordinary Measures (2010) - Pompe Disease [Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell]
Extreme Measures (1996) - Comatose [Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman]
Eyes in the Night (1942) - Blindness [Donna Reed]

[F]

The Fake Beggar (1896) - Amputee [Silent Picture]
Fearless (2006) - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [Jet Li]
Finding Nemo (2003) - Developmental Disability, Short Term Memory Loss [Ellen DeGeneres]
.....First, Do No Harm (1997) - Epilepsy [Meryl Streep]
The Fisher King (1991) - Mental Illness [Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams]
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Roger Moore]
Forrest Gump (1994) - Developmental Disability [Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Sally Field]
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) - Deafness [Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell]
Freaks (1932) - Dwarfism, Deformity [Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams]
Frida (2002) - Polio [Salma Hayek]

[G]

Garbo Talks (2004) - Brain Tumor [Anne Bancroft, Ron Silver, Carrie Fisher]
Garden State (2004) - Paralysis, Mental Illness [Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard]
Gattaca (1997) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, Uma Thurman]
George Wallace (1997) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Gary Sinise]
Gigot (1962) - Mute [Jackie Gleason]
Girl, Interrupted (1999) - Mental Illness [Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg]
Good Will Hunting (1997) Savant [Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck]
Grey Gardens (1975) - Mental Illness [Edith Bouvier Bealle]
Guide Dogs for the Blind (1939) - Blindness [Leslie Banks]

[H]

Happy Feet (2006) - Disability [Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman]
Harvey (1950) - Mental Illness [James Stewart]
Hear and Now (2007) - Deafness [Sally Taylor]
Heart of a Dragon (2008) - Amputee [Ethan Embry]
Heart of the Dragon (1985) - Mental Disability [Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung]
Heidi (1937) - Disability [Shirley Temple]
Home of the Brave (1949) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Lloyd Bridges]
Hook (1991) - Amputee [Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman]
The Horse Boy (2009) - Autism [The Isaacson Family]
The Horse Whisperer (1998) - Trauma, Mental Illness [Robert Redford, Scarlet Johansson]
House of Cards (2008) - Autism [Kathleen Turner, Tommy Lee Jones]
House of D (2004) - Developmental Disability [Robin Williams, Tea Leoni]
How To Train Your Dragon (2010) - Amputee [Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera]
How's Your News? (1999) - Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy [Robert Bird, Sean Costello]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) - Deformity [Charles Laughton]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Deformity [Jason Alexander]

[I]

I am Sam (2001) - Developmental Disability [Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer]
Ice Castles (1978) - Blindness [Robby Benson, Lynn-Holly Johnson]
If You Could See What I Hear (1985) - Blindness [Marc Singer]
Immortal Beloved (1994) - Deafness [Gary Oldman]
In the Land of the Deaf (1992) - Deafness [Jean-Claude Poulain]
The Inner City (1958) - Developmental Disability, Blindness [United Fund Movie]
Inside I'm Dancing (Rory O'Shea Was Here) (2004) - Cerebral Palsy [Steven Robertson]
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) - Developmental Disability [Halle Berry]
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Paralysis [James Stewart, Donna Reed]

[J]

Jackknife (1989) - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [Ed Harris, Robert DeNiro, Kathy Baker]
Jennifer 8 (1992) - Blindness - Andy Garcia, Uma Thurman]
Johnny Belinda (1948) - Deaf/Mute [Jane Wyman]
Johnny Got His Gun (1971) - Multiple Disabilities, Amputee [Timothy Bottoms]
Joni (1980) - Quadriplegia, Paralysis [Joni Earackson Tada]

[K]

The Kid Brother (1988) - Sacral Agenesis [Kenny Easterday]
Killer Diller (2004) - Autistic Savant [William Lee Scott, Fred Willard, Lucas Black]
King Gimp (1999) - Cerebral Palsy [Dan Klepinger]
Kounandi (2003) - Dwarfism [Deborah Coty]
K-Pax (2001) - Mental Illness [Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges]
Kwaidan (1964) - Blindness [Numerous Actors]

[L]

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971) - Blind and Deaf [Fini Straubinger]
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) - Delusional, Mental Illness [Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer]
Little Man Tate (1991) - Autism [Jodie Foster, Diane Wiest]
Little Voice (1991) - Autism [Brenda Blethyn]
Lorenzo's Oil (1992) - Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) [Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon]
The Loretta Claiborne Story (2000) - Blindness, Developmental Disability [Kimberly Elise, Camryn Manheim]
Love Leads the Way (1984) - Blindness [Timothy Bottoms]
Lust for Life (1956) - Mental Illness [Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn]

[M]

The Man Without a Face (1993) - Disfigurment [Mel Gibson]
Mask (1985) - Craniodiaphyseal Dysplasia [Cher, Sam Elliott, Eric Stoltz]
Matchstick Men (2003) - OCD, Agoraphobia [Nicholas Cage, Sam Rockwell]
Mayor of the West Side (2006) - Multiple Disabilities [Mark Puddington]
Memento (2000) - Short Term Memory Loss [Guy Pearce]
The Memory Keeper's Daughter (2008) - Down Syndrome [Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol]
The Men (1950) - Paralysis [Marlon Brando]
Men of Honor (2000) - Amputee [Cuba Gooding, Jr., Robert DeNiro, Charlize Theron]
Mercury Rising (1998) - Autism [Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin]
The Mighty (1998) - Morquio Syndrome [Sharon Stone]
Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Quadriplegia, Paralysis [Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman]
Miracle in Lane 2 (2000) - Paraplegia [Frankie Muniz]
Miracle Run (2004) - Autism [Mary-Louise Parker, Aidan Quinn]
Miracle Worker (1962) - Blindness, Deafness [Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke]
Monica and David (2009) - Down Syndrome
Monkey Shines (1988) - Quadriplegia, Paralysis [Stanley Tucci, Janine Turner]
Mozart and the Whale (2005) - Asperger Syndrome, Savantism [Josh Hartnett, Radha Mitchell]
Mr. Blue Sky (2007) - Down Syndrome [Chaney Kley]
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) - Deafness [Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly]
Murderball (2005) - Paralysis, Paraplegic [Joe Bishop]
My Flesh and Blood (2003) - Epidermolysis Bullosa, Severe Burns, Cystic Fibrosis, ADHD, Congenital Amputee [Susan Tom]
My Left Foot (1989) - Cerebral Palsy [Daniel Day-Lewis]
My Louisiana Sky (2001) - Developmental Disability [Juliette Lewis]
My Sister's Keeper (2009) - Leukemia [Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz]

[N]

Nell (1994) - Developmental Disability [Jody Foster, Liam Neeson]
Normal People Scare Me (2006) - Autism [Taylor Cross]
Notting Hill (1999) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant]

[O]

Of Mice and Men (1992) - Developmental Disability [John Malkovich, Gary Sinise]
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - Mental Illness [Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito]
The Other Side of the Mountain (1975) - Paralysis, Quadriplegia [Marilyn Hassett, Beau Bridges]
The Other Sister (1999) - Developmental Disability [Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton]

[P]

Passion Fish (1992) - Paralysis, Paraplegia [Mary McDonnell]
Patch Adams (1998) - Various Disabilities [Robin Williams]
A Patch of Blue (1965) - Blindness [Sidney Poitier, Shelley Winters]
Personal Effects (2009) - Deafness [Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher, Kathy Bates]
Peter Pan (2003) - Amputee [Jason Isaacs]
Philadelphia (1993) - AID's, HIV [Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington]
Pi (1998) - Mental Illness [Sean Gullette]
The Piano (1993) - Mute [Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel]
The Pit (1981) - Autism [Sammy Snyders]
Places in the Heart (1984) - Blindness [Sally Field, Ed Harris]
Post Concussion (1999) - Head Injury [Destry Miller]
Proof (2005) - Mental Illness [Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal]
Pumpkin (2002) - Developmental Disability [Christina Ricci]

[Q]

[R]

Radio (2003) - Developmental Disability [Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ed Harris]
Rain Man (1988) - Autistic Savant [Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise]
Ray (2004) - Blindness [Jamie Fox]
Reach for the Sky (1956) - Double Amputee [Kenneth More]
Rear Window (1954) - Physical Disability [James Stewart, Grace Kelly]
Rear Window (Remake) (1998) - Quadriplegia [Christopher Reeves, Daryl Hannah]
Regarding Henry (1991) - Brain Damage [Harrison Ford, Annette Bening]
Remember the Titans (2000) - Paraplegia [Denzel Washington, Will Patton]
Return to Me
The Ringer
Riding the Bus with My Sister
The Ringer
Roadhouse
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Room For One More (1952) - Polio [Cary Grant,
Roxanne
Run Wild, Run Free

[S]

The Saddest Music in the World (2004)
Scent of a Woman
The Sea Inside (2004)
The Secret Garden
The Secret Life of Bees
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
See What I'm Saying: The Deaf Entertainer's Documentary (2009) -
Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll
Shine (1996)
Shooting Beauty
Shrink (2009) -
Silence (1974)
Simple Jack
Slingblade
The Soloist (2008) - Mental Illness
Sound and Fury
Special People
The Station Agent
Steel Magnolias - Type 1 Diabetes
String of Pearls
Stuck on You
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

[T]

Temple Grandin
There's Something About Mary
The Third Parent (2006)
The Three Faces of Eve (1957) - Multiple Personality Disorder
Through Deaf Eyes (2007) -
Tropic Thunder
Tru Confessions (2002)
True Grit (2010) - Amputee

[U]

Unbreakable
Up Syndrome

[V]

[W]

Wait Until Dark
The Waterdance
The Whales of August
What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
When Billy Broke His Head...And Other Tales of Wonder
When the Bough Breaks
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991)
Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get 19 Kids?
Wings (1927)
Wit (2001) - Cancer
Without Pity: A Film About Abilities
The Wizard of Oz

[X]

[Y]

Yarn Princess
You Can't Take it With You

[Z]

Terry Fox: Marathon of Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:59:00 +0000

In February, 1979, Terry Fox began training for what he called The Marathon of Hope. His goal was to run 26 miles every day, running across the total expanse of Canada. What was so amazing is the fact that he was going to run a marathon each day...on one prosthetic leg.

Terry Fox had cancer when he was a teenager and had to have his leg amputated. This is when he decided to run across Canada.

He never made it. For 143 days, 1339 miles, he ran his Marathon of Hope. But when he reached Thunder Bay, Ontario, he asked to be taken to the hospital. The doctors found that the cancer had returned and it had reached his lungs. A few months later, on June 28, 1981, Terry Fox died, one month before his 23rd birthday.

Terry has become an inspiration to not only the nation of Canada, but to people all around the world. Below is an ESPN video that honors Terry Fox. In addition, there is a promo for ESPN's 30 for 30, an hour long story that honors his legacy. To see his story, check your local listing.

Is Your 'Disability' Keeping Christ on the Cross?

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:18:00 +0000

My wife, Karen, and I went to church recently and the band played the song, How Deep the Father's Love for Us. Now, I have sung this song many times before, but this time it was personal.

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only son

To make a wretch His treasure.

I have been feeling like a wretch lately. As I have written in previous articles, I have been fighting to overcome depression. (See Some Nutritional and Spiritual Things I Have Learned about Depression.) And, as my mind becomes more and more lucid, I am realizing that this debilitation has had a negative impact on the people around me.

The Lord has been renovating my heart and mind, and though it has been emotionally painful allowing Him to teach me through very difficult circumstances, I have chosen to accept the pain and follow His lead; shedding the fear and embracing the faith.

How great the pain of searing loss

The father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the chosen one

Bring many sons to glory.

In my depression induced stupor, I have been 'disabled' by anger and fear, allowing them to permeate every crevice of who I am; and my pride has not allowed me to think that there is anything wrong with me. I have tended to pawn blame on others, even on God, not willing to accept the fact that maybe I need to change.

So I am letting go of the anger, I am releasing the fear. I am choosing to hand over my pride.

Behold the man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear his mocking voice,

Call out among the scoffers.

And I hear the whispers in my head. You can't get past this. You are not good enough. Do you really think your life can have meaning? Think about how old you are. Your life is almost over.

Have you ever heard those whispers; holding you down, keeping you from being the person that God chose you to be? It is not the pain in your life; it is how you handle the pain.

It is my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished.

As we sang this song that I have known so well, we came to this verse and there it was; It was my sin that held Him there. It hit me right between the eyes; because I have held onto my sin, I have allowed His resurrection in my life. What loss; through His pain, there has been no gain. It has been my sin that has held Him there and because of this, I have not been free.

Is there something that you are holding onto? Is your 'disability' keeping Christ on the cross? Or is His resurrection giving you life?

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection.

And when it is all stripped away; the reality seeps in that it is only Jesus Christ who can take our 'disabled' minds and hearts and truly give us life...life giving, real living...life.

As II Corinthians 12:9 states: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me."

We can only boast about our weaknesses when, in confidence, we can attest to Christ's power in our lives. So here it is. What is holding you back? What is disabling you from experiencing Christ's wonderful power in your life?

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom. [1]

[1] 'How Great the Father's Love for Us' was written by Stuart Townend. For more information about Stuart, go to: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk

If you liked this post, check out one of these:

From 'Disabled' to Enabled by Kent Robson
Overcoming Depression by Lori Laws
I Really and Truly Surrender All by Lori Laws
Some Nutritional and Spiritual Things I Have Learned about Depression by Kent Robson

Lyrics | Sarah Sadler lyrics - How Deep The Father's Love For Us lyrics

Brock Mealer: Leading the Charge for Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:28:00 +0000

By Nicole Auerbach for Sports Illustrated

Around 9:35 p.m. on Christmas Eve three years ago in the small northwest Ohio town of Wauseon, David Mealer drove his family to Midnight Mass. The family had been on their way home from a holiday party and made sure to leave in time to get to the church, a long-standing tradition on Christmas Eve for the Mealers. Along with David, a 50-year-old family man, were his wife, Shelly, and his sons Brock and Elliott, athletic boys who had both found sports they loved in high school -- basketball for Brock, football for Elliott. Hollis Richer, Elliott's longtime girlfriend and a charming 17-year-old girl who knew the Bible like the back of her hand, was also with them. Hollis had fallen asleep on Elliott's shoulder. The rest of the car was quiet.

As David moved toward the intersection of Route 2 and Fulton County Road 19, the last thing he saw was 90-year-old Edward Johnson running a stop sign. Johnson's 1991 Buick Skylark smashed into the Mealers' SUV, toppling it onto its passenger side.

David and Hollis died in the accident. Elliott would require shoulder surgery and rehabilitation before he could return to football.

Brock, who was 23 at the time, ended up pinned between the SUV and the ground. He could not move his legs. He was immediately brought to nearby Fulton County Hospital, but was unable to receive surgery there. He later spent 10 days at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, where he underwent spinal surgery. There, doctors told him that his T-12 vertebra was broken and his L-1 vertebra was shattered. He had also broken his right forearm near his wrist. For days after his surgery, he couldn't sit upright without assistance. Nights were the hardest on his mother Shelly, who slept in a chair to be near her son. "At night, in the beginning, he cried for his mother every night," Shelly said. "And he just cried for his dad."

The television wasn't on in Brock hospital room on Feb. 3, 2008, but if it had been, it would have shown Super Bowl XLII. The Giants were playing the heavily favored and undefeated New England Patriots, but kickoff had come and gone and Brock wasn't watching. He had finished up his afternoon physical therapy when a visitor arrived. "I had forgotten the game was even on," Brock said. "I was been lying in bed when my mom said, 'Someone's here to see you.' She told me it was (Michigan) coach (Rich) Rodriguez."

How did a student at Ohio State University end up leading the Michigan Wolverines onto the field for their first game of the year. To read the complete story, go to:

http://images.si.com/vault/article/web/COM1174060/1/index.htm

Practical Applications for When Life Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:31:00 +0000

by Kent Robson

I have four children. They are almost grown now; but when they were younger, my wife, Karen, and I seemed to, too often, be inundated by words that they would come home with; words that were not overly offensive, but were not quite pure either. We would lament the fact that they brought home these little nuggets of verbal refuse and were taken aback at times when they were used in a sentence; spitting them out staccato like, the words sounding like a snobbish little child, jumping up and down in front of your face and saying ‘I’m here, look at me!’

Words like ‘suck’. We were not very strong in our resistance to this word and, over time, it began to comfortably sit in our own vocabulary. It’s kind of like family now. All families have at least one shady character and the word ‘suck’ is the strange uncle in our language.

So, as an emphasis to how life is sometimes, I have chosen this word as a part of the title of this article, mainly because it really seems to be the right word for the topic. Life really sucks sometimes, and when it does, what are practical things that we can do about it?

Recently, I shared about my bout with depression. (See Some Nutritional and Spiritual Things I Have Learned about Depression) Because it has had a profound effect on the relationships around me, it has had a profound effect on how I move forward. Though I am on the tail end of the actual depression, the effects and what I need to do, still lingers and will for a good while. Life is very hard, but the Lord has begun to use this experience to give me a new perspective that I have never had before.

Whatever hard times that you may be going through, here are 5 key points that may assist you in your efforts to walk through each day with joy and grace.

Substitute Worry with Praise

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[^a^]? (Matthew 6:25-27)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? How many times have you worried about something and nothing came of it. You wasted the time worrying about the worst that is could happen when you could have been focused on the best that is happening.

One month after my daughter, Kathryn, was born my wife Karen contracted Toxic Shock Syndrome. She had developed an infection that began to take control of her body. In the morning, we thought she had the flu. By noon, she was in the emergency room and they were trying to save her life.

Twenty-one years later, she is alive and well. But how each of us handled the urgency of the situation is something that still sticks with me today. I was sick with worry about what I would do if I lost her. She was completely focused on the need and desire to feed her daughter. My focus was on me. Her focus was on another.

Her temperature was 106 and her blood pressure was desperately low. They had her feet elevated in the air and her head pointed towards the floor. They were placing icy cold compresses all over her body to try to get her temperature down. During this time, Karen was asking the nurses whether she would be able to nurse her daughter. I was concerned about her death and she was concerned about the life that we had created.

This is how our minds work. It is not in Karen’s DNA to do a whole lot of worrying. I, however, worry about everything.

Worry and fear takes away from the productivity at hand. It squelches the pleasure and joy that the Lord can give us, in spite of whatever circumstances that we are in. There have been many difficult times that I have been in during my 52 years of life. As I look back and evaluate, I realize that, in spite of me and my weaknesses, the Lord was good and He sustained us, and all of the worry that I allowed myself to focus on took away the joy that I could have had in truly seeing God at work in the moment.

When our Lord prayed the Lords’ prayer, it was a blueprint for how we should daily live our life. The first line is Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. What it means is, before anything else, praise Him first. Praise Him for the good and what He has done and praise Him for the bad and what He will do. It hearkens back to a hymn that my mother used to sing (to the tune of an old McGuire Sisters song called Sugartime):

Praise Him in the morning

Praise Him in the evening

Praise Him at suppertime

Praise my Living Savior and praise Him all the time.

If ‘the Lord "inhabits" the praises of His people’ (Psa. 22:3), then it is safe to say that our praise to Him is brought back to us sevenfold and He is able to give us the joy that He so wants to give us.

It’s a New Day

Every day is a new day. We are blessed to have it. What will we choose to do with it? Randy Pausch came to fame through a lecture he gave to his students after he found out he was dying of cancer. His lecture is now famously called ‘The Last Lecture’ and, though he has since died, his words remain to encourage others. Here a few nuggets of insight that Randy gave in his lecture:

‘We cannot change the way the cards were dealt, just the way we play the hand.’

‘The key question to keep asking is, ‘Are you spending your time on the right things, because time is all you have?’

‘Look, I'm going to find a way to be happy, and I'd really love to be happy with you, but if I can't be happy with you, then I'll find a way to be happy without you.’

If we choose to maintain a ‘woe is me’ attitude, we will continue to stay in the frame of reference that we are in. If, however, we see it as a new day and ask the Lord to show us a new direction, as we take each wobbly step, He will show us the way. After I have praised Him for the day to come, I have chosen to do ask Him the following:

What will you teach me? What can I learn through every circumstance that comes my way?

How can I make a difference? How can I impact others each and every day?

Nick Vujicic, a man who was born without arms and legs, has chosen to turn his weaknesses into strengths. Now a world traveler, motivational speaker and founder of the organization Life Without Limbs, Nick says: “If the world thinks you are not good enough, it’s a lie, you know. Get a second opinion.”

The Lord has created you for a purpose. Use this new day to find out what it is going to be.

One Foot Forward

When we experience something painful and difficult, it takes away the ‘normal’ life that we once had. It is like being kicked in the gut and, for a time, we are just trying to breathe. But, at some point in time, we must begin to move forward and try to figure out what new ‘normal’ we can experience. The only way we can do this is with one foot forward.

Remember when your children took their first step. It was tentative and precarious and, often it was a good thing that they had a diaper for padding because they fell flat on their behind. It might hurt a little and they might shed a tear, but more often than not, they picked themselves back up and slowly pushed back up on those chubby little legs and tried again. Before you knew it, there were moving all over the place and you were wishing that they had never learned to walk because of the all of the mischief that they were now getting into.

We must take that first shaky step. And, with each step, we will slowly but surely, begin to find our way.

Celebrate the Little Things

In spite of the pain and difficulty, if you are truly searching, there are always little things that you can celebrate. But you have to look for it.

Searching for treasure is not easy. When archaeologists are on a dig, they are digging through all of the dirt and dust to hopefully find something that may or may not be there. They are anticipating the hope of something good and when they find something, they celebrate the good that was found.

It is a painstaking task. Even when they do find things, they may spend many hours on their hands and knees, using toothbrushes and picks to gingerly chip away at the rock that may be attached to the prize.

The same is true with our life. It is filled with the dirt and dust of humanity. What if we made a commitment in our lives to choose to search for spiritual treasure? And through all of the dirt and dust of the day, anticipate the hope of something good and celebrate the good that is found. We may be amazed at what we may find; if we choose to find it.

Conclusion

So, life sucks! What are we going to do about it? In conclusion, I suggest that you make this your template for success:

1. Pray:

i. Praise Him for the life that He has given you.

ii. Place your life in His hands.

2. Plan:

i. Prepare for the day

ii. Plan for the future.

3. Play:

i. Pursue the joy that only He can give you

ii. Plod forward, one step at a time.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2010©KentRobson

If you liked this article, check out one of the following:
Some Nutritional and Spiritual Things I have Learned about Depression
In the Nick of Time
Nick Vujicic and Bethany Hamilton
Butterfly Circus
As We Help Each Other, We Will Be Changed

The "Tail" of Rugby Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:48:00 +0000

The "Tail" of Rugby Jones, a Rascal's Journey from Ability to Disability is a story about Rugby Jones, a Pembrooke Welsh Corgi who loved living "the dogs life" on a Pennsylvania horse farm; until that tragic day when another dog injured him beyond repair. Paralyzed, his back ruined, everyone suggested that he be put to sleep. This is a video about Rugby Jones and his new life.

To read the complete story, check his book out at The Ability Store. Just go to this link below:
http://astore.amazon.com/jazzed4lifese-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=2

It you are interested in reading similar stories, check out this book:

Gracie Comes Home: The Adventures of Gracie and Diane: http://astore.amazon.com/jazzed4lifese-20/detail/1932738452

Steve Wampler Completes his Climbing Quest

noreply@blogger.com (Kent Robson) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:12:00 +0000

On Friday, September 17th, Steve Wampler became the first disabled man to climb the sheer face of El Capitan. He reached the top at 5:10 pm, six days after he began his ascent.

Steve used a specially designed "pull-up bar" to inch his way up, six inches at a time, the cliff. It is estimated that Steve had to do 21,000 pull-ups over the 6 day span.

Steve trained for over a year to complete this arduous task. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Steve's main objective was to raise awareness and raise money. His goal was to raise $2 million to support Camp Wamp, a camp that is owned and run by Steve and his wife. Camp Wamp provides wilderness camping experiences for children with disabilities.

What Steve will do next is anyone's guess. But he probably has something in mind.

2010©KentRobson

To read more about Steve Wampler, go to:
http://esentialz.blogspot.com/2010/09/steve-wampler-and-his-quest-to-climb-el.html

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