The New R-Word- RESPECT

Seems like the perfect day to share my Friday Ludington Daily News column with you, too.

It's my response to the recent removal of the words mental retardation/mentally retarded from Michigan laws.

About time.

You can read it here.

FACES OF ABILITY WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.

In Honor of Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, my beautiful baby boy, Eric. 

Gone too soon.

Enough said.

judy winter photo. all rights reserved.

It's Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!

Spread the word!

logo credit here. 

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!

Friday, March 21, 2014.

Get your sock groove on!
More info here.

Logo courtesy of same. Used with permission.

Kudos, Parents magazine! 

Attn: Media!

The April 2014 issue features siblings on the cover, one of whom has autism. My son appeared in his own full-page shot in a photo essay of kids with special needs in this very parenting magazine years ago.

It was ground breaking then and this cover is ground breaking now.

Congratulations, Parents editorial decision makers.

Hope this is the beginning of an editorial trend, one that features children with a wide range of exceptionalities.

We've come a long way, special needs baby!

Read more about this here.

Judy Winter Image 2014. All rights reserved.

Leprechaun sighting.


HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY!!!

Don't drink too much green beer...

HANGIN WITH TED

Certified therapy dog, Jack, taking a well-deserved bow at TEDx Lansing talk.

Let the certified-therapy-dog-in-every-school-in-the-nation-educational-reform revolution begin.

My TEDx Lansing talk is now on YouTube. 

I look/sound like I mean business.

I do.

Replacing r-word use with RESPECT

The big yearly push by Special Olympics to replace r-word use with Respect is today. I hope you'll consider supporting this important effort. I do. And yes, it does matter.

Here's a piece I wrote in 2012 detailing why ending the r-word use matters to me.

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics. Used with permission.

Yes. I do support this campaign. I think you should, too. Words hurt, especially this one.

Find out more, here.

Registration is now open to ALL campers (returning/new) for the 11th Annual Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp, aka RicStar's Camp.

Don't delay. Fills up fast. Scholarships available.

Find out all you need to know, including registration form, here.

Focused on ability, friendship, inclusion, making music and having way too much fun!