Disability Justice & Mental Health

Free webinar this Thursday, 16 May 2024, 4 pm pt, 7 pm et

Special Guest: Rev. Amanda Schuber

Unitarian Universalist Association, Disability Justice Associate

To pre-register, click here & Zoom will send you a link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87892213110

Last year the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) hired a national Associate for Disability Justice. Amanda will have an informal discussion sponsored by our Church’s Accessibility Task Force by Zoom. All welcome from anywhere, any faith. Your questions & comments encouraged! Or you can just watch anonymously.

Eugene community is invited to view in our Church Sanctuary: 1685 W 13th Ave.

Amanda says, “I am an advocate for disability rights and visibility. I strive to create a welcoming and supportive space for those living with mental health challenges and their families.” Amanda is also Minister for High Street UU Church in Macon, GA and the Disability Justice Associate for the UUA Side with Love Organizing Strategy Team. For more about Amanda.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Join Amanda and UUCE discussants Rev. Jennifer Youngsun Ryu & ATF Co-Chair David Oaks.

Sponsored by Accessibility Task Force for Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene. Email to ATF, and we will also add you to our Access News list: access@uueugene.org

MORE INFO —

https://conta.cc/4bsk46V

Read More

MINDFREEDOM OREGON NEWS

Win Rights & Alternatives in Mental Health

THIS Friday May 3, 2024, 1 pm pt Zoom with

Kevin Fitts, Special Guest & Mental Health Consumer

Running for Multnomah County Commissioner

Oregon mental health consumer leader Kevin Fitts, psychiatric survivor, will share what it’s like to run for elected office. We don’t know of any other open mental health consumer running for office anywhere on Earth! Do you? More about Kevin’s campaign: https://www.vote4kevinfitts.com/

We’ll have an open discussion about grassroots community organizing to change the mental health system. Topics include civil commitment, involuntary treatment, humane alternatives, the intersection with other marginalized voices, and more.

We’ll have time for intros & mutual support. All human rights supporters are invited, whether in Oregon or not. David Oaks host.

To pre-register free for this MF OR Zoom: tinyurl.com/mf-oregon-zoom

To see MF-OR May 2024 News: https://conta.cc/4dmwVsj

(Photo of Kevin with David Oaks)

Read More

Recently, we had ice storm. I blogged for help and we got it. Here is my post from last month:

If you or someone you know has transportation that can safely navigate our current icy/snowy streets in Eugene (such as 4 wheel drive w/chains), my care team members need to get here for their shift in SW Eugene. We are not on a hill, we are on a fairly-used street (near 20th, on City View). Our care team is fairly close to downtown Eugene. One is in Springfield.

If you have a lead, please email me at: davidwoaks@gmail.com

Update: Sunday, 1/14/24, Wow, today, already taken care of. Thanks to the wonderful Sue! Mo day and maybe Tuesday anyone?

Read More

I’ve been reflecting on the intersection between the Disability & Pagan communities. Of course many of us live in both worlds. But deeper than that I see several fascinating connecting roots. For instance, this overwhelming climate crisis we are all facing seems to be an opportunity for humanity to become more humble. Perhaps we can now more easily recognize our interdependence, and that the idea of complete “independence” or able-bodiedness is a myth. Let’s explore this concept of “Green Disability.”

I’m working on a brief article on this bridge between disability and paganism. What comes up for you, whether you’re disabled or not, local or national? What are your thoughts, opinions & questions? I’d like to quote you; if you wish to stay anonymous, choose a pseudonym. Please try to email me by the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2023: davidwoaks@gmail.com. Aciu!, which means thanks in Lithuanian.

(I am Unitarian Universalist, and a current member of their national pagan group, CUUPS, as well as our UUCE local Church pagan affinity group. While I hope to hear from other UU’s, please feel free to email me with your ideas whether or not you are in a faith community of any kind, or none at all.)

Read More

By David Oaks

Tomorrow Thurs. 9/21, Eugene OR Art House, meet me at screening of Gratitude Revealed followed by reception. This film, an epic journey 40 years in the making by director of Fantastic Fungi, takes us on a transformational experience of how to live a more meaningful life. Sponsored by my consulting firm Aciu! Pay what you can. Info & trailer below:

https://www.eugenearthouse.com/movie/encircle-films-gratitude-revealed/

Read More

MindFreedom has links about the Mental Health Fast for Freedom 20 years ago today August 16, 2023, winning global media, including Washington Post, LA Times, NPR and BBC.

We, hunger strikers based mainly in LA with support fasts, pressured the American Psychiatric Association to admit publicly in writing they have no evidence for a “chemical imbalance” medical model theory of mental disorders.

You can find the historic links here and share:

Mad In America posted a blog reflecting on the Mental Health Fast for Freedom:

https://www.madinamerica.com/2012/09/remembering-the-2003-fast-for-freedom-time-for-another/

 

Here’s a free doc, less than 40 min., on the Mental Health Fast for Freedom:

https://mindfreedom.org/mfi-taking-action/mf-hunger-strike/wheres-the-evidence-a-documentary-about-the-mindfreedom-hunger-strike/

 

By coincidence, 8/16 is also used for some other unique holidays. You see, I like to find out about unusual days and 8/16 has two contradictory celebrations: National Roller Coaster Day and National Bratwurst Day. Great day to also celebrate our Fast For Freedom.

Read More

The following free webinar is co-sponsored by I LOVE YOU LEAD ON, MindFreedom International, National Empowerment Center…

First Wednesday is almost here!

— Join us for Judi’s Room –

 

“MADPRIDE Revolution in Mental Health ––
Bridging Age & Other Marginalizations”

Wednesday, August 2 , 2023

3:00 PM Pacific
4:00 PM Mountain
5:00 PM Central
6:00 PM Eastern
6 AM Eastern Australia
12 PM Hawaii
7 PM Brazil Standard
11 PM in Ireland & UK

Pre-registration is required. Click HERE to register

Please note that this event will not use the regular meeting format as in the past. It will be presented as a webinar instead.

The featured presenter, David Oaks, is the co-founder of MindFreedom International. See David’s bio HERE.

David states: “Judi was one of the first people I met in our movement way back when I walked into a storefront for a meeting of Mental Patients Liberation Front in the late 1970’s. Judi and then Justin (Dart) became friends and heroes. I well remember the circle around Justin providing a living lesson about his frequent-sign-off I LOVE YOU, LEAD ON.

All advice & feedback from everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, 2 August 2023, 6 pm et, 3 pm pt. MADPRIDE Revolution in Mental Health –– Bridging Age & Other Marginalizations

David began his psychiatric survivor activism as a teen. What has he learned (if anything) from 47 years in the Mad Movement? How can we build multi-generational & other bridges? How does the mad movement help lead a Global Nonviolent Revolution that we can hopefully now see must happen very, very soon! The presentation will cover “The early years”, “MindFreedom”, “Hunger strike”, “Fallen leaders”, “Complex bridge to cross-disability”, Uniting despite divisions: Survivor/Consumer, Age, BIPOC, LGBT, Class, etc.

This is a multi-generational struggle, support marginalized voices. I Love You, Lead On!

Read More