Like the first day at a new job, I am feeling a bit awkward at writing an Article for this Publication.

As you can imagine, I have thought of dozens of topics that I think are timely and many that are overlooked but I have been trying to gauge what would be a good First Topic.

So, I've settled on reality and chose me. Not at all a really bad choice since none of you know me or so you think.

My name is Rodney, though after years in Police Work in Ohio, people refer to me as Colonel R. E. Jackson.

Before I suffered my heart attack in my police cruiser in 1990, I was actively training police officers in Sign Language. It became so popular that a Group was formed calling themselves: The Police Interpreters Association.

A group that would earn its title as they began to respond to National Disasters in the early 1990’s  just to assist the deaf and hearing impaired Disaster Victims.

It wouldn't be until the mid 1990’s that I accepted the reality of my own disability, which resulted when I suffered a heart attack in my police cruiser. Interestingly and sadly, Strokes were to follow.

It was an interesting ordeal to watch because I went from having Medical Emergencies to having to depend on Specialized Medical Equipment.

It started with a Service Dog named Lieutenant. I didn't even know what a Service Dog was. I was then prescribed an electric wheel chair, then a Hospital Bed and the Oxygen.

You would have thought that was enough but then came the Visiting Nurse and a Daily Home Health AIDE. Ok, some guys would jump at the  chance to be bathed by a woman but it was just a little too much for me,

Even though it sounds kinda tidy it wasn't. I didn't know what to do with the Service Dog because I don't like dogs. As for the wheel chair, after driving Fire Equipment and police cruisers, I definitely couldn't see myself in a motorized wheel chair that went about 3 miles per hour.

…and since I considered myself a relatively young man, I just couldn't see the reality of a love life in a Hospital Bed.

…but those were the minor problems believe it or not.

The bigger ones were trying to take a Service Dog into a Place of Business and being shoved, pushed, curse out, threatened to be shot with a shot gun, or the final insult to a veteran police officer, having the police called so they could have me physically removed.

So, while I'm trying to adjust to the reality of my new physical limitations, my new medical equipment, I am being literally torn apart by local businesses because of a silly dog that resembles Ole Yeller from the Disney Classic.

Sadly but with a belief in the “System”, I began filing Complaints and Charges and even had a few persons arrested. For those of you who didn't know, in many of the (50) States, to deny a person with a Service Animal from Entering a Place of Public Business is a Criminal Violation.

…but calling for help and  filing charges got me absolutely know where. So, remembering my Police Academy Training: When you know you are going to loose, you fight and you don't stop.

Well, that was in the late 1990’s and I'm still fighting. Interestingly, while I have been fighting, I have been learning about my Rights as a person with a disability.

Wow ! you would be amazed at all of the Laws, Codes, Presidential Executive Orders, Statutes, Benefits, Resources, etc, etc, etc that are in place to protect us. Unfortunately but it seems that the people that seem to have that responsibility to administer such don't seem to eager to assist us.

Could it be because they aren't the ones being pushed around just because of medical issue of which they have no control ?

So, I’ve become my own best Civil Rights and Disability Advocate. I’ve flexed my muscle, fighting over (200) Corporations and its been noticed.

I now sit on several Boards and Committees in an attempt to take the fight where it belongs

Colonel R. E. Jackson, is a Disability / Civil Rights  Advocate and serves as a Professional Consultant to  the United States Department of Justice – Office of Civil Rights – Office Of victims of Crime, the U.S. Department of Education; National Institute on  Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

 

He also serves on the Ohio Governors Council On People With Disabilities and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commissions: State and Local Consumer Advisory Council (s).

                                   

Colonel Jackson is a disabled Veteran from the U. S. Army and retiree from Police Service in the State of Ohio. His experience in Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Police Work go as far back as 1975

 

Colonel Jackson Holds a BS Degree from Northern Kentucky University in Sociology / Afro American Studies. He is a Graduate of the Great Oaks Police Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a member of the National Organization On People With Disabilities - Interfaith and Religious Leaders With Disabilities and the Disabled Cops Association