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Advocacy group for NY adults with LD

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Hi All-

My name is Sarah, I had posted last summer about wanting to start some sort of advocacy group for adults in NY with learning disabilities. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to post for a while due to computer problems. Now that I have a new computer…

I am very much interested in starting up a support group/advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities. I think that there is so much that is needed in this respect. Adults with learning disabilities face an abundance of problems: housing(we are considered to be a very at risk population for homelessness), health(both mental and physical-depression is very big, supposedly women with learning disabilites are at risk for cervical cancer-people assume that since they are disabled they must not be interested in sex, or sexually active for that manner; diabetes may also be a big problem-turn to food instead of friends because of social interactions/social skills may not be so great); isolation; just to mention a few. I wish to meet and communicate with other people who are adults who have learning disabilities. There are so many of us, yet so little information which is extremely frustrating.

Please get back to me or contact me if you are interested.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/02/2003 - 4:22 AM

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Sarah,

I no longer live in NY but like they say every journey starts with a first step.

I’d like to offer you some advice. Hook up with some talented people. Maybe an LD teacher who cares and someone with secretarial skills and make that the inner sanctum.

Find place to hold public meetings. Set an agenda and a mission statement.

You can advertise for free by putting up flyers, cable public access or public service anouncements. Have the press cover your events.

Create a members list and hold meetings.

DO IT!

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/07/2003 - 12:10 AM

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Hello Sarah,

My son and myself, both adults would like to join your group when you start it.
We are both learning disabled. i did not know I had it untl my son was diagnosed. I finished college and worked without knowing that i am different..
I am ready to help but just don’t know how to use Ball’s advices. How do
you find a place for public meeting or advertise for free. i need more
direction. Maybe learning disability organization can help or Dr. Brown.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/07/2003 - 7:51 AM

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Public libraries and hopitals have meeting rooms for free. Posters on bulletin boards are essentially free. PSAs are free and can reach thousands. Cable public access is free.

To get a meeting room all you gotta do is ask.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/07/2003 - 10:22 AM

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Thank you both for your interest and responses.

I am going to call up libraries in the area today(I have had classes all week, have been busy with them); I would like to have this meeting sometime in the next month, I want to know how many people are interested.

Ball your suggestions have totally been taken into account. I am going to be on the phone with LD organizations today(lol but first I just have to figure out what to say).

I am going to post on the board by or on the tenth of February(Monday) when this meeting is going to be held(I might wind up posting late in the day because I don’t get back from class until nine at night).

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/13/2003 - 11:28 AM

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I just want to announce that I am planning on having the first meeting on the 7th of March(a Friday) from 6-8 pm. The meeting place has yet to be established. I hope people can make it and I look forward to seeing everyone then. I will announce where the meeting will take place. Anyone with questions can post or email me!-Sarah

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/14/2003 - 4:30 PM

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Hi Sarah:

I want you to know that I am interested in attending the next meeting in New York. I am interested in helping my adult son who is learning disabled. He wants to work; but information confuses him sometime. I need to find out how he learns. People have different learning styles and I need to find out his style.

I live in New York City, so I hope the next meeting is in the city of New York.

And thanks for having this idea.

Linda

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/05/2003 - 6:29 AM

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Sarah,

We have not heard from you yet. Is that means that there will be no meeting
this Friday? Please let us know where things stand or if you need our
help. We planned to attend but if the meeting is not going to take place
we’ll make other plans.

Thank you

Denise

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/05/2003 - 10:33 AM

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Hi Everyone

I haven’t meant to leave anyone hanging; I have just had a problem with setting up a meeting place and haven’t been able to do so. I hate to say it but I don’t think that the March 7 meeting will take place. I called hospitals, libraries and haven’t been able to find a meeting place-I am so sorry! If anyone has any ideas or suggestions by all means! I would love to have it at my home but unfortunately I live in a very small apartment with family-there’s not enough room.

That being said I still want to have this meeting; the problem is I don’t know where it could be held. So if we don’t have it this Friday we will have it another Friday in the month. I’m sorry I still just need to find a place-I have everything else!

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/05/2003 - 2:35 PM

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Sarah,

Let’s see how many people are planning to attend at a certain scheduled
time. I think that at the beginning we will be a small group. I think that
we can meet at places such as Starbuck coffee and then figure out where
to go from there. I see a lot of meetings taking place in these cafee. I
know one brunch somewhere in the 80’s and second ave in Manhattan
where they have two floors with sofas and long tables on the upper
floor. We can maybe syart there. Once we get to know the people it would be much easier.

Denise

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/05/2003 - 6:17 PM

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Hi Everyone-

The meeting is back on! We are going to meet on Friday, March 7 between 6-8 pm at Starbucks on Second Avenue between 81st and 82nd Street(I will make sure to get there early so we have enough room to sit). If you plan to attend and you want to talk to me email would be great, or you can call me. My number is: 212-996-4792, anytime after 4pm tomorrow would be great or anytime from 9-5 on Friday March 7th. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone then! Thanks for your patience! And if there are any changes I will post them here. -Sarah

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/09/2003 - 6:43 AM

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I am interested in learning about your group if you have met. I am LD myself and am doing my PhD studies; my interst is in adults who were not identified until adulthood. Let me know, thanks.
KB

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