DOG IN THE DORM: Life with Holden

HUD sues University of Nebraska at Kearne

2011-12-14T10:27:00.000-05:00

"It is never legitimate to make an accommodation decision based on what other people will try to do," said L. Scott Lissner, ADA coordinator at Ohio State University and president-elect of the Association on Higher Education and Disability. "In terms of determining your accommodation, the other 10 million people in the universe are irrelevant."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-12-13/therapy-pets-college-dorms/51878904/1

I'm Back!

2011-09-15T18:41:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone! Long time, no woofs! I'm back in the dorms and settling in just fine. I hope to start blogging again soon!

Meanwhile, check out my guest blog for the Equal Rights Center's new blog For Civil Minds in honor of International Assistance Dog Week!

Thank you Holden

2011-08-01T22:11:00.002-04:00

Holden, without you there would be days when I would not bother to get out of bed. You are the best.

Love,
Mom

Service Dog Discrimination in DC

2011-06-22T19:17:00.004-04:00

This morning Mom testified at the DC Taxicab Commission to help people understand what it is like to have a disability and be assisted by a service dog, and that it's very frustrating, maddening and ILLEGAL when she can not get a cab in the district just because she has a service dog. Even though it was a public meeting, one of the commissioners was not very happy about reporters tape recording and videotaping the PUBLIC meeting... so they had two reporters (one of the reporters was from the Washington Post) arrested! Yes, ARRESTED! This was during the testimony of Mr. Dickinson AAPD's Vice President of Governmental Affairs! Angry attendees starting yelling and leaving in protest, and I was a little worried by the ruckus but Mom said everything would be okay, and I settled down. Here's a video clip from some of it from ERCs YouTube:

You can also view ERC's press release at: http://www.equalrightscenter.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pr_11_06_22

You may remember when I blogged about Taxicabs and Service Dog discrimination back in September 2010, when the Equal Rights Center (ERC) published a report and video called No Dogs Allowed. Well... Mom had been keeping her eye on the ERC--she applied for an internship with them this summer and got it! So that is what we have been up to--interning with the ERC--instead of blogging!

Anywoof, Mom has been taking lots of pictures and videos of me and will update you on my adventures soon.

Woofs & Wags,

Service Dog Holden

Because KIDS get arthritis TOO

2011-05-03T15:21:00.001-04:00

This kid is my HEROINE

It's time for little update, don't you think?

2011-04-08T22:10:00.004-04:00

So the past two weeks I've been really under the weather, but Holden is such a good boy and has been doing his best to keep me company.

Now for the good news, I'm really happy to let everyone know that we are being allowed to squat in this room for the next academic year. The only problem that I have in this dorm room is my inconsiderate neighbors and our bathrooms. My dormitory has two bathrooms a HP bathroom (with a shower and a toilet) and a common bathroom with two non-HP stalls and one HP stall, it also has two showers I can't use. You would think that's a really big issue, and sometimes it is, but the fact of the matter is the devil you know is better than the one you don't. I was told about a new handicapped suite being built over the summer with an attached bathroom, but it's being built on the third or fourth floor of the building nearly at the edge of campus. Given the trouble I had with uncleared paths in the snow this winter, I can't imagine being any further from the academic buildings. (I remember what that was like when I first got here; been there, done that.)

So, it would be lovely if I had handicap bathroom attached to this room or if my neighbors didn't think the handicap stall in the common bathroom and the handicap bathroom were a luxury just for them. Offenders seem totally oblivious to the fact despite some sharp words from me about it. Another person and myself routinely need to use those HP bathrooms, in fact the only place I can actually shower is the handicapped bathroom. Yet I routinely have people trying to race me to the door of that bathroom while I'm in a towel and holding my toiletries basket. Well two people in particular. And at least 50% of the time that I need to use the bathroom facilities both the handicap bathroom and the handicap stall will be occupied, while the two non-handicap stalls in the common bathroom remain completely empty. A lot of people seem to enjoy racing and slipping into the toilet stalls (even more than the shower) before I can—I mean god forbid the disabled person get to use the stall and not have to wait in by to the two empty stalls! For whatever reason this semester seems to be worse than last, and the showers people take in the handicap bathroom are lasting longer and longer. Even our housekeeper has asked for solution, she notices the repeat offenders taking their 1+ hour long showers in the HP bathroom when they don't have a disability. My plan for next year is to inform the residents on this floor early and strongly—I may even distribute notices. Otherwise, I'm really happy with this dorm, it's definitely the most accessible place for me that I've lived on campus so far. Holden has space to romp a bit in my room with his toys and I can set everything I need comfortably. It's a nice room, get's lots of light and it's close everything I need to be close to--I am definitely staying put.

Things been going pretty well lately. My special major combining public policy and disability is coming along nicely, and if my health holds steady (well, if it improves a little bit...) I'll graduate in December 2012, only three more semesters!

And with that, goodnight!

Sick days

2011-04-04T13:41:00.002-04:00

Having a buddy on the rainy days when I'm not feeling well, like today, makes the pain more bearable for sure. I've been sick for the past few days and Holden has been a complete goof trying to cheer me up. Thank goodness for this dog and his ability to put a smile on my face!

Disability Culture: Alive and Strong

2011-03-27T19:24:00.007-04:00

So I know it's been too long since I blogged, but today something happened I wanted to write about. A soon to be be Mount Holyoke first-year found my blog and sent me a message on Facebook saying she would be on campus soon and wanted to meet. In less than a couple of hours the two of us were in my room swapping stories about living with a disability and dealing with the dominant culture. Laughing at things that might make non-disabled people cringe or be at a loss for words, and telling jokes that only other disabled people would likely get . A truly enjoyable afternoon indeed. When the almost two hour long visit was cut off by another commitment I had, the other person showing up in my room told me it was like watching two old friends say goodbye; she had simply assumed we had been old friends and was shocked when I told her the person she just met was a soon to be first-year I'd met just hours earlier. Disability culture is alive and strong and today was a good reminder of that. Thank you to the disability community for raising me right and providing me with a home.

Will you support Arthritis?

2011-03-01T13:51:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone!

I'm here with Mom in Washington, D.C. at the 2011 Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Summit. We have been going non-stop. In about 2 hours we will be meeting with Senator Olympia Snowe (Maine) on Capitol Hill. We are excited, but Mom has to be focused because she has an important message for her Senator: Arthritis is UNACCEPTABLE!

Arthritis is Unacceptable because: 1) it took 12 years from the onset of symptoms for my Mom to receive a proper diagnosis; 2) Arthritis interrupted and delayed Mom's education; 3) Mom pays over $500 in copays every time she picks up her Arthritis medication from the pharmacy; 4) even with medical treatment Mom suffers with daily chronic pain that threatens her ability to do simple tasks.

We are going ask Senator Snowe to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus, send a letter to President Obama asking him to make Arthritis a national priority and to support funding for Arthritis research. Tomorrow we will head over to Senator Susan Collins' and Representative Chellie Pingree's offices to tell them the same thing!

Will our members of Congress think Arthritis is Unacceptable too?

I'll report back soon!

Wags & Kisses,

Service Dog Holden

We're Alive!

2011-02-27T20:18:00.006-05:00

Holden waiting for the shuttle at BWI

We made it to DC alive, but worse for the wear. Problems abound all over, but Holden remains his cheerful self. I'm exhausted and in a lot of pain. I wish I had driven and brought my scooter. I will never fly alone again, it's too difficult and never worth the stress. It was horrendous enough that I can't begin to go into it now. After this trip I'm back to being a road warrior!

Overall we had a nice afternoon/evening and the weather here was wonderful compared to Western Mass. I brought my wheelchair and took Holden for a stroll around the hotel this afternoon. OMG! I forgot all about carpet in hotels, and now my shoulder is nearly dislocated. I had originally planned to wind down and relax each evening- taking off my braces and use the wheelchair, but now I'm not so sure. I may have to call for a scooter rental in the morning. Tomorrow I have a couple of errands to run around my old stomping grounds and a doctor's appointment before the conference.

Now off for some ZZZzz....

Lazy Tuesday

2011-02-22T12:44:00.005-05:00

Me overseeing the safety check on Mom's wheelchair. She just put solid SPOX tires and casters on her Tilite so she won't have to risk a flat tire during our trip to DC.

Our only class of the day got cancelled and we're enjoying a nice Lazy Tuesday. I went on a long walk this morning and got to see a fox sneaking back into the woods! After that we went shopping for a shirt for Mom's suit for our trip. In only five days we will be in DC for the Arthritis Foundation's Advocacy Summit. I'm helping Mom by helping her pick out what stuff she needs to bring for me.

Me with my vest, travel bowls, leashes, scooper genie & bags, door pull and glycoflex chews!

That reminds me I better tell Mom not to forget my boots, I'm a sensitive guy with sensitive feet! And my brush, of course; I need to look extra handsome when I meet our Senators and Representative to tell them why Arthritis is a national priority, and they should join the Congressional Arthritis Cacus!

Off for a snuggle with Mom before our lazy day turns productive!

Woofs & Wags,
Holden

Dorm life

2011-02-14T18:03:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone,

I had Mom help me make a video tour of our room. Enjoy!

TRANSCRIPT

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2011-02-14T09:38:00.001-05:00

Holden holding a red paper heart

With love,

Holden

By Air, with dog and chair

2011-02-10T20:42:00.011-05:00

This summer was the first time in a LONG time I traveled by air with Holden alone. And to be honest I was miserable on the travel days and exhausted the days following. The more physically limited my body becomes, the harder air travel without a friend or family gets. At the end of the month I'll be flying alone with Holden down to Washington, DC for a couple of doctors appointments and to attend an advocacy summit. Luckily it's a direct flight because I don't think I'd manage a connection too.

The problem is I'm less healthy now than I was this summer or even a month ago. I prefer driving, but I can't handle the drive or sitting that long anymore. I'm worried about how I will manage a dog, his food and supplies, my medical supplies, a rolling carry-on, my wheelchair and cane. To be honest, I have no idea how people do and I'm beginning to wonder if it's even possible. I'm not a historically light packer, but the less able I become the lighter I've learned to pack: )

The nature of my disability means that every day looks different. Sometimes I use a cane and/or Holden in a balance harness to get around, and others I need a wheelchair/scooter to get around. The only constant is I need wheels for any kind of distance. This means at the very least I'll need to travel with Holden's balance harness, my cane and wheelchair or scooter. Other nonnegotiable items are a vest or cape for Holden, all the braces I have to wear at nighttime, my cervical collar for take off and landing, and all my other various medical supplies and medications. I feel tired just looking at that list! By time I add a chew toy or two and food I'm lucky if the carry-on closes.

I have this tendency to always brings extras. Extra leash, collar, toys, vest, food, mats, supplements... basically an extra of everything. This trip I have decided the only extra I will bring is a leash. After all, Northern Virginia and DC have no shortage of pet supply stores. I will survive...lol- I'll have to. One thing I will make room for is a few grooming supplies, I can't have Holden showing up on Capitol Hill for meetings looking disheveled and shabby now, can I? I'm even considering bring only a days worth of food and picking up a small bag of his food on arrival.

Of course, just writing this post triggers packing anxiety for me about what to pack to make sure Holden is taken care of, not so much me...

More thoughts on retirement

2011-02-09T22:17:00.007-05:00

I've been thinking about Holden's retirement for over a year now and recently realised it's finally time to make firmer plans. The two of us have been through a lot at Mount Holyoke and part of why I've set Jan. 1st, 2013 as the transition date to retirement is because I will likely graduate in December 2012. (Fingers, toes and paws crossed.) I can't imagine walking for graduation in the spring without him. He'll be nine by then and ready for a well deserved retirement. Of course, he'll stay with me as a spoiled pet when he retires.

Another reason I felt it was important to define his retirement date is because I don't want to hold on too long. Alternately, I will not hesitate to immediately retire Holden should he show signs that he no longer wants to work or develops any health issues. Firming up these details make dealing with the reality that Holden can not work forever a little easier for me to deal with.

Now for successor dogs. This one is difficult. As much as I'd prefer to owner train, I simply don't have the time or energy for all that involves anymore. Specifically, the possibility of raising a pup that may or may not end up suitable for a working life is not a risk I can take. I can't care for 3 dogs mentally, physically or monetarily right now or in the near future. I prefer to obtain a successor dog from from a trainer or organization. Right now I'm considering both Susquehanna Service Dogs (the org that certified Holden) and Canine Companions for Independence.

Susquehanna is of course my first choice. They use positive training methods, have wonderful dogs and I have great trust in them based on past experiences. The downside is living outside of PA the cost of one of their dogs is 5000usd plus the cost of housing during training since they don't have rooming accommodations at their facility. As someone with high out of pocket monthly medical costs, this would be 6000usd plus that could be spent on a lot of other things I can't go without. The other issue with Susquehanna is the problem of recerts, I'm no longer close by and the yearly recert done in Harrisburg, PA is a big hassle. It seems like I'm always overdue for my recert and trying to figure out how I'll get it done. I have the option of a video recert but with all the technical issues, even that can be problematic.

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) is my next choice. First of all, I like that CCI is national and practically anywhere I live my recerts will not be a big hassle. CCI also has enough funding to to provide their dogs to recipients free of charge. I must admit not having to come up a large sum of money or make monthly payments on a dog in a large incentive. The down side abut CCI is you get custody of your service dog, you can not take ownership of your dog until he or she retires. At Susquehanna ownership of your dog is transferred to you at the end of team training. I recently had a phone interview with CCI where we discussed this and I felt more comfortable after talking with them about the reasons for custody vs. ownership. The next step for me is to send in forms filled out by my doctors. After that is a full day interview at their facility. Once the interview is complete I'll be told whether or not I go on their wait list.

The decision is truly difficult because if money and distance were of no consequence I'd submit my application to Susquehanna in a heartbeat based on my prior experience with them. I'm also starting to evaluate other possible options, but as of now Susquehanna and CCI are frontrunners.

Retirement date is set.

2011-02-08T17:36:00.000-05:00

It's true, my retirement date has been set. I am 7 years old now and Mom says it's important to plan my retirement. Starting January 1st, 2013 Mom will start getting me used to being at home instead of working everyday. The plan is to have me enjoying full retirement by June 1st, 2013. As long as I am happy and healthy this is the plan. I told Mom I don't have to ever retire, but she says I deserve a nice retirement where I can rest and make lots of mischief! (Okay, so the mischief is my idea. Shh.)

Since I'll be retiring that means I'll be getting a littler brother or sister that will be my working successor. Mom has decided not to owner train again (like she did with me). She in the process of applying to several service dog schools for her next service dog. If the organization she decides on can train and place my successor sooner than my retirement date, then it might be bumped up. Mom is going to post soon about my retirement and getting another service dog.

Just thought I'd share the news!

Woofs & Wags,
Holden

Winter Wonderland

2011-02-01T10:39:00.001-05:00

Sorry I haven't been blogging much. Mom is dealing with some health issues and she helps me blog! We had a restful holiday break, but as soon as we got back Mom caught a bad cold :(

This is what the blizzard in South Hadley is looking like at this point.

I'll be back when Mom is feeling better!

Woofs,

Holden

Reppin' 3E Love

2010-12-07T08:32:00.005-05:00

Do you know about the "International Symbol of Acceptance", aka the "wheelchair-heart logo"? If not, you definitely need to check out 3E Love's website and Facebook page. I saw someone with a wheelchair-heart this summer and loved the logo, but I had no idea where to look for them. When a friend of mine posted about the wheelchair-heart logo on Facebook in September I was hooked.

3E Love Sweatshirt

3E Love says on their website, "The symbol is an attitude and a lifestyle. It's accepting one's abilities and rallying around that diversity and turning it into strength. It's loving and living life to the fullest no matter who you are and what you look like, what you can or cannot do." Photos on their facebook page is full of happy people! No pity abound! Every time I look and the symbol it makes me smile; it's fun, quirky, and reflects the best of disability culture. The 3 E's send the message to embrace, educate, and empower life with a disability.

When I'm feeling overwhelmed due to dealing with nondisabled people and accessibility issues, reppin' 3E Love around campus reminds me there is a whole movement out there changing the perception of disability and fighting ableism. It also reminds me that educating others about disability and disability culture can be fun and doesn't have to be a struggle. It reminds me to have patience with people who are ignorant about disability/accessibility, something I'm currently trying to work on. And even when people don't get it or don't want to get it, the wheelchair-heart reminds me that disability culture is strong and something to be proud of.

Even Holden is showing some 3E Love on campus!

3E Love logo button

Aerial view of 3E Love logo button on Holden's service dog vest

Three woofs and all paws up for Facilities Management!

2010-12-06T08:50:00.004-05:00

Mom and I had been without power since about 4 in the afternoon yesterday. Since it always proves to be a big production to get anything done around here (and it was a weekend), we went somewhere else to study and decided we would deal with it in the morning. Mom got a friend to store her insulin and liquid meds so she wouldn't need to worry about that.

This morning after Mom took me outside she called facilities, and we had power in all the outlets in less than ten minutes! The nice man that came and fixed it was the same person who helped us with an elevator problem recently. Mount Holyoke's service dog gives Facilities a paws up for always helping her get access to elevators and now restoring her outlet power so quickly!

Phew! If mom didn't have power and couldn't charge her scooter, I wouldn't get my nice long jogs around campus twice a day! Woooooooofs!

Here is a video of me pushing the buttons to go outside this morning! Please don't place items in front of the buttons around campus or I won't be able to go have fun outside or help Mom move about campus!

Crunch Time

2010-12-04T12:55:00.002-05:00

Woofs, the end of the semester is finally here. In only a couple of weeks we will be on break. Good thing, because with crunch time comes a lot of hard hard work. Right now we are writing a paper, as you can see below I'm hard at work! Woofs!

resting on the job...

A must read.

2010-11-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

Five things you should know about ableism @ FWD blog is a must read. Read it; digest it.

Bad blogger!

2010-11-18T20:08:00.000-05:00

Woofs everyone!

I've been a bad blogger but I've been busy helping Mom do lots of stuff and making sure she laughs a lot. Two weeks ago Mom's best friend M came to visit me, and I got to go to a HUGE yarn store called Webs with them. As usual everyone who worked there though I was so smart and handsome. I even got to teach a couple of kids about Service Dogs and how we help people. Mom eve let them pet me because they asked nicely (and they were almost as cute as me). Here are a couple of pictures! I hope to start back blogging more regularly soon!

Wags,
Holden

Dog in the Dorm FAQ

2010-10-20T23:46:00.001-04:00

Me on my bed in the dorm

Are you always on duty? Can I pet you?

I have lots of off-duty time when I’m free to play and snuggle with my fans! I’m also off-duty on my daily walks, in my room and at various other times. I get to have lots of free time to play with my toys, other dogs and favorite people.

You can pet me me when I’m off-duty and not wearing my vest or harness. Sometimes Mum lets people pet me with my harness on, BUT you have to ask first!

(If you ask, she will not always say yes. Most of the time the answer will be no if I’m dressed. I’m very distractible and love people so sometimes I forget that I get to go lots of place to help Mom, instead of entertain my fans!!!)

How do you like living in a dorm?

Dorm life is okay, but it can get very noisy. This year Mom has a bigger room that can fit all her medical needs and has enough space for me to romp a bit with my toys. I can see lots of squirrels from our room and every morning I sit by the window and think about how tasty they would be if I could catch them; this makes me immensely happy!

One of the things I don’t like is the people who live here that make rude comments about students with disabilities getting accommodations just loud enough so they know we can hear them. Mom needs her accommodations so she can have the same chance at success the other students have-- she needs to get a job so she can buy me LOTS of toys and bones! But seriously, people who make rude comments like that need a nip in the behind and to grow up. (I wish mom would give me the okay to do the nipping, but she says that’s not the answer.)

Are people letting you go in the dining halls this year?

YES! Mom filed a federal civil rights complaint against Mount Holyoke for discrimination and the people who work in the dining halls have been trained and workers notified they have to let me in. I am very happy Mom can eat without major complications because she is a type 1 diabetic, and human! Some people seemed to have missed the training on food safety and try to pet me though! Gross!

Did you really set off the fire alarm in Blanchard?

Yes, but Mom asked me to get the button and that’s what I did. The fire alarm button is within a foot of the door opener pushbutton. I have no regrets though, lots of people said they were happy for a break. Plus, I love that my lack of remorse mortifies my mom.

Afternoon walk

2010-10-20T15:49:00.001-04:00

I just enjoyed a lovely afternoon stroll with Mum. I had a great time, but I was dissapointed I didn't find any ducks to chase at lower lake. Everyday I get at least two 30-45 minute walks or jog around campus. Mount Holyoke is such a beautiful place for dogs to live. I can even see squirrels playing outside our room's window!

Me looking for the ducks on Lower Lake

Me sniffing... it's what dogs do!

Well, I gotta go help Mom do some tidying up around our room! (Okay, okay, so she wants me to pick up my toys and put them in the toy basket, I plead the fifth on how they ended up all over the room.)

Woofs & Wags,
Holden

Going out with a bang

2010-10-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

Woofs everyone!

Mom and I have been really busy and that's why I haven't been able to blog much. I keep telling her to slow down and do less and use her scooter more but she doesn't listen to me. And now her health is making her slowdown and do less. (See! I told you not to overdo it mom.) So lately I have been spending a lot of time just making sure mom is happy and get some laughs. Yesterday Mom and I went to get lunch at the campus center. One of the entrances to the campus center has funny looking pushbuttons for the door and I don't like pushing them because they look different from all the other pushbutton I is usually use. So Mom though it might be a good idea for us to start using that door for me to learn how to open it, even though I don't like to. We got inside fine (that sure is a funny looking butto though!), got some lunch, and when we were leaving mom asked me to get the pushbutton on the way out. But I thought Mom was pointing to the fire alarm about a foot away from the button, so when she said push it, I ended up pulling down the fire alarm with my paw and setting it off. Mom was horrified, but everyone that worked in the dining area thought it was really funny and told me they were happy to have a break. One person even said “Thanks Holden, I needed a rest.” When public safety arrived mom was totally mortified, but they told her it was okay, I was smart dog. Every time mom apologized someone they told her that I was just doing what she asked me to do and I was a very smart puppy. I don't know why mom was so upset, everyone looked like they were having a great time outside. I know I was!

Until next time. Woofs and Wags,
Service Dog Holden

Late update: My mid-coast vacation

2010-09-20T14:43:00.002-04:00

Martins Point, ME

Even service dogs need a vacation! I went up to Tenant's Harbor with my mom and human grandmother for a couple of days of rest and relaxation this summer. I had no problem going anywhere in the area; access for service dogs was really good! I got to eat lobster, catch up on my beauty sleep, and I went on Mohegan Boat Line's nature cruise! Sadly, the puffins had left for the summer already and I didn't get to puffin hunt, but I had a good time anyway. The staff at Mohegan Boat Line in Port Clyde were very nice and thought I was great! (Of course, who wouldn't love this face?!)

Martins Point Lighthouse


Searching for puffins around Tenant's Harbor, ME!

Four Paws Up for Mount Holyoke's New President!

2010-09-18T08:45:00.002-04:00

Woofs from Maine everyone! (I'm in Maine for one last kayak with Mom, major WOofs!)

Did you know Mount Holyoke has a new president? President Pasquerella is being inaugurated this week! Sadly, we will miss her inauguration because Mom committed to doing a disability rights training almost 10 hours away from Mount Holyoke months ago. Anywoofs, I wanted to show two awesome things our new president has done!

She is having a permanent ramp built to her home!

Me checking out the accessible bathroom on the first floor!

Four Woofs & Paws Up for making her home physically accessible to all!

Woofs & Wags,

Susquehanna Service Dog Holden

Because service dogs are still dogs...

2010-09-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

Every now and then Holden does something that reminds me that despite his status as a service dog doesn't make hi any less of a dog. Dogs will act like dogs (even service dogs) and today he decided to run across the street while I was getting my bag out the car. All his squirrel hunting this sumer has spawned a new obsession. He was as happy as could be when he trotted back happily and I was rightly mortified at his behavior. Better get out my clicker and his treats.

Drained

2010-09-13T15:21:00.005-04:00

I always forget how much college takes out of me, emotionally and physically, so I was reassured when I met up with a friend (who also has to deal with lack of energy re: disability) yesterday and was able to vent about how tired I was -even though classes have just started- and she felt similarly. I just remember thinking thank g-d I am not the only one, that feeling overspent is indeed a "normal" experience that I need not be maddened by.

This year was the second year I did not return to NYC to honor my friend who died on 9/11. This was very difficult choice for me, but ultimately I couldn't afford the energy the trip mentally and physically required. The first week of September is an emotional draining week for me psychologically no matter my location, and add in my body adjusting to a new bed and schedule it's a real pain.

So here I am two days after 9/11 and I feel drained, and as distracted as I always am at this time of year. Millions of thoughts running through my head in no real sensible order simply causing me worry. Worry and dread.

One of things I'm worried about is more or less totally rational: I am worried about access. There has been only one access snafu that was quickly solved since I moved back in the dorms. But frankly, I'm feeling frustrated that my mere presence is often the source of a scene. In the particular instance I'm thinking about, it involved someone who grabbed my service dog by his harness handle when I said would leave instead of cause someone a serious allergic reaction (which, as it turns out, was not an allergy rising to that level at all). For the life of me, I don't understand why people constantly feel the need to grab my dog. This is not only totally inappropriate, but trying to pull/or hold my service dog by his balance harness scares him and risks injuring his back. And then when I ask people who grab him like that, to let go, they act like I'm an unreasonable person. Like, I am the one making a scene. So what basically happened went like this:

1. I rsvp to an event, where one of the people hosting the event has a dog allergy, and it is known I will show up with my service dog. But nobody mentions any of this to me.

2. I show up at the event and suddenly have 3 people surrounding me saying that X person has a severe medical emergency allergic reaction to dogs.

4. I say I will leave.

5. One person decided on her own that:

a) She will TAKE my dog outside so I can say hello to person X, and then I can leave.

b) That the level of this person's allergy rises to the level of disability for the purpose of excluding my dog.

c) That when I repeat that I will just leave, she grabs my dog by the harness to prevent me from walking away and tells me she wants me to feel included.

d) That when I further contest that I will simply leave, she attempts to redirect my dog by his harness handle.

THEN I find out the woman that has intercepted me doesn't even know how allergic individual X really is. Which means that she assumed, the allergy was severe and tried to exclude my participation based on this assumption before asking the allergic individual. As it turns out, the allergic individual was not that allergic at all and I was welcome to stay.

If you want me to feel included:

-Don't wait to tell me about an allergy you know about until after I arrive, when it could have been discussed when I rsvp'd. What would have been inclusive would have been telling me about the allergy and asking if I had any ideas about how to make this work. Because I'm a reasonable person and not looking to trigger anaphylactic shock in anyone, I would have told you I'll just leave my service dog in my room in that particular situation;

-Don't assume that I feel comfortable with you taking my dog outside and waiting with him, OR, that I value doing what you want me to do over leaving, in the name of "inclusion" when the situation was totally avoidable;

-Don't grab my dog, his harness or his leash. My service dog is part of my personal space and grabbing him in any form or trying to restrict his movement is not only rude but inappropriate. It is also dangerous for me because he is trained to react to his harness to counter balance the left side of my body. Grabbing his harness can cause him to think I'm falling and to spin around in a way that will make me fall, because he thinks he is counter balancing me, but instead he'll knock his weight into me and potentially cause a fall. Doing that confuses him and may scare and/or injure him. His harness delivers very specific feedback about my movements, and if you attempt to restrict him by grabbing it you can injure his back. Beyond all those things it is a violation of my personal space;

-Don't act like I' being unreasonable if I ask you to not touch or to let go of my dog. Stop being offended that I'm not pleased with your poor behavior. Grabbing my dog and telling me you don't want me to leave -that you will just take him- when I am trying to leave because there is a (real or imagined) medical emergency, because you want me to feel included, is not inclusion.

So yeah. One of my worries is access. My dogs program was worried because he developed some behavioral concerns surrounding people grabbing him last year on campus. We worked through some of the fear issues he developed last yearand it seemed to be behind us. I really should not have to worry about people trying to grab my dog -especially when I'm the one trying to leave. It feels too early to be dealing with this. Really. I should feel drained from my academics instead access concerns.

Cross-posted @ Unblinkable

People Watching

2010-09-13T12:43:00.000-04:00

People watching from the window of Mount Holyoke's awesome library.

Discrimination Against People Who Use Service Dogs

2010-09-06T21:22:00.000-04:00

Mount Holyoke Responds in Record Time, Disaster Averted

2010-09-03T15:55:00.002-04:00

I happy to report that Mount Holyoke's responsiveness to disability problems has greatly improved since the last academic year (as far as this instance is concerned). Grab bars I can use safely have now been installed in one of the showers on my floor. Their speedy response today gives me hope of a future Mount Holyoke that is inclusive and welcoming to students with disabilities.

Another Epic Disability Fail at Mount Holyoke College

2010-09-03T14:16:00.007-04:00

So, many of you probably remember my troubles from last year getting accommodations implemented last year. Well, today, four rooms, two attorneys, an over a year later of knowing my disability and accommodation needs Mount Holyoke has failed again. I arrived today, despite, promises, legal memos, those two little laws called Section 504 of the Rehab Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, et al to a dorm room where the grab bars I need have not been installed. And nobody, including the disability office, seems to know why and apparently didn't bother to check person to make sure the schools legal obligations were fulfilled.

I have my cousins rehearsal dinner tonight and now I can't even shower.( ETA: Going to commute to my old dorm to shower, what a familiar experience. ) At least today people seemed very concerned and worried that I can't shower. And they should, because I a really fed up. I am supposed to know soon if and when grab bars will be installed. Gee, haven't we done this already Mount Holyoke?

It's a grab bar above a certain height, Mount Holyoke, you know this! COME ON!

Procrastination

2010-09-02T18:00:00.002-04:00

I'm packing to go back to college tomorrow. I worry about a campus full of ironies and access problems defended in the name of equality, while ignoring real issues of equity. A few photos to give you a glimpse...

A bicycle in front of a HP pushbutton.

The doors that can't be opened because, despite a smile flashed at the approaching service dog next to my scooter, a student places her bike in front of the access button and hops inside the building before I realise what is happening.

Janitorial equipment in an elevator.

The elevators I can't use because Facilities Management uses them as storage space. I can't fit inside with my wheels and my service dog.

Bagged trash in front of an elevator door.

The elevators that trash is placed either in front of, or in, the elevator in my dorm, on a daily basis, despite my complaints that this means I have to have my dog drag it out of the way, or if it is piled high in the elevator, be at the mercy of a person who I can't locate.

Two cars both parked blocking the curb cuts.

The people who make their own HP parking spots on campus, IN FRONT OF A CURB CUT, because people without HP plates or tags are parked or *waiting in* the actual designated HP spot and blocking access to the other curb cut.

Mount Holyoke Public Safety parked in front of curb cut.

Mount Holyoke Public Safety parked in front of curb cut. (Long view)

The public safety officers at Mount Holyoke that flash me a smile and then pull up and park for periods of time IN FRONT OF THE CURB CUT, when pulling up only 5ft would have left the curb cut usable by me and others who need them to move about campus.

This is a very small sample of my daily encounters.

This entry is cross posted on my other blog Unblinkable Difference.

Fun day at the beach!

2010-08-20T22:32:00.002-04:00

I had a fun day at the beach with Mom and her friend. Here are a few pictures from our wonderful afternoon. I had so much fun watching all the children and seagulls! I even got to have some gelato!

Off to get my beauty sleep after a day at the beach!

Until next time,

Holden

Some pictures from my busy summer!

2010-08-19T16:07:00.000-04:00


Old Town Alexandria VA with Mom (the gray paw is her, in fivefinger shoes!)


Killing time in Mom's office!

Me! (After I had a swim one evening.)


Off for a paddle with Mom one evening after our internship.


Relaxing at the camp.

My cousin Buddy relaxing at the camp.

Farewell Paul Longmore

2010-08-13T08:01:00.000-04:00

Dorm Room Survival

2010-08-04T21:07:00.003-04:00

Long time, no woof! Mom and I sure have been busy this summer! Our internship is lots of fun and I got to go to Las Vegas for a conference in July. Now that it’s August, Mom is starting to organize herself for our move back into the dorms. For now it seems like we will have a proper room come September, so Mom won’t have to deal with steps, yay!

Since Mom is busy doing other important stuff, I want to woof at you about how to survive in a dorm room as a service dog with your human partner! We get lots of emails asking about dorm life from potential dormers with service dogs; I will attempt to cover the most FAQ’a about dorm life with a service dog over the next week.

Today I am going to cover the supplies you may need when living with a service dog in a dorm room.

Mom’s packing list for me includes:

My SSD vest/backpack (Mom says this year she is going to bring an extra vest to keep in our car.)

Balance harness

Door pulls (You only need this is you need your SD to open doors for you.)

Rope; Mom makes pulls for things as needed and likes to have rope on hand.

Everyday leash, Bungee leash for when she uses her scooter or wheelchair

Two (2) extra leashes

Two (2) extra dog collars

Raincoat

Portable Crate

Dog Bed & my blankies! (shhhhhhh don’t tell!)

Ruffwear boots (to protect my feet from salt or blazing hot pavement)

Grooming Supplies: nail clipper, brush, furminator

Health & Medical products: Toothpaste & brush, ear cleaner, buffered asprin, supplements, heartworm meds, dental chews

TOYS, Tennis Balls & Toy Basket! Don’t forget these!

TREATS!!! Woot!

Extra copy of my ID & certification papers & LawBook

Medical History

Raised Feeder

Two (2) foldable water bowls

Food Storage Container, plus at least 3 weeks worth of Orijen Adult

Three (3) months worth of Waste removal products (Mom prefers the Scooper Genie because she doesn’t have to bend down to use it.)

Six (6) 3M lint rollers (Mom buys these in bulk at Costco, if you have a shedder you will want to bring a supply of these!)

Phone number & directions to the closest 24 hour Vet clinic

That’s all on the packing list for now. If you weren’t planning on bringing a vacuum before, and you will have your SD with you, definitely put a vacuum o the list. Mom vacuums daily; the dirt tracked in can add up quickly in such a small space.

A couple of other things to consider would be where, how and how often you will bathe/groom your service dog. I get a bath every 2-3 weeks, last year Mom took me to a self-serve dog wash nearby. Many colleges give students with service dogs small studio-like apartments or dorm rooms with ensuite bathrooms, if yours does and you can physically bathe and dry your dog yourself then you don’t need to worry about this. However, we don’t have an ensuite bathroom and Mom’s autoimmune arthritis is in a flare, so she has to find someone to bathe me, at least for now. Make sure to locate and get recommendations for several groomers in the area BEFORE you get to school. Once you get there, it can be easy to forget all the things you had planned to do, so it’s easiest to do the legwork now and have the info available. Ditto on finding a local pet supply store, if you won’t be ordering dog food online. And if you do order pet supplies & dog food online, make sure you have a plan on how to get it from the campus post office to your dorm. (Mom either gets a friend to help her and she has a small hand truck for when my food comes if nobody is around. If you have mobility limitations, start thinking about how you will get dog food to your dorm now.) Other things to start thinking about is finding someone who will help you potty and walk your service dog when you are feeling unwell. If you have problems with fatigue and/or walking distances and you do NOT have a scooter or power chair, you may need/want to find someone to walk or run with your dog daily or at least a few times a week. Chances are you can find someone that lives in your building to help you out. I suggest paying them something, for reliability purposes, if nothing else.

Well it’s late and I have to get ready for bed! We’ll talk more about everything you need to know while living in a dorm with a service dog!

Woofs & Wags,
Holden

Working Dog

2010-06-12T15:57:00.002-04:00

Well, Mom being an intern is working out great. Everyone is really nice and I know she is going to get to learn a lot. She has an office, and brings a blanket and a couple of toys for me to play with. Just like at school, I get to sleep most of the day! I get to sleep during meetings too, but Mom had to stop me from snoring in our very first meeting. I don't know why I needed to be awake, she's the intern. You know how I like my beauty rest. Pretty soon I'll be an old pro at "working" in an office alright!

Even if I wear my balance harness, Mom brings her cane for back and forth. She says that's easier than having me stand up all the time. At work there is an area with 4-5 steps, but there is also lift if the steps aggravate Moms knees or hip that we can use.

Mom says I shed too much and my successor has to be a black lab or no-to-low shed dog, because, she says, pretty soon she'll need to buy stock in the company that makes those sticky lint rollers! I told her that was a great idea, what a wonderful way to collect and save all my wonderful hairs from her clothing for safekepping!

I'm an assistant to an intern!

2010-06-06T06:27:00.002-04:00

We start Mom’s internship tomorrow! It was an internship that almost didn’t happen, but now everything is all worked out. Mom is thrilled! She got offered two internships! I guess that makes me an assistant intern? I am so proud of her. There were a few hiccups along the way but everything has worked very well in the end.

Today I am going to go swimming and then getting a bath/rinse with Allerpet. Mom is really nervous, of all things, about me! She asked me not to shed too much because she’ll be wearing black. I told her I’d try but she better pack her lint roller! I’m a Golden Retriever after all; I just use my good looks to make up for all the shedding hairs! Once we get a feel for the organization’s attire she is hoping she can integrate wearing pants that blend with my coat a little better.

Since we don’t know much about the setup yet, Mom is going to bring a towel or mat for me to lie on and my collapsible water bowl. Since I have a special leash that latches to itself, that should work out fine if Mom needs to put me on tie down for whatever reason. I just hope there is a patch of grass near the office! I’m easy to please.

Okay, I'm off to start a busy day so we can get to bed early tonight, so we can be well rested and bright eyed for tomorrow!

SSD Holden

Dog out of Dorm

2010-05-21T11:46:00.000-04:00

Well we made it! We spent an entire year in the dorm and despite the many many challeneges presented we made it through the end of the year! Mom and I are in Maine for a couple weeks to decompress before our summer gets very busy. I love Maine, it's my favorite state! I've been able to go swimming almost everyday!

Here I am at the beach!

Playing chase at the beach!

Here I am on Mackworth Island!

(Helping clean the car.)

And of course a couple of me hunting chipmunks! I love hunting for chipmunks!

Why does it take an Office of Civil Rights complaint?

2010-05-14T07:05:00.040-04:00

Officials resolve access complaint (The Republican)

Two state OCR complaints, REALLY? I wish I could say I'm surprised, but easy sensible solutions are like pulling teeth around here. Mount Holyoke and South Hadley school district "unaware" of the situation? I've heard that excuse before... and frankly it's getting OLD. Seriously, the ADA is having it's 20th anniversary this year, it's both Mount Holyoke's and the local school district's duty to make sure facilities are accessible! Guaranteeing accessibility is their responsibility and DUTY, and frankly, who files an OCR complaint without trying to make them aware first? Nobody, that's who. I've been down this road before: You Inform. They Ignore. You Complain. They Ignore. It's Publicized and/or Litigation Threatened. They claim 'unawareness'. Then Grievance-- if you're lucky.

All of this is very interesting as the disability officer told my friend last semester she didn't think anything could be done for her own Mount Holyoke graduation, to make the procession accessible to her, maybe this means the college will even accommodate their own students! Or will she need to file an OCR complaint to get that one done?!

In other Mount Holyoke news, it took this article being run in the school newspaper to get the NEWLY RENOVATED basement level of Safford accessible. Gee, and it only took EIGHT months!?! Complaining clearly doesn't work, but if, god forbid, the public is made aware of the situation, then the college cares. Basically, this building is home to many college offices and that area was completely renovated and therefore supposed to be made ADA compliant. Instead what did Mount Holyoke decision-makers do? They slapped a sticker on the door with a handicap sign, and a push-button, and then proceeded to put a VERY very heavy door directly behind it that had a working load far beyond what was allowed per federal law, and labeled it accessible anyway on the school website. REALLY? So after I, you know, mentioned this about a thousand times to various people, nothing was ever done even though everyone recognised it made no sense and was not in compliance with renovation requirements. As you may remember due to disability services' inability to follow the law, I've had to visit the housing department in that building most frequently this year... so I finally bought a door pressure gauge and had a friend videotape me trying to open it. Did that help? Nope! It took a story in the Mount Holyoke News to get them to do something about it (they removed the offending door, completely), because, you know, they wouldn't want to seem insensitive or have people other than the students who need to access that space know they are not in compliance with federal disability laws, after all, that's what Mount Holyoke cares about-- surface appearances in the name of inclusion!

(Video to be added soon!)

Last day on Abbey Green '09-'10

2010-05-13T18:31:00.002-04:00

Ableism has no place on this blog

2010-05-08T17:11:00.006-04:00

I have been wondering if I need start regulating my reader’s comments. I don’t monitor comments, but as I’ve attracted more and more readers I am considering doing just that. A few days ago someone decided to spout their bigoted beliefs about people with disabilities in the comment section of one of my posts-- and I deleted it. It was the first and only comment I have removed from my blog to date, and I did so due to harsh and ableist language employed by the commenter. There are many places you can go to bash people with disabilities on the Internet and this is not one of them.

I don’t want to police people who comment on my blog. But I also want people to feel safe about posting in the comments section if they so choose. Because many of my readers have a disability I will not allow outright, in-your-face, ableist attacks on my blog. EVER. If any further attacks based on sex, gender, race, sexuality or disability are made, they will be deleted, and I will proceed to block the offending IP address from commenting on posts in the future.

A few more thoughts on ableism… back in March, a user, Schultzcactus, posted a comment about one of my posts and said "Instead of being angry that you're being yelled at, what's wrong with accepting that part of your situation will necessarily involve an interactive reeducation campaign with staff? It seems to me that that's a much healthier attitude to take towards your situation. Honey catches more flies than vinegar?" A few readers of my blog have emailed to ask why I hadn’t removed her comment or replied to it suggesting that I delete it from my blog. I did not perceive Schultzcactus’ comment as an attack on me or on other people with disabilities. I view it mostly as criticism despite her easily apparent ableism. Criticism is something that has a place here and I am okay with.

Secondly, one of the other commenters, Augry, put her in her place quickly by posting this response: "Schultzcactus, why should it be her responsibility to have to fight to eat dinner each night when it's actually the legal responsibility of dining services to educate their employees about the law? If someone wouldn't let people in wheelchairs in the dining room, wouldn't you be appalled? Would you expect them to have to justify their medical equipment every second of their existence? You bet if employees in other places (restaurants, stores, public transportation, etc) aren't educated about the law by their employers and deny people access, they get in trouble. In fact, they win lawsuits. People don't walk into cafeterias with dogs for no good reason. Where's the common sense? You are clearly speaking as a person who is privileged to be able-bodied and therefore can't comprehend the huge physical and emotional toll constant discrimination and judgment takes. You know, the kind that this entire post describes."

Yes I could have added that I did try to educate as my first approach, and that it failed for months (yes, months,) or I could have pointed out to her that she was basically saying that my disability should somehow require that I spend my time launching an “interactive reeducation campaign” rather than doing my classwork, which is what I pay a great deal of money to be here for. Here’s the thing, I’ve lived with disability long enough to know that there are MANY other people out in the world who might have thought the very same thing she did when the reading that post, which is why I have left her comment in place for people to rebuff at their own will. If I had been denied access to dining because I was a student of color I highly doubt Schultzcactus would have employed the same ableist (racist) thinking to the situation, because it would have been obvious to her that I have equal access to dining regardless the color of my skin (unless I am giving her too much credit). People with disabilities continue to have their civil rights devalued by the vast majority of society, which is exactly why I will selectively allow criticism but not outright bigoted ableist attacks like what went on a few days ago. I won't been screening new comments before they are posted, but be assured I will be watching and delete any bigoted hate speech as I see fit.

BADD Update

2010-05-04T14:44:00.000-04:00

I still haven't done my BADD post and am holding off until I am finished with all my finals. It will be of better quality once I have been able to distance myself physically and mentally from Mount Holyoke for a little while. The stress of projects, finals and packing doesn't exactly help me stay focused on my work if I'm trying to dispose the challenges I've had this year.

The Good, the Bad and the Sad of my academic year at Mount Holyoke College. Coming soon!

2010-04-29T15:47:00.006-04:00

Joined by fellow bloggers around the world, on May 1st 2010, I will be Blogging Against Disablism, both here at Dog in the Dorm, and on my new blog. After that Holden will be blogging from time to time to update you on his summer travels, and I'll be blogging at Unblinkable Difference, a more appropriate space for my bipedal postings.

When is inclusion an empty slogan?

2010-04-26T22:19:00.002-04:00

When you can count on Public Safety at Mount Holyoke pulling up in front the 'accessible' curb cut right in front of you, like you don't exist, while you are sitting in your scooter about to cross the street. Then when you circle around 15 minutes later they are still parked there, yet are nowhere to be found. And they had lots of room to park leaving the cub cut open so, you know, someone could actually use an accessible feature of this campus. Typical Mount Holyoke.

Business as usual in Kendade

2010-04-20T12:22:00.002-04:00

People watching from upstairs while Mom gets work done!

SSD Holden

Risk Analysis

2010-04-18T17:28:00.004-04:00

For some of you, familiarity with this blog started long before I ever imagined attending Mount Holyoke, let alone lived in a dorm room on campus here. A couple of you may even remember back to a time that I blogged with a pseudonym of Holden’s name. When I made the decision to attend Mount Holyoke, after looking around the web I realized there were virtually no blogs about life with a service animal at a residential college; Dog in the Dorm was born.

Blogging has become a critical component of the greater disability community. The Internet is one of the modern world's great equalizers and a powerful tool for people with disabilities (and other marginalised groups). But blogging can also be risky activity that opens you up to vulnerability, criticism, and in extreme cases, legal action. The community I’ve built (online and off) around Holden’s blog this year has supported me in remarkable ways. The investment and risk of blogging openly about my life (experiences, fears, frustrations, missteps and triumphs) has made me realize my story is important and impacts not only other people, but also aids my path of self-discovery.

Even though I was born with the collagen disorder that accounts for the majority of my impairment, I did not start to have significant, untreatable, mobility-related problems until I turned 16 years old. It took an additional 9 years until I realized I was a part of disability culture. My awareness developed primarily because at that time, I was using a wheelchair or rollator to get around in my day-to-day life, and the daily assault of assumptions people have about disability was no longer an avoidable aspect of life. Prior to that time, I could leave my visible mobility aids behind, even if that resulted in paying doubly physically when I got home later. I could choose to go shopping, resting every ten minutes and fighting the pain with no outward indication of my disability beyond a barely noticeable limp and a grimace on my face. When that was no longer an option in public, I was indoctrinated into disability culture by virtue of an unavoidable shared oppression. There was no more passing under the radar or avoiding people with their critical, often insulting, value judgments about my life and my impact (or more appropriately lack of impact) on society as a disabled person. Suddenly I was thrown into the culture of disability. It wasn’t until this year that I have become truly angry about the disparate effect that policy has on people with disabilities. This is partly due to my experiences while at Mount Holyoke, but I owe most of this change in perspective to fellow bloggers in the disability community.

The more connections I made with other bloggers blogging about disability, the more I realized that pissed off people change the world. My anger had the possibility of being a catalyst for change, and learning that has been truly empowering. I also learned the many firsthand risks of blogging without a pseudonym: the media and press can find you, identify you, and easily get your contact information, people you talk about get pissed off when they find out you mentioned them on your not-so-little-blog and that schools/colleges/employers can and will make their unhappiness known to you for airing their dirty laundry if you choose to do so. I can honestly say my blog has caused no shortage of headaches over the past year. The risk has been worth it, and one of the most satisfying moments to have come out of my blogging was from a fellow Mount Holyoke student that I was unfamiliar with.

I was out walking Holden last week and it was getting dark. I decided to take a shortcut through a building to get to what I deem as a safer location to cross the street on the way back to my dorm after dark. The HP pushbutton wasn’t working, and I had forgotten to bring a door hook for Holden. By time I would swipe my ID card and wheel to the door, it’d be locked again. Finally a student saw me and helped me out by opening the door. As we rode up the elevator she asked me how I was doing and I said fine and asked how she was in return. She looked at me and said “I read your blog…” and so I changed my answer from fine to something more realistic about how I was feeling. We had a short chat about disabilities at MHC, and I learned a friend of hers (that I also did not know) linked her to my blog. When we were about to part ways, she told me she was happy I blogged about life with Holden at Mount Holyoke because students I don’t know do read my blog, and then told me, “I’m glad you blog, because now you aren’t going through this alone.” It’s been those kind of conversations that solidify my decision to return to Mount Holyoke in the fall and give it the good old college try one more time.

Spring is here!

2010-04-04T12:19:00.000-04:00

Me in front of the greenhouse!

Spring is here! Mom took me for a great walk today around campus. Yesterday we had dinner with Aunt K who is in town for most of this week. I got to have lots of fun playing with Luna, Auntie K's new (successor) service dog. Mom says now that I've had my nice outing it's time for lots of work for her and a nap for me!

Woofs & Wags,

Holden

Bath day

2010-04-01T16:23:00.002-04:00

The weather here is amazing, the sun is shining and it's about 65 degrees out. Mom took me for an off leash romp in nearby Noho and then to the self-service dog wash for a bath.

Oh, Mom!

Here I am all clean!

After the bath we got a bag of food, Orijen Adult, to last until the food I like to eat best, Acana Grasslands, gets delivered to us at school. Nom nom.

Today has been a great day! In Mom's stats class I even got to eat a couple of Reese's Pieces... shhhh! Don't tell anyone that I introduced variability bias into her data because I only ate the orange ones! I think the sunshine has been really good for Mom, she has been kinda down and all that rain we were getting wasn't helping.

Later everyone... we are off for a walk now to soak up some Vitamin D.

Woofs & Wags,

SSD Holden

Enjoying the wind in my face on the way back to campus!

No good deed goes unpunished.

2010-03-29T14:28:00.004-04:00

Good attorneys don’t let their clients make dumb decisions and thank goodness for mine. I have received a lot of angry communication from current students (who have been screwed over by Mount Holyoke’s inept disability services) about the article printed by the Hampshire Gazette this morning. To put it succinctly, the article is a cop out. It could have been a totally different article about the very real issues that real students encounter and must overcome (or fall prey to) in order to pursue their education here at the college. Instead, it was nothing more than space filler, a complete waste of ink. Disgusting.

The third week in February I was contacted, along with other students, by the Hampshire Gazette, in addition to other newspapers. It’s regrettable to see that any reporter would interview several students, gain first-hand accounts of how decrepit disability services at Mount Holyoke is for a good number of us, and then run an article like that. One person I know who was interviewed for that article tried to get me to go with her to meet the reporter. I wanted to go because I am upset about the way I’ve been treated. However, my counsel stepped in and said wrong time, wrong place, that media doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Truer words were never spoken.

I had heard different information on whether or not a story was being run. When I was alerted of the original print date by the reporter, that day came and passed uneventfully. Now I wonder if MHC is indeed seen as a 'public relations bully' as one person remarked during a dinner party last night.

Not only am I disappointed in the article, I feel for the students who took the time out of their lives to be interviewed while fearing the very real risk of retaliation, and found no mention of the ongoing issues that paralyze Mount Holyoke from providing timely and reasonable accommodations to many of its qualified students under the law.

There isn't anything worth noting about the article except MHC has made a smart move in having Kevin McCaffrey speak on its behalf, instead of "college PR & social media guru" Mary Jo Curtis.

Let's hope the next reporter and article doesn't disappoint.

What you are looking for…

2010-03-28T10:06:00.012-04:00

Readers want me to post more often, however, nothing noteworthy has happened this week worth writing. The only other developments this week have been too juicy for the internet, well not really, but they certainly aren't things that some of the people likely checking this blog need to know. I can't find my camera at all so there won't be any terribly cute Holden pictures until I find it. Though I did finally get around to looking at the keywords people use to find me via a search engine.

It seems most of you came here looking for my Why do you blog? post, originally referenced @ You fail at accessibility. You know, the post that prompted seemingly shady behavior like mjcurtis (MHC Media Relations Associate) deleting her personal twitter account. After Mar Jo Curtis posted a ‘damage control’ type media relations statement on behalf of Mount Holyoke, someone called attention to the her making “light of disability” in personal twitter account, so she deleted it. Yeah.

People from Mount Holyoke College (and the surrounding area) most often arrived here by googling search terms like: disability issues with mount holyoke college or mount holyoke disability services or mount holyoke disability accommodations suck. I kid you not. I wish I were making that up, but I'm not. Some of you probably ended up here by mistake by using search terms like: dorm life.

Via Topsy I saw a couple of MHC people are tweeting links to various posts at Dog in the Dorm or Accessibility Fail, and some of you are experiencing similar problems with “the disability officer” or know people who are. If you are one of those people I’d like to speak with you. Or if the disability people won’t or wouldn’t help you at all in the recent past, then you really want to speak to me. It takes YOU getting in touch with ME though; I can’t find all of you by osmosis. Email me or if you see me around, stop me and talk to me soon. Trust me it’s worth your time.

Now back to studying before I end up in an even worse place than I'm in. Later this week I plan to be back to daily posting. Hopefully my camera will come out of hiding soon!

Update: Looks like Mary Jo Curtis aka mjcurtis has gone back to posting regularly posting on twitter at her other account, VictorianPearl, thanks for bringing this to my attention readers!

More tricked out chatter... LIVE

2010-03-21T21:18:00.026-04:00

After a couple of *lovely* hours sitting in the car, we arrived back to Mount Holyoke to find the elevator is not working in the dorm. Pushing the up button simply results in the button lighting up for about 4 seconds, no sounds from the shaft either. I called Public Safety and at first they wanted to just leave a message for Facilities Management. After I explained I live on the second floor (which is actually the third floor, btw) and needed the elevator to get to my room, they told me they would call the on-call FM person.

Public Safety has just called back and they are sending an electrician and will call me when they know more about what's going on. As I was leaving to go back to my car and come over here (to the computer lab) another student told me it hasn't been working since thursday afternoon and she thinks it's simply been shut off! After looking at it further, this seems to be a distinct possibly! She said they do it all the time at the end of breaks... once again, it seems a student with a disability is nothing more than an afterthought. If I can't be put in a ground floor room, it's only right to NOT shut off the elevator in building where I live. Now I'm waiting to hear back from Public Safety to find out if they have access to a key we can try...

Update: Public Safety doesn't have access to the elevator keys :(

Final Update: Public Safety saves the night! The elevator has been turned on and is working, it only took an hour from my first call! Thank you!

Because I can...

2010-03-19T20:15:00.000-04:00

Sunning myself!

Woofs & Wags,

Holden

Did Mary Jo Curtis send you a direct tweet?

2010-03-19T08:41:00.014-04:00

Did Mary Jo Curtis (a.k.a. mjcurtis/ mjcurtis@mtholyoke.edu) send you a tweet, email or facebook message referencing me? Before ~~or after~~ deleting her twitter account?

It’s come to my attention that Mary Jo Curtis (acting on behalf of Mount Holyoke College) sent direct tweets about me, and my blog, to many people who read about my experiences here or on You Fail at Accessibility. If you commented about my situation on a social networking site group managed by Mount Holyoke College, and received a response, please pass it on to me. If you have a screen shot of the comment it would be greatly appreciated if you email it directly to me at movadi (at) mac (dot) com. This is for my personal record keeping only and will NOT be posted on this blog, in the public domain, or provided to any other party. Thank you.

Where things fell apart

2010-03-18T11:08:00.024-04:00

Dear Readers,

Below is the clarification about the process I went through to obtain a new room assignment for this spring that some of you are confused about.

I met with the disability officer at the end of November 2009 to discuss a room change for the spring semester. I was told to fill out the online room change request form with the housing office and she would coordinate with housing to arrange the details. When I asked about getting help to move my belongings, I was told the school did not assist students requesting room changes.

I filled out the room change form on December 1st, 2009. I requested: a double room or at least a significantly larger room than I had in Abbey (to fit my scoter, medical supplies and service dog), grab bars in a nearby shower, to be closer to the academic buildings (Abbey is one of the furthest dorms from the academic buildings), and to not be put behind any heavy fire doors similar to what I dealt with in Abbey. I stated on the form that my request was being made in regards to reasonable accommodation for my disability under the ADA and the Rehab Act.

On December 2nd, 2009, I met with housing and was told I could not have a double, but I would be placed before the other students requesting room changes. I was told to check out the hallways and bathrooms in two dorms that might work for me, then report back.

On December 18th, 2009, I returned to the same person to report on the situation. I reported that the grab bars in the bathroom were too low for me to use safely. We discussed the fact I rather stay in Abbey than move, if a higher grab bar could not be placed in one of the showers. I was told they would check to find out about the possibility of installing a grab bar and get back to me over break. I asked a second time to be placed into an appropriate sized room and I was told no.

On January 4th, 2010, I was called and told the grab bars could, and would, be installed by a certain date. I viewed the floor plans online to discuss the spaces. I was offered a choice of three rooms, none of these rooms could meet my needs but I was told that it was all that could be offered to me. Room #1 had an ensuite bathroom but was physically smaller than my room in Abbey that didn’t have enough space for my scooter; I declined to take this room because what I needed was more space, not a private bathroom. Rooms 2 & 3, had the same dimensions as each other and were located in the same dorm, both were larger than my room Abbey. One was on the second floor and the other was located on the third floor. I choose the one on the second floor because I despite my many requests to know the procedure for emergency evacuation, I had been given no information regarding the issue. Every fire alarm during my fall semester I was the LAST person out of my building due to my difficulty going down steps. Once, public safety had already cleared people to come back in by time I made my way down to the last flight of steps. I did not feel safe living on the third floor, and did not want to continue risking my safety in the event an actual emergency took place.

On January 7th, 2010, I picked up my new room key. I requested help to move my stuff, again, because this was an accommodation issue beyond my control. I was told they don’t help students move, but that they could arrange for my refrigerator to be moved to the trunk storage room until I could arrange to have someone move it to my new dorm.

On January 8th, 2010, with no assistance from Mount Holyoke, I moved from my room in Abbey to my new location. I left campus the next day and planned to return on January 18th, 2010.

I returned to Mount Holyoke on Jan. 24th, 2010, and found no grab bars had been installed. I had been promised they would be installed by then. I reported this to housing, disability and a dean. The next day January 25th, 2010, I requested (directly to the disability officer via email) that the bookcase and desk be removed from my room, so I could fit my mobility scooter inside the room. Despite being told it could be arranged as an accommodation, it never happened. Instead I was forced to store my scooter in my car, disassembled, where I could not access it.

On January 29th, 2010, I met with the disability officer and inquired about the grab bars. I was told they contacted the distributor, and the distributor said it could not be installed so they would not be installing grab bars I could use at all. Upon finding this out I firmly stated I must to be moved to a room near to a place I can shower safely, and that does not require the removal of a desk (a piece of essential furniture for a student). I was sent to the housing office. I reiterated my need for a larger room, and was told there was a completely open double available in the New Dorm, but I could not be placed in it unless the disability officer ordered them to do so. I was shown a number of single rooms, none of which met my needs, and were smaller than my first room assignment, in Abbey, in addition to to them being smaller than the room they had just moved me too.

At that point, I had been commuting between the dorm I had recently to moved to and the bathroom in my old dormitory daily to shower safely. On February 4th, 2009, I packed my bag and drove over to Abbey to shower but it was occupied. This had happened several times before and that day was my breaking point. I found myself completely overwhelmed. A professor of mine tried to push the issue that I still couldn't shower with someone in the administration after this happened. Instead of someone saying 'Hey, we dropped the ball, we are so sorry. We are going to move you somewhere appropriate and safe right now. Then, we are going to implement procedural changes so no other student has to go through something like this,' nobody did anything of the sort, because I would have said "Okay, let's fix this."

I tried to be a good sport and settle things in house for five months. I spent my time educating staff about the law. This includes the disability officer, the director of dining and the housing department. When I should have been in the library studying, I was on the phone with someone from the Office of Civil Rights getting informed about my rights or reading a technical document so I could press the school on my case for the reasonable accommodations I qualified for. I felt like they didn't care enough to follow the law. My disability and accommodations seemed to be nothing more than a problem they didn't care enough about to address with appropriate speed. I felt like my needs were considered unimportant to the people with power, and that I was considered less than. I had waited for change for too long. Then, my counsel sent the school a demand letter regarding my many reasonable accommodations that Mount Holyoke had ignored or improperly implemented.

On February 12th, 2009, I was moved to my current room, a double occupancy room, that easily fits all my medical necessities. Mount Holyoke arranged for my belongings to be moved to my new room and had grab bars installed in two of the showers down the hallway.

Overheard on teh interwebs...

2010-03-17T22:42:00.006-04:00

Disability Disservices – A letter demanding systemic change from a Mount Holyoke alumna.

Bad Cripple blogs about Disability Culture and the Lack of Social Progress

Creating Accessible Campuses FWD/Forward

In other news… how is tomorrow Thursday already? I have been back at Mount Holyoke since late last night. I had to be here to take delivery of my new smaller scooter. I finally traded down to a 3-wheel model with a smaller turning radius. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, I went for a maiden voyage with Holden around Upper Lake. I had forgotten how nice it feels to take a long leisurely ‘walk’ with my dog. Tomorrow I will leave again to start my real spring break, with no doctor appointments or Mount Holyoke, just friends and family.

Thank you

2010-03-16T08:58:00.010-04:00

Dear Readers,

Thank you for the overwhelming support I have received from so many of you over the past few days. It seems the word has traveled as far as places like Malaysia and Eastern Europe. I plan on responding to each and every email I have received as soon as I am able. All of you have expressed concern and outrage over the manner in which I’ve been treated. Instead, your anger towards Mount Holyoke should be on behalf of my fellow students. I am 28 years old, and have a very competent attorney who has been calling them out on their discriminatory behavior. Unlike many of my traditional-aged friends I have someone to shift the burden to.

I know of similarly situated individuals who are not getting what they need to complete their studies. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to arrive at Mount Holyoke as an eighteen-year-old and navigate a level of nonchalance and indifference that has even surprised my counsel. Last fall, I had a couple of traditional aged students that regularly sought me out to help them deal with their frustrations regarding their dealings with the college’s disability office. I was barely able to function myself, and often didn’t know what to do other than give them copies of relevant laws (ADA-Title III and the Rehab Act), offer a supportive environment, and tell them keep good records and be assertive.

Even when I had immediate problems, I often could not get a response for weeks, let alone an appointment. To make matters worse the disability person was nice, nice but ineffective, and never available. One friend told me in October ‘09 to stop going to the disability office because they gave the same excuses I was told, to delay my requests, to her all year long the previous year; if she wanted to pass her classes, she couldn’t devote time to making sure she got her letters or accommodations. Another told me that the only time her emails or messages got responded to was when one of her parents calls the school and then she gets an email from the disability person saying “I had been meaning to get in touch with you…”

Is that the kind of place Mount Holyoke should be? Mount Holyoke should not be the type of college that has a student make a choice between her work and her physical and/or mental health, simply so she can attempt an education. Mount Holyoke should be the kind of place that honors the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, not the kind of place where a 28-year-old woman has to incur significant expense to retain attorneys to fight discrimination. Mount Holyoke should be living up to its clam that it is “ . . . committed to providing reasonable accommodations and services that will enable students who qualify under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act to participate as fully as possible in the College’s academic program.” It should not have to be the kind of place where a grown woman has to have a demand letter sent regarding reasonable accommodations by an attorney, in order to have a voice.

I encourage you to voice any disgust you may have directly to Mount Holyoke’s administration on behalf of ALL their students that live with the extra challenge of a disability or that may develop one during their attendance. Please encourage the college to make access and disability services an institutional, as well as budget priority.

Thank you

Mary Jo Curtis, Media Relations Associate for Mount Holyoke College

2010-03-15T18:35:00.003-04:00

Looks like there is more fallout at Accessibility Fail regarding Mary Jo Curtis (aka mjcurtis), self-proclaimed “writer/editor/college PR & social media guru” blogging live from the “Happy Valley” as the media relations associate officially representing Mount Holyoke College.

By far, my favorite response was by user mbc-- but mjcurtis is a "college PR & social media guru"! blog stalking and meaningless drivel are her 'core competencies'!

Thank you mbc for providing the best quip of the day!

Back where we belong

2010-03-14T21:54:00.001-04:00

I am so happy to be back in the D.C. area. The beastie got a well deserved night off, and I had a great dinner with some friends in Cleveland Park that I haven’t seen in what feels like forever. After dinner we took the dogs down to Congressional Cemetery for an off-leash romp. On my way back to the hotel I got some of my favourite local gelato.

If you don't stand up for your rights, they'll disappear.

2010-03-13T23:31:00.010-05:00

So I have been sitting here, trying to think about how I will respond to Mount Holyoke’s public relations statement over at Accessibility Fail. I don’t know Mary Jo Curtis from Adam, but I recently developed the suspicion that staff and/or agents of Mount Holyoke College have been trying to monitor my online and media activities. Let’s just say a little bird tweeted that idea in my ear. I'll take Friday's activity as confirmation of such. *winks* After thinking about it some more, I’ve decided my response will be a simple, non-exhaustive timeline of my experiences while trying to obtain reasonable accommodations (during my attendance) at Mount Holyoke College. Readers can draw their own conclusions and judge for themselves. In an ideal world I could also shed light on the situations my fellow students have struggled with, but it is not my place to do so.

Secondly, if you are not a current reader of William Peace's blog Bad Cripple, I encourage you to visit and take a look. He provides powerful commentary on Higher Education, Disability, and Assisted Suicide, among other things. It's a blog we should all be reading.

Night!

Status: D.C.

2010-03-12T22:41:00.004-05:00

Some people go to the Caribbean during spring break, I go to Washington, D.C. for doctor appts. The drive was grueling, as usual. Now for some dinner, a shower, and then sleep. Tomorrow I start the day with an 8am Saturday appt.

Can I just say I love this hotel? They have grab bars in the showers (that I can easily use) in all the rooms, not just the accessible ones. Holden loves it too, every visit they greet us by saying "Welcome back, Holden."(Nobody ever remembers my name though, instead it's all about Holden.)

Best friend, M, linked to my blog on Accessibility Fail . Mt. Holyoke's public relations people have apparently (supposedly?) issued a response. All I can say is wow, if the school's disability services acted that fast, Dog in the Dorm would probably be a very different blog. ~~Does anyone have an extra invite to the dreamwidth community that I could have?~~ (Thanks for the invites everyone.) I need to weigh in on all this! Very interesting developments today indeed.

Good night from D.C.!

People who get it right

2010-03-11T13:50:00.025-05:00

Last night I checked out a blog called The Deal With Disability, authored by Eva, a 26-year-old living with Cerebral Palsy. As I was clicking through her site, I noticed she had a group of tags labeled "People who get it right." This got me thinking... my bad experiences at Mount Holyoke have been so great (numerically) that I haven't mentioned the people who get it right, here at MHC, on my blog. Not only do these people exist, but they have been an integral part of my support system.

I have three professors here at Mt. Holyoke that get it right, consistently. These three unbelievably amazing people do not treat me as a disability, nor do they label me as someone looking to have an advantage over my classmates because I need accommodations. They don't get it because they have innate understandings about living with a disability, they get it because they appreciate human diversity, and realise that as humans their students will have both strengths and weaknesses. What these particular professors share is they genuinely regard ALL of their students as individuals with individual needs, learning styles, and life circumstances. The world needs more professors like this, and I suspect, many of them are already right here at Mt. Holyoke. My experience with the administration here has been the pits, but so far the professors (that I have dealt with) are positively the kind of "people who get it right." For them, my disability is not what differentiates me from my classmates; who I am is what distinguishes me from the crowd, just like it should be.

How many Mount Holyoke employees does it take to install a door?

2010-03-10T20:49:00.017-05:00

Your guess is as good as mine! I do know it takes at least three different employees and six visits just to measure a door. Last week there was some suspicious loitering near my dorm door, by employees, that I suspect were measuring the door further, on the sly.

I had to meet with the disability person this week. It was a bit of a shock to the system when I was able to schedule an actual appointment, without being delayed for weeks. The meeting was with the disability officer about housing accommodations for next semester. At first, I was a little confused because she wanted to know if I really thought I’d still need a large room in the fall. Maybe she thought I’d be cured of my rare genetic mutation over the summer? Or, I wondered, if she'd thought I’d just decide to leave behind my service dog, his food and equipment, my mobility scooter and all my medical supplies after all the grief her incompetence and indifference caused me over the past 6 months.

At the end of the meeting I was informed that the famous fire-rated door is to be installed ~~the week classes start back after spring break~~. Such an event calls for a party, don’t you agree? I’ll be serving framboise (raspberry) lambic to guests over 21, Holden will be showing off how much space he has, and maybe I’ll even let my guests zip a ride on my scooter. What fun! We will take pictures, drink, be merry, and count just how many people it takes to install the door. (Yes, I am seriously considering making this a party, if I can’t get them to NOT install the heavy door I may as well join in the fun.)

This week has been dragging on for what seems like forever. Mostly, I’ve been catching up on much needed study time. Sir Holden has spring fever, therefore developing selective hearing when I ask him to do things. Today, he forgot that “leash” meant pick up your leash, not flop on the ground looking for loving pets! He seems to be as ready for spring break as I am. We just have to make it through class on Friday, and then we are FREE!

"Hey, is it my turn to blog yet?!?"

About time.

2010-03-10T13:00:00.002-05:00

Officials Step Up Enforcement of Rights laws in Education from the NYtimes.

Shifting the burden.

2010-03-04T23:06:00.005-05:00

For a month, I’ve had excellent counsel that has accomplished what seemed impossible to achieve on my own... not all that long ago. I had been fighting for so long I could't mentally shift the burden of battles, and free my mind. For the first time in months I feel meaningful relief; I’m not exactly sure why, but it’s a welcomed change. There may be hard times ahead, but this isn’t something I must grapple with unaided. I wish this hadn't taken me so long to realize.

Those of you reading this that have service dogs surely understand the freeing feeling I describe. As a person with a disability, one of the things my service dog provides is the comfort of knowing that I no longer face the strain of life’s challenges all alone. So many people report after receiving a service dog that they no longer feel imprisoned by their disability. Sharing life's burdens with four paws and wagging tail is a pretty good deal if you ask me.

Relief is within an arm’s distance. Tonight, I actually feel sleepy.

Zzzzzz....

2010-03-04T19:12:00.004-05:00

After a hard days work.

Where the rubber meets the road

2010-03-02T15:21:00.012-05:00

I have no idea why I’m still here at Mount Holyoke. I have nearly zero motivation, for anything. Sometimes when I leave campus I feel like a weight has been lifted and more like myself. The moment I anticipate returning I start to feel stressed, and as soon as the campus is within sight, it’s like a dark veil has been drawn over my head with the memories of the struggles. I feel like I live in war zone, and I’m walking around tiptoe waiting for the next bomb to drop.

So many students I talk to here feel the same way when trying to deal with the college regarding disability related issues. Many have said they are giving up. There has been no systemic change, and it's exasperating to watch my friends continue to fight the barricades put up against them.

I hate leaving my room, which means I have to see people. These people ask me what’s going on, how I am, and if things better now (that I can fit my scooter in my room and my dog can do more than turn in a tight circle before he runs into a wall or furniture). I usually respond saying we have more space and I can shower, so things are better. Sort of. I try not to go into more detail unless pressed. The real answer is my room change is a day late and a dollar short; my mental and physical health is already so compromised that everyday I wonder how I’ll make it through the next. People on campus constantly tell me how I always look worn now. When people tell me that I want to say that I’m happy to have a new room, but I can’t use my scooter because the batteries are dead and I haven’t had time to attend to it as yet. I want to say great, except that after a day on my feet I need to lay in bed and relax my muscles, and that on Mondays the day I’m on my feet all afternoon in my Chemlab, dinner is herculean task because it’s dark and far away by time my muscles and joints are ready to move again. I want to explain that after last semester I’m so exhausted mentally that I can hardly function. I want to tell them that my counsel got the school to put grab bars in two of the showers down the hall, but one has had the curtain missing in it for over a week and therefore is not usable; I have asked if and when it’ll be replaced, but nothing has been done and despite not be able to shower when I've planned when the one with a curtain is occupied; I have stopped asking about if and when a new curtain will go up because it would just take more energy that I don’t have.

I'm so smart; I can even tweet!

2010-02-28T10:26:00.003-05:00

Visit me on Twitter!

Woofs & Wags,

Holden II

REWIND. PRIME. LOAD. (repeat)

2010-02-27T14:50:00.020-05:00

I developed juvenile diabetes (aka type 1 diabetes) during childhood. Juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that destroys the pancreas' ability to make insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose and is essential for life. It is a very different beast compared to Type 2 diabetes, a metabolic syndrome. Only 5-10% out of all diabetics suffer from the autoimmune disease known as type 1 diabetes, most are diagnosed during childhood (hence the name juvenile diabetes) but young adults are also occasionally diagnosed.

When I first started administering my own insulin shots I would sit at the kitchen table and draw up the dose, pinch some skin and suddenly become immobilized. I sat there looking at the needle unable to jab it in and hit the plunger. Sometimes, I could see my mom tearing up in the shadow of the doorway, out of the corner of my eye. I had to do this 4-8 times a day, everyday, to stay alive. I didn’t mind getting shots, but the transition to administering them myself was a rough one. When my doctor suggested I be hooked up to a machine (an insulin pump) and have a metal needle stuck under my skin all day, it was not initially well received. A few weeks later I was able to try a pump filled with saline as a trial, and that was all it took. I was hooked, literally. A month after that I became the proud owner of two Disetronic H-tron’s and have been hooked up to an insulin pump ever since. Today I have been pumping insulin for 11 years. I've seen the size of pumps shrink and their technology advance beyond my imagination. It’s been eleven years and I've gone through five different pump models: Disetronic H-tron, Disetronic D-tron+, Minimed, Deltec Cosmo and my current Animas 2020. It’s hard to believe that so much time has elapsed. Shouldn't we have a cure for juvenile diabetes by now? Ahh, stem cell research.

Before I got a pump I was on a first name basis with the nurses and on-call peds endocrinologist at my local ER. There were the lows, the highs, the seizures, the ketosis and comas, the sudden onset blindness and vomiting spells all caused by rapidly fluctuating glucose levels from the diabetes. Today is not perfect, but I’m happy to report the days of one ER visit a week are long gone because of my pump.

Type 1 diabetes is never ending (until we find a cure). There is no such thing as taking time off or not having to worry about glucose levels. In type 1 diabetes you only have to drop the ball for a few hours to be in danger of losing your life to the disease. Pumping insulin is not without it's challenges, but I wouldn't give up my pump for anything.

It's looks like I'm high... off to bolus, again.

Why do you blog?

2010-02-25T18:49:00.020-05:00

I recently received an email asking me why I haven’t stop blogging and did I ever wonder if people at my college, including administrators, were reading my blog. Only a few students at Mt. Holyoke know about this blog that I know of, maybe more do but that doesn’t influence my decision to continue posting. I would be surprised if there were a select few administrators here that didn’t know about my blog. Who may or may not be reading this blog doesn’t change anything for me. One thing I have been mindful of is I do not write about other students' problems at the college, just my own.

I started Dog in the Dorm intending for the blog to be a lighthearted affair mostly consisting of cute pictures of Holden doing things college service dogs should be doing. I envisioned posts of Holden hanging out in club meetings or with my friends and photo shoots around campus with Holden showing off his good looks among the fall colours. I even planned to do gear reviews of equipment that might be helpful for working dogs on a college campus. The truth is, I haven’t joined any clubs, and I’m usually too exhausted from fighting for my rights to hang out with friends unless they come to me. Sadly the latter has resulted in fewer friends. The only photo shoots I have time for are usually related to snapping a quick picture here or there in hopes of winning the support needed to get an accommodation I had requested. The few videos I’ve taken of Holden opening doors, having fun and doing tasks have never been uploaded to my computer; I finally had time to upload them the other day, but it seems I’ve lost the cable that connects to my computer in my moves around campus. We simply don’t do the fun things I had hoped to chronicle.

Why blog at all you ask? I blog to narrate my story as I’ve experienced it with Holden at Mount Holyoke. When I came here in the fall, I just wanted to finish my studies, make some friends and have a little fun. I didn’t want it to be a struggle or complicated and intended do my work and go about with my life. It ended up that Mt. Holyoke didn’t give me a choice in the ways things played out, and now I am a very different person than I was when I came here 5 months ago. Five months ago, I saw this place as a launching pad on my way to becoming a scientist and an open door to new exciting opportunities. Today this place is nothing more than a prison to me. My academic record took a significant hit because of not having my accommodations, my health conditions have been exacerbated requiring additional medication and I’ve incurred all sorts of expenses due to the colleges discrimination against me. Yes, I dropped the D-word.

No matter what I am coming out of this experience behind... academically, financially, physically and mentally. As the struggle wears on, my blog has grown to reflect the reality of my experiences. Initially I had reservations about posting my negative experiences and I worried about who would read it and what they’d think. I went into this semester thinking I knew what went wrong and the college knew what went wrong last semester, so this semester would be better and my lighthearted blog would be on track for the spring.

I believed that until I returned to campus last month and had no place to shower in my dorm, despite promises made to me weeks prior. Then Mt. Holyoke passed it off as a minor inconvenience. That’s when I realized that people who discriminate should be called out as the bullies they are. When someone asks you to ignore your medical need for accommodation because it’s easier and less work for them, they are bullying you into giving up your civil rights. I do not afford tolerance to people that feel it’s okay to ignore or continually delay requests for simple accommodations; in that regard I am grateful to Mt. Holyoke for helping me realize that it is okay to stand up for my rights AND practice my first amendment rights while I’m at it.

That’s why I blog. Don’t despair, I’m planning some lighthearted fare soon for the other reason I blog…

To Dress or not to Dress?

2010-02-24T10:03:00.010-05:00

Ninety-nine percent of the time I take my SD out in public he is dressed. And I believe for the most part that while the law does not require our dogs be identified as working service animals, dressing a service dog is in the handlers best interest.

I've had extreme access issues here at Mount Holyoke College. I have been demanded to tie my dog up outside buildings by staff, denied access to dining on a regularly basis for the first 2.5 months I was here, been yelled at like a five-year-old in the library for having a dog with me and have dealt with SAs (the college’s equivalent of RAs) telling me I need to leave dorms because of my service dog. During each and every one of those many events my dog was dressed either in his balance harness or the service dog vest he received at his graduation that clearly identifies him as a service dog. Even if someone had been illiterate and unable to read the pouch on his harness or his vest, his gear clearly ID’d him as not your typical pet. Never during even one of these instances did Holden being dressed seemed to help the situation. One person even accused me of trying to “trick” her by putting that “stuff” on him. The challenges I've experienced here had nothing to do with my dog being unidentifiable. I am begin to wonder why I dress him at all to do small errands around campus.

Fast forward to last night. I’ve been moved to a dorm where I can not only shower safely but also store my scooter in my room so I can have proper use of it. However, because of the colleges unwillingness to meet my needs earlier I now live in a building where dinner is not served. Not only that, but if I need to eat later than 7.15pm the only place I can dine or take-out food from is the Campus Center. This is not within walking distance for me and means I must either drive there or take my scooter. I would not feel comfortable taking my scooter there at night, the curb cuts between my dorm and the campus center are not even and it requires crossing a street. Recently a student walking across the street from the college was hit by a car, and last year a professor. Sorry, I'm not risking my life or Holden's. And in this case it was snowing and there had been no attempt to clear the paths in front of my dorm, so a scooter wouldn't even be an option. I could either drive or not eat.

So around 9ish (pm) I decided I would drive over there. This required getting dressed, putting on my braces, trekking through not cleared paths to my car, cleaning the snow off my car and driving over there. So I go do all of this and get in my car. I then have a Raynauds attack on my hands from the cold and time spent cleaning the snow off my car. Okay. I drive to the campus center, park, get out of the car with my cane and unload Holden. Suddenly I can’t tell if I should scream or cry while I stand there looking at him. After all that I forgot to put his vest on.

Part of the problem is after my many requests for a sign so I could eat, one of the things they put on the sign was ‘Harness or vest on= at work’. Did I really want to deal with the potential fall out of taking Holden inside when he was not dressed while I was tired and in pain? Given my prior experiences I closed the door and drove back to my dorm. I start tapering off my pain meds in the mid afternoon (otherwise I can’t sleep) and it was snowing (pressure changes and connective tissue disease are not a good mix) so I went back to my room and crawled into bed hoping to fight off the hunger pangs. Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore I got Holden dressed FIRST and made a second trek around 11pm to get food.

This is why the law does not require we dress our dogs. Stuff happens and sometimes a totally legit SD might not be dressed given the circumstances.

More thoughts on dressing service dogs later…

Scoot no more?

2010-02-22T10:56:00.006-05:00

The beastie is always happier when I'm using my scooter. I think part of this is having more freedom in his movements AND having more work to do. He loves to open doors, I swear opening and closing drawers, doors, etc. are his favorite things to do. My scooter has been disassembled in the trunk area of my SUV for around 3 weeks now because I couldn't fit in my room. Should I have taken the batteries inside? Yes. Did I? Nope, I just had too much going and frankly I was sick on asking people to move heavy stuff for me and the one person I would have felt comfortable asking pretty moved all my stuff including my refrigerator into that room. The cold weather killed my scooters batteries. So now after five months of not being able to fit it in my room I can't eve use it despite my new large digs.

Poor Holden was so excited when he realised my scooter was being brought out of the car. He started dancing around right there. The other reason he loves my scooter is 'cause he knows he'll get fun long walks everyday that I can't give him without it. In any case, when the scooter wasn't showing a charge it was pushed inside and then I attempted to charge it. Well it looks like the cold killed them and I'll need new batteries before I can start scooting. I was also having a problem with the brushes so I'll have that all done at one time. The scooter is a 4 wheel Pride Revo with a huge turning radius so another thought I'm having is to trade it in for a 3 wheel model that might be easier to navigate the less accessible parts of campus. I don't have time to do anything about my scooter issue until the weekend sadly. Sorry Holden :(

The unmeasurable door...

2010-02-21T22:49:00.006-05:00

So as you all know we moved into new digs yet again. Things were pretty quiet for a few days until Thursday when someone showed up to measure my door while I was chatting with a friend. Just as this person was whipping out his measuring tape he looked at me, then Holden and then my friend and said "Wait does a blind girl live here?" I told him no, and it seemed he was in the wrong place because he needed to measure "the blind girl's door." Ahhh, being at a small school has it's bonuses and I was able to send him directly to her room. Or not. Ten minutes later I get a call from someone in Housing telling me Disability has sent someone to measure my door because they are replacing my dorm room dorm room door with a fire door. Part of the reason I needed to move was the heavy fire doors in the hallways in my old dorm. Apparently I have no choice... so now that I have a lawyer they care about my safety in a fire? Interesting that they didn't care for the past five months when I asked over and over again about fire evacuation plans due to my disability and they told me that I was "stretching the law" by demanding to know the procedure. These people never cease to amaze me! Anyway, the guy comes back and measures the door. Okay. My friend and I go get some dinner and when I return and am checking email and there is an email sent almost an hour after the measurement guy showed up from the Disability person saying that someone would stop by to measure.

The next morning the maintenance people call me while I'm in class that they will be measuring my door, again in a few minutes that I don't have to be there. Um, okay. An hour plus later I return to my room, take my pain meds and crawl into bed. Less than five minutes into decompressing there is a knock on the door. It's maintenance and then need to measure again. OKAY, fine. Then this man proceeds to measure my door for FIFTEEN minutes, yes, FIFTEEN. Around the ten minute mark I offered to help him because he seemed to be doing more looking around than anything else. He finally leaves and I call my lawyer because let's face it this is bizarre, only to have a knock on the door mid conversation and he's back to get a few more measurements! Ridiculous. It didn't help matters that Holden was sure the had returned to play with him and his grunting headhog toy... oy. So much for a restorative nap.

Friday evening I was out for an hour or two only to return to a not that says maintenance was in my room again. It didn't say why, just had the box ticked off next to "At your request.." Maybe they misunderstood do not come back and bother to measure this door until Monday at the request of my lawyer.

Sigh. Just the latest of the games this school seems to desperate to play with me.

It's just a door!

Laundry, finally.

2010-02-21T09:28:00.008-05:00

Well, things are looking up folks! I am finally doing laundry (after 2 weeks... eep) this morning. Laundry in this dorm is easier because of a wider entryway. This means mean I can use my scooter if I need to. I started off with a smaller load so Holden was able to simply drag it the whole way.

Not too heavy...

At your service!

So far two loads are in the wash and I hope to get a third in later. The wider doorways will be great if Sir Holden is dragging a basket or if I have my scooter. My old dorm had an entry way of 24inches! Yes 24 inches, anything wider than 24 inches has to be lifted over the washer that OVERLAPPED the doorway. I would put the picture in here if I had time, I'll update it later. Ironically directly across from the obstructing washer was a sign that said all the washing machines in the room were ADA compliant. Heh.

Yum!

2010-02-15T11:39:00.003-05:00

Today we went downstairs to the "Grab 'n Go" lunch in the building where we moved to. Mom looked relieved when she saw how nice all the dining staff was there to us. She had never been to this location on campus and usually at least the first few times go rather badly. There were lots of good smells; I behaved really well at walked night next to Mom since she couldn't hold my leash and carry the brown bag all at the same time. The checkout woman really loved me because I'm such a handsome young boy. Everyone was so impressed when I took the bag from Mom so she could hold her drink and use her cane. Sadly no dog treats at the checkout counter though :) Okay Mom gave me a treat when we got back upstairs....

Woofs & Wags,

Holden

... hiatus

2010-02-12T22:23:00.002-05:00

Things here go slowly as per usual. We have moved again, but only after I was forced to bring in an outside party. The room size is great but there were many trade offs. At this point showering is the highest thing on my priority list. I look forward to just walking down the hall for my shower in the morning. I haven't been eating or sleeping for the most part the past two weeks. I tend to eat for comfort and love food in general so it's still hard for even me to believe I'm having a hard time eating. Today I was able to eat dinner, like all of it, and though I feel a bit off ow since I'm so used to not eating lately it's a sign in the right direction. This weekend is unpacking and homework... will take pictures of the new setup soon, I hope.

"I thought I heard a dog shake..." --The culture of disability...

2010-02-07T15:29:00.014-05:00

Holden shakes. A lot. It seems to be his one vice I can't get rid of. Yesterday after my shower I exited the bathroom and a former hall mate opened her door, stuck her head out and said "I thought I heard a dog shake just now... Holden!" As his handler this was funny, cute and discouraging at all once. She was happy to see me (and happier to see Holden) and then asked what I was doing there. "There" was in Abbey my old dorm where I still return daily to shower. Everyday I pack up my rolling backpack of clothes and shower stuff and drive back to the dorm where I feel significantly safer showering than where I live now. When I explained I came there regularly for the past two weeks to shower, she frowned and said "Well that's a pain."

Her comment illustrates the outsider's view about the culture of disability. Don't get me wrong, this is a person who has supported me during some of my most fragile moments at Mt. Holyoke and I know she wasn't intentionally making light of the situation. But at the same time this comment struck me as dismissive towards disability in general. To me packing up a bag, driving to my old dorm and sometimes not even having the shower available when I get there is more that just a "pain." To me it's insane, and it's discrimination. Something would be a "pain" if everyone of campus were forced to do it or if it were a simple matter of inconvenience. My daily struggle filled with anger and disappointment is something I do because I need to shower safely.

Many people take a dim view of people with disabilities requesting accommodation. It is seen as self centered and as asking "for extra"; this view is alive and well in the administration at my college. If it weren't I would be living in a room that fit my dog, scooter and medical supplies comfortably and could shower safely nearby. Instead for two weeks I have been on the border of withdrawing, wondering if the fight is even worth the toll on my emotional and physical health. As a student with a disability I find my requests are often seen as trying to get more than others have, rather than, what I need in order to successfully attempt my studies without a significant disadvantage compared to the non disabled students here. Sometimes my requests are met with the attitude that what I'm asking for is compensation for having a disability, rather than accommodation to my disability.

Mt. Holyoke was the first women's college in the United States, one might hope the administration of the college would see the damage discrimination based on sex creates parallels the outcome of discrimination on the basis of disability and therefore make disability services for their students a priority. Yet in my personal dealings here (and in talking to other's) this is clearly not the case. There is a culture of this is the way we do things at Mt. Holyoke, do it our way or go home. This culture of perfection is not surprising at an elite liberal arts school, and sadly, somewhat to be expected by students with disabilities in any higher education setting.

Students with disabilities not only must adapt to their environment but also develop strategies for survival. Often these strategies include requesting accommodations and/or modifications of their physical environment. I know the world will not fall over backwards and remove every cultural and physical barrier for us to succeed. But it saddens me greatly that the cultural attitudes towards accommodating disabilities is somehow seen as a burden or less important than the other types of diversity inclusion Mt. Holyoke prides itself on. I can only hope that by the time I become a mother, the cultural attitudes of higher education institutions reflect the inclusion the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) set out to create.

Furry Friends

2010-02-02T21:54:00.002-05:00

Sometimes the best thing in life is a snuggle with you pup!

-Holden's Mom

Dog in the dorm no more?

2010-01-30T10:51:00.008-05:00

Guest post from Holdens mom:

Well, this has been my hardest week here. I thought the new room with some furniture removed would be so much better that what happened last semester regarding my room assignment. When the school finally agreed to move me I told them I was only willing to move on the condition that grab bars I could use could be installed in the new dorms bathroom. When I got back a week after I was told they'd be installed by, they weren't.

The person that called me over winter break to offer me my current room confirmed that a higher grab bar could and would be put in. I didn't want to move unless the made sure and was told he had checked and it would be done. It wasn't done. The next morning I inquired about the grab bars and the person seemed surprised it wasn't done and promised to find out. I also told disability services as well as my class dean. For seven days I have no had a place to shower safely in my dorm. I've had to shower elsewhere. Yesterday I was finally told they would not be able install a second grab bar in that bathroom at all. I NEED a grab bar at a higher height because the lower one meant for transferring can't be gripped by my wrists because they are so weak from my EDS and inflammatory arthritis. As a complication of my EDS, I have NMH, a blood pressure condition that makes me constantly dizzy. To compound that, things like a warm shower and standing for more than a few minutes makes it worse. I NEED grab bars I can use, using a shower bench is not an option because going from sitting to stand in or after the shower usually leads to vertigo and dizziness or syncope. I am at wits end.

Housing says they're going to try and relocate me soon. The semester started Wednesday and I still don't have my accommodation letters so I am already behind two lectures in chemistry, I have been trying to take notes myself but within 5-10 minutes my hand cramps and clamps up and I'm extreme pain and my hand is in spasm. I am stressed, depressed and on the edge. I can't manage to be nice to people this past week I am so miserable. I have been snappy even with people I like. I snapped at woman whose dog/puppy ran across the field trying to jump on us leading two other dogs behind circling and sniffing Holden (he was in harness) and I when I was in front of the campus center. This was so out of character for me, people let their dogs loose there all the time. It was clearly a young dog and I wasn't in a hurry. The poor 'Mom' of this puppy was yelling "I'm sorry" the whole way behind him. I snapped at her immediately. This place has changed me as a person.

Dealing with the disabilities office is always a struggle to get timely attendance to anything. I have dealt with the disability offices at three other colleges and NEVER had I had such a horrible experience with any of them. The disability office has no respect for privacy and gives out details about my medical history because I "look normal" instead of just saying my service dog is a accommodation for my disability. I thought after talks last semester they would stop but they've already done it 3 times this semester and I've only been back a week. Last semester I had to fight for 10 weeks to get them to put up a sign that said service dogs allowed so I could eat everywhere on campus. By time I got to regularly eat lunch the semester was almost over. Some of my other accommodations took just as long or never happened. I don't know if I can deal with spending all my time trying to get my accommodations anymore. This weeks experience has taken so much out of me, the back and forth, the dealing with people who seem to think this is an issue of minor inconvenience.

I am tired. Everyday for the past 5 days I have though about leaving. This is a fight that may not be worth fighting. Today I tried to shower her in my dorm with the lower grab bar, I slipped and now have a huge bruise on my knee and it's all swollen. Accommodations may be the law, but having to struggle to get this college to follow the law is more trouble than it's worth. I don't know if I can continue this battle emotionally or physically.

My only consolation is my furry confidante and assistant, Holden.

New Digs!

2010-01-25T23:42:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven't updated in over a month but things had been super busy. We finished the semester in one piece (barely) and then enjoyed time off from school catching up on some much needed shuteye.

The good news is we got new student digs! We are closer to classes and have a slightly larger room. And no heavy fire doors! Once we get the school to remove a couple pieces of furniture Mom can fit her scooter in the new room. The one downside is our new dorm is nosier than the old dorm, and I'm trying to learn what sounds are normal here. Last night I got really irritated and would growl under my breathe every time I heard loud talking and running! Mom says it's normal and that I'll learn that's just the way life goes around here.

Our new dorm has a green in front of the building just like our last dorm. Mom says she wants me to get used to the area before she let's me go off leash to potty because this is a busy area of campus and I'm such a social boy! A lot of dogs run off leash in this area and today a very rude Lab mix ran over with his Bernese and Corgi friends circled me and tried to mount me while we were leaving our building while I was in my harness! I got really upset when the lab started jumping on mom too! Very rude! I'm allowed to play when I'm naked, but I'm not ever okay with dogs attempting to knock mom over! I told mom she has to remember they were just pets, and that even I misbehave at times. And she calls me grumpy at times! She is creature of habit and I think the move to a new dorm has been more stressful for her than me.

Classes start tomorrow so I need to go so we can sleep and then get organized tomorrow before the madness ensues. Pictures of our new dorm setup coming soon!

Snow!

2009-12-17T19:51:00.003-05:00

Posing for a picture with Rio & Seyah

So it we finally had our first snow in South Hadley and it was wonderful! Mom stayed outside in the cold the morning it snowed for an hour with me. And then the next day I had a playdate with two Golden Retrievers that live nearby! Fun times I tell ya!

Tug of war!

Looking stately on Abbey Green

My two favourite things sticks & snow!

Time to go in and Warm up!

Turkey Hunting

2009-12-01T16:06:00.000-05:00

Mom took me Turkey Hunting on Thanksgiving w/Maddie. Okay... so it was just to the park for a walk! But I did do some turkey hunting later in my human grandmothers kitchen! Yum.

I had a great time. We won't get to go there often because Mom says this dog park was too hilly/rocky. I had a blast and look forward to going again with my Grandma next time we visit while mom stays home and rests!

Can you spot me?

This was an awesome walk, but where did the Turkeys all go?

Holden says: 4 paws up

It's been a while...

2009-12-01T15:47:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted. Mom has been super stressed dealing with college regarding her accommodations. After 9 weeks she finally got her desk/chair in her Chemistry lecture that was supposed to be in place days after classes started. She is dealing with a lot of joint and muscle issues due to that in addition to not being able to use her scooter and we had to make a special trip to Bethesda, MD to see her doctors because of it. She is a little better and will hopefully be a lot better soon. In the meantime I try to cheer her up and help as much as I can. But don't dispair some good things have happened too!

The fire-door on our floor is being propped open so Mom won't risk dislocation and injury from dealing with it (unfortunately this is not being done downstairs too.)

Holden says: four paws up to Julia Golden in ResLife for getting this done!

A desk/chair are in place in Mom's Chem lecture! Can you spot me?!?

Holden says: two paws up--I don't want mom in pain & bruised
BUT two paws DOWN because over 8.5 weeks after it was approved and supposed to be there!

More soon,

Holden the Golden

Highly Perturbed

2009-10-19T17:36:00.003-04:00

Mom and I are pretty irritated right now. Mom has Classical Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; even though she looks healthy and young she is in pain all the time and needs help with some things. Of course, thats where I come in! I help her with balance and walking distances, but sometimes Mom needs to use her scooter. This is where the source of our current challenge comes in: Disability Services and Residential Life collaborated before we got here and decided to put us behind.... a FIRE DOOR. That's right folks after all their "planning" they put a person with a mobility impairment behind the fire door. Fire doors are made specifically to be extra heavy and hard to push, pull, open in order to prevent fires from spreading rapidly. Why? well as they put it to her "that's where the new accessible bathroom is (the accessibility of this bathroom is highly debatable.)" And how would they suppose people who need an accessible bathroom get through/past the fire door to get there? We still aren't sure.

On the opposite side of the fire door there are more rooms many of which are assigned to incoming students. This is also where access to the kitchenette and elevator are. Mom and I could have easily been assigned a room that had enough room for her scooter and not have to battle the fire door with it . Instead we were assigned the one of the smallest rooms behind the fire door. We can't even fit Mom's scooter in our room! And now disability services is telling us the best place for it is unattended in the lobby.

Thanks fire door for trapping me INSIDE with the fire on high pain/dislocation/injury/scooter days!

That's me standing at the end of the corridor where our room is. Note: many powerchair bases would never fit through the fire door to even get to this "accessible" bathroom (see larger brown door)! The bathroom is not fully accessible to "people in wheelchairs" if it's behind a heavy fire door! It does have grab bars though.

Let me start you off on my un-accessibility tour!

The OTHER side of the same fire door as you walk, scoot or wheel out of the elevator.

The next set of fire doors as you get on/off the elevator! This is the ONLY way to get from the first floor elevator area to.... drumroll please.... the sort-of accessible entrance! To enter, you are required to swipe, open and wheel/scoot through the door all at the same time and hope the door doesn't catch you! This is just to get to the fire doors to get to the elevator! I could not imagine doing this while wheeling/scooting without a service dog like me.

Here I am opening the door!

Does that sign say "Snow Slides, Caution, Snow Slides"? It sure does.

This dormitory earns 3 & half paws down for: 1) placing a person with mobility impairments on a high floor with two sets of fire doors between the person and the exit. 2) No automatic door openers, anywhere in the dorm. 3)Un-accessible "accessible" bathrooms.

This dormitory gets half a paw up for: installing a lift inside so a wheelchair or scooter user can get access to the dining hall because wheeling down the 4 steps that separate you from dining is not fun. Also for having grab bars in one of the showers on our floor, I don't like it when Mom falls in the shower.

All I can say is thank goodness Mom only needs her scooter for distances and has me around to help out. This summer they called Mom to let her know where there were putting her was definitely "all accessible"! Because I can't open both directions of each set of fire doors Mom has agreed to leave her scooter in the lobby for now and hope it works out. But that begs the question, who exactly thought of this bright idea to put her behind two fire doors in a tiny room?

SSD Holden

Lazy Afternoon

2009-10-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Mom and I are having a lazy afternoon in the dorm. Mom was really happy not to have GenChem lab because of break today. It's all the same to me since I use her GenChem lab to nap while she does her thing. I'm not even allowed to pick up things when she drops them since they might have chemicals on them: It's hard but I enjoy my beauty sleep! Have to keep up on that as I'm ladies man...

This afternoon we are chillin' in the dorm listening to Santana and Los Lonely Boys. I'm going to go get some extra shut eye while mom enjoys some coffee with Milo in it.

This weekend I'm going to post on all the silly questions and commentary Mom has to deal with all the time. But I need to rest up for that post!

Happy Weekend,

Holden

Fall Break: Maine, the way life should be

2009-10-13T18:27:00.001-04:00

Hi folks,

Mom and I returned to the dorms late last night. I'd been working hard and really needed the break, only MHC's fall break wasn't very long! To get ready, we packed our bags (mostly Mom's dirty laundry) and my food. It took a long time and I got bored waiting....

We stopped to visit my human grandmother in Portland, ME. Mom did a lot of laundry and all I could think about was a dip in the lake. Later we made it to Sebago Lake.... sweet.

That's me at the cottage! I had a blast and got to swim during the day and curl up by the fireplace at night. Maine is great place to be a retriever. After a couple of days Mom said to say goodbye to the lake until next summer. It was difficult to say goodbye to my favorite vacation spot but I knew I had my job to do.

Here I am saying goodbye to the cottage with the sebago lake in the background. Guess it's time to get back to work!

-Holden

Please don't distract

2009-10-06T21:00:00.000-04:00

A friend sent this to me this evening. How fitting!

Happy Mountain Day!

2009-09-29T14:26:00.002-04:00

The road next to the mountain!

Ice cream at the top of Mt. Holyoke on Mountain Day!

Holden says: 4 paws up!

Top of the Mountain!

Holden and I at the top of the mountain.

You can learn more about our wonderful Mt. Holyoke tradition here: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/cic/campuslife/reslife/traditions.shtml

Off duty

2009-09-15T12:39:00.000-04:00

Well it's been a little over a week since Holden and I have been in the dorm at MHC. Life is pretty decent. Today one of the lovely MHC students living in hall took Holden for a much needed walk. No matter how you slice it adjusting to life in a dormitory is hard. I know it's hard for me! In the dorm, I have Holden mostly off duty, unless I plan on standing for a long period of time or I'm going to the dining room. But still it's different (and smaller!) than having a house or even an apartment.

Mount Holyoke!

2009-09-12T10:48:00.001-04:00

So we are here at Mt. Holyoke College. Life is getting busy quickly! Mom and I are finding quite a few challenges because of the lack of knowledge about working dogs (and laws!) regarding us at the college. Disability service should have their kinks worked out soon. I even wore a Francis Perkins Scholar tee to Convocation with my purple gentle leader! Life in the dorm is good, lot's of people around to love on me when I'm off-duty. Today is homework and more organising/unpacking!

Woofs & Wags,

SSD Holden

Busy Summer

2009-08-29T20:37:00.000-04:00

BUSY summer. I hope to update soon. Travels to Ontario and everywhere in between! Headed to Mass. soon for school!

Under Construction... again!

2009-05-29T00:24:00.000-04:00

See you soon!