Able Writer was born out of frustration. I had been working for and with disability-related non-profit organizations for over 4 years. During that time I witnessed many of the gains people with disabilities had fought so hard for in civil rights community integration and equal opportunity disappearing at breathtaking speeds. At the same time new “lobbying” restrictions placed on non-profits receiving public funds made it all but impossible for those organizations to effectively advocate for the people they served. Eventually it became clear that the only way to change this broken system was to step outside of it.
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. I don’t know about that, but I had witnessed words, even at times my own, having a profound effect on the attitudes, opinions and actions of others. I loved to write. I wasn’t sure I was good enough and I didn’t know how I would do it, but I decided I would quit my job and try to make a living writing about disability rights. That was the beginning of Able Writer Says.
It’s taken several different detours and hiatuses, but I hope it continues to inform, entertain, puzzle and yes, even provoke. I certainly don’t want to make any enemies. (Lord knows NH is way too small for that.) But I do want Able Writer to encourage everyone, even myself, to rethink our assumptions, biases and attitudes.
How come I didn’t have any idea about your blog?? Can I put some of this in the next edition of the NH Challnge? We’re doing a Special Edition that’s about to go to print. We met with Dennis Powers about the Managed Care Medicaid law to get some idea of how this will effect the DD community.
I know I let ABLE NH down allot but I can at least get publicity for the group & the GSOP .
Jan
Hi Jan,
The blog was on hiatus for a while. That may be why you didn’t hear of it. I’d love to have it mentioned in the NH Challenge.