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in thisissue

Cover StoryInterview with an Avid Skier 1

Opinion / EditorialThe Rebirth of the Council 2

Fishing with Friends 3YAC-AZ Spreads Holiday Cheer 3Current Issues

Report: Community Public Forum 4

MLK Diversity Award Honors David Carey 4

Artist’s CornerInterview with Mykl Cook 5

Your HealthMoving your Body: Stretching Your Limits with Pilates

6

Nourishing Your Body: Think Again...and Other Tips forWiser Food Choices

7

Improbable Theatre Company 8

Interview with Avid SkierBy George GarciaWhat is your name and how old are you?

I am CJ Carter and am 18 years old.◙Do you have a disability?

Yes, I have Cerebral Palsy.How does your disability affect your everyday life?

My disability makes it necessary for me to use a wheelchair and a walker.

Do you go to school? If so, what kind of career do you plan to work towards?

I am a senior in high school at Corona Del Sol and I plan to go to CGCC next year, as I plan for a career. I want to study marine biology.

When you are not busy with school, what do you like to do for fun?When I am not busy with school I like to work with Apple computers.

I hear you like to go skiing. What kind of skiing do you do?I use a sit ski for regular downhill skiing.

Who do you go skiing with?I go skiing with a group called Mesa Sports for the Disabled.

Is it fun? What do you like or don’t like about it?Skiing is a lot of fun for me because I love to go fast and I love the cold snow. Plus, skiing is a good workout for me.

Do you use special equipment to go skiing because of your disability?

Yes, the sit ski I use has two skis on the bottom and two more skis on each side of it.

Would you recommend skiing to anyone?I would recommend skiing to anyone who likes the snow, cold and likes going down steep hills fast.

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SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010 — 2 —

opinion /The Rebirth of the CouncilBy George Garcia

For reasons yet to be fully justified, Arizona’s State Legislature failed to reauthorize the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities in July of 2009. This eventually led to the disbanding of the Council, the termination of all employees, the suspension of the Governor’s Council’s five-year plan, and the cessation of funding for all grants, programs, and projects.

However, under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, such Council is mandated to be in existence. With that in mind, with executive order 2009-08, Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona, established the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), on September 3, 2009. The DDPC serves as the successor to the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, which was disbanded on July 1, 2009.

On the surface, the new council seems to be starting from scratch. New board members have been selected, Governor Brewer appointed a new chairman, new council staff has been hired, and the board members recently selected Larry Clausen to serve as Executive Director. There are signs, however, that the complete work done by the former council has not been a total loss. In the first meeting of the DDPC, the newly appointed board members voted to adopt the five year plan established by the previous Governor’s Council. In part, this was done to qualify for funding from the federal government for the 2010 year. Stephen Tully, the newly appointed chairman of the DDPC, explained to board members that the goals set out in the five-year plan must remain firm or, if changed, a 45 day public comment period must occur before changes are adopted. Changing or rejecting the goals of the five-year plan would not give them enough time to ratify a new five-year plan, which needed to be in place by

the end of September 2009.

While the goals of the five-year plan must remain the same to avoid missing the deadline for federal funding, the objectives of the plan may be modified or rejected without public input. How the DDPC, and its new board members, choose to represent the developmental disability community remains to be seen. Many questions remain to be answered by the newly established agency. Will the DDPC do away with the goals set out by the previous Governor’s Council in a new five-year plan? Will the DDPC renew funding for programs such as Partners in Policymaking?

In a time of massive state budget cuts, now more than ever, a council is needed that lives up to its purpose as an advocate and a force for systemic change and capacity building on behalf of those with developmental disabilities and their families.

To learn more about the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council please visit http://www.azgovernor.gov/ddpc/index.asp.

Learn more about YAC-AZ and become a member!

newsletter To receive an electronic copy (PDF) of this newsletter, please send an e-mail message to g.garcia@swifamilies.org with SYF News in the subject line.

website Join us online!

Brooke Brown, Editor & Staff WriterMykl Cook, Staff WriterJay Dashefsky, Staff WriterLiliana Flores, Staff Writer

George Garcia, Staff WriterJohn Carlos Garcia, PhotographerKatie Griffith, Staff WriterChris Smith, Staff Writer

SYF NEWS

STAFF

George Garcia

SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010— 3 —

Fishing with Friends By Jay Dashefsky

On February 6th, 2010, Joni & Friends hosted an event at Tempe Beach Park, located next to Tempe Town Lake. This event, Fishing with Friends, showcased numerous disability-related organizations throughout Arizona. Some of these organizations included (among others) Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), Just Vote Arizona Disability Coalition, Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council (AzSILC), The Arizona Spina Bifida Association, United Cerebral Palsy of Arizona, Joni & Friends, and Southwest Institute for Families and Children (SWI). The outing was organized with vendor tables lining the grassy areas along a main park sidewalk, and the SWI table featured the Youth Action Council of Arizona (YAC-AZ). The family-oriented event had opportunities for attendees to learn more about the vendors, participate in fun booth activities, grab a bite to eat, enjoy the scenic Tempe Beach Park, watch live entertainment, and go fishing in the neighboring lake.

In addition to brochures and flyers, vendors also offered a variety of different activities

including games, arts, crafts, karaoke (even), and free swag like t-shirts, bracelets, teddy bears, etc. At the SWI booth, attendees could sign up to receive additional information, join YAC-AZ, and have fun participating in thought-provoking games. One involved throwing a sticky ball to a felt wheel divided into triangles, each of which represented an occupation. Players would then explain what that occupation does to be entered into a drawing for a prize. For example, if the ball landed on “nurse,” the player would describe what nurses do. What a clever way to get people interested in how SWI and YAC-AZ serve the disability community.

Overall, Fishing with Friends was a popular draw this year, and it provided a great opportunity for people to gain worthwhile information while enjoying a great day of fishing, being with friends, and getting fresh air. I went last year as well, and I look forward to next year’s. Events such as these highlight people with disabilities being active in the community and participating in activities, like fishing, that everyone can enjoy, whether or not they have a disability. Thumbs up!

YAC-AZ Spreads Holiday CheerBy Katie Griffith

On December 6th 2009, the Youth Action Council of Arizona had its 2nd annual holiday recruitment event. It was a big success! To plan for the event, YAC-AZ members began by getting together to brainstorm at our monthly meeting for ideas on what we wanted to do for the event. During our brainstorming we discovered that we did not have as much money for our event as we did for our event last year. Knowing this, we had to be conservative with how we spent our money. To do this, we decided to use most of the decorations we used for our event last year and only buy things that we did not have. Our next step in the planning process

was to find members that would be interested in being part of our decorating planning committee.

The members on that committee were responsible for choosing the best place to

shop and going to pick out the items. As a member on this committee, I found this to be a little bit of a challenge because we not only had to find a place we all like to shop, but also a place that had what we needed at prices that fit into our budget. After much thought and brainstorming, I and several other members who chose to be on the committee, decided the best places to shop were Wal-Mart and the Dollar store.

(continued on page 8)

(From left) Katie Griffith and Brooke Brown enjoying the festivities.

SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010 — 4 —

Summary of the Public Community Forum: January 14th, 2010By Jay Dashefsky

On Thursday, January 14th, 2010, I attended the Public Community Forum hosted by Democrats from the AZ House of Representatives at the Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center of the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC), which houses Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL) among other organizations. The audience included people with various disabilities, and people without any disabilities. I went to most of the Public Community Forums in 2009, with this being my first in 2010. The forum expanded on the budget discussion, but also gave insightful key pointers on how to testify, and the effectiveness of testifying.

In speaking about testifying, Legislators mentioned things like the Legislative Process (how a bill becomes a law, for example), the makeup of the AZ State Legislature (House of Representatives and Senate), and how to attend hearings and testify. Many people know about their right to vote but many don’t know that they can also make their voice heard by calling, e-mailing, or actually going down to the State Capitol to speak with Legislators in and out of their Legislative District. (Note that once per legislative session it is necessary to register in-person at the Capitol to testify; thereafter, he/she can register online).

At the forum, there was also a discussion about the state’s budget shortfalls. In addition to understanding what is going on within Arizona and why the cuts to crucial and important services are taking place, it is also important to know the background − how the budget crisis developed and how the budget works. The Legislators did an excellent job at this, and they also forecasted what the budget would probably look like in subsequent fiscal years. Services are being cut that are crucial and important to certain populations, including (but not limited to) people with disabilities. One common service being cut that people frequently talk about includes therapy hours being reduced (this applies to various types of therapies), which leads to therapists being paid less and consumers not getting the services they need. This was a common topic in the discussion that followed when the Legislators opened the floor to the audience members. Several asked about services being cut and how to protect them and alternative options for trimming the deficit (the gap in the budget) while protecting services. Overall, the forum was valuable and I hope that more people participate in upcoming forums. It is critical to speak up − every little bit counts. Every voice heard and every action taken is incredibly important!

current issues

MLK Diversity Awards Honors David Carey By George Garcia

Tempe Human Relations Commission held their 12th annual MLK Diversity Awards Brunch on January 12, 2010. Honored this year was David Carey for his work as an advocate on behalf of people with disabilities. His tireless work has improved the quality of life of people with disabilities by advocating for better public transportation services in the Phoenix metropolitan area and by lobbying state legislators to reduce budget cuts to social services programs that directly affect people with disabilities.

Currently, David has led the effort in creating a health and wellness fair. At the fair, people with disabilities will have access to community resources and hear guest speakers address issues on health and disability. The upcoming fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Disability Empowerment Center in Phoenix, Arizona from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please visit http://www.abil.org/wellness.

David Carey

SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010— 5 —

artist’s/corner

How long have you written rap lyrics and what motivated you to start?

It’s been almost 4yrs. If I recall correctly I first wanted to become a rapper when I was about 12 or 13, but didn’t actually start writing until I was 16. The first song I ever wrote was a Christian rap song. I can’t re-member exactly what motivated me to start. I think it was the other Christian rappers I had seen and whose music I had heard.

Where do you find the inspiration for your songs?I’ve got to give God credit for this one. He’s the one who inspired me to write my first two songs and a couple others that I had in the making. Since I stopped going to church because the church I had been attending moved all the way out to Avondale, I’ve kind of walked away from God and stopped writing Christian music. Now I think most my inspiration comes from one of my close friends, Gabriel, and just the thought of being able to show people that even with a disability I can still rap.

Does your disability have any affect on your mu-sic? If so, please explain.

Well kind of, because of my voice. I tend to run out of air fairly quickly, so at times my voice is a little soft and raspy. This means some of my pronunciations are a little off, but I know with lots of practice and con-centration, I can be just as good as the next guy.

Tell us about your style of rap.

I’ve been told I have a very unique style, kind of like Keak Da Sneak. That’s not who I try to imitate though. I don’t really know how to explain my style of rap, but it’s a good style.

Are there any rappers who influence your lyrics/songs?

Not really any who are already in the mu-sic industry, but my close friend Gabriel, also an aspiring artist, is the one I look up to when it comes to rapping.

What have you done with your music? (perfor-mances, contests, etc.)

I’ve performed at a “Holy Hip-Hop Night” at my old church, which was like a con-cert type thing with Christian artists also performing. I also performed once during a Sunday church service; and then just last year over at the Fire House, I per-formed a song alongside my brother and some friends.

Do you have any projects you’re working on cur-rently?

My friend and I have been talking about going to the studio to do some tracks, but haven’t decided on an exact date yet. As they come to mind, I do write down any lyr-ics I like though.

What is your ultimate goal for your music? Right now my goal is to just get my music heard, and getting signed, of course.

Calvin M. Cook was born May 4, 1990 in Phoenix, AZ. He moved to California at a young age with his mom and brother. When he 6 years old, he was hit by a motorcycle while crossing the street with his baby-sitter. After 8 years of healing and experi-ences, Calvin’s mom brought them all back to the

“Valley of the Sun” to be closer to family and friends. Music had been an interest to him since about the age of 12 and at the age of 16 he wrote his first rap song. He performed it twice at his church where he was at-tending at the time. Today, Calvin also known as Mykl, raps with a small group of friends who are currently calling themselves F.B.S. (Flaming Bird Soldiers). Unsigned, Mykl pursues his dream of becoming a hip-hop artist, letting nothing discourage him − not even his disability.

Interview with Mykl Cook,Aspiring Rap Artist

By Brooke Brown

Myk

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SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010 — 6 —

By Brooke Brown

Youth with disabilities, especially those physical in nature, can understand the need for regular exercise, but it’s often tricky to find something to give the maximum benefits to their bodies. Physical therapy is enough for some, specifically in learning skills and building strength in targeted areas of the body that can assist them in their daily living and independence goals. Still, others may want something more focused on overall core muscle strength and flexibility. Pilates just might do the trick.

That’s where I come in. I began looking for something to supplement my limited amount of therapy last summer and came across Personalized Pilates. It is the top teacher-training studio in the valley and therefore the owner, Katrina Foe, was very open to working with me. She was one of the few instructors I found with prior knowledge of cerebral palsy.

Since my initial consultations with Katrina, I’ve continued Pilates lessons with Junior Instructor Larry Foe twice a week. My workouts mainly involve various arm and leg exercises on the Cadillac or Reformer (see pictures), which both use springs and pulleys for resistance. Surprisingly, not very many of these exercises have to be modified for me or if they do, they’re just taken in stages.

Many people assume the Pilates exercise program is another form of Yoga, which would be difficult for those living with disabilities. However, I am here to say that assumption is far from the truth. My progress has been slow in some areas, i.e. gaining strength and mental control over

my legs, but I’m staring to see the results of my efforts now. That, in my opinion, is the goal of Pilates – to strengthen the communication between one’s mind and body, while allowing the muscles a non-stressful way to gain the flexibility to do what’s asked of them.

Joseph Pilates created the exercise method in 1918 while working in a German

hospital to rehabilitate the injured soldiers of World War I. He attached metal springs to patients’ beds so they could use their own resistance to rebuild muscle. Within a few years, Joseph and his wife had a thriving studio in the states, becoming especially popular with trained dancers. Still, even as the program grew and expanded beyond

hospital beds, those with limited mobility were never forgotten.

I think he would be proud of and maybe even amazed by what his method has helped me accomplish. Anyone

seeking a unique way to exercise that will improve their everyday mobility can be sure Pilates will help them do just that.

If you are interested in learning more about Pilates, I encourage you to contact Personalized Pilates (see information be-low) or research studios in your area (try it!). You can also check out this website: http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about-pilates.html.

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Personalized Pilates 5010 E. Shea Blvd. Suite A201 Scottsdale AZ 85254602.750.5799/info@personalizedpilates.comwww.personalizedpilates.com

Cadil lac

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yourhealth

Stretching Your Limits with Pilates

SYF NEWS│Winter 2009-10 | Spring 2010— 7 —

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Feel like you are always on the run? Much to do in your everyday life – school, work, friends, family? How are you expected to make wise food choices when sitting down to a thoughtfully prepared meal with family is now something reserved for special occasions and holidays? What are your options for food on-the-go? Why might some be poor choices? Why should you care?

Good NutritionWe all know good nutrition is important. Let’s

remind ourselves why...energy A healthy diet with complex

carbohydrates and ‘good’ fats provides sustained energy your body requires to function well.

nutrients Protein in your diet helps your body build and repair itself. Vitamins and minerals help your body carry out important chemical reactions efficiently.

+ Healthy eating is one of the best things you can do to prevent health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and many more.

Getting Good NutritionSo, what are the basics of good nutrition?

balance Every day, eat from each food group: grains; fruits; vegetables; fat-free or low-fat milk/milk products; lean meats, poultry, and fish; nuts, seeds, and legumes.

variety Try new things! Select different foods in each food group and think color with your fruits & veggies.

moderation Don’t have too much or too little of one type of food.

quanitity Consume the appropriate daily amount of calories for your age, gender, and activity level (see ‘daily energy needs’ chart). Aim for this calorie breakdown: 45-65% carbohydrates

10-35% protein20-35% fat

emphasis Complex carbohydrates (especially whole grains, legumes, nutrient rich fruits) Think plant-based protein (beans,

lentils, soy) Choose lean meats; include seafood

at least twice a week. Get fats from healthy sources like

nuts, avocados, and olive oil.

Avoid (or Limit) Processed foods:typically have more sodium

and saturated fat than whole foods. Fast food chains: generally higher in calories,

fat, and sugars than home-prepared meals (go to http://helpguide.org/life/fast_food_nutrition.htm for tips on choosing healthier fast foods). Oversized food portions (check out this handy

tool to learn about appropriate food portions http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-portion-size-plate).

Instead When the urge to snack hits, reach for some

cherry tomatoes, low-fat string cheese, or a handful of almonds.Need a mid-day pick-you-up? Something

with caffeine? Resist reaching for a specialty blended coffee drink. Go simple instead. If you routinely order a White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino™, try an Iced Skinny Flavored Latte™ with non-fat milk instead. (see comparison below). Drink water, not soda.

Other Tips Eat more foods high in fiber (whole grain

foods). Fiber has myriad health benefits, one of which is that it keeps you feeling full, quieting those pesky cravings. Stock up on nutritious snacks like fresh

fruit and vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cheeses Think about

the small changes you can make to your diet and try them go on!

Think Again.. .and Other Tips to Wiser Food Choices

4

totalfat carbohydrates protein

24oz. White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino™ (w/ whipped cream) 24 oz. Iced Skinny Flavored Latte™ (w/non-fat milk)

28% 6% 295% 0% 156% 31% 24% 27%

Starbucks Coffee Drinks | Comparison % of daily calories based on a 2,000 calorie/day diet

100%

2,0002,400

sedentary1

lifestyle

2,000-2,2002,600-2,800

moderately active2 lifestyle

2,4003,000

active3

lifestyle

age 19−30 years

1 sedentary

2 moderately active

3 active

physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5-3 miles per day at 3-4 miles per hour, in addition to light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life

physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3-4 miles per hour, in addition to light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life

only light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life

calo

riesDaily Energy (Calorie) Needs

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Join the Celebration: 20th Anniversary of ADA!

Commemorate and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as the 10th Anniversary of Improbable Theatre Company, through a multi-media performance. The show features artists telling their stories with an emphasis on how their lives

have changed with the ADA. Directed by Dolores D’Amore Goldsmith.

information|Opening night:

Monday, April 19th7:00 pmTickets $3

Other performances:Tuesday−Thursday, April 20-22 & 27-29 12:10pm Tickets $6

Venue:Herberger Theater Center222 East Monroe Street, Phoenix

Other Information:April 21st performance will have ASL

interpreters and audio description.Bring your lunch or pre-order a box

lunch. Lunches are catered by Coffea Cafe. Submit lunch orders BEFORE 9:00am the day of the performance you are attending. Phone 602-373-6570 Fax 602-271-0484 http://www.coffeacafe.com/lttnew.htm.

Enter at 3rd St. and Van Buren underneath the canopy.

Tickets available at the door or online http://www.herbergertheater.org (make sure to click the Lunch Time Theater tab).

No fragrances please. To accommodate those with allergies, breathing conditions or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities please do not smoke or wear scented products when attending ITC events.

We found lots of good items and had fun shopping as well. When we had the decoration s for the party, all we needed was the food. This took a lot of planning, but after much thought from the members we concluded having a potluck dinner would be best in order to save m o n e y and stay w i t h i n o u r b u d g e t . This took

a lot of effort as well because the members had to make sure they each committed to bringing something so we had enough for everyone.

The good news is everyone brought something and we had plenty of delicious food. The members also decided to play many of the same games as we did at the last year’s event. Some of the games we played included: “guess how many candies are in the jar” and an original movie trivia game. My favorite part however, was the gift exchange in which I won a Starbucks gift card!

We ended up having forty or so people attend the event, so we met friends new and old, but the best part was seeing how many people wanted to become new members of YAC-AZ. I think all who attended had lots of fun and those of us on the planning committee were very proud after all our efforts. We are so excited for our event next year and look forward to recruiting even more members!

(YAC-AZ Holiday Cheer — continued from page 1)

Top Photo: YAC-AZ members getting ready for the ‘white elephant’ game. Bottom photo: Theresa Moore and Jay Def-shevsky un-veiling their mystery gifts