Recently my friend with a disability lost his job and he came to me and asked for advice on what to do and where to go from here. I told him to never give up and not let anyone tell him that he can’t do something. Also, being on the FYC has taught me to be more compassionate about peoples’ feelings. At the end of the conversation he thanked me for the great advice I gave him.

-Matt

One thing I have particularly enjoyed this year is my English Comp II class. We were assigned to read a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon at the beginning of the semester and I have just finished it. I really enjoyed the book. Not only did I like the book because of the story and writing style; I enjoyed the feeling of having the story to look forward to reading when I had nothing else to do. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to be deep in a good story. My mind was always thinking about what would happen next and how the characters would handle the situation they were in when I had left them.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I just want to take this time to tell everyone who reads this that they should find a good novel and settle into it. It’s a nice way to spend time, and it will always keep you busy and learning new words and concepts. I am sad that my book is done now and that there is no more of that story to look forward to, but I am excited to find another interesting story and sink my teeth into it. I have even recently taken up storytelling myself. It’s fun to let your imagination wander as you create a plot out of nothing. Everyone should definitely try to create a story sometime, the freedom is endless, and you can weave as many stories into the story as you want. But at the least, go out and find a good book to read!

-Mason

Today at school I was roaming around the internet for the latest technology and I stumbled across a really cool article. As some of you know I am a web designer and now I am taking web programming. Anything that deals with computers catches my eye. Ok back to my story. I was on computerworld.com and there was a computer designed especially for the blind. It’s a futuristic computer and will be available in 2015. The Siafu concept notebook was designed by Jonathan Lucas and omits a display altogether. Images from applications and Web sites are converted into corresponding 3-D shapes on the Siafu’s surface.

Because the blind can’t see what’s on the screen, the Siafu converts images into corresponding 3-D shapes that are created with Magneclay, an oil-based synthetic material that instantly forms shapes in response to electrical fields. In such hands-on computing, you interact with the Siafu with your fingers to feel the bumps and protrusions that pop up. The Magneclay surface could be used for reading a Braille newspaper, feeling the shape of someone’s face or going over a tactile representation of a blueprint.

It’s just so amazing to me that there are inventors that come up with such creative technology that could allow an individual that could never see the screen on the computer to feel the images. When I see things like this it makes me feel good that this is the field I’m in.

The Siafu concept notebook

-Lizzy

      Don’t believe me? Well, this year for Disability History and Awareness Weeks in Florida I decided I was going to go all out. I mean, why not? I had resources, great ideas, and time to make it happen. So I did!

        I decided that I would start by getting the word out. It was easier than tying my shoes (which is actually very difficult!) All I did was get on the internet and look up my local newspapers, TV station and radio stations. For the newspapers, I search their website until I found a chief editor; once I found that person’s email address I wrote them a letter. My letters through email just explained my goal to spread the word and asked if they would do something simple, such as maybe mention it on a calendar of events for the month of October. Well, both newspapers were really willing to help me reach my goal; they each published a whole article!

Tying Shoes

        I followed the same steps for the radio station. I simply sent an email to one of the people who spoke in the mornings, asking if they would just mention the Disability History and Awareness Weeks and say a few facts. They were pleased to help and gladly did so!

        The TV station, I thought, would be the hardest. But actually they loved the idea and the cause and wanted to do a story on Disability History and Awareness Weeks! In order to make the story grand, I decided to go to my local high school and ask if they would sponsor an event to spread Disability Awareness. I’m calling my event a “Disability Simulation,” because students will get the chance to “try out” different disabilities! We haven’t set a date yet, but I’m hoping it will be soon!

        Keep checking back for more updates! Thanks!

-Whitney

Here are the links to stories:

Pensacola News Journal

Gulf Breeze News

At first I did not want to go to college because of what I heard from most of my peers and a lot of my teachers. They all said that in college you are mostly on your own in learning the material. I was resentful, fearful, and I just couldn’t stand the thought of going to college where the professors do not have time to stop the class to answer a bunch of questions. As someone with my kind disability that factor scared me. Plus, I never felt like I fitted in with my peers in school. Two things made me change my mind before the final day to register. One is the fact my mom is paying for my college and encouraged me to go. The second reason it that my birth family did not have a much of an opportunity for a good education because they were very poor.

The second fact hit me while I was listening to “Go the Distance” from the movie, Hercules. Hercules is a story of a man who finds his way in life while becoming a true hero. In the song, he’s saying, no matter how hard things get, he felt he could go this distance because God needed him to go and make sacrifices, both financially and physically. For me college was just my sacrifice. Hercules wants to be . . . a true hero so I feel by me going, I would go the distance with my career and my own style of living.

Now when I think about it, I love college! My plans for college are to get through it with B or better average. The degree I’m getting is in communications because I want to be in marketing and advertisement and social working. My peers ask me about the homework and I help them with it, and for the first time, in school, I finally feel like I fit in and that I matter. I know it’s because I chose to follow my mom’s advice, which was wait to ask questions at the end of class when people leave; otherwise, people get frustrated when the class is held up because of questions. If only I chose to listen to her years ago.

-Sara

On September 19, 2009 I went to the RED Conference in a local school in Fort Myers. RED stands for Radically Engaged Disciple, which that is what the conference was about. There were two speakers at this conference one was Jay Strack founder of Rock The Universe and the other one was Frank Reynoso. They both spoke on leadership and how it is the core of everything we do. Jay Strack told us this one quote which I will never forget it, it was “in order to be a leader, you have to be a servant first. That struck deep in my brain as I thought about the Youth Council. I thought about how we do an annual Youth Summit to serve the Community around us. That makes us leaders, doesn’t it? They also talked about engaging others around you. If we don’t engage each other then we will fall more and more away from others.

-Lizzy

Toys R Us

Yesterday, Sunday, Nov. 1^st, I was reading the Toys R Us toy catalog and I noticed to my surprise that on page 3Oa there was a girl in a wheelchair! Wow - what a nice thing to see! Also, on page 37a there was a girl with Down Syndrome, and I thought it was really cool to see that. I have never seen that before. It’s about time! Just wanted to share this with everyone.

-Matt

To view the Toys R Us Catalog Click this Here.