Resources – TOOLEY SPEAK

Kevin’s

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

From time to time, I will add new resources to this list. Please bookmark this page and check back in later to see What’s New!

Adult Life Programs operates day centers for adult, 18 years and older, who desire or are in need of Adult Day services. Our three centers are located in Catawba County, and serve residents of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and Lincoln counties. The centers are staffed by trained and experienced employees. Click Here to read more about the Adult Life Programs staff team and employment opportunities.

The Walkin’ Roll Activities League, Inc. supports and nurtures individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages by providing team building opportunities through T-Ball, dancing, game nights and other group activities. The focus of our league is to build self-esteem and confidence in individual performance in a nurturing atmosphere. Organized team sports and activities will provide opportunities for participation. Click Here to learn more about Walkin’ Roll Activities League, Inc.

Ainsley’s Angels is a non-profit organization that pairs individuals with special needs (“athlete riders”) with able-bodied volunteers (“angel runners”) to participate in endurance events like 5Ks, 10Ks, and marathons using specialized racing wheelchairs. Click Here to learn more about Ainsley’s Angels.

Kevin's Advice

When approaching a person in a wheelchair or a person with a disability, it may be assumed that the person is not intelligent and they may label them as learning disabled.

Below are a few strategies of ways to interact with a person who has a disability.

1) Don’t assume that the person with a disability can’t hear you because they can’t speak.

2) Ask the caregiver if you can talk to the individual, because they may have anxiety or other issues with meeting new people.

3) You have to be patient with the person who has a disability.

4) If the person has a communication device used by a joystick to communicate their thoughts, don’t walk away from them.

5) Don’t treat disabled people differently.

When a person comes up to a person who is in a wheelchair, they assume that the wheelchair person is not intelligent and that person labels them as learning disabled and I have experienced that too many times and I hate that. Here’s my experience, I had a lady testing me for my IQ she said Kevin, stack the blocks and i could do it then she labeled me as mentally retardant so my speech pathologist came in our classroom and told my teacher that I should be retested and I was. Jennifer was there and she was like “what is the problem?”
Here’s a few strategies to interact with a person who has
Number one: Don’t assume that the person with a disability can’t hear you because they can’t speak.
Number two: Ask the caregiver if you can talk to the individual, because they may have some issues with meeting new people and they might have some anxiety about it.
Number three: You have to be patient with the person who has a disability.
Number four: If the person has a communication device that is used by a joystick to communicate their thoughts, don’t walk away from them.
Number five: Don’t treat disabled people differently.

Kevin’s

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

“Our life’s mission should be to share the gifts we have and give back to society”

KEVIN TOOLEY – 2016