I have a Voice
I have a voice because I can see.
I have a voice because I can feel.
I have a voice because I can move.
I have a voice because you do too.
I have a voice because I'm alive.
And I matter too.
Preeti Subramaniam
My first time going to that camp opened my eyes and changed the person I was inside and out. I saw how everyone was being treated and I realized that all I wanted all these years was… to be treated like everyone else. The staff are wonderful and they understand what these campers need. This is the best experience I ever had. I always want to go to camp, no matter what the cost. As a friend once said, your disability disappears when you are up there at camp. And it's true! My first year up there, I felt like my disability disappeared. Every year when I go home, I keep saying "I want to go back, I want to go back." Not only did the other campers teach me that when you put your mind to do something anything is possible, but so did the directors and the counselors.
Camp Oakes has become my home and the directors, counselors and campers have become my family. Thank you all for making me a part of your family. I love you all!
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Lora Glassman Easterseals Camp participant and Associate of the Disability Thrive Initiative Project.
Camp Oakes… a place for people with disabilities. A place where those people with disabilities become campers. And a place where those campers get to do things that people without disabilities do all the time. This is a place where people are not judged on anything- by their looks, what they say, or what they do. This is a place where people are loved- unconditionally. They are also loved because they all have something to teach, not only with the counselors and staff, but with each other as well.
Easterseals Camp is a week-long fully accessible camp experience held at YMCA Camp Oakes in Big Bear, which is fully accredited through the American Camp Association, and offers people with disabilities the same excitement and activities available at other camps.
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What PCCP means to me ...
Many people suffer in silence, abused sometimes physically, sometimes economically, and others that hurt too much to mention. Mentally abused, many times by those deemed caregivers and even family, which can lead to self-abuse, as if just being was not already a difficult enough struggle in this society.
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PCCP to me is a wakeup call for justice, one community, freedom and respect of the disabled community. A call to the end of various human rights violations and denial of simple citizens privileges like a ramp to enter a public building. It means a call for the end of that lingering and selfish ableism self-delusional mentality and stares of disdain from our fearful society.
A chance for self- motivation, self-modulation, self-improvement, self-investment, and most important self-empowerment, self-love, and self-reliance.
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William Ramirez, LSC, Hollywood/Glendale II
ESSC ADS - 18 years 10 months
Community Blog
Code of Conduct
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Be kind. We are all struggling with something.
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Be respectful. We may be part of the same community, but we all have different life experiences. Let’s learn from one another.
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No bullying, threats, violence, or hate speech.
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Degrading comments or harassment of any kind will NOT be tolerated.
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If any member violates any of the above guidelines a warning will be given along with training related to the violation. Any member violating any guideline for a second time will be removed from our community.
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If you feel you are being bullied, harassed or someone is making threats to you,
please email Lendy Ruano@ lendy.ruano@essc.org
or call 818-306-6752.
A safe and inclusive space for Easterseals Southern California
Adult Day Services (ESSC ADS).
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A community blog for all at Easterseals Adult Day Services. A place where you can express yourself, share your knowledge, create joy and much more.
Let's Us Speak For Ourselves...
I have had multiple times of the same experience of where people would talk to my mom (or someone who was with me) instead of me directly; or ask a question about me and my mom (or that other person) would say the same thing the mom in the article did. People need to be educated that not all people who have a disability can’t talk or can’t communicate in some way. People also need to understand that people who have a disability are people too and are not people to be feared or cast aside because they are different.
Lora Glassman
Easterseals participant
and Associate of the Disability Thrive Initiative Project
Lora is a unique individual, who was born with a rare brain abnormality called Schizencephaly. Doctors’ told her parents, she would have limited mental capacity and would never be independent. Lora’s parents looked at their six-month-old daughter and thought otherwise, deciding there, that doctors did not know everything. They pursued early intervention and full-inclusion in public schools. Despite having five surgeries by the time she was 10, Lora remained a happy, upbeat kid. Lora is a college graduated, she has her Bachelor’s degree in Radio, Television and Film and has appeared in several television shows. She also serves as a spokesperson for the organization by being an Easterseals Ambassador. She rode on the Easterseals 100th anniversary float in the Rose Parade; spoke at numerous fundraisers and shares the Easterseals mission at various events. Lora’s belief is: “We’re different, but the same at the same time.”
12 PM and 6 PM (EST)
Monday through Saturday
Peer to Peer Support for Any All Lives Matter
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Free digital peer support for anyone, anywhere. 18+.
This is a peer support group not a clinical support group.
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Need coping or triggered support?
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Are you having a hard time with NOT being, ok?
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Need a safe place to talk?
Please register to receive information to join these
gatherings by sending an email using the button below.
Does your child struggle with school? Do they dread reading out loud, writing an essay, or tackling math? Here’s how to recognize the signs of different types of learning disorders.
Please, if you’re in a violent situation, know you aren’t alone. The hardest part is taking the step to get help, with a group trained to give the help necessary. You are stronger than you think, and deserve better.
"My name is Betty, I was born on December 5, 1989 the moment I was received from my mom the doctor pulled me out by the head, I believed that was how I was born disabled
In the beginning of my life, it did not affect my upbringing or me. It was my mom who found out of my disability when I was little. I used to walk on my toes, which my parents thought was normal until, they took me to the doctor. The doctor said to my parents that I have a learning disability and it was going to take time for me to learn things like reading and how to process things that most will know how. As for the Cerebral Palsy it was shown by my first operation when I was little, the sign was shown by my legs the doctor said that they were able to fix only one leg, I felt something bad will happen which was that the doctor couldn’t help me
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Before I had surgery, I had six doctors put me down by putting an oxygen mask on me from that moment I don’t remember how the surgery went
After the surgery I still lived a happy normal childhood I ran, walked and simply being a kid until I got older my legs began to get weaken, from there I went to leg therapy and I was introduced to my legs braces for the first time and then a walker. One day I was in my wheelchair in the park with my classmates and my teacher took me aside telling me that she believed that I could walk again and she encouraged me to get out of my wheelchair. I got off my wheelchair, I took two or three steps I did have an assistant with me but when I took those steps I was happy since that day I was walking with my braces walker and then more years passed my legs were getting weaker than stronger
Then I began to gained weight then one day I was in my early teens I decided to get up and didn’t use my braces or my walker I decided to walk with neither of them, I wanted to prove to myself, that I didn’t needed
I walked in my kitchen to grab juice when I grabbed it I was so proud of myself. I knew what I wanted to do in my life, I wanted to be an advocate for children who couldn’t find their voices. It started when my dad laughed at another child with a disability and my mom turned to him and told him to be quiet, how dare you laugh at that child you might as well laugh at your own child. In my inner thoughts I said yea dad are you laughing at me too I began to cry quietly when my mom made eye contact with me I told her I’ll want to be a hand for those who are like me.
My mom said, daughter I know why you want to be that, you are tired of others laughing at you and your friends I think it’s a good idea. Then my mom said daughter I know that others and dad will not say sorry because he’s not laughing at you but you felt he was laughing at you then my mom says sorry that I heard my dad laughing then that was that.
Despite of my trials I know I will be able to walk with my braces and walker or without them. Stop putting me and my peeps down it’s time to have our voices heard." - Beatriz Partida (Prefers Betty)
Can You?
Poem by: Priscilla Gonzales
Lancaster, CA ADS
After 9 months of supporting Our Voices Matter,
I finally had the opportunity to meet
Our Voices Matter President, Betty.
Thank you to Carlos Guillen for inviting me to join your Harvest Brunch and giving me the opportunity to meet Betty.
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Lendy Ruano
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