YAB GAB - ON THE BLOG

September is hydrocephalus awareness month. Hydrocephalus is a chronic, neurological condition that is caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities (ventricles) of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid that protects the brain and spinal cord. Most children and adults who have hydrocephalus (like me) have a valve placed in their head called a shunt that drains the fluid directly into their abdomen or heart. Out of the twenty-six surgeries I have had, many were shunt malfunctions. My hydrocephalus was caused by a brain bleed I had at birth. I was born three months early. Another challenge was I had two shunt replacement surgeries within a short period before I began ninth grade. That was a very challenging because it made the start of my high school experience more difficult than others. Living with hydrocephalus is particularly challenging during certain weather conditions like rain or storms because I get awful headaches. Having a condition lik...

Suicide. A 3 syllable, 7 letter word that is not talked about. The moment it’s mentioned people turn the other cheek. They become uncomfortable and honestly believe it will cause suicide. Suicide isn’t a contagious word. It is a word that starts a conversation. A conversation that opens eyes to the reality of the pandemic of the final symptom of depression which is suicide. This word is preventable. This word deserves equality, love, and compassion just like any other symptoms of an illness. Over 12 years of my life I battled with this. I battled with endless hopelessness, a product of institutionalization in and out of psychiatric care watching the horrors of a broken system. The shame and stigma surrounding me led to barriers in my own healing, and setbacks that were life threatening. Suicide seen as attentioning-seeking, a choice, and selfish which is the very conversation used to talk about mental health. Those statements promote silence in the already internal battle that 1 in 3...

September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition caused by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricles or brain cavities. It’s controlled by a device called a shunt that regulates the flow of the fluid. Hydrocephalus can be present at birth or acquired afterward. Both children and adults can have this condition. There are communities online where people with the condition and their families can connect and which can help families and individuals. Head injuries, intraventricular hemorrhage aka strokes, or brain tumors are some causes of the condition. Some symptoms of untreated hydrocephalus in children are headaches, blurred vision, and balance issues, as well as cognitive issues.   My connection with this condition is that I had a stroke at birth and a brain bleed that led to multiple disabilities, including hydrocephalus. As a small, premature infant, I had multiple surgeries until the neurosurgeons could finally get ...

To begin with, self-care is the number one priority at any point in time, whether you are an employee, student, teacher, or boss. In order to successfully promote yourself, in your job or other places that you’d like to inspire people, you’ve got to have an open mind and a driving force to accomplish what you set out to do.  Self-care does not only include your health, happiness, or even what you are doing to make yourself feel better in any given moment. It means still doing what makes you feel like you are accomplishing your goals that you are meant to be in that moment in your lifetime. So in conclusion, if you want to take care of others the first thing that you should do is ensure that you are at 100% yourself. This will let you be able to support others as well as yourself in any situation that you may encounter.

Disability rights are a crucial aspect of human rights, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities, dignity, and respect.  The disability rights movement has made significant progress over the years, but there is still much work to be done to achieve full equality and inclusion.  Historical Background: The treatment of people with disabilities has varied throughout history. In ancient civilizations, such as Greece and Rome, people with disabilities were often viewed as inferior and were subjected to discrimination and exclusion. During the Middle Ages, people with disabilities were often seen as a burden on society and were frequently institutionalized. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the eugenics movement emerged, which aimed to eliminate people with disabilities through forced sterilization and other means. This movement was later discredited, but its legacy continues to impact the lives of people with disabilities today. Disability Right...

Disability justice is a critical framework that seeks to address the intersections of disability, race, class, gender, sexuality, and other forms of oppression. It recognizes that disability is not just a medical issue, but a social and political one that is shaped by systemic ableism and discrimination. The disability justice movement emerged in the 2000s, primarily led by queer and trans people of color with disabilities. These activists sought to challenge the dominant disability rights movement, which they saw as being too focused on individual rights and assimilation into able-bodied society. Disability justice, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of collective action and solidarity among marginalized communities. It recognizes that disability is not just an individual experience, but a social and political one that is shaped by systemic oppression. One of the key principles of disability justice is the concept of "nothing about us without us." This means that d...