Save your sanity, time & money!

Need solutions for the medication, medical appliances and/or medical travel that you can't afford? READ EMPOWER Yourself.

A Health Information Management professional, I survived a life-threatening emergency with information that only a person of my professional experience would know. And I’m sharing it!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Nifty News about a "Passionate" Writer!

B'SD


29 Elul 5771



 I'm interrupting this pre-holiday break to share some praise with you. No, not about the luscious aroma of another loaf of freshly baked bread I'm baking, but about my professionalism as a writer. I work in journalism and provide different writing services for various clients. Here's what a colleague says about my efforts on a recent joint project we both found quite difficult:



"Yocheved has a remarkable spirit
and an even greater heart.
Her writing reflects her
deepest passions and sensitivities,
expressed in a style that is
wholly unique." Gavriel Horan



Gosh, if he thinks that much of my work under less than desirable conditions, guess what YOU will think of this labor of love that lowers your stress and reduces your medical costs





Buy your copy of E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge TODAY. Simply click on Booklocker Publishing.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Monday, September 26, 2011

See you Next Year! And... What to Do if Holidays are Hard for You and Your Health Issues

B'SD


28 5771


I'm sorry you don't smell the aroma of my freshly baked raisin and spelt breads/challah that I just pulled from the oven. They're for Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year. It begins Wednesday night.


I'm up to my shoulders in preparations, and wish you a new year of increased inner and outer health, happiness and joy.




If you find holidays especially hard because of your health problems, read the funnier sections of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. I'm sure you'll giggle and smile.

See you next year, 5772.


Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Crying and Crying for the Victims. ALL of Them..

B'SD


Today is 23 Elul, the yahrtzeit (annual Jewish commemoration of someone's passing) for the people who died in the 9/11 attacks. May G'D avenge their blood and heal the broken hearts of their survivors.





Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

An Interesting Compliment and a Wonderful Cause

B'SD


21 Elul 5771



 I've been busy with writing assignments, personal life and preparing for the High Holiday season. Outta the blue, I saw this message on my monitor:



"Your book looks good, practical,
and resourceful. I'll make sure
to share this info around.
Shana Tova, Moshe"


The writer is:
Moshe Ross (phone 310.362.7037)
Private Redemption Foundation
Keren Kayemet #13/6, Jerusalem 92428, Israel
8950 W Olympic Blvd. #479, Beverly Hills, California 90211
http://www.privateredemption.org/ (tax ID #54-2195251)


He works with an charitable organization that does remarkable things for desperate people:


[Volunteer Opp] A US 100% tax-deductible High Holidays donation opportunity exists with a non-profit operating in Jerusalem that provides help to broken and desperate Jewish women, motivated and capable, that have experienced sudden catastrophe in their life and are right now struggling to meet fundamental needs. Among them are women and children that recently lost their husband and father, young women who have become ill, and elderly and orphans that are living in the deepest despair.


Your heartfelt generosity will make it possible for them to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, knowing they can stay securely in their homes with food on their tables and with the most basic household necessities.


Private Redemption Foundation provides emergency assistance plus long-term solutions, including holiday meals, rent subsidies, basic needs, jobs, financial planning & more.


Please donate online at www.PrivateRedemption.org or mail your US 100% tax-deductible check to Private Redemption Foundation (US Tax ID #54-2195251), Keren Kayemet #13/6, Jerusalem, or 8950 W Olympic Blvd. #479, Beverly Hills, CA, 90211.


Volunteers can also help to make a real difference in helping to turn lives around by contributing their skills, talents or time.


Share this with everyone you know: Facebook, Linked-in, email, phone, SMS...did I leave anyone out? For more information, endorsements, testimonials and 1-minute movies please visit http://www.privateredemption.org/.


Thank you and best wishes for a good, sweet New Year.


Moshe Ross
Los Angeles to Jerusalem 2010




WHY is he so interested in the book? Because the soothing text provides coping skills for distressed readers, and lots of information about how to lower your medical expenses.

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Buy it at Booklocker today!

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.



Sunday, September 18, 2011

Save a Life with Your Kidney Donation

B'SD


19 Elul 5771



 I'm increasingly aware of people struggling to stay alive until they receive life-saving kidney donations. I'm also increasingly aware of people who've donated kidneys (I wrote a feature story about one of those donors).


Here are some easily understood facts about making a kidney donation, from Dr. Lloyd Ratner of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital's kidney donation team:






EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge. Buy the book you need TODAY!

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Vacation Sensation


B'SD


15 Elul 5771




I'm back from a retreat up north. I'm speechless from the intense joy, comfort, spirituality, natural and man-made beauty of Rosh Pina, the workshops, plus new connections and revealed older connections of the participants from all over the country. Utterly, deeply fascinating, fun, mesmerizing and mystical as participants with different worldviews bonded with each other. It was NOT the mere vacation experience I'd expected. This was indescribable. Just the raw natural beauty around us was very emotionally and physically healing to retreat participants.


Much of the retreat was focused on emotional, spiritual and physical health. Brisk book sales put smiles on the faces of my readers as EMPOWER Yourself addresses all those issues, and then some. Retreat participants spoke with me privately of their physical and emotional diagnoses and how they've been inspired by my personal story to surpass them. They appreciate the book's message that "There is no One-Size-Fits-All" solution to multiple medical problems. The text helps you to take your challenges one doable step at a time, and illustrates the variety of methods for solving different problems. We are not locked in to one way of doing things. Miracles abound in the world. We have the power of making choices and inviting The One Above to let some miracles happen with us.




EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

School is for Nurturing Potential, NOT for Smothering It!

B'SD


9 Elul 5771



 I hope you've found this week's pro-people and pro-education thoughts helpful. Here's something to think about over the weekend:







Learn more about protecting yourself when you read EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge from Booklocker Publishing!

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.


Sunday, September 4, 2011

10 BEST Ways to Interact with Students of All Ages & Abilities!

B'SD


5 Elul 5771



Here's Part II of my blogposts for promoting fairness and decency in educational settings: 

It’s one to thing to raise the bar on students so they can achieve goals beyond their present levels of accomplishments. It’s a whole ‘nuther thing to humiliate people with unrealistic demands for change - or to tolerate intimidating or humiliating behavior from colleagues and other students.

Let’s get started with a far better way of looking at life for all concerned. Decide to appreciate students for their intrinsic worth, accomplishments, goals and personalities. You’re the teacher or fellow student. Let the opportunity to prove one’s worth proceed with a cheerful spirit.


"10 BEST Ways to Interact with Students of All
Ages and Abilities"


1. Introduce yourself to students of all abilities as you would in most pleasant social situations. Discuss what you have in common and individual interests. Mention that you're willing to be helpful to the person if possible, and take things from there.


2. When you see people in wheelchairs gathered together, simply smile as you walk by or make a pleasant remark as you might when you see people standing around together.


3. See and imagine life from the perspective of the person managing with their limitations. Understand what they need for quality of life. Offer your input and assistance as graciously as you can.

4. Play games such as mentioning favorite songs, TV shows, activities, memories etc. and even games that disabled students enjoy as much as everyone else involved! If hearing- or vision-impaired students or students with any disability are part of the mix, use all-inclusive activities. How? Initiate a group discussion in which students can suggest ideas that work!


5. Modulate your tone of voice and use a clear pronunciation in your conversation only if it will facilitate better communication. Speak directly to and with the disabled student. Use empowering words and their correct name or personal title as in “I’m delighted to meet you Dr./Ms./Mr./Mrs. So-and-so…”


6. Be attentive to advocates for the student and to the student him/herself who needs adaptive techniques and technologies. They know best what’s necessary. Promote the optimal use of class materials and watch the wonder of new ideas and interactions come to joyous life.


7. Choose to be flexible with requested changes and accommodations.


8. Respect boundaries. People do have private lives and you’re not necessarily entitled to know more than the student cares to share with you.


9. Adapt to your new worldview. Put a pleasant expression on your face. Practice until it becomes a habit. You won’t find yourself staring, expressing discomfort or anything socially inappropriate when you’re a habitual smiler.


10. Develop your sense of humor. When a disabled student is in a lousy mood now and then, just accept it. Moods tend to improve, especially when you don’t focus on them. Students with disabilities have angry, sad, or otherwise "off" days as normally as everyone else. Let personalities shine through. Limbs, appliances and moving at different rates of speed have nothing to do with insight, joi de vivre and intellect. Be real, be human and be patient. We’re all works in progress. Even if we seem to have taken a break from the job at times ;^ D

Share Your Ideas with the White House!

White House staff who address disability-related policies host monthly public, live-captioned conference calls for better informing the American public of developments regarding disability issues. Your input is invited. Share your ideas about subjects for discussion and point out the federal officials you’d like to hear from on these topic. See https://www.disability.gov/WHQuestion

Let me know your thoughts on this 2-part series. We can continue it in the effort to educate the public at large.



EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge with an E-book and paperback that hold suggestions for securing employment despite that disability. Learn much more with the EMPOWERING reading materials, too.  Buy them at Booklocker!

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

10 Ways to Embarrass Disabled/Ill Students of All Ages

B'SD


2 Elul 5771




Here's Part I of my effort to minimize any sort of discomfort on everyone's part at the start of this school year:




10 Ways to Embarrass Disabled/Ill Students of All Ages

You know that classy behavior is called for when you’re mainstreaming students who are somehow different from the rest of the class. But sometimes the best of intentions go awry if you fail to anticipate and to practice what to say and how to behave before the need arises.

The key to success is to consider life from the other person’s perspective. Imagine what it’s like to move around, dress, dine or do homework in that disabled student's condition. What’s it like to move about in hallways or classrooms? Participate in group activities?

Teachers, think harder before opening your mouths, using your positions of authority and/or physical strength for or against a student who can benefit from your compassion. Coach protégés in your care to finesse disability issues. Use good sense that produces constructive results. Classrooms are, after all, for educating students to become productive members of society.

Students without disabilities, consider how you’d manage if people treated you as cruelly as can be. There are far too many ways to hurt feelings in every classroom. Here are some gaffes you can avoid with people of different abilities and limitations:

1.     Tease the person with some obvious adaptive appliance (wheelchair, hearing aids, canes), or take it from them. Tip wheelchairs if necessary for laughs.

2.    If you see two people, each person in a wheelchair, ask if they're racing and "Who’s winning?"

3.    Neglect to account for the limitations of disabled students, especially those whose symptoms are not obvious to onlookers. Expecting asthmatics to physically exert themselves too much, demanding that diabetics stop snacking or medicating themselves during class time (though their lives depend on that), and simply failing to see life from the perspective of the person managing with their limitations so they can have quality of life is inexcusable. Hearing-impaired students need to record lectures, to interact with tutors/teaching assistants and so on. Let them.

4.    Play games that isolate students who can’t join the fun: hide and seek, reading aloud, and card games. Vision-impaired students don’t stand a chance with those.

5.    Speak rudely. Use an uncalled-for slowness and loudness; better yet, talk down to the person using a tone of voice for addressing someone who doesn’t merit simple respect. Refer to the person as if he/she is not right there in front of you! Definitely put their disability before their name or personal title (you know, “I want to introduce you to handicapped Dr. So-and-So…)

6.    Refuse to listen to advocates for the person who needs adaptive techniques and technologies. You know best. Promote ongoing struggles to hear, see and understand you, use class materials, and remain in control. The situation will deteriorate before your very eyes as you fail to heed the students’ concerned friends, family members and disability professionals.

7.    Complain how astonished you are at - and how hard it is to acquiesce to - requested changes and/or accommodations.

8.    Ask personal questions designed to cause discomfort (“Why do you look like that?” “Does this cost a lot?” etc.). Fail to respect the boundaries of polite conversation. Hey, social media proves that nobody has or wants private lives anymore, right?

9.    Don’t bother controlling the contorted looks on your face. Stare. Forget about looking at people with open hearts and clear consciences, let alone pleasant or even neutral expressions.

10. Lose your sense of humor in the most benign of situations, or even if a disabled person is in a lousy mood now and then. Why bother giving a disabled person credit for being totally normal like the rest of society?

Any of the above would surely hurt feelings and damage potential chances for scholastic success, let alone a successful social life with fellow students.

One more thing, students and staff: consider doing some role-playing with each other to gain insight into important life lessons about reasonable expectations and ideal responses. Sometimes we humans are simply clumsy when we’re startled by new realities.


Stay tuned for Part II of this thread for tips on how to do things right:
"10 BEST Ways to Interact with Students of All Ages." And do let me know your thoughts about these blogposts.
 




EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge with an E-book or print edition from Booklocker.

Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.