Well, everyone! I promised a scanned copy of my Orlando Sentinel column that came out on Saturday, and here it is. It may not appear very big or even legible here, but if not, just go to the direct link I posted and it'll take you there. Hope you all enjoy it!! 

Love, Laurita  ;-)

Good morning to all!
Here I am posting a link to a column I had published yesterday in the Orlando Sentinel. It is, of course, very relevant to the subject matter of this blog, so I wanted to share it with you. I would like to try and post a PDF version of the article soon, so you can see it in the context of the section it was published in. Meanwhile, though, since my printer sucks, I'll have to stick with the direct link:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/ucf/orl-newvoices3008aug30,0,3539265.story

Please read it, hope you enjoy it, and most of all, I hope I get comments on this!!

Love, Laurita ;-)

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=713025n

I have posted the above link in order to share with you a video that means so much to me. It is a special interview with Cody Unser, daughter of racing star Al Unser, Jr., and founder of the Cody Unser First Step Foundation.

She is my age, and I had the honor of meeting her several years ago when we were both just starting high school, at the Cody's Great Scuba Adventure event in Grand Cayman.

At age 12, she became suddenly paralyzed from the chest down from a rare condition called transverse myelitis. Although we are very different girls, I have come to realize we share many similar passions, including that of the hope for stem cell research, easier accessibility for the physically challenged, and making a difference in the world.

I sincerely hope that, after having recently reconnected with her, we can continue in contact, because some days it takes all my strength within me to pull myself together and remind myself that I am never alone in this fight. God Bless, & please watch the video when you get the chance.

Love,
;-) Laura
xoxo

In front of the entrance to the theatre at the Venetian Hotel
in Las Vegas. That evening, I saw [my most highly anticipated show!]
"Phantom Las Vegas."

In an attempt to grab some readers, I wanted to share some more pics of me with you! Some of them are just random photos in which I'm having a[n arguably] better hair day. Others are posted because of their significance to me or the impact these events have had in my life, either as a person with spina bifida or just me as a 21-year-old girl. The one above is of me visiting San Francisco in June of last year. This was one of the most memorable trips that I have taken with my parents. Initially, I went for the Natl. Assoc. of Hispanic Journalists Convention in San Jose, Calif., but we decided to make a family vacation of it.

It is so crucial to me that people with "disabilities" (how I loathe the word!) be considered in all aspects of life, including travel and tourism. Traveling is always one of the major highlights of my life, and it should be available in different forms for different people.

When deciding to travel, before booking a flight, I would now recommend calling the airline first and asking what their policy is on seating a person with a disability. I've had a lot of problems in the past, because I need to be seated near a restroom, but I don't want to be placed in the back of the plane. Also, many times I've had to argue with airline representatives in person when I am booked for a seat that is separate from my parents. That just won't do. When self advocating, remember to always sound as composed and intellectual as possible (no "F--- yous!"), but be firm in asserting your rights. That is truly the only way to command respect.

By the way, in other news, my prayers go out to all the families and persons affected by the damage caused by Tropical Storm Fay. It was reported that over 50 homes were damaged by the severe winds and flooding in Florida. I heard the storm is heading now towards the St. Augustine area. Just thought that, living in the Orlando area, I'd share my thoughts with my northern neighbors.

Anyway, I'm here, willing to talk and try to make an impact on the world. Please be here to listen. Thanks & God Bless!

Laura ;-)

For those of you who read this, I decided to post this photo of me for a variety of reasons: In it, I am in Washington with two of my absolute best friends, Luis (left), and Paola (middle).

I also wanted to show a picture representing the people who I plan to advocate for, including myself. This snapshot shows a side of me that many do not recognize upon first meeting me: that of being a normal, sometimes obnoxious, 21-year-old. There's more to come, because, in recruiting people to fight for this cause, I also want you to come to know the real ME. Unfortunately, many people do not hesitate to make their own assumptions right away about who I am, and they fail to see everything that I MIGHT SOMEDAY BE.

Today I really started reflecting on what exactly it is I want to do to make a difference. I went ahead and opened a free account on www.disaboom.com, a FREE networking Web site for people with disabilities around the world.

I posted on one of their message boards, saying I want to begin an advocacy network. In less than 24 hours, I already had 11 responses! I could hardly believe that my gentle, humble words would have such a direct, immediate impact.

I even got a reply from a woman in Bosnia, which is amazing. It occurred to me that, even though I must start small, I can go ahead and establish connections with people around the globe, and let them be my support system, as I can do for them, and maybe someday help them change the legislation in their respective nations.

Even the tiniest of pebbles can make thousands of ripples in the water. ;-)

God bless.

~A combined passion~

Hi everyone! I recently realized that, while my gift is in writing, my heart also lies in advocacy- specifically geared towards people living with a disability. This is something I have been seriously thinking about for a few years now, but I don't really know how to get started. I haven't that many connections to boast of, but I have the drive in my heart to help others.

If anybody is interested in what I have to say for people with disabilities, or if you have something to say for yourself on this issue, please let us join forces. Two voices are more audible than one.

God Bless,

Laura ;-)

What Do I Want!?

Despite the fact that I recently received my A.A. degree (YAY) and am on my way to getting my B.A. (another YAY), I have recently come to the conclusion that, on the whole, I still don't know what I truly want.

I stop and think, "I could be a broadcast or print journalist, or possibly a columnist," and it feels right, and then I go talk with my therapist and observe how she tries to help me out, and I figure, "I could SO do this for other people."

First off, I know I really need to learn to drive. It's an important step in my maturation as an adult that I need to take. Believe me, I'm fully aware of that. But also, what's scary is that the issue is that, once I can drive, where do I go? It could be anywhere, for anything. Where do I work? What do I devote myself fully to?

Was I born to inform, to care, or both?

Another thing that's been on my mind is how eager I am to finish my summer class. I know I'd been DYING to take Elem. French II since I started at Valencia, however, the fact that there are only 3 serious students that remain and the prof is depressed makes ME depressed about it. (It tends to be contagious!) I mean, I don't want to be in a class where there's no point in discussing anything.

As if THAT weren't enough, I no longer enjoy being on campus as much as I used to, because everybody knows me, and yet it feels as if nobody really does. Am I making any sense? What I mean is, yes, the administrators and employees there are all nice to me (maybe TOO nice!), but instead of asking me how my journalism/psychology studies are going, or if I've written anything lately, they ask me (almost reproachfully) how come I didn't tell them before I that I can walk? "Because I saw you at graduation and I was blown away?" "Yeah, I really wish I could give YOU a blow to the HEAD right now for being so damn ignorant." They think that I actually have the obligation to provide them with my entire health history as if that's any of their business. The truth is, it seems as if right now, all my efforts to get ahead in life are being overlooked. Geez, if I had really known that all these idiots care about is not my GPA but whether I can walk or not, I would have spent those seemingly endless two-and-a-half years perfecting my runway walk instead of hitting the books!! But nobody told me that before.

Okay, it's obvious that I have a ton of unresolved issues with myself that I've just gotten out in the open. But before you put me back in the straight-jacket, ask yourself this: Isn't greatness truly what everyone wants to achieve, whether conscious of it or not? Wouldn't you rather be seen for your abilities than being constantly reminded of how difficult things have been for you and how damn lucky you should feel for not being bedridden or dead?

Isn't it a little, um, ungracious of them to keep reminding ME that I should be grateful, when they're the ones that could run a 10K or ride a bike or rollerblade? Is it too much to ask that these idiots just leave me the hell alone!?!?!?

Peace & God Bless,
~Laura~