by Dinah

My name is Dinah.... I am disabled with a variety of disabilities from mild to severe. My biggest challenge was not the disabilities, but finding a way to make a living when I could no longer work in the outside world. Then I discovered eBay and this group .. DOUA The Disabled Online Users Association.

Having no real computer skills, much less eBay knowledge, it was through DOUA that I learned how to do many things with eBay. Even though my brain couldn't retain much information at times, I jumped headfirst into selling. It started with a pin cushion and ended up being a PowerSeller within about 5 months. I actually thought it was a joke when I received the letter from eBay.

I was excited, of course, but there also is a down side to being a PowerSeller...it means keeping up those sales. It meant long hard hours at the computer along with daily responsibilities to my family. I made my mistakes along the way and still make them. But I had been blessed with finding my niche also. I was blessed with the right product at the right time too. I researched and saw that hardly anyone was offering a package arrangement of educational systems.

I also was known to make midnight trips to the post office as I wanted to keep my shipping policies of 'same day no later then next day'. I also made sure that not one buyer ever received an automated message from me....I would take the time to write a personal email and many buyers became friends. Each order would have a handcrafted card with it, no two were ever alike.

I have a wall of pictures from buyers with their children showing them with their items bought from me. Two even came to visit and stay with us as how close we became.

I would not have accomplished this had it not been for DOUA. They became my second family, my teachers, my whole world. It is because of them that I owe my PowerSeller status. That and a whole lot of hard, hard work on my side.

Being a PowerSeller also has its downside. It means always trying to find those right products, it means many hours at the computer. It meant tons of pressure that I really didn't want. One can only stay up there as long as one is constantly selling. I also got burned out with the pressures of life, and the constant changes from eBay. I had to walk away for a time, yet the lure of eBay was always there.

I don't know how much longer I will be able to maintain my status and I really don't think of it. If I loose it, I do. The fact that despite all the odds against me, I managed to do it with a very limited amount of knowledge as with the type of disabilities I have . It meant many sacrifices and a constant challenge to try to balance my "job" and my home life.

The only advice I can give is take the plunge ... be willing to spend hard hours, find your niche, give personalized service, learn all you can, trust in yourself, be willing to ask for help and never give up a dream because dreams do come true.

by Danna Crawford

Summer is here and buyers are everywhere!
We just have to do a bit more work to seek them out!

Competition can be tough in the world of selling. Ebay sellers, Store owners many other auction sites reported a bit of a decline in sales in April and the beginning of May. I've gotten many emails full of complaints about slow sales in April and the beginning of May.

Well, I hate to admit it but my sales were very stable during this time and were even up a bit compared to February! I am not telling you this to brag, BUT I am telling you this because I was DETERMINED to not let my sales decline!

I am going to eBay live in June! I can not afford to have a decline in sales. I have been 'Peddling My Goods' & 'Sharing my Wares' EVERYWHERE I can think of! I tend to work a little harder when I am need of some extra money and today I wanted to encourage YOU to get in the same mode!

The fact is that sales will reflect on how hard you work to get them. As I stated before: Competition is Tough! It's not like the 'Old Days' where I could list all those beanie babies and watch the bids and sales roll in. (Oh how I miss those days)

The reality is the Internet is growing HUGE everyday! This is to our advantage if you use it properly!

If we just SET our items out there in the net and tap our fingers 'Waiting' for the customers, chances are slim that they will show up. BUT, if you get out there in the world and 'Share Your Wares' in different Hot Spots, your odds will increase for MORE SALES!

Yes, this may mean a bit more work but I promise you it will pay off in the end!

Few suggestions I have (and yes I am going to promote my website because it's FREE and easy to use)

1) www.PowerSellingMom.com

I have a very easy to use system where you just click the box and you can insert your eBay item number, your photo and the title of your item! If you are not an eBay seller, then I offer a free Banner Swap! You add my banner to your site and I will make you a banner to add to my rotation bar!

2) Guest Books!

Stop by different sites and sign a guest book! When you sign the guest book, include a LINK to your Store and/or Website! The great thing about Guestbook's is, they not only show up in the search engines, they stick around for YEARS! You can especially find guest books in family websites and Christian sites!

3) MySpace!

Did you know that MySpace has MORE members than eBay? WOW! And the best part is, its FREE!
You can market your items very easily in this #1 Hot spot!

I could go on and on, but I'm not writing an eBook today! Other quick suggestions are: Groups, Blogs, Message Boards, Forums, Me pages, etc. etc.

Yes, Summer is here and there are customers out there looking for YOU!

I challenge you to increase your sales this month!
Don't be shy and enjoy!
Blessings, Danna ..<><.

by Laura Lasala

When I first joined the Disabled Online Users Association (DOUA) two years ago, I had been disabled and receiving Social Security Disability Benefits for about five years. Any
self-esteem I had, was almost totally gone.

Because my primary disability is Fibromyalgia Syndrome,
an illness of unknown cause or cure, I appear to look well.
Aha! An invisible illness, affecting all parts of my body,
especially comprehension and vision. I'm not able to sit at
a computer for hours. I had worked in newspaper publishing
for 20 years before becoming ill.

After I couldn't work out in the world anymore I didn't know
what to do, and refused to accept this illness. At first I tried
to do freelance work for local graphic designers. Didn't I
just say I couldn't sit at a computer for hours, let alone
work with blurry vision?

It was the beginning my acceptance of living with a chronic illness. To me, acceptance does not mean giving up, but is an
important part of learning to live with the many limitations
that come with chronic illness. Acceptance helps me to
keep depression at arm's length, and to do what I can, when
I can.

I came here with a little experience from selling at Yahoo!
auctions. But eBay!! Me? Holey Moly!! I was totally intimidated. Although I had checked eBay out, I always
found it to be so ~ well ~ big!

After two years as a member of DOUA I have learned that
no matter what, I am always welcome. The mentors and
members are always kind, and I have found it surprising
that they remember me. I hardly remember myself.

Like many people, I have down time when I'm unable to use
the computer and don't visit or reply to posts. It's totally
heart-warming to be absent for a month, come back and
have people tell me I've been missed.

There is always someone ready to reply quickly to any
questions I might have. I have lots of questions, because
I'm not able to list auctions consistently, and I forget what

I've learned. No one has ever embarrassed me about
forgetting or for having to ask the same question many
times over, because I don't comprehend. There is constant encouragement and compliments.

When I was still able to work outside the home, I didn't realize how much the daily interaction with co-workers meant. The human contact was a big loss for me. I found that again at DOUA.

Throughout the learning process here, I've come to realize
that I will try to sell at auctions from time-to-time, but I don't
aspire to have my own business. I know this isn't something
I'm going to be able to do.

No matter what a person's limitations are, DOUA mentors
and members will help you go as far as you're able. I
couldn't be more grateful, and wouldn't ask for more than
that.

by Ed Steele

We all try to build a business using our basic abilities. But the harder we work the more money we spend and sometimes we seem to go backwards. You may say I have researched what others are selling, and this is good. I find that I do this a lot, but is it the best way? Many companies spend thousands of dollars tying to find out what they should sell to their customers but fail. Others spend millions of dollars talking to their customers.

Think about these few things.
- What do I want my the people I buy from. Will this work if I do this?
- Do my customers want what I am selling? Would I want to buy the item?
- Is my pricing fair for the item I am selling?
- Would I buy this item at this price?
- Who is my customer?
- Am I the customer?

Marketing is an important part of selling anything, Stop asking yourself these questions and start asking people what they want to buy, what price they want to pay, and what products they are going to buy. Don't ask one or two but ask several hundred if possible. If you can supply the items that the customer wants, your sales will increase. This is a fast moving business so don't buy too much and keep your listings fresh and your business will grow.

Voice of the Customer is sure to work if you can keep up with it. Business is not easy, but you can be a winner.

The author, Ed Steele was a consultant in the auto industry. He owned a small company with about 150 employees working in 3 different plants. He was Vice President of Sales with a sales force of about 120 staff members. It was one of the first companies in the United States to add full automation that was designed and manufactured by them.

He was hired by the 'Big Three' to help change the auto industry in Detroit. Voice of the Customer was one of the changes implemented by Mr. Steele and his staff.

Mr. Steele states that "...e-Mart Supply is surely not my biggest achievement in my life. But I keep moving forward with a brain injury and now cancer because of some of the things I remember prior to my accident. It was that thinking that made changes in the design of cars to meet some of the things women wanted in a car and not just things men wanted. Voice of the customer can help every one in DOUA that is trying to sell on eBay."

I stumbled across this web site and was amazed at the amount of information available online through their organization. Here's one article in particular that I thought might be appropriate as we begin to enter the growing season.

Enabling Gardens

Gardening is something nearly anyone can do. You set the goals how hard you want to work and how lavish you want your garden to be. Start with one pot of easy-going geraniums or challenge yourself with fastidious rose bushes. Try a diverse vegetable garden for all the freshness of delicious summer eating. Choose peaceful solitude when you work or share techniques with other gardeners. It's all up to you—that's what makes gardening such a satisfying activity!

For more information and additional resources, enter their web site Infinitec.org

What a hoot this eBay buyer was!.......................................................................................................by Debbie

The auction closed and I sent my well thought out, and hopefully, grammatically correct, end of auction notice and this is what was received in return!

Hay thur miss Debbie jest got in frum square dancing ifin yea al tell me where yea at and how much I ow yea I'll gather yea up some money ar some frash eggs we thankee: xnamex and xaddressx

Well ... I thought about it for awhile and then sent the following:

Hey there! Ya'll must be frum our neck-a-the-woods! Least wize ya'll sound sumpin' like us and our youngins! Well anywayz, here's all o the numbers and impotent stuff ya need ta no! etc. etc.

A few days pass and this arrives:

Hay thu mail man jest rode up thu hollor bout sundown bout thu time he givme thu little box one ove my coon dog cum frum under thu house scared thu livin hell outa that dam mule he bucked fur au spell strode stuf over hell and half acre we jest sat down had au sip ove some good shine we do thankee gota get outa hear go coon huntin got yea some fine feed back cumin xnamex & thu old Woman

To top it all off .... this is what the feedback they posted says!

Praise: very good ant nothing wrong with this gal give um a bunch of them thur A’zee

Wouldn’t it be great if all buyers had this type of attitude?

Hello my DOUA friends! I learned this from our old friend Sal Battaglia........a down to earth, wonderful friend and a great Italian cook, learned the craft from his mama and papa! I hope you will try this dish and enjoy it as much as I have!

Chicken Cacciatore alla Salvatore

Please read this entire recipe all the way through before you attempt it...:^)

Easy and delicious!

Ingredients:

1 whole cut up chicken (skin on or off, according to your preference....skin on is more flavorful)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 head of celery, chopped into large pieces (2 inch or so)

1/2 cup kalamata olives from a jar (drained)

1/2 cup pimento stuffed green olives from a jar (drained)

1/2 cup capers from a jar (drained)

1 - 15 ounce can of tomato sauce

1 cup of red or sweet wine (marsala or cream sherry are recommended)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Saute chicken pieces in half of the olive oil in a large skillet until browned evenly on all sides, remove from pan and place into a deep casserole or baking dish.

2. Drain the oil from the pan and wipe it out with paper towels.....(not completely, you will want a little of the chicken flavor in the sauce).

3. Once again coat the bottom of the skillet with the remaining olive oil and heat it up on medium heat.

4. Once heated, add the celery, kalamata olives, green olives and the capers. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Add the wine, continue to saute and stir occasionally for 10 minutes.

6. Add the tomato sauce, fill the can with water and add it too. Let it come to a simmer and cook for 10 more minutes. (Not a very thick sauce, yet...)

7. Pour the sauce over the chicken, cover and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Serving Suggestions:

You can serve this with either pasta or potatoes.

I worked with Sal as he made this dish. Regarding the potatoes, he peeled and chopped them (large pieces) and parboiled them. Once they were tender, he set them aside until the chicken was done. After removing the chicken from the oven, he removed the cover and placed the potatoes on top of it. Then he placed it under the broiler until the potatoes were slightly browned. This, according to him, is the authentic way to do it. Believe me, the potatoes are a nice addition to the sauce!

Another option is to cook some pasta....(spaghetti, fettuccine, macaroni, shells or rotelle....whatever floats your boat...) and serve the chicken with it's scrumptious sauce on top of it. (And I do mean scrumptious!! We served this at a gathering, many came after eating all the chicken to just get a cup of the sauce to take home for later!)

M - M - M!!

We recommend rounding this meal with a nice Mediterranean Salad and some hearty Italian or French (or garlic bread).

A nice dry red wine also nicely complements this meal. (Cabernet Savignon or Marsala work nicely!)

Bon Appetit!!

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

Most importantly, if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

And learn a lesson in life each day you live. Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday. Was it worth it?

Shortly after I got my Mercedes (wheelchair) they sent me to school (rehab) to learn how to be a crip. Now ... I have often thought that they should teach you this BEFORE you become a crip - that way, you can decide if you want to be one or not.

Anyway ... I am up at this huge medical university for a few weeks learning the basics - like how to stop my chair on a steep hill (like, WHY would you want to stop on a steep hill anyway?) and how to squeeze into places that weren't designed for small humans - nevermind humans on wheels and how to pull yourself back up into your chair should you go flying down that steep hill too fast and fall out into hedges ... hehehehehe.

In the evening, after classes, I used to go roaming around the hospital (seeing if I could maybe pick up hubby #4) and checking out the sites. I'm cruising down the halls on my sixth night, and as I usually do, I stick out my working leg to open doors that had been closed for the evening. I get to this set of fire doors (which, by the way, are NEVER locked), speed up the chair, stick the leg out and WHAM!!!! I guess that's why we are told to NEVER say NEVER. My leg jammed so far up my butt that I broke it. My leg, not my butt.

I went back to my dorm (ward) and with tears rolling down my face tried to tell them that I had fallen down the stairs. (Good one, yea?) Another student (patient) saw everything that happened and told on me. (I ran her over later that week). For the rest of my visit (stay) people would actually come to my room asking if I was the lady who broke her leg while IN a wheelchair.

To this day, that little incident still haunts me. I think they have added a new class called - "Don't try to open locked doors with your leg while in a wheelchair."

The Benefits of Creative Thinking and Memory Skills.

By Jennifer A. Sloane (Hannah Jen)

Recently, I found a wonderful web site about Traumatic Brain Injury that had some very valuable information on it about understanding and improving brain functioning. www.tbimo.org

After I read through the “Ask Kathy” section of this site, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had instinctively done what I needed to do to maintain my memory skills. Somehow, through gift or circumstance, I was able to use my creativity in order to maintain my memory and work around other brain impairments. It isn’t often that one receives such a direct validation for all the difficult inner work that is done to keep our disabilities from robbing us of any more than they already have.

I want to share what I have learned with you. This means that you’ll have to put up with a bit of history in order for it all to make sense, but I hope what I have to share will make that more bearable.

When I first got Lyme disease in 1987, I lost a lot of my brain’s ability to function at its usual capacity. People’s capacity varies, but I was used to a fast paced and imaginative mental world. I grew up in Manhattan. I spent my childhood developing my imagination -- fueled by many visits to museums, live theatre, and though reading and watching films. I was surrounded by creativity on a daily basis in a most amazing and multicultural environment. I soaked in so much information that creativity and imaginative thinking became second nature to me.

This was a mixed blessing, of course. I might be deep in thought during a class in school, but teachers would still blame me for day dreaming! I had developed an intuitive sense of the Arts, but my parents refused to pay for any education in the Art field, because it was impractical. So, I stuck out on my own to study voice, fine art and theatre.

In 1984, as a single parent of three, I got a little more practical. I decided to attend college. I became a Comparative Theology major, because I was still fascinated by cultural differences and similarities. My plan was to get my PhD and teach on a University level. I was publishing articles in the local newspaper, making the Dean’s List every semester, working at the University as an Academic and Research Assistant and raising my children. I was even accepted for an internship on “Good Morning America,” which I had to turn down as it was unpaid.

I had one year left of undergraduate work in 1987, when a deer tick found me. Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks that can be no larger than the period at the end of this sentence. I had also remarried shortly before I was infected with Lyme disease. I had found a great guy and my children and I relocated to Ohio where my husband had a job and I could finish up my studies there.

However, once I was infected with Lyme disease, it seemed that suddenly, I could no longer read or write . . . or even think coherently. My short term memory was gone. My disease went untreated at first – even though I had the classic bulls eye rash, all the symptoms and positive tests. No one knew anything about Lyme disease in Ohio. The disease manifested itself in almost all of my joints and in my central nervous system. At one point, I was so sick that I slept 19 hours a day and still could barely move. I ended up with lesions on the frontal lobes of my brain, much like someone with MS might have. These lesions have increased in number, but at a very slow rate.

At the time, I didn’t know anything about lesions, but I remember thinking and praying "Please just take my body, but leave my brain alone!" I would set out to drive to the pharmacy and end up at the book store with no idea how I got there. I could barely remember my name. It was a terrifying experience. On top of that, I suffered horrible depression and panic attacks. My new marriage suffered equally as badly and ended painfully a few years later.

The degree I was working towards seemed impossible to attain. I attended classes when I felt well enough, but I couldn’t get my mind to focus on the lectures or the reading material, let alone remember anything. Finally, I received some treatment for the disease, and spent nine days in the hospital on IV penicillin. I would spend hours gazing out the hospital window looking at how the rooftops below changed color as the sun traveled across the sky. I couldn’t read a word, but I could understand color and light. This one simple realization led me to a valuable conclusion. I realized that creativity just might save my life. Lyme disease had robbed me of the ability to make sense of words, so I began to study Art instead. Colors, shapes, contrast, positive and negative space were all things that I could understand. I figured that if my left brain wasn’t going to function then I would use my right brain. One way or another I was determined that my brain would work!

It turns out that I was right. Creative thinking has kept my brain, my hopes and my memory alive! I firmly believe that we can forge new neural pathways and teach ourselves new ways of doing things. Now, I am even able to "get" words again -- which is a good thing, because I like to write! However that old intuitive sense of spelling that used to come so easily to me still has a way to go.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

First of all, I keep a little notebook with me at all times and I write everything down in it -- from directions to appointments, to people’s names and numbers, from shopping lists to “to do” lists. I even jot down ideas or interesting things that pop up during the day. I carry it with me everywhere I go and I have been doing this for almost 20 years now.

When I read through the Ask Kathy section of the Traumatic Brain Injury web site, I discovered this is called a Memory Book and it is strongly advised to use one, if you have any brain impairment. I keep this little book in addition to my small date book and a huge desk calendar that sits in front of my computer monitor. Before I go to bed at night, I check off everything in my little book that I have done that day. Then, I take a look at my calendar and compose the next day’s tasks and things I need to remember. If I have left something undone, I don’t get angry at myself. I just write it down for another day. This system works very well for me.

Kathy talks about therapy for brain injuries or dysfunctions and she makes a very good point. There are two types of therapy to help improve brain function -- cognitive therapy and compensatory or functional therapy. The Memory Book is an example of compensatory therapy. Here’s how Kathy puts it.

I have specific visual tools and learned skills that compensate for short-term memory impairments. They don't "improve" my memory, but rather, they give me effective ways of LIVING WITH an impaired memory -- outsmarting it, basically! I don't have strategies for remembering, as much as I have strategies for knowing.

The key word in this quote for me is the word “knowing.” There is a huge difference between thinking and knowing. Cognitive therapies focus on thinking which for folks with brain impairments seems almost contradictory and often leads to frustration.

That being said, I do use what might be considered cognitive therapy techniques. In other words, I USE my brain as much as possible. It can be extremely fatiguing, but for me to go back to the days of being completely lost in my car, less than a mile from home – well, let’s just say that the fatigue is more than worth it!

How do I use my brain? I read . . . a LOT. This has become pure joy for me and sometimes a pleasant escape. My brain is being stimulated by the process of reading, and my mind is occupied and distracted by the story I’m engaged in reading. There was a time when I could barely read, but through patience and practice, I’m consuming a lot of books.

I also play games on and off the internet. I find that almost anything will do, as long as it feels a bit challenging at first. Don’t set yourself up for failure by choosing games that are beyond your abilities at this point. Sometimes even silly games on Yahoo will help me, because after a time, the repetition shows me how much I am remembering.

Since I have acting skills, acting helps boost my confidence in my memory skills. It took me a long time to even dare to attempt this again! I finally started acting again in 1999 and now when I am feeling well, I do plays -- maybe once or twice a year. It was through this process that I discovered a great trick. Memorizing lines for a play is very intimidating. However, when you learn what's called the blocking – which is where you are standing or sitting or what you are doing when you say a particular line -- it all comes together. This seems to go back to what Kathy refers to as “knowing.” It’s a kind of kinesthetic learning that has helped me a LOT.

Think about it for a minute. Suppose someone asks you to remember the words “There’s a great green rabbit in the refrigerator,” and then simply leaves you alone. You might chuckle at the idea of a green rabbit in the refrigerator and think you’ll never forget that one. Then you go about your day. Later, when you are asked to repeat the sentence exactly as it was taught, you may falter. Too much time has passed and there is nothing that makes sense about the original sentence.

Now suppose that same person teaches you the same sentence while you are standing in the kitchen. This time, each time you say the sentence aloud, you are instructed to open the refrigerator door and actually look for a great green rabbit. Now you are adding a relevant action to the words you are saying. You are told to practice this ten times in a row each day for one week. When that person comes back after that week and asks you to repeat the sentence, you are going to be far more likely to remember it, because you have associated the words with the action. Your memory of the sentence is now tied in to your body movements and your brain at the same time. This is called Sense Memory.

Now, I’m not suggesting you go to the refrigerator and look for a great green rabbit ten times a day! But perhaps, you can create little games of your own.

Need some help coming up with ideas? Even things like short tongue twisters can help brain function, because you have to focus on the shape of your mouth when you say them. Try saying “Unique New York” three times in a row. See what I mean? You really have to focus. Now, try it more slowly and pay attention to exactly how your tongue and mouth have to position themselves to get these words out in a coherent fashion. There are several sites with tongue twisters. Here’s one I found. http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm. Pick one that you think you can say and then practice, practice, practice.

I think practice is the key concept in everything I am saying here. The best thing you can do is USE your brain a lot. Start with easy repetitive tasks or games, gain some confidence and then raise your level a bit. Choose things that you enjoy, because if there is some fun it the process, you’ll be more likely to succeed. Don’t worry if your kids or grandkids are on Level Gazillion while you’re plodding through Level One for the tenth time! Who cares what they think? I once had a very intelligent professor tell me that she watches cartoons to relax her mind. We each do what we can with what we have. Go slowly and easily and remember to rest. Our brains need rest just as much as our bodies.

Almost anything creative can help. Try new things -- painting, singing, playing the flute -- anything. Use BOTH sides of your brain. Just because you may longer function at the capacity you once did, don’t let that stop you from finding new ways of functioning. Creativity is a wonderful teacher and has been my greatest healing tool. It keeps me open to new ways of learning and I’m sure it will help you, as well. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative. Just think of all the great excuses we’ve all dreamed up in our lives. Those can be pretty creative!

Only you know what you have lost in ability. I have a friend with a genius level IQ. He had a car accident and suffered serious brain injury. His IQ dropped dramatically. When people meet him for the first time, they think he's very smart. But he knows how much he has really lost and how much therapy he has had to do to maintain what he has. So, please remember that it's all relative. You have to get creative and plan ways to get around the losses to make new neural pathways. I would suggest beginning with a Memory Book. This works far better than scraps of paper or post it notes scattered all over the place!

And in case you’re wondering, I did finally complete my undergraduate work. It took me a total of nine years, but I ended up with dual majors in Theology and Fine Arts and I graduated with honors.

New Forum Shows Companies How to Leverage Accessibility Strategies and Techniques to Reach Mature Market and People With Disabilities

ORLANDO, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/29/2007

On January 25-26, the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) hosted its first Leadership Forum on Accessibility at the Caribe Royale Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The forum, led by IBM, AOL, Canon, Adobe and others, provided a unique opportunity for business leaders to explore implications, advantages, and specific strategies for integrating accessibility across their enterprises. More than 60 accessibility leaders attended from major corporations within the Insurance, Retail, Banking/Financial Services, Pharmaceutical, Travel and Information Technology industries to discuss the business case for accessibility and its associated technologies, and share best practices.

Strategic decisions surrounding access for people with disabilities, the aging workforce, and worker shortages are a key consideration for large corporations. With 78 million baby boomers and 54 million people with disabilities in the U.S. and 600 million people with disabilities worldwide, corporations also have a need to reach new customers and deliver accessible products and services to this important and growing market. An accessibility strategy is critical to success with these challenges.

According to David Dikter, executive director of ATIA, the genesis of the forum developed from clear market direction and need. "The 155 million people in the United States that could benefit from accessibility solutions are an enormous, and largely untapped, market that companies want and need to serve. Many of our corporate partners are actively working to do just that by integrating accessibility techniques and technologies that will help keep them competitive over the long term. ATIA wanted to leverage their experiences to help other companies create their own accessibility strategies," he said.

The two-day forum was held in concurrence with the larger, annual ATIA conference and represents an expansion of ATIA's focus, which has traditionally centered on solutions for disability services professionals, consumers and end users. Additional corporate, nonprofit, and government sponsors -- including the Job Accommodation Network, the U.S. Office of Disability Employment Policy, and others -- helped support and shape the content of the forum. Four of the top assistive technology manufacturers -- Ai Squared, Compusult, Freedom Scientific, and Humanware -- also participated in the event.

Speakers presented on a wide range of accessibility-related topics. Three of the leaders in accessibility-compliance solutions presented at the Forum -- SSB Bart Group, TecAccess and The Paciello Group. The forum kicked off by outlining the business case for accessibility and providing specific examples of best practices from companies that have found concrete ways to measure their return on investment. Debra Ruh, president of TecAccess, said, "It is essential that organizations like ATIA continue to take the lead in expanding awareness of the accessibility marketplace. In the U.S., people with disabilities represent over $175B in discretionary income, making them a powerful, but often underserved, market force."

IBM, which helped ATIA develop the concept for the forum, provided an overview of its own internal accessibility transformation and lessons learned. "For IBM, accessibility is fundamental to helping us attract and retain the best talent and to developing solutions that help our clients reach the widest possible audience with their products and services. Our approach has been to begin integrating accessibility practices in all areas of our business to create an internal transformation that we can translate into outward-facing solutions that benefit corporations, individuals, and ultimately, we hope, society as a whole," said Frances West, director of the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center.

Katherine McCary, vice president of SunTrust Banks, Inc., discussed the advantages of accessible e-commerce and customer service. Tom Wlodkowski, director of accessibility for AOL, discussed Web accessibility from a business and technical perspective, offering insight into how accessibility needs have changed as the Internet has evolved from static Web pages to more graphic, interactive sites. And Adobe Systems provided an overview of their solution to help the local government in Travis County, Texas offer enhanced services online to more citizens and employees, and discussed how they utilized lessons learned to implement new policies and practices in their own organization.

Other special events at the forum included a keynote by John Kemp, an internationally-recognized disability advocate, and a dinner presentation by Dr. Roy Grizzard, assistant secretary for disability employment policy at the U.S. Dept of Labor. At the conclusion of the forum, a number of attendees expressed interest in learning more about accessibility integration through similar events in the future.

"The ATIA Leadership Forum on Accessibility was very valuable to me. It helped me understand how other companies built accessibility into the fabric of their product development. Hearing these success stories and making contacts with representatives from other companies will definitely help in our pursuit of making our products and services available to all customers. I am looking forward to next year's Forum, and I highly encourage all companies to attend," said Doug Seidner, IT Manager at State Farm.

About ATIA

ATIA is a not-for-profit organization, led by a full-time Executive Director with a supporting professional association and conference management staff. There is a member elected Board of Directors with three-year terms of office. Members of ATIA include more than 125 respected industry organizations including for-profit, not-for-profit, government, or private organizations located across the globe. For a full listing of ATIA members and their products, visit ATIA's Web site at www.atia.org.

ATIA's mission is to serve as the collective voice of the Assistive Technology industry so that the best products and services are delivered to persons with disabilities.

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=208294

You’re selling on eBay or another site. You may have a store, your own website, or run auctions occasionally. The basics have all been checked off - great photos, keywords in your titles, store, listings, accurate descriptions, legitimate shipping and handling fees, good customer service skills, and you have a logo or something that sets you apart from the other sellers.

Is that all you need? Will you make lots of sales, cover your costs and make a profit? Maybe if you’re really lucky, but not likely. Promotion. is the backbone to your online business. Make your name (id) synonymous with your products. Let sellers and buyers alike know who you are. There are so many ways to promote yourself. A little bit of work each day can make a big difference. Set a time table for each promotion opportunity and work on it.

Within eBay, the opportunities are mind boggling. They can be very time consuming especially if you enjoy the camaraderie of other people. You can still have some fun but make sure the work gets done first.

EBay has groups, blogs, discussion boards, Match-Ups, and chat rooms. If you decide that you’ll take part in 2 or 3 of these eBay Community centers, then schedule your time for them. If you’ll be sharing your wares, you can make up a list of 5 items with their links, photos and a description on your word processing program and save it with a date for each week. Then you can just copy and paste it into each group. You can pre-write a message that you can post in your groups too. Remember to post your logo with your messages if the group allows it.

For blogs, you can post a message every few days or even every day. This can be done easily and quickly if you plan ahead again. So planning is the key. If you want to enjoy some time with others then use that as a reward for yourself if you get a certain amount of things accomplished first.

Off of eBay, you can pay for advertising on various sites. Post your banner or logo and don’t worry about it again. This can be costly so look around for good deals and check the site traffic.

Join chat groups for sellers and buyers. Always put a link to your items for sale in the signature area. If you can post your logo, do so. Join sites that rank your Me page, your web site, or your store. These are free and no work once you fill out the initial form. The same goes for web rings. But joining too many web rings can do a disserve to you. Since most add your site to Google, the repeat of your information may drop your ranking. Be careful about this. Always check this first before joining anything.

MySpace is becoming one of the hottest places to promote online sales. This site that is known for teenagers trying to find “love” is now becoming a sellers and buyers paradise. If you don’t want to get involved with anyone who may be looking for “love” screen your friend requests and comments. Other sites that are popular are LiveJournal and Yahoo 360.

Your email signature and your snail mail can easily include your selling information. If you have an instant messenger service, put your link on your “Available” status bar. Put a thumbnail of your logo or banner on your avatar space.

Blogging is also another way to promote yourself. You can use your id as your name, create links to your sites and slide shows of your items. Join with other sellers who have set up their own sites and do banner exchanges.

This seems like a lot of work, but if scheduled and broken down into small steps, it can be accomplished. Let people see YOU!

Serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. The most common cold-related problems are hypothermia and frostbite.

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.

Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.

Victims of hypothermia are often (1) elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heating; (2) babies sleeping in cold bedrooms; (3) people who remain outdoors for long periods—the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.; and (4) people who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.

Adults:

• shivering, exhaustion
• confusion, fumbling hands
• memory loss, slurred speech
• drowsiness

Infants:

• bright red, cold skin
• very low energy

If medical care is not available, begin warming the person, as follows:

• Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.
• If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it.
• Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
• Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible.

A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Even if the victim appears dead, CPR should be provided. CPR should continue while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical aid becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated.

Recognizing Frostbite

• a white or grayish-yellow skin area
• skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• numbness

A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

What to Do

If (1) there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and (2) immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.
• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage.
• Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
• Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
• Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

These procedures are not substitutes for proper medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and frostbite should be evaluated by a health care provider. It is a good idea to take a first aid and emergency resuscitation (CPR) course to prepare for cold-weather health problems. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your health and the health of others.

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.asp#health_emergencies

As we come to the DOUA to start a business, do we realize we have entered a business college? We have chosen to seek competency in computer science, business and even a new language (HTML). And we’re not even starting with the most basic of coursework as we would in any other college. All of this can be overwhelming if we do not realize what we’re dealing with or have a strategy for handling it.

There are different theories of learning which suggest how the human mind deals with information. Over my 20 years of teaching teens and adults, I have a strong opinion as to the theory that truly applies to the way in which we learn. I believe we form categories to place information in. It’s like having mail slots at the post office. How would the mail be organized or even kept for useful distribution if there were no slots?

When we initially read material which is unfamiliar to us, we may understand it, but if it is new to us, we have no place to store it. This is why we can’t retain very much of the new material we are exposed to. The answer to this is simply to keep reading and forming the categories (slots) in the mind. Teachers are commonly told that a student must be exposed to an idea 50 times before the idea will be fixed in the mind. Hopefully, that “Auction Section” will settle in your mind in far less than 50 exposures.

There are four suggestions I’d like to make as you take on this difficult but worthwhile task:

1) Accept that you’ve taken on a sizable challenge.

2) When the thoughts in your mind say, “I can’t get it or I can’t do it”. Just say out loud, “Yes, I can”. You must choose to talk back to those negative thoughts or they will ruin a future full of great possibilities. Stand up for yourself in the arena of the mind.

3) When you’re overwhelmed by the volume of information, just retreat a little. Try to read something everyday. The student discussions will keep you in touch with those category forming topics without overloading you. The mentors are very good at addressing real issues in a non threatening manner. Go back to the tutorials when you are able.

4) Grant yourself the time you need to learn.

Do you know someone who collects something? Better yet, do you know someone who doesn’t? I asked 5 family members, 7 friends and 8 people who commented on one of my blogs about collecting. All of them collect something.

Knowing how popular collecting is, means there are buyers for many different items from salt and pepper shakers to Sesame Street characters, from police patches to Tinker Bell. If you sell collectibles it’s easy to find ways to promote your sales. There are web groups, chat groups, eBay groups, My Space groups web rings, etc. all for various collectors. Join everything you can to let people know that you sell, to learn what people are interested in, and to just get your name noticed.

There are short cuts you can use so that you don’t get bogged down spending too much time here instead of getting your items listed for sale, keeping your customers happy and staying informed of the latest trends in sales. Keep folders for each group. Keep links in these folders that you can copy and paste into the groups with your logo and a way to get in touch with you. Keep some eye-catching images that link to your selling site. Always have a list of your latest items for sale ready to post. If your group is small and people have shared information on their birthdays or other special events, put these in an online calendar that will remind you in advance so you can send your best wishes on time. Offer a discount for the birthday person. Lastly, keep track of your sales from the group. Send an email to a member after shipping your item to be sure that s/he is happy and offer a discount for their next purchase.

Collecting can also help you as a seller to find your niche product. It’s easier to sell when you like the product you’re selling, when you’re knowledgeable about it and when you can appreciate your products’ value. If you’re bored selling widgets all day, it will show - in your lackluster descriptions and in your drab listings. Selling what you collect helps you be excited and want to share that excitement. Your listings will stand out. They’ll be more vibrant, full of useful information and fun. When you have fun, your customers will too. And a customer who has fun is a happy customer who’ll want to return again and again!

Shadow People by Coleman

Are the shadow people real? Or are they concocted in my mind?

I know they are real, though not a single one, can I find.

I just saw one, but when I turned he had gone away.

Was he real? Am I some pawn in a game that they play?

I know they are real, and not a trick of the light

But when I turn to see them, they have all taken flight.

I hear their voices talking as if carried on the wind.

I hear their voices talking as if talking to a friend.

I don't know what they want of me, if anything at all.

I say this with uncertainty as one scurries down the hall.

I hear their whispering babble, time and time again

But their voices are muted like rain, on a roof of tin.

They're talking about me, I know this for a fact.

They're talking about me, to see how I react.

They dart about in the shadows, and never leave a trace.

Sounds and shadows that can't be found, even when chased.

You claim they're not real, just because you can't see.

It's just that every time we turn to look, they all flee.

I know they are real, though not a single one, can I find.

Are the shadow people real? Or are they concocted in my mind?

He was affectionately named Squeaky by the man, some 25 years before. Squeaky had spent a number of years packed away in the attic of the man’s boyhood home. Placed there by the man’s mother who knew that her son would someday have a home of his own and perhaps a child that would once again, hold the bear in loving arms.

The years passed and the time came for the boxes in the attic to be moved to the man’s new home. For several years the, well-worn yet well-loved, teddy bear held a place of honor on the man’s nightstand.

It wasn’t until the man knew that their first child would be born that he realized just exactly how much that little bear had meant to him through the years. That’s why, upon seeing Squeaky‘s twin at a yard sale, it was imperative that he own it. He walked up to the table and gingerly picked it up. He knew in his heart that it didn’t really matter what amount was on the price sticker, he would be leaving the sale with that bear safely tucked under his arm ... and he did.

After a thorough grooming, the newest member of the growing bear family was presented to the man’s daughter. The man hoped that it would bring the child comfort as his Squeaky did for him all those years ago. You see, this was no ordinary child, she was an angel sent to Earth to brighten everyone’s lives. She was scheduled for surgery shortly after her birth and the bear has not left her side since that day. The angel-child flourished and grew. When her speech came she christened the bear with the name Fuzzy.

Fuzzy, Squeaky, the child and her Daddy spent many hours rocking gently snuggled in the big chair, singing and telling tales of adventures from the past and making plans for those adventures yet to come.

The man’s family was destined to grow and it did. With the impending birth of his son, the man knew that a new bear must be added to their family as well. He combed yard sales and thrift stores but to no avail. So to the Internet he went and of course, to eBay. It wasn’t long before his searches turned up the exact item that he was looking for! Once again, the man knew that price was no object and he was ready, willing and able to take the bidding to the heavens if necessary. He set a generous proxy bid and was the successful high bidder.

The bear was packed efficiently and was shipped promptly and arrived at his forever-home in record speed. The man was thankful for the speed. You see, his family was once again sent an angel. The boy was scheduled for surgery and the man was determined that the yet unnamed bear would be at his son’s side as soon as it was over. The angel-child grew and flourished under the watchful eye of the bear. When the boy’s speech came, the bear was christened, Freddy.

With a lap full of love ... and bears ... the man now rocks his family and sings soft songs and tells of adventures of the past and is planning for those yet to come.

******

The story isn’t over. Squeaky, Fuzzy and Freddy have confided to us that they’ve heard the man talking of beginning a new search for a bear. The bears have asked us to keep an eye on eBay for a Fisher Price Freddy Teddy Bear FP # 418..... they are anxious to have another child to protect!

I sway to new melodies
loose limbs proudly leaping
to heights unimagined.

Freed from the prison,
my body a house of pain,
I dance a new dance.

Laughter bubbles from between my lips
as I sing,
I have survived, I have survived.

Burdens of life, rewards of burdens...Burdens and rewards go hand in hand........

When one takes time to really want to believe that burdens are just rewards not yet found, then one can start the healing process of what is holding one back from real happiness. This happiness does not mean one walks around jumping up and down with joy all day long, but manages to find something each day to be grateful for. No matter how small it may be, to find comfort, solace, contentment, peace for a just one moment in time daily.

Many people have asked me during my journey of life, how I’ve managed to make it through my life and not be cold, mean, hard, bitter, angry and full of hatred. The answer for me personally is.....it’s easy....I refuse to let some one or some thing win that part of me.

There is a saying I always relay to others that "one has to learn to believe in oneself in order to be free to give freely. As if one learns to depend upon another person to make one happy then one will always be disappointed as people are humans and make mistakes". But when one learns to depend upon themselves for that ability to believe in self for happiness, then one has accomplished much, and is free to give to others. I see so many in my DOUA family, and outside DOUA that have hearts bigger then gold, and more love to give so generously without asking anything in return......that one doesn't have to feel guilt if not writing, talking, every day. That kind of friend is wonderful, a friend who loves one unconditionally, accepting the good, bad and ugly

Through the years I have thought I would never make it through my journey in this world. Yet I am still here battling and ever grateful at the same time. I find that by being able to help someone to get the courage to try to accept loving themselves, to just accept that we can't change the past, but we can change ourselves. We have choices the majority of times. There are times when one does not have a choice, but eventually one does if one works hard enough for it.

Rewards of my past burdens are many. They have given me the ability to understand myself. I remember being the person who wouldn't dream of talking loud or talking back. I remember being afraid to step outside a room without asking permission. I also am grateful for those times as they helped me.

My life has helped me be the strong woman I am and allowed me the ability to feel what others feel inside. I know what it feels like to have pain in every level from emotional to physical.

Burdens and rewards they do go hand in hand - I am still feeling and I am still alive...and it is my choice as to how I am going to let whatever it is that is going on, whether I learn from it, go above it or however it is that needs to be done to get through the hardest of times.

That makes life even more precious to me....the smell of a flower I want to enjoy for when I am not able to actually "see" it, my memory will let me. When I am able to enjoy the warmth of the sun, that is letting me know that for that moment in time, there is warmth in my world. That I am making the choice to not allow the depression, the pain inside to keep me down much longer. We all fight depression in different ways....my desire is to come out of it with more energy, more creativeness, more hopes that I am able to limp less, or still be able to know I didn't give in to wanting to end it all.

Burdens are sometimes a comfort zone for many....it is easier to stay miserable then it is to work harder to find some joy. Life is a challenge enough each day for those of us with disabilities...yet I look within this DOUA family and I see so much energy with creativeness, with honesty of caring for another. I see the struggles to get the courage to get that first listing and the remembrance of that first feedback.

There are many horizons which will bring in many rewards....... we don't have to be super humans and try to accomplish everything in one day.....we don't have to live in misery if we don't want too.....but to pull out of misery means finding reward in living, no matter the circumstances, no matter how many bills there are, when we look at what is outside the door, it is comforting, as hard as it may be for some to get out that door, that looking through the windows at times, one just has to reach out and feel life.......no matter if it is just a crack in the door, at least the attempt was made.

Life is worth living no matter how hard the burden is, no matter how many times those burdens hit us, at least it is saving someone else whose shoulders aren't as strong....I would like to say, I think I pass on the next burden, but eventually it will come....so between now and then, lets just all try to find a reward in knowing at this very second, we do have the choice of making that choice to smile, make a funny face, to wrap ones favorite blanket around themselves, to enjoy the fireplace going......that we are at least alive....and there are many who wish that they still were instead of slowly allowing burdens to hold back when it is possible to get the reward of life.

Decide to forgive
For resentment is negative
Resentment is poisonous
Resentment diminishes and devours the soul
Be the first to forgive,
To smile and take the first step.
And you will see happiness bloom
On the face of your human brother or sister.
Be the first
Do not wait for others to forgive
For by forgiving
You become master of fate
The fashioner of life
The doer of miracles
To forgive is the highest,
Most beautiful form of love.
In return you will receive
Untold peace and happiness.
Here is a schedule for achieving a truly forgiving heart.
Sunday: Forgive yourself
Monday: Forgive your family
Tuesday: Forgive your friends and associates
Wednesday: Forgive across economic lines within your own nation
Thursday: Forgive across cultural lines within your own nation
Friday: Forgive across political lines within your own nation
Saturday: Forgive other nations
Only the brave know how to forgive. A coward never forgives. It is not in his nature.

My mother can no longer tell me what procedures she has had and when she had them. Remember the forms you have to fill out when you see a new doctor or go to the hospital for testing/surgery? My notebook has evolved over time. Mom's RED notebook is on my bookshelf and ALL family members know where it is. It contains the following lists and is updated as needed. The hard part is making the initial lists. Once they are done, updating is a snap!

1. Prescription List: The list is titled with mom's full name and the date of the last update. It has the name, dosage, frequency and prescribing doctor's name of all medications, INCLUDING over the counter drugs and vitamins. I whip out a copy of this baby when the paramedics come to the house, when we go to the doctor or check in the hospital for whatever reason. Paramedics, doctors, nurses and sitters LOVE me!
2. Doctor and Medical Suppliers List: This list contains names, addresses, phone numbers AND why mom sees/uses them. Mom has a local pharmacy and a mail-in pharmacy. In addition, she gets her various supplies from different companies. It can all become confusing if you don't keep track of what company does what!
3. Procedures and Diagnosis List: Again, this list is titled with mom's full name, date of last update and has ALL surgeries/procedures that mom has had in her 80+ years lifetime. Can you remember when and where you had your tonsils out, broken ankle set or appendectomy? THIS was a hard list, but once we had it done all I have to do is add the date, surgery/procedure when we make the appointment. New doctors/nurses and admitting staff at the hospital like this list also!
4. Emergency Contacts: This list has every known phone number (home,