inclusion — BLOG/NEWS — USHER BRIGHTNESS

Another year has almost passed. Researchers all over the world try to find solutions to find a therapy for the still incurable Usher Syndrome.

One of my highlights this year as a patient was my visit at a lab in Boston (Boston Childrens Hospital and Harvard Medical School). Dr. Gwenaelle Geleoc and other researchers work on a very promising research project on USH2A. I visited Gwenaelle in her lab to meet her and her team in order to get to know them better. So far, USHER BRIGHTNESS supported the project a little bit with a generous donation of EUR 1065,00 by my Grandma, Hedwig Heimann. I will keep you updated.

In case you would like to donate to the project, please let me know by mail: laura@ushrbrght.cc

Happy New Year!!

SAN FRANCISCO. Last friday there was the decision about a comprehensive law of legal gay marriage in the US. Who's not talking about it? The weekend after, the pride parade took place in some countries. I visited the pride on Market street in San Francisco.

What I saw, were people with a happy and relieved face. Even though the right for gay marriage already existed here in California, this comprehensive law leads us all to more equality, freedom and acceptance in general.

I think, Helen Keller, a very well known deafblind American from the end of the 19th century, would like today's little step towards a more open minded community to equality. With it comes more acceptance. When I was in Washington DC last February, I visited the National Cathedral to see the place where Helen Keller's ash has been located.

On behalf of those with a disability there is to say that we also want to be an included part of the community. Some might be more or less different from the main part of society, but aren't we all different? Every culture, religion and disability brings its pros and cons.

I think, a gapless system of inclusion could make a positive difference for disabled people to find their way into community – sooner or later.