Disabilities and advocacy

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012

2011-12-15T13:54:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year to All

Greetings to one and all!
From the kid in us to the kid in you!

Dee and I have had a busy yet pleasant 2011.

April 15-17th we traveled to Sioux Falls where we attended the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children conference (SDAEYC) where I spoke for the second year in a row. It was a great conference.
End of April --I spoke at the Early Childhood Conference held at UW-Stout here in Menomonie, WI. to which I have been involved and presented with workshops for three years and will be there again in 2012.

The best of the year was getting to be in Madison in August for a Cognitive Disability Conference sponsored by CESA in which our friend Dr. Ashleigh Molloy from Toronto, Ontario, Canada was a presenter. We were both keynote presenters and workshop leaders. It was great and you can find our presentation clips online on our websites thanks to Dee! Like them or not! LOL

It had been several years since we three had been together other than through email and phone calls. Dr. Ash, Dee and I had a good time after the conference sitting on the lakeside in Madison relaxing, enjoying the sailboats and chatting. He wanted to bring back to his family in Toronto some Krumkake ( made in Racine) that he had eaten at a party honoring one of the Wisconsin educators but we could not find a store near us that had that delicious Scandinavian cake dessert.

This summer we had some beautiful weather and we had fun going to a few places on our own to enjoy the lakes and country. I, of course, was again at Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp teaching one day a week to young people about disabilities. I spoke at chapel and that would have been about 4000-5000 kids that heard about faith and disabilities and how to respect everyone.

In September, Dee and I were home in Kenmare, North Dakota and had a great time being with mom and dad. My dad is 92 years old last June and we got to see photos of his "Rough Rider's" flight to Washington, DC in May of 2011 with my sister Terri. My dad is a WWII veteran. I am happy he enjoyed the trip. Of course, while in North Dakota I spoke for two days at Minot State University to some special education classes where my book is being used as a textbook. ( IQ of 63, So What!)

The end of September Dee and I flew to Columbus, Ohio where we were invited and attended a church conference sponsored by two church ministries concerning disabilities and mental health within church congregations called "Widening the Welcome". It was a great conference and we met a lot of new friends. For the past few months Dee and I have been to several churches extending this "Widening the Welcome" within congregations to welcome people with disabilities. We need to welcome all and embrace our differences and uniqueness. (Please visit us at http://www.bendanderson.com/10-10%20Team%20donations.htm and support our non-profit Break Through Inc.)

We are looking forward to 2012 as we begin our new year. We have a two week tour in South Dakota in April 2012 where I will be speaking at schools, parent groups, churches and in-service training.
Dee and I hope you have a Blessed Christmas and a Good New Year. Remember to keep that kid in you! Ben and Dee

MY FATHER WAS HONORED TO GO ON THE ROUGH RIDERS FLIGHT

2011-11-16T15:00:00.001-06:00

My dad at the age of 91 years old in May 2011 was honored by flying to Washington, DC for his service in WWII. I am going to post an article that was in my hometown newspaper in Kenmare, North Dakota.

RUSSELL ANDERSON WAS ADVANCING ON BERLIN WHEN WWII CAME TO END-

Posted 11/09/11 (Wed)in Kenmare News, Kenmare, ND article written by Caroline Downs.

Veteran Russell Anderson, with daughter Terri Hoskins,
who accompanied him on the final Roughrider Honor Flight
from Bismarck to Washington, D.C. “We were 50 miles from Berlin when the war ended,” Kenmare resident Russell Anderson said about his final days of service during World War II. “I never did get to Berlin. By then, I’d been on the run for so damn long, I was ready to go home.”

As one of North Dakota’s WWII veterans, Russell and his daughter, Terri Hoskins of Maxbass, traveled with the final group of 240 veterans to make the Roughrider Honor Flight from Bismarck to Washington, D.C. last May. Russell didn’t intend to go on the overnight tour and visit to the World War II Memorial until his grandchildren started encouraging him.

“I could have signed up for one of the earlier flights, but I didn’t feel like it,” he said. “When [granddaughter] Ronda got started on me, it was a different story.”

Ronda, Terri’s daughter and a business teacher in Glenburn, submitted the paperwork on behalf of her grandfather with Terri as the designated escort.

As the two made their first trip to the nation’s capital, they were both grateful for Ronda’s persistence.

Served in European Theatre
Given Russell’s war experiences, he was fortunate to become a father and grandfather. One of 10 children born to his parents in Minnesota, he was drafted 70 years ago in November 1941 at the age of 21 and first sent to an Army camp in Des Moines, IA. From there he traveled to Camp Polk in Louisiana, where he completed basic training and the necessary training to become a mechanic.

“We left the swamps and then trained in the Mohave Desert in California for three months,” he said. “The three hottest months of the year.”

Russell continued a list of his training locations, including two months in Virginia, nine months in Pennsylvania and eight months in England. “Then June 6th, 1944, came around and I went to France,” he said.

As part of the invasion force, Russell was assigned to the third Armored Division, in the maintenance company of the 33rd Armored Regiment. “We took our tanks and just drove right in the water,” he said. “When the tanks came, the bodies [of soldiers killed by the Germans] had to float away.”

Russell couldn’t make time for sentiment that day. “We got up out of the water and went up on the bank,” he said. “We had to take the waterproofing off our tanks.”

As his company worked, they discovered and captured three German soldiers in the immediate area. “They had bread loaves with green mold on them,” Russell recalled. “They didn’t want us to take that away from them. We turned them over to some lieutenant, got our tanks ready and away we went.”

Russell rolled with his tank and his company across France until August 2nd. “They lobbed a shell between me and the tank,” he said. He took some shrapnel close to his spine and was sent to Bristol, England to recover.

“I was in the hospital there about six weeks, then they sent me back to France and put me in a boxcar,” he said. “I went right back to my old outfit. Right back to my old tank.”

The company made their way in to Belgium, where the women welcomed the soldiers and cooked waffles for them. “I mean, they were good,” Russell said. “They would get mad because we couldn’t eat all of them!”

The fighting continued right up until Christmas, when Russell’s company was pulled back to celebrate the holiday with dinner. The German front eased their operations, too, but guards from both sides watched each other and Russell that day, who was out repairing a tank and taking it for test runs, which made both sides uneasy.

“After that, it was the same old thing,” he said. “It was fight, fight, fight, right into Germany. They told us we were the first ones there, but everyone says that.”

The American troops made progress as the Germans fell back, but Russell’s company ran into intense resistance three days before the actual surrender. “They told us the Germans were done fighting,” he said.

His company had arrived at a small German town near the Alps, fortified with an old stone wall. The soldiers had settled into a house for the evening but were awakened by gunfire about 3 am.

“We got out of there with just the clothes we had on,” he said. “They captured our company, but another outfit moved in and got the Germans out of there. Our company came out all right. It just lasted through the night.”

As the Germans actually surrendered, Russell’s duties shifted from mechanic’s work to guard patrol. “There wasn’t that much to do except watch prisoners,” he said. “You always had a gun on your side and you couldn’t be scared to use it.”

Russell was discharged in October 1945 and returned to Camp McCoy in Minnesota. “I had five brothers besides myself in the service,” he said, explaining one served in the Navy and the rest in the Army. The Anderson boys saw duty in both the European and Pacific theatres, as well as stateside managing prisoners from the war.

“Five of us came home,” Russell said. “The brother two years younger than me was buried in Germany.” Eventually, his brother’s body was shipped home.

After Russell’s return, he found jobs locally, but by 1950 he made his way out to the Kenmare area. “When I got to Minot, I went to the unemployment office,” he said. “I wanted work, and they said there was a couple coming in from a farm by Coulee.”

Oscar Lehman of the Coulee area became Russell’s employer for the next four years. Soon after settling into his new position, Russell attended a dance in the area and met his future wife Marlys.

“My tank’s name was Marlys,” Russell said, adding that despite his own wound, his tank merely had scars from getting hit by shells and shrapnel. “Being in a maintenance company, all our tanks had to start with the letter ‘M,’ and I’ve been stuck with Marlys ever since.”

“I thought he was kidding me at first!” Marlys added.

The two married in 1952. They raised their daughter Terri and son Ben, who now lives in Wisconsin with his wife Dee.

Grateful for the
Honor Flight opportunity
When Russell and Terri made the Honor Flight trip, they were impressed by the smooth organization and number of sights they had the opportunity to see. They enjoyed the various memorials and were impressed by the architecture and design across the National Mall and throughout the city.

Arlington National Cemetery made an impact, too. “We saw all those white gravestones, thousands of them,” Russell said.

“They told us 30 to 40 soldiers are buried there each day,” added Terri.

Russell enjoyed both the V-Mail he received during the trip from students in Bismarck schools and the response from strangers while visiting the World War II Memorial.

“People of every age imaginable came up and put a hand on his shoulder and hugged him, so many times,” Terri said. “Teenagers even. I was impressed, I really was.”

Russell and Terri also took time at the Memorial to pay tribute to Russell’s brother. “They have a registry, so we went to the information desk and got help from a guide there,” Terri said. “We found Dad’s brother’s name in the registry.”

For Russell, who returned home alone and with no fanfare in 1945, one of the best parts of the Honor Flight was the arrival back in Bismarck. “We got a real reception,” he said.

“They had every branch of the service represented,” Terri said. “There was a band playing, people were waving flags and cheering. We just want to thank the people who made this trip possible, to the ones who donated the money and the ones who volunteered as helpers.”

Russell traveled on the same Honor Flight as Jim Hillestad of Kenmare, but he didn’t know any of the other veterans along for the trip. “I haven’t seen anybody that I served with in the Army since I got out,” he said.

Still humble about his military service, Russell does take pride in his work ethic during the war. “I was trained to be a tank mechanic and that’s what I was,” he said.

Terri interjected that her father was actually the tank commander, who achieved the rank of sergeant.

“Somebody had to be the boss,” Russell explained, “but I still had to work!”

"HOW WIDE IS THE WELCOME"

2011-10-14T09:26:00.001-05:00

On September 27th my wife Dee and I left home to have dinner with friends in Minneapolis and the next morning we flew out to Columbus, Ohio to attend the "Widening the Welcome" Conference.

Dee and I truly enjoyed our time there. This is my reflections on the conference that I had previously written and now share with you.

'About thirty-five years ago, shortly after I began the non-profit organization Break Through Inc., I previewed a movie called "Belonging". It was about an orphanage in Mexico. A young priest was out one day walking and discovered a boy that was crying. After the priest came upon him he realized that he was disfigured from being burnt in a fire. He took pity on the boy and wondered how the other children would accept him back at the orphanage. As he walked into the courtyard with the boy, the priest was hesitant but very surprised as one of the children said -"You are my brother" and the children welcomed the boy into their midst.

Three weeks ago my wife and I attended the second annual "Widening the Welcome" conference for persons with disabilities and mental illness held in Columbus, Ohio. It is sponsored by the United Church of Christ Disability Ministry and Mental Health Ministry. We heard presentations from people from all over the map and about how wide the welcome is and should be. The conference was attended by about 110 individuals from across the United States and Canada. I don't know what kind of insights and knowledge we all came home with from this conference but one thing for sure was that wherever people came from or how severe their disability may have been they were welcome. We not only experienced that welcome in the presentations and workshops but we saw it at mealtimes. We also saw the "welcome" during the evening social function when everyone was having a good time chatting, listening to music, dancing and enjoying some food.

Widening the Welcome conference took me back to the movie "Belonging" where that little boy had been burnt and how that community welcomed him with open arms.

The conference was based on the text where Jesus told the servants to go into the streets to gather people for the banquet. (Luke 14:23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.") The metaphor is to cast your nets wide to include everyone in the community.

One of the speakers talked about "Enlarging the Size of Your Tent" to include everyone and not to forget those less fortunate among us. We are called to get out of our comfort zone and include people that are not included in our everyday experiences. Widening the Welcome conference was about including everyone into the body of Christ. To welcome everyone to come and eat at the table that Jesus invited us all to come and join him.

The question is "How Wide is the Welcome” in your church and communities?'

Awareness-from local community to global neighbors. All is good.

2011-09-10T10:18:00.002-05:00

Summer has been a busy time for Dee and I as I continued to work at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp here in Amery, Wisconsin. For the last 30 plus years I have been a summer resource staff. It has been an honor to be able to be involved with young people's lives over the past 30 years and to be able to be a piece of their life and shape their attitudes towards other people in a positive way.

I spoke on Tuesdays. This year I spoke at chapel using the theme "In the Midst". I had about a 5 to 7 minute chapel time to incorporate my life with a disability and trying to relate to the young people about people with disabilities that have gifts and talents.
I also had the opportunity to spend time with Teams in mission. (Tim Teamers) I would spend about 60 minutes with them and also have a dialogue with them to ask if they have persons in their life that have a disability.

We were surprised by an email contact we received the other day from a group in Kuwait called "Training Gate International"--they have a website at http://www.tg-i.com/

It is an organization that is educating teachers and others in how to include people with disabilities within the schools and community. Our friend Dr. Ashleigh Molloy (who wrote the foreword to my book "IQ of 63, So What") is going to spend a week teaching in Kuwait in October. We also received a very nice letter email from one of the organizers of Training Gate. They read about Break Through Inc. and its mission. They were interested in my book and programs so we mailed them a book. I see this as being a very important beginning in that part of the world to begin accepting and including persons with disabilities within the public school systems. We are blessed to be a part of that conversation. Thanks Dr. Ash for connecting us with that organization.

FYI my book (“IQ of 63, So What!” Going Beyond Everybody Else’s Expectations) has been received by many people around the world in at least seven different countries. (Australia, Norway, Sweden, Canada, UK, China, and now Kuwait).

I was one of the keynote speakers for a CD Conference (Cognitive Disabilities) that was sponsored by CESA 6 that was held in Madison, Wisconsin this past August 2011. Our friend Dr. Ash Molloy flew in from Toronto, Ontario as he was also a keynote speaker. It was good to visit with him as we compare notes about upcoming conferences that we may be involved with around the U.S. and Canada. We have not seen him for a few years although we keep in touch by phone and email.

This week my wife Dee and I will journey up to Minot State where I will lecture to the special education class that is using my book. This will be the second time I have been to Minot State classes. I was there in October of 2010 as I was invited to kick off disability awareness month at Minot State.

My book has been read by a lot of students as the book is a textbook at two universities. It is a textbook at The University of Wisconsin-Stout in the Vocational Rehabilitation Department and in the special education Department at Minot State University, North Dakota. Many of you may know I graduated from UW-Stout in 1992 in the Vocational Rehabilitation Department. It is a great honor for me to have them read my book as part of their classes.

It is always interesting to make connections and how connections fall into place. For Minot State it was that I was the keynote speaker for the "Pathfinder’s of North Dakota" parent conference in May of 2010. After my presentation there were many educators from Minot State who invited me to speak.

Late in September Dee and I will be flying to Columbus, Ohio to attend the Second Annual Disability Conference - "Widening the Welcome" Conference which is being sponsored by the United Church of Christ Disability Ministries and Mental Health. We will have a booth there and perhaps be on a panel discussion about inclusion of persons with disabilities within the church and community. We will be looking how churches will minister more effectively to persons with disabilities.

Break Through is continuing to seek financial support in order to provide its mission --

"Our mission is one of rehabilitation education and advocacy for and about people with disabilities to encourage and enlighten the public about people with disabilities in that they are people first and have rights and needs and that they also have gifts and talents to bring to the community"

We hope that you will keep us in mind as we continue our endeavors with a donation to Break Through Inc. You may donate on line via our website at www.bendanderson.com and click on the "Guide Star" donation link or you can mail a check to Break Through Inc.-PO Box 284, Amery, WI 54001
Your gifts are very much appreciated and will be used for Break Through's mission.

Thank you and have a nice day.
Ben and Dee Anderson
Break Through Inc.
PO Box 284
Amery, WI 54001
www.bendanderson.com

"YOUR DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED"

2010-11-20T13:30:00.005-06:00

Your donations are appreciated to Break Through Inc.

Dear Friends,

It is time again for our 10/10 Team letter to invite you give your monetary “gifts” to help support Break Through Inc. and its mission. Here is what Break Through has been doing for the past several months.

It has been an interesting summer and fall as I (Ben) received an email one day inviting me to come down to San Antonio Texas to a Gala at “Morgan’s Wonderland”. I was one of five people to be honored for my work for the last 35 years. I should have not been surprised to realize that my wife (a few months before hand) had put in my name to be honored. So on the 18th of September we were at this event in San Antonio. What an honor it was to be involved with the first and only “accessible family park” for people with disabilities. I am very much honored to have my name involved with that park.

Here is the link to Morgan’s Wonderland.--- www.morganswonderland.com/

Dee and I traveled to Minot, ND as I was the “kick-off” speaker for Disability Awareness month at Minot State University. Minot State is one of the two universities that is using my book in the special education department classes. On that same trip I also had the honor to speak to 7th -12th grade students at my hometown high school in Kenmare, ND. Dee and I were also able to visit family and friends in North Dakota.

We also traveled to Illinois in October to a Transition Conference in Effingham where we had a booth. There we visited with a lot of people about coming back to speak at various venues in Illinois. It was one of the better conferences in terms of Transition and Inclusion.

One of the most fascinating things we have done this year is doing an in-service staff training at a company in Algoma, WI. It is a company that makes commercial and home mops. The company’s mission is to hire people with disabilities and help them to succeed and integrate them into the community for a fulfilling life.--- www.missionmop.org/

2011 looks like a very busy year again. We are awaiting some proposal acceptances from education and parent conferences and from schools. We are again asking you to consider a “gift” to the 10/10 team as we close out this 2010 year and proceed into 2011.

Here is a link on our website that gives you the link for online donations through “Guidestar” or our mailing address.

Here is the link for our 10-10 Team
Your donations are truly appreciated and help to educate about people with disabilities.

Have a wonderful Holiday and Christmas Season.

Sincerely,

Ben and Dee Anderson

Break Through Inc

Using Language that Hurt Other People

2010-11-18T14:55:00.000-06:00

The other day I received a request to write a piece on the subject of using the word "mentally retarded" that is being used by students to make fun of other people.

I would like to share with you the open letter that I sent to that individual. Let's remember that words hurt people as we face a big problem in bullying in this country. I have been bullied as a kid and realize that now as an adult I would like to be part of the solution. I hope think about my comments as you read them.

Dear Students,

It came to my attention that students across the country are using the word mentally “retarded”. I would like to plead to you that you quit using the negative word “retarded” as it is a slang word against people that have disabilities. In effect, telling anyone that they are retarded is bullying and not acceptable conduct.

The word describes someone that has a low IQ or does not do things at the same pace as others. A person like me that was born with cerebral palsy finds it a very hurtful word because it wrongly describes people. I believe that all people have gifts and talents in their own way. We all have disabilities even though they might not be visible. You too might have a hidden disability and it would be hurtful to you if someone found it out about you and began using that term of “retarded”.

As of October 5th 2010 our President signed “Rosa’s Law” into effect which requires that all Federal Documents must use the word “intellectual disability” in lieu of “mentally retarded”.

I hope this helps you not to use that negative word. Thank you.

Your friend,

Ben D. Anderson

Morgan's Wonderland honoree Ben D. Anderson, author & speaker

2010-10-12T19:32:00.000-05:00

SURPRISED BY AN EMAIL!

2010-10-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

I got up one morning and my wife received an email which she forwarded to me. I was surprised by what it read. I was one of the honorees for the Walk of Fame award in San Antonio, Texas at Morgan's Wonderland and we were invited to come down.

Dee and I took a flight and on the 18th of September 2010 and we attended a Gala called "Free to Soar" . What a wonderful night it was. Not only to receive that award but to see the excitement in the room of 400 people. There were five of us that received this award for their positive involvement with people with disability whether they had a disability or were a friend, parent, teacher or anyone who put a positive influence on that person or gave of themselves to give a positive outlook about people with disabilities.

One nice part of the evening was when everyone stood up to honor Morgan who became 17 years old and got to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. Morgan's Wonderland is named for this lovely young lady. Named by her parents who founded the park which opened in April 2010. It is the first of its kind accessible family park in the world.

After the wonderful dinner Dee and I took a walk in the park to look at the "Walk of Fame" pathway where there was one of the first lighted stepping stones that had all five of the honorees names on it. It changes colors and has a butterfly logo in the middle. So pretty. I can now say that my name is in lights, i.e. "Ben Anderson"
You can go to my website at www.bendanderson.com to see some photos and links.

On the road again!

2010-09-13T14:44:00.000-05:00

5 months ago I told you about a totally accessible park in Texas called "Morgan's Wonderland". This Saturday night ( September 18th 2010) Dee and I will be at the park for a "black tie" banquet. It is called the "Free to Soar" Gala which is a fundraiser for the park and it also will honor five people who have in someway contributed to advocating and supporting people with disabilities. Their names will be put within some lighted walking path stones on the "Walk of Fame" around the park.

Without me knowing about this event my wife Dee submitted my name as a possible honoree because of my over 30 years of advocating and speaking around the country to educators and families in support of people with disabilities. Well. lo and behold. about a week ago Dee received an email from the general manager of the park inviting us to San Antonio to attend this $100. per person Gala.

We will be flying off to San Antonio. I felt very honored to be the first of many that will be named in the coming years on this "Walk of Fame".

If any one is in the area you are invited to attend. You can read about it online at www.morganswonderland.com

We will put up some photos when we get back home.

Join the 10/10 Team to support persons with disabilites

2010-04-05T11:36:00.003-05:00

This spring Dee and I are looking for a full schedule as we are leaving Wednesday to the Association for Education of Young Children Conference in Indianapolis. From there we will be going to my Rehab Council meeting (meets 4 times a year) which will be held in Oconomowoc. I am also speaking at the SDAEYC conference in Watertown, South Dakota followed by two full days at the ECE conference held at UW-Stout in Menomonie. First week of May I give a keynote presentation at the “Pathfinders of North Dakota” state conference. My sister was one of the parents that started the organization in the 1980’s.

Break Through is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate people about persons with disabilities. We are seeking donations to help to be able to continue to travel and fulfill the educational workshops that we provide. We have made it easier for you to make a donation online by going to this link on our website and belong to our support team called the 10/10 Team
Visit our website at http://www.bendanderson.com/ and click on the 10/10 Team link in the middle of the page.

Please help us in Break Through’s Mission:

"Our mission is one of rehabilitation education and advocacy for and about people with disabilities to encourage and enlighten the public about people with disabilities in that they are people first and have rights and needs and that they also have gifts and talents to bring to the community."

Thank you for any support you can give.

INCLUSION ALSO MEANS HEALTHCARE !

2010-03-22T11:08:00.000-05:00

Dee and I got back from Texas the beginning of March after about 4 weeks away from home speaking at differnent conferences. We had a great time. We met a lot of interesting folks fighting for advocacy, inclusion and education for children. "Morgan's Wonderland" ( a family park for inclusion of people with disabilities) was interesting as I wrote in my last Blog entry. Hopefully this will not be the only park of its kind in the USA in the future. So we are getting things done for everyone to go beyond expectations in their life and enjoy life to it's fullest.

Now, last night I had the opportunity to watch the debate on health care and I know this is a very controversial subject but one of the reasons I like this bill is that it will do away "pre-existing conditions". As a disability advocate I have been in many conversations throughout the Country about the lack of understanding in this area. It was about time to "step up to the plate" and get this health care done for millions of people who could not obtain medical health benefits because of a pre-existing condition.

Dee and I will be traveling again in April to several conferences and meetings. Dee doesn't enjoy the driving but enjoys meeting people

I have been invited back to University of Wisconsin-Stout as a presenter at the Early Childhood Conference for the 3rd year. I remember as a student on that campus that this conference was a huge conference and thinking that I would love to be a speaker there and now here I am for my third time! Have a nice week.

Texas tour

2010-02-23T11:16:00.000-06:00

We were invited to speak in Austin, Texas at the Texas Transition conference, February 15-17th. It was an interesting conference as we met a lot of parents and professionals and my book was well received as I spoke on Tuesday the 16th.

We then we moved on to Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas where I did a 15 minute chapel talk. The interesting thing about it was that Dee had a chance to speak to a young lady that had cerebral palsy and she was able to give her encouragement and she was also intrigued by my book.

On Saturday we were invited to a parent support group in San Antonio for children with autism. It was surprising to learn they are fighting hard for rights there in Texas. There were a lot of questions from these parents about how I had gone through the "system" years ago as a person with a disability. I was able to give them the assurance that their teenagers will be okay as they begin to develop their own independance.

On Sunday were were back in Seguin at Faith Lutheran Church were I did a confirmation class with the high school students. We had a very intriguing conversation about persons in their own families that struggle with disability. Both Dee and I walked away with "awe" to see how open these teenagers were to talk about their life and family members who deal with different kinds of disabilities.

On Monday we were invited to "Morgan's Wonderland" in San Antonio. You can read about that on the other post.

We are finally relaxed and were able to take a walk and a boat ride on the "Riverwalk" in San Antonio yesterday--it was sunny but only about 50 degrees.

No folks- we are not getting a suntan as it is cloudy and 39 degrees above,--- cloudy, ---rainy and possible snow today! Oh well- I thought I would get away from the Wisconsin weather but I guess there were other plans!

We will be heading up north again in a few days and stopping in Manhattan, Kansas for couple of days. We will be home soon to our warm balmy 60 degree Wisconsin Sunshine!!!!

Morgan's Wonderland- the only park of its kind in the world

2010-02-23T10:15:00.001-06:00

Can you imagine going to a park that everybody could enjoy even if you are in a wheelchair? That person could swing, ride the train, fish and much, much more.

While we were in Texas my wife and I were invited to preview a new family park in San Antonio. We were welcomed by the staff of Morgan's Wonderland. We spent the day looking, participating and seeing other people and their families having FUN without being limited in enjoying the activities. What joy it brought to Dee and I that somebody had the vision to create a park like this. Please visit their website at Morgan's Wonderland

It is truly a "wonderful" Wonderland! Imagine seeing and hearing people with disabilities having fun at Morgan's Wonderland park. The uniqueness of this park is that it for everyone and it is FREE to those that have a disability.

Hopefully in the future we will see these parks all over the U.S.A and other countries. You will come away with a smile on your face as you realize that in that park everyone can enjoy the activities.

COME AND ENJOY!

Long Time Friendship

2010-01-30T15:00:00.000-06:00

In the summer of 1976 this small town North Dakota boy moved to the big city. It was part of a gospel team for 8 weeks at Augustana Lutheran Church downtown Minneapolis where I met my supervisor, Dr. William E. Berg.

Today my wife went to the post office and we received a letter from Dr. Berg. He is now 99 years old. Dr. Berg and I have been in touch by mail ever sinse. That is true friendship.

I hope you can experience friendships like I have that will be life long and meaningful as the friendship I have with Dr. Berg.

Dr. Berg, like I said is 99 years old, and in his Christmas letter to me he wrote that he is publishing his eighth book on his 100th birthday in May 2010 and we pray God for that achievement and for good health to him.

An Interesting and sad week in Haiti

2010-01-23T13:25:00.000-06:00

After we look at the headlines of what went on in Haiti I can't stop and think that it is incredible damage and death that happened. My hope and my prayers go out to each one of the families that are grieving their loss.

What an excitement when I heard last night that there was another life that was saved from under the rubble after 10 days from the earthquake and people are still be found alive. That is amazing.

For the survivors it is about time to step up and get those resources to the survivors so that they can get back to some sort of civilized life.

One of the resources that Dee and I are aware of is that I received an email from a gentleman by the name of Keoke King this past week that provides wheelchairs for Haiti that are made for rough terrain. His website is at www.whirlwindwheelchair.org

Our thoughts and prayers are with Haiti and everyone involved in helping them.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2009-12-08T10:15:00.000-06:00

December 8th 2009

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas! The season of being joyful at Christmas time.

Greetings!

We had a full year of activities. We had 6 major conferences in 2009. Dee drove to all of them except the NAEYC conference in November which was in Washington DC.

We met a lot of interesting people all over the U.S. from late April in Utah- to Tennessee -to Florida and back to Wyoming and then Iowa which was in October. We met many educators, parents and self-advocates. It was great meeting and learning from each other.

In June we gathered together with Ben’s family and friends in North Dakota to celebrate Ben’s dad’s 90th birthday. It was good to see everybody there from all over the U.S.

In 2009 we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Marj and Wayne Nelson. Wayne was Ben’s supervisor on his first job as a public awareness person in Grand Forks, ND back in the early 1970’s.

2010 looks like it will be another full year of meeting people as we are looking at some major tours beginning in February. We will be touring from Texas through Kansas.

The book continues to be a good item for people to read as we receive emails from people who enjoyed the book. We haven’t made the million mark yet for sales LOL but we are looking at the focused groups of people that are gaining insight about disabilities rather than the quantity of sales. We are getting the message out about awareness and advocacy to help people with disabilities, their families, and educators to continue to bring inclusion and independence to persons with disability.

As we look forward to many awareness workshops in 2010 we are hoping that you will financially sponsor us with your gifts. We are offering a Christmas special of “IQ of 63, So What!” at the cost of $10. each plus $3. S/H. ( half price) You can send a check to Break Through Inc at PO Box 284, Amery, WI 54001 or order online at http://bendanderson.com/IQof63.htm It makes a great gift.

We will be celebrating Christmas here in Amery with Dee’s brother and friends. Dee has been busy working on a website business where she has some clients. She also enjoys singing at the Lake Wapogassett Christmas Dinner Theater.

Wishing all of you the best Christmas and New Year! God Bless!

Ben and Dee Anderson

Upcoming events and travels

2009-11-12T11:36:00.000-06:00

We received some other awareness opportunities for 2010. We are glad that people are looking at doing awareness at their universities. We are thankful that they are thinking of us to provide that training. In February 2010 we will be traveling down to Austin, Texas to present at a conference and then to Seguin, TX to be at a university. It will give us a break to get out of the cold of the Wisconsin winter.

Next week Dee and I are flying to Washington D.C. to the NAEYC Conference where I am doing a workshop and also a book signing. During that week we will be visiting the White House and the Capitol with tickets to be in the Gallery. We will keep you posted as to our "fun" activities of sightseeing tours. Have a great week.

My Thoughts

2009-11-02T09:14:00.000-06:00

As I am thinking about my week I am reminded about taking one thing at a time as this week is somewhat interesting. On Tuesday afternoon I am going to deliver two presentations to the Hospitality and Tourism classes at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin on the subject of disabilities and tourism. Then I move on to doing my deacon's duties on Thursday and Friday which is always long days but an important day to visit with "shut-ins". My wife is in the kitchen making bread for the weekends activities within our church. We spent all afternoon and into the evening on Sunday updating and re-furbishing our website so it doesn't look boring and "old" to people who have visited it in the past. On top of all of this stuff my wife and I are getting ready for probably the biggest conference we have been at since we got married and perhaps the biggest one in the last 30 years. We will be flying out to Washington DC for National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference (NAEYC) I will be speaking there as a workshop leader and presenting on Thursday November 19th (2009)

Awareness about disabilities

2009-10-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

Hello. I am Ben D. Anderson originally from Kenmare, ND now living in Wisconsin. I was born with a disability which is cerebral palsy. I went to a private school for children with disabilities back in 1957 until 1965. I then went to home and attended special education classes until I graduated from high school in 1972.

I married Dee Anderson on March 26, 2006. I am the author of "IQ of 63, So What!" Going Beyond Everybody Else's Expectations ( Aug-2007)

In 1992 I went beyond expectations by graduating with a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Vocational Rehabilitation.

I am a speaker on the subject of disabilities sinse 1978 when I began Break Through Inc. a non-profit organization. I have spoken at groups and conferences throughout the United States. Sinse my marriage to Dee we have traveled together as husband and wife greeting individuals and giving them a hope and encouragement to go beyond expectations despite any disability. We are hoping that you will come along with us on this Blog journey to share experiences we all have encountered.