The Advocado Press, Inc.

12/08/2025

Real courage. Real sacrifice. Real change. Presenting *real* Nobel Peace Prize winners!

From ending civil wars to defending human rights to defending democracy against dictators, these mighty women changed the world!

To introduce kids to a few of extraordinary women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize, we recommend "Wangari's Trees of Peace" for ages 5 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/wangari-s-trees), "The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams" for ages 5 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-house-that-jane-built), and "Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girls' Rights" for ages 7 to 10 (https://www.amightygirl.com/malala-my-story)

For adult readers, we highly recommend "How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future" by Maria Ressa (https://www.amightygirl.com/stand-up-to-a-dictator), "Jane Addams: Spirit In Action" (https://www.amightygirl.com/jane-addams-spirit-in-action), "Unbowed: A Memoir" by Wangari Maathai (https://www.amightygirl.com/unbowed)

For books for children and teens about the importance of standing up for truth, decency, and justice, even in dark times, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364

Thanks to the Nobel Peace Center for sharing this image!

12/08/2025

Our friends at Moebius Syndrome Foundation - have launched the Moebius Syndrome Foundation Research Registry with NORD’s IAMRARE® Program!

Each person who participates in the registry can make a significant impact on Moebius syndrome research. They will provide important information to aid in the development of new treatment options and enhance our understanding of this rare disease.

GOAL:
The study, designed by researchers, medical experts, and patients, will provide the opportunity for patients around the world to share information about Moebius syndrome to be used in future research.

The Moebius Syndrome Foundation is launching this study in collaboration with National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. (NORD) an independent nonprofit that built its natural history study platform as part of its mission to help identify and treat all 7,000 rare diseases. The MSF is a member of NORD, and these two organizations will collaborate to understand the challenges of Moebius syndrome and identify opportunities to advance research for this rare disease patient population.

To sign up for the Moebius Syndrome Research Registry or learn more, visit: https://moebius.iamrare.org/

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭:
[email protected]

12/07/2025

Our guest for Episode 68 is David Hartsek, a wheelchair athlete from Lexington, who this past July competed in his 41st consecutive Bluegrass 10K race. David will describe the nature of the incident which caused his paralysis, his career pursuits in the field of IT, and his tremendous triumphs in wheelchair sports ranging from tennis, to basketball, to road racing.

Our guest this week has been a paraplegic since the age of 16, but hasn't allowed this to slow him down in the least!! Meet David Hartsek, a wheelchair athlete from Lexington, who this past July competed in his 41st consecutive Bluegrass 10K race. David will describe the nature of the incident which

12/05/2025

12/05/2025

Congratulations, Austin!

We are pleased to announce that Austin Nugent has been hired as the new Public Policy Coordinator for CCDD. Austin brings more than 15 years of specialized experience in disability and public policy. In addition to her work with UK’s Human Development Institute, she is deeply engaged in the Developmental Disability Network, holding multiple statewide and national leadership roles with the National Disability Rights Network, Kentucky Protection and Advocacy, the Center for Accessible Living, and the Statewide Independent Living Council. She also holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in disability policy and a graduate certificate in developmental disabilities. Her personal experience supporting and advocating for family members with developmental disabilities further strengthens her insight and effectiveness. Austin is a respected voice on disability issues, and we are thrilled she is joining the CCDD team.

12/03/2025

December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a worldwide focus on increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes and promoting their leadership in all areas of life. The program is run by the United Nations.

The 2025 theme is "Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress." Learn more about this day and the UN’s work here: https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities

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Image description: Top image, a group of men and women with Moebius syndrome. Bottom left, a girl with Moebius syndrome and a limb difference plays the piano. International Day of Persons with Disabilities. December 3, 2025. Moebius Syndrome Foundation logo.

12/03/2025

Shaquem Griffin

Twelfth in a series of stories about famous people with disabilities by Tina Jackson.

“I’m gonna be called Shaquem Griffin the football player, not Shaquem Griffin the one-hand wonder” - Shaquem Griffin

Shaquem Griffin is a former American football linebacker who became the first one-handed player drafted into the National Football League (NFL). He was born with amniotic band syndrome, which is also known as ADAM for Amniotic Deformities, Adhesions, and Mutilations. ADAM is a rare birth defect which can cause constriction rings on limbs, finger or toe amputations, and other congenital malformations. The severity of these issues can range from mild to severe, changing limbs, body walls, and internal organs. It results from the entanglement of the fetus during development.

By four years of age the intense pain in Griffin’s deformed digits in his left hand was so unbearable he tried to cut his hand off himself. His mother stopped him, but he begged her to have his left hand amputated. Once the pain was gone, he could think about his future. Despite the amputation, Griffin was determined to play football with his identical twin brother, Shaquill. The two brothers vowed to always be together.

Griffin adapted his playing style designing specialized techniques that allowed him to compete at the highest level of football despite having only one hand. He relied on speed, leverage, and innovative methods to tackle, shed blocks, and intercept passes. Griffin emphasized quickness off the line. He mastered body positioning and Coaches noted that his tackling form was textbook, compensating for the lack of a second hand. Griffin developed unique hand-fighting skills. He used his right arm to swipe or club blockers, while his speed and agility allowed him to bend around the edge effectively.

Though catching was more challenging, he trained to secure interceptions by trapping the ball against his body or using his forearm for control. Coaches and Griffin himself develped drills to maximize his strengths and minimize limitations. He became a successful linebacker at the University of Central Florida, earning the 2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player Award and being named the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. At the 2018 NFL Combine, he recorded a time of 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the fastest ever for a linebacker, and bench pressed 225 pounds for 20 reps.
He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, becoming the first one-handed player to be drafted into the NFL. He played for the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons before being traded to the Miami Dolphins for his final season in 2021. After retiring from the NFL, Griffin became an author, motivational speaker, and advocate for athletes with disabilities. He is also involved in several entrepreneurial ventures and works with community organizations.

12/01/2025

Neurodiversity in the ER

We have received this inpur from someone about his experience in the emergency room at a hospital. We would like to know what you think about this issue. Please comment below.

I'm autistic—high functioning with low needs. I’m socially awkward but can communicate clearly. I mention this because I recently ended up in the ER twice in a few days and was close to a meltdown.

I broke my heel falling out of a parked truck and spent 12 hours in the ER (stimulus hell) with no meds and no attention. A few days later, after a bad reaction to pain meds, I returned to the ER. Overwhelmed and near meltdown or shutdown, I asked three different staff members—while in tears—for a quiet space, clearly stating I’m autistic and overwhelmed. Each promised to send help; none followed through. Two were completely dismissive and one looked panicked. After nearly two hours trying to maintain my composure, I simply left. Had I shut down (catatonic state) or melted down (fetal on the floor crying hysterically), I’m sure I would’ve been sent to psych lockdown. I had to leave the hospital for my own safety.

So why? Why? Why in a hospital with braille elevator buttons and full wheelchair access, is an autistic patient asking for help met with indifference and fear? Why no autism training, no neuro-divergence awareness, and no quiet, low-stimulus room—when they have dedicated spaces for many other needs? There are rooms for breastfeeding—so how hard is it to offer a small, quiet, dimly lit space to support autistic patients in distress? If Broadway theatres can adapt multi-million dollar productions to accommodate autism-friendly performances, surely a hospital can spare a little training and a small room with a chair.