Advocating against Sheltered Workshops

Once again, I got arrested when I was in Washington DC, this time I had the pleasure of getting arrested with Daniel.  People have been asking me why I keep getting arrested when I go to Washington DC. Even though I usually have a smile on my face in the pictures, I am not doing this for the fun or to get attention, I get arrested for issues that I am very passionate about. I believe getting arrested sends a strong message about the importance of the issue. Last year’s issue was saving Medicaid for millions of people around the country, and it worked. 

The other reason I get arrested, is because it brings the issue to light. This year, I got arrested because I was fighting against “Sheltered Workshops”. Before getting arrested, many people did not know what a “sheltered workshop” was, but now people are starting to ask the questions. Sheltered Workshops are employment centers where  people with disabilities work and get paid pennies on the dollar. Some of these jobs includes tasks, such making plastic binders, making office supplies, etc.These companies makes millions of dollars while paying their workers sub-minimum wages. There was a Program, called ACCESS (ironically enough), that actually promotes the independence of people with disabilities by working in their sheltered workshops. I have a question...how is anyone going to achieve independence while making $2 or $3 a day??? This was the agency we were fighting against, obviously. 

The sad part of this whole issue, is not only that this is still happening in 2018, but that the families of the workers actually truly believe that these workshops are the best places for their children, siblings, etc. When asked, “Don’t you want more for your family member?” Their response “This is the most they can do. They’re happy.” Really???  They don’t believe their family member can do anymore?  Well, I may not know everything, but I can bet their self esteem would increase if they were given the opportunity to making more money and have the freedom to buy what they want, which would make them even happier. That is where our advocacy stops... in the home. The only way we can make change in the home is by changing the attitude in the community. This is why I got arrested, the community’s already talking about it, which will turn into education, which will turn I into advocacy. Advocacy is opening one mind at a time.

Crawling across the Tracks

Every morning, we wake up with many things on our minds. On April 22nd, my main concern was getting on an 8:25 a.m. flight to Sacramento for a business trip. My power wheelchair had been giving me problems, which I thought had been fixed the day before, but something still did not feel right.

I told myself to put it out of my mind because I needed to get to the airport. I guess I should have done what my mom has always advised me, listen to my gut.

I kissed my husband, Daniel, goodbye as I left the house at 6:18 for the 6:26 train, it only takes me 3 minutes to get to the train station from my house. When I first left, I was still apprehensive about my wheelchair, but once I turned the corner, I was feeling better, enjoying the early morning breeze blowing my hair.

I have been taking the train to and from work for more than two years. Yet every time I ride my wheelchair over the train tracks, I hold my breath and get a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach over the fear that my wheelchair will decide to stop working when I reach the tracks, an horrendous nightmare.

There are two sets of tracks I need to pass over to get to the station. After going over the first set, I usually look to the left to see if I can spot the white lights of the train. That tells me how much time I have before it arrives at the station. On that morning, as I passed the first set of tracks, I saw the bright train lights looking at me in the early morning sky.

As my chair drove over the first rail of the second set of tracks, I felt the usual rattle of my chair, then nothing. My worst fear had just became my reality! It felt like someone had just turned off my motor, my wheelchair coming to a dead stop right in the middle of the tracks. For a split second, I looked around, not believing this was happening.

I could see the lights of the train heading my way. Beginning to panic, I started screaming for help. Cars were driving by, but nobody was stopping or even slowing down to help me. I could see that the train had stopped at the Chatsworth station, so I knew I had two or three minutes before it would reach me.

While looking at that train, I saw my son, Brandon's, little face flash before my eyes and I knew I had to get out of there. I climbed out of my wheelchair and crawled on all fours across the tracks. At that point, I knew I was safe, but I still needed to my wheelchair off the tracks. I looked around and saw a Metro bus at a nearby corner. I locked eyes with the driver and screamed "HELP!!" at the top of my lungs as tears came down my eyes. He left his bus, came running over to me and asked how he could help. He pulled my wheelchair off the tracks just as the train went by. Since I am a regular rider of Metrolink, the conductor recognized me and opened the door to ask me if I was alright as they slowly passed me.

After I had called Daniel to tell him what had happened, I sat there in amazement about how I had just saved my own life. Once Daniel brought me my other wheelchair, I got in it and got on the next train to continue my journey to Sacramento.

In a moment of survival, it's amazing how much strength we find. Life is very precious, I appreciate every moment I have and every person in my life!

Educating Young Minds

In October, I spoke to Brandon's 3rd Grade Class about people with disabilities. Brandon read an age appropriate "First Look at Disability" book to the class. Afterwards, Brandon's peers asked questions. Not only was I blown away by number of questions I received, but also the level of intelligence of the questions. The question I usually get, "Were you born in the wheelchair", but instead, they asked "Were you born with a disability"? Also, I did not only get questions about the disability, they asked about me. I got "What is your favorite color" and "What is your favorite holiday"? The kids were so enthusiastic about asking questions, the teacher had to stop them off after 30 minutes.

After a number of questions about me, I turned the direction towards Brandon. I wanted to kids to have the opportunity to see disability from his perspective. Brandon's peers asked him questions like, "Does it bother you that your parents have disabilities", "Do you like riding on their wheelchairs", "Who helps you with your homework?" Then to normalize our life for them, I told the students that I am pretty mobile, so when I wake Brandon up in the morning I get out of my wheelchair, crawl to his bed, sing to him, then we roll on the floor with the dog and laugh. With  Brandon and I laughing together during most of our talk, the kids could tell with have a lot of fun together.

When Brandon and I finished, I felt inspired that we opened these bright minds. My inspiration only multiplied when I received an e-mail from Brandon's teacher thanking me for coming to speak, then she told me some of the things the kids were saying after I left, such as:

"That was fun!" , "At first I was nervous to ask questions, but then I felt really comfortable." "At first I had a hard time understanding, but by the end I could understand."  

Then Brandon's teacher finished by telling me "This really left a positive impression on the class, and they so enjoyed you and Brandon."

Well, my goal as a Mom and a Motivational Speaker was accomplished. As a Mom, I wanted to break down any barriers between Brandon and his friends at his new school. As a Motivational Speaker, I wanted to break down ignorance and fears about people with disabilities through education.  I know this was achieved because when I come to Brandon's school now, the kids smile and wave at me.

My motto is: If I can inspire one person a day, I have achieved my goal.

Dina Garcia’s Autobiography

 Dina Garcia began her speaking career at the age of three.  

It was at that age that Dina was chosen as the poster child for United Cerebral Palsy. Most children only serve in that capacity for a year or two, but Dina was so effective at tugging heart strings and personifying the UCP message that she remained for ten years.  Over that decade, she appeared on the annual UCP telethon, met many stars and donors at cocktail parties and photo shoots, as well as appearing on a CBS movie-of-the-week, “Marion Rose White” with Nancy Cartwright, now the voice of Bart Simpson, and Katherine Ross. She also played a role in the prime time soap opera, “Knots Landing” with Lisa Hartman. 

 As Dina got older, her role quickly changed from actress to advocate when she encountered discrimination in junior and senior high school due to her disability. She had to fight for the right to do her homework with a typewriter rather than having to write it out.  She even had to fight for the right to go to her neighborhood high school, against the wishes of some members of the faculty. She wound up graduating with honors.         

Dina’s advocacy skills continued at Cal State University Northridge where she was president of the Students with Disabilities Connection. She transformed the basically inactive organization into a vibrant and progressive social group. Upon graduation in 2000, there were 40 active members.

In keeping with her love for advocacy, Dina got a full-time job at theWestsideCenterfor Independent Living as a System Change Advocate. She taught self-advocacy skills to people with disabilities, educated local, state and federal legislators on the needs of their constituents with disabilities, generated communication between Los Angeles County Paratransit system and the riders and helped stop proposed cuts to the transit system that would have limited the rights of the riders.

She also served for two years on the Los Angeles City Commission on Disabilities under Mayor James Hahn. As commissioner, Dina worked to install an audio signal on a busy street, to ensure the safety of pedestrians who are visually impaired.

Dina has made several trips to Sacramento to participate in rallies, speak with legislators and give testimony at hearings to fight against cuts to services that help people with disabilities live the independent lifestyles they are entitled to.

Dina's most recently endeavor was auditioning and being casted in a new HBO Drama Series, LUCK, starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. The show will premiere in January 2012 and Dina will be in four episodes.

In addition to all this, Dina is married to her husband, Daniel, owns a house, and is a mom to son, Brandon.

In her spare time, Dina enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, wheelchair dancing, traveling, and, of course, spending time with her family and friends.

Dina is pursuing a career in motivational speaking because she wants to share her knowledge and experience with others.