Diane For Arkansas

01/12/2023

How do you respond when people say you are wrong and punish you for your actions?

You are what you do.

07/10/2022

The talk of the surgical unit yesterday was about how tough I was. My reply was that I didn't know I had a choice.
I was there for a procedure to repair and stabilize the biggest bone in my body that was fractured around the first of August.
I appreciate the excellent care I received at https://www.mercy.net/practice/mercy-orthopedic-hospital-fort-smith/.

I know how lucky I am to receive good care and how many people can fall through the massive cracks in our system.

We have so much work to do to make sure all Arkansans and especially Arkansas kids, have equitable means for healthcare.

We also need to adjust our community expectations about who deserves equal treatment.

Please help me support patients and our outstanding healthcare workers in assuring timely and quality healthcare.

Download this photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash

30/06/2022

While our planet's pollution continues to increase, the most prominent companies responsible receive a pass for their reckless behavior.
This world belongs to the future. Our children have been betrayed by the agendas of moneyed and political players.

28/06/2022

As a young wife and mother in my 20s, I had a partial miscarriage. The medical term for that is incomplete abortion.
I became ill and started running a fever, and by the time I got to the ER, my blood pressure was dropping. A doctor explained that despite my hopes, there was no chance of saving the pregnancy.
I needed a procedure to save my life.
If healthcare providers had been required under threat of law to prove my need for medical care by protecting themselves legally before performing their duties, I don't know what the outcome may have been.
Yet now, physicians and staff in our state must prove a threat to life or wait until situations become life-threatening to avoid felony charges and severe fines against themselves.
Arkansas already has some of the worst health outcomes for mothers in the nation.
Women and girls die from preventable delays and lack of healthcare.
Join me in saving the lives of women and girls of Arkansas. If we don't act, many will die.

23/06/2022

I'm a RN and paramedic on disability. I know how difficult it can be to find resources.
Arkansas's legislature should be represented by people whose interests are our communities and neighbors.

06/06/2022

On make a change that is for you and for the .

02/06/2022

The entire month of June we show that love is love and pride is pride.
If it's you or someone you care about, celebrate all the colors.
Inclusion is necessary.

31/05/2022

Are you terrified that the next attack may be against someone you love?

I am.

A bad guy got a gun. If we don't work together, it will happen again.

We can agree that we all love our kids and our families.

03/05/2022

If the SCOTUS decision is agreed upon, it would indicate a willingness to permit other protections to revert to state control.
Alito asserts that the written form of women's rights does not exist in the Constitution and illustrates a willingness to reverse these decisions back to individual states.
The effects of this opinion’s success would be profound and far-reaching. These protections include those regarding laws directed at the rights of more than women.
Discrimination against races, the elderly, the disabled, the poor, and people who are LGBTQ could also be overturned by this reasoning.
All people have the right to equal treatment under the law. I will do everything possible to support the human rights of all races, ethnicities, and protected classes.
Healthcare accessibility for all people, high-quality education, community support for the poor, and the nondiscrimination of groups and individuals must ultimately be the priority

12/04/2022

The actual test of a person's integrity is not found with the ideas we agree on, but with the responses we give and get when we disagree.
Our standards must be kindness, inclusivity, compassion, and care.

27/03/2022

"Until we change our attitude toward disability, nothing's going to change," he says. "We want to be included, not pitied. If someone is afraid to talk to a disabled person, you really need to do some soul searching and figure out why you're afraid of that. Because, ultimately, it's just a human."

He also points out that we (differently-abled) people are the "largest minority group on the planet and the only minority group you can join at any time."

In fact, you probably will join us at some point in your life.

Streaming comic superstar Josh Blue is breaking down common attitudes towards people with disabilities, one punch line at a time.

26/03/2022

Everyone deserves the opportunity to live without barriers.

18/03/2022

We call on individuals and corporations to improve our economy and protect our environment at this time of stress.

Investing money into renewable technologies will create jobs and help us save money by decreasing prices at the pump!

The time to act on climate is now! Join the companies large and small who are taking a stand by signing up for the Climate Pledge. Together we can make changes that will improve your business's bottom line while protecting our environment with sustainable practices.

We see a connected world where technology, business, and collaboration can crack the climate crisis, meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early.

17/03/2022

We are working to form an auxiliary that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities across our state.

Would you be interested in learning more? Join us in a conversation directed at advocating for people with disabilities.



https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCglHLY9fIWkny59rQaR2ZW9OVQuoswKfmfTmeRlxdWkLb9g/viewform?usp=pp_url

15/03/2022

Did you hear the big announcement at the Annual Pie Day Event at the Capitol?

We are excited to bring the Partners in Policymaking Program to Arkansas!

Partners in Policymaking is a national leadership and disability advocacy training program for individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members. Only self-advocates and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities should apply.

Participants accepted into the Arkansas Partners in Policymaking leadership and advocacy training program will attend eight monthly two-day training sessions in Little Rock, AR. The Sessions run from September to May with the month of December off for the holidays. National and state experts on various disability-related topics will present on various issues concerning the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.

You can find more information and apply on our website: https://disabilityrightsar.org/partners-in-policymaking/

13/03/2022

Our sadness for the people affected by unwarranted attacks on civilians and innocent aid volunteers is made more acute by connections to our friends and neighbors here at home.

We see ourselves reflected in the faces of the people of Ukraine. Our friends, families, and neighbors suffer from their personal losses.

According to the Associated Press, Brent Renaud was killed by Russian forces outside of Kyiv.

24/02/2022

Ukrainians and Americans have a lot in common. They live their lives much how you would expect, working, shopping, and going out for dinner.

The citizens were so used to going about their days in peace that they didn't think a day would come when they'd have to run for their lives.

Imagine a day when we had to face invasion and occupation as they do today.

We hope our neighbors on the other side of the world are safe. We're thinking about them, and we hope to see this threat end immediately.

24/02/2022

Today, we learned that “thunder sleet” is a thing. At least it’s pretty 🤷‍♂️

18/02/2022

Our third week of Black History Month focuses on folks working to increase access to the outdoors so that everyone can savor nature!

18/02/2022

18/02/2022

18/02/2022

For employees to be happy and healthy, it's important to have job security and the ability to work in an environment that fosters fulfillment. Providing benefits like health insurance can help boost company reputation while improving productivity.

08/02/2022

People with invisible disabilities often feel alone and misunderstood. Learn about these conditions to better support those who live with them. Share this post, to help spread awareness and education about invisible disabilities.

08/02/2022

NASA honors the African Americans who contributed to space and science exploration.
Continuing to support by increasing inclusion ensures tomorrow's history brings these great explorers more stories.

In honor of Black History Month, we recognize the contributions of African Americans to our nation’s space programs.

02/02/2022

It's Black History Month!

Do you know how to recognize and celebrate it? If not, we're here to help. We have a list of black history events in Fort Smith this month, so you can learn all about the culture and heritage of African Americans. You can also find out where they are being held, so you don't miss any opportunities to get involved. It's never too early or late to learn more about your community!

There are many ways for everyone in Fort Smith to get involved with these events, whether you want to go as an individual or bring the whole family along. They range from lectures on black history at local universities to free concerts by well-known artists who love sharing their music with fans young and old alike. So what are you waiting for? Get ready for February by learning more about Black History Month right now!

Click this link today and read about Black History Month activities in Fort Smith!

Organizations across the city are hosting virtual and in-person events inviting Arkansas River Valley residents to celebrate Black history year-round.

29/01/2022

The struggle for food has become a daily priority in today's world. For everyone noticing the increasing cost or lower availability of dietary needs, it becomes critical that we work hard to ensure no one goes hungry - especially when you're just trying to survive!
It's essential to provide children with adequate nutrition to learn effectively. We support two pieces of bipartisan legislation at the national level that aim towards this goal.
Children need to feed their brains with the proper nutrients to learn effectively. Legislation at the national level aims for this, and we're happy about it!
In addition: The second piece of legislation expands the availability of food for older adults by ensuring those most vulnerable have enough nutritious options available to prevent illness due to lack thereof.
The legislation passes new regulations that expand the ability of health care workers in every discipline to refer patients who are at risk for developing certain conditions. These diseases can include diabetes, heart disease, or weight gain/loss due to an underlying medical condition such as obesity. They would likely benefit from nutritional advice explicitly tailored towards them.
We thank our dietitians and other health care workers who recognize these critical needs.

*Information and graphics courtesy of Monica Macomber, RDN, LDN

23/01/2022

What does a representative government look like?

It looks like all of us.

What Chisholm pioneered 50 years ago, we continue to work to complete.

After becoming the first black woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisholm declared her intention to run for the US presidency in 1972.

19/01/2022

It’s going to be bitterly cold outside starting tonight. Please help our vulnerable neighbors, the elderly, and pets by volunteering to bring them food or blankets. You can also donate money to buy supplies for those in need.
Support organizations that address the needs of our community.

About US NO CHILD SHOULD GO HUNGRY COMMUNITY SERVICES CLEARINGHOUSE The Community Services Clearinghouse, Inc. has, since 1979, served as an information-sharing agency to provide for the needs of families and individuals in the area who are facing emergency situations. The Clearinghouse works with c...

18/01/2022

We must strengthen our economy by allowing increased spending. Redirecting dollars back into local businesses will allow everyone in America to receive fair wages with affordable living spaces; this way, they can live comfortably while contributing positively toward their communities' success!

All eight metro areas within or including parts of Arkansas saw significant year-over-year jobless rate declines in November, with Northwest Arkansas posting the lowest rate at 1.5%, and the highest...