Jason Hahr

The Voiceless Minority

The Art of The Casual Lie

Your friendly neighborhood super advocate is back! This time I have a question. Have we reached a point where it is okay to tell a “casual lie” rather than the truth? You may ask what made you pose the above question. The answer is sad but simple. During a recent follow-up appointment with my pain management doctor, I began talking to his nurse. I have been to the office several times in the last few months because my pain pump needed to be replaced. On this particular occasion, I found it easy

Disability Is A Mindset Not A Diagnosis

Your friendly neighborhood super advocate is back! Since I last posted a lot of things have happened in terms of disability related issues and content. This post is the first of several posts to come. They will discuss a wide variety of topics including dating and relationships as well as finances and the low expectations society still has for people with disabilities. Today’s post will highlight a recent encounter that I had at Wal-Mart. The encounter reinforces the idea that there is still a

Celebrating Disability Awareness Month; The Possibilities That The Hive Presents People With Disabilities Are Something To Look Forward To

Hi guys, it’s your friendly neighborhood super-advocate, Jay, back again with another blog post. I have written quite a few in the last month. I want to express my gratitude for your overwhelming support of not only my writing but, perhaps more significantly, I wish to thank you for your continued support of issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities. You constantly inspire me to come up with new content and have reassured me that this blog does make a difference. Today, I thought

Former FL-SAND President Eddie Hall Uses SARTAC Fellowship To Make The Outdoors More Accessible For Floridians With Disabilities

Recently Former FL SAND President Eddie Hall who is already a powerful advocate in Florida was given the opportunity to take his advocacy to a new level when he received a grant from the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center or as it is commonly known SARTAC. This piece will highlight how when presented with the opportunity Eddie took full advantage of it not only to further pursue his own interest in recreation but at the same time, he has furthered his lifelong passion to make

Thirty Years Gone but Not Forgotten; A Letter to My Pop-Pop, My First Best Friend

This Christmas will mark thirty years since the passing of my mom’s dad, or the person I like to call my Pop-Pop. To be quite honest I've been lost in my thoughts for a few days now. Late last year I was presented with the opportunity to become a Florida SAND Fellow. The Florida SAND fellowship has allowed me not only to continue my writing which I have been neglecting for the last couple of years but equally as important, it has allowed me to strengthen my advocacy skills. There have been ups

Remembering Judy Heumann: How Her Life And Legacy Transformed The Disability Community Into What It Is Today

Disability pioneer Judy Heumann passed away this past weekend. Since my blog focuses on disability related issues I would be doing you my readers a great disservice if I did not write a piece on the late Judy Heumann, without whom this blog may not even exist. Judith ”Judy” Heumann was born on December 18th 1947 in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn. She contracted Polio at the age of two. Fortunately for her, her parents did not subscribe to the popular theory on people with disabilities at t

The Personal Care Crisis Continues: How a Lack of Funding for Home and Community Services Reinforces Larger Problem Within The Disability Community

To all my regular readers I want to say welcome back and thank you for your continued support. To anyone reading this blog for the first time welcome, please make yourself comfortable and grab a seat or a parking space for your wheelchair and a beverage and enjoy what is to come. In January 2014 I wrote a blog entitled “Aide Care System; The Hurtful Loop Holes” I have included the link to this blog at the bottom of this piece. That piece discussed a crucial problem when it comes to aide care th

Unlikely Advocates: How One of America's Most Influential Families Became Some of the Disability Community's Strongest Allies

Recently I finished a book entitled “Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter” by Kate Clifford Larson. I was turned on to the book by my girlfriend Samantha Lebron. She knows that I love history, especially political history. When I first began reading the book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Kennedy family has been written about extensively. I thought this would be another look at the Kennedy family through the lens of politics, and, to some extent, it was, but it was much more than just a boo

Setting Boundaries; How Do You Know the Difference Between Someone Being Friendly and Genuine Friendship When You Have a Disability?

It has been a few months since my last blog. However, with it being a new year, what better time than now to hit the ground running with a new sense of purpose and passion? It has always fascinated me how humans can become so disenchanted with life that we reach extremely dark places. To be honest, that’s where I have been the last few months, although it may not seem that way to outsiders. Depression rears its head in the most positive and happy people. You may ask what do I have to be depresse

"Kasey to The Rescue" Gives A Well Needed Perspective on Disabilities

I was turned onto to a book entitled “Kasey to The Rescue” by Ellen Rogers by my aunt Eileen this past weekend. This book was immediately captivating it dealt with a subject matter close to my heart, challenges related to living with a disability. The main character was a 22-year-old named Ned who got into a car accident at the beginning of the book. Not only does the author who happens to be his mother do a great job of detailing what it is like dealing with a Spinal Cord Injury from the perspe

Getting Back Out There: Carnival of Crue

It has been several weeks since my last post in the Getting Back Out There series. It would be an understatement that a lot has changed. I am in a transition period with my aid care and on top of that, I have been given more responsibilities at FSA Central. That being said I figured now would be perfect to review a show I went to a couple of weeks ago. On July 16th I attended the Carnival of Crue show at the Reilly Arts Center what follows is a review of the show and the venue itself in terms of

Getting Back Out There: Green Day’s American Idiot: A Review

This blog is the second installment in the Getting Back Out There series. Today, we will review a play I attended on June 12th at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. The show was entitled Green Day’s American Idiot. It chronicled a year in the life of the American rock band Green Day, as they were developing their identity as a band. I was turned onto the play by my friend, Kyle. I was immediately enthusiastic about seeing the show as the band was huge throughout my formative years. I won’t say

Thank You, Judy Heumann

Those that know me know that I love to read. I even go as far as creating book lists of authors that I want to read. I follow up by reading all of their work. I usually stick to the mainstream authors such as James Patterson, John Grisham, and Dan Brown, to name a few. I also enjoy biographies and memoirs. Recently, I finished a book titled Being Human by Judith Heumann. This book was not only a good read, but it was relatable. Ms. Heumann is a disability advocate who is a disability superstar.

Gettin' Back Out There: Nothin' Fancy: A Review

Anyone who hasn't lived under a rock for the last two years knows that most concert venues are just now beginning to reopen. If one looks hard enough, you will find that the music scene is slowly coming to life again. Whether you like rock, country, hip-hop, or a mixture of these genres of music, it does not take long to find a local show. While the big stadium tours are great, local venues will start to breathe life into the music scene first. Often ticket prices at these venues are lower. Econ

The Voiceless Minority

As a writer, you never know where the inspiration for a blog or story will come from. I had the idea for this blog after a conversation with a fellow disability advocate. My colleague was interviewing me for a story about transitioning from using your family to care for your physical needs when you are disabled to using outside caregivers. When the article is finished, I will post the link here. We got off topic and started talking about our living arrangements at some point in the conversation

The Voiceless Minority

Birthday ADA Thirty Years Of Advocacy & Activism, Where Are We Now? I have not written for this blog in nearly three years. But in three years, it's funny how things come full circle. As many of you know, I started this blog as a sounding board for the struggles I was encountering during grad school; however, I quickly realized this blog was turning into something more significant and more critical. It was turning into my commentary on disability issues and living with a disability in general.

Happy Birthday ADA Thirty Years Of Advocacy & Activism

Birthday ADA Thirty Years Of Advocacy & Activism, Where Are We Now? I have not written for this blog in nearly three years. But in three years, it's funny how things come full circle. As many of you know, I started this blog as a sounding board for the struggles I was encountering during grad school; however, I quickly realized this blog was turning into something more significant and more critical. It was turning into my commentary on disability issues and living with a disability in general.

"Son, not "sun"

So, on Monday, I started writing again for this blog. I’m trying to get my shit together. One would think by the time someone is 31; they would have figured things out. I have a great support system and parents who love me beyond measure, yet something is still lacking in my life. I did not know what this was until this morning. As I’ve stated in the other blogs, I attempt to replay conversations in my head after the fact. I was replaying one such conversation from a few months ago this morning

What's so "special"?

My Random Rantings for the Night I haven't written in a while on the Voiceless minority. I've been busy dealing with some medical issues and capturing and taking advantage of several opportunities that have come my way. More on that later – However, the point of this blog is to get on my soapbox. Before I do so, I must say that this blog is a straight opinion piece, and it comes from the point of me being extra picky when it comes to semantics. The other night I was watchi

Parenthood & Me

Almost two years ago, I wrote a blog about disability parenthood called "Who Says We Can't Have A Family?" http://thevoicelssminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/who-says-we-cant-have-family.html In it, I discuss several issues about being a parent and having a disability. When I wrote the blog, I had just turned 27 and had a different view on life. As I am approaching my 29th birthday, my perspective on the world is somewhat the same, but on the disability and parenting issue, I don't know if I still
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