The Social Security Administration  becomes the latest governmental agency to replace the term mental retardation with intellectual disability.  Thank you.

Read more here.

I love progress.

Congratulations and big kudos to Special Olympics for 45 years of celebrating abilities and championing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. 

You've changed the world for all of us.

Thank you.

Special Note: Here's the latest regarding the announcement that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will serve as Special Olympics Honorary Chairs of the 2015 Summer Games. Ground breaking to say the least. Celebrate!

Ladies of The Talk- Are You Listening?

Monday Mini Rant:

So, the ladies of The Talk took time today to discuss at length Paula Dean's wrongful and on-going use of the N word, as they should. Kudos for that conversation.

But, the gals uttered not one single word when guest Felicity Huffman said the word retarded on their program weeks ago, even though Huffman immediately apologized for her indiscretion.

This slur impacts millions of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families worldwide. 

It, too, keeps ugly, outdated stereotypes alive and gets in the way of education, job opportunities and a better life. The r-word, too, is worthy of discussion.

So, let's get talkin, ladies.

My Response to the Heated Whoopi Goldberg/Bill Mahrer/Sarah Palin R-Word Controversy

I don't have the energy today to get in the middle of the Whoopi Goldberg/Bill Maher/Sarah Palin r-word controversy, so I'll just share a ramble I wrote last year on this very topic. 

I now share these emotional, heartfelt words whenever this controversy rears it's less-than-pretty head. I do so in the hope it creates greater understanding and increased awareness of why the word is so offensive to millions of people worldwide, and why it has now been replaced with the word Intellectual Disability. 

By sharing, it's my attempt to further educate and be an effective special needs change agent, cause that's how I roll. 

You can read my rant here.

Only the names have changed.

Here's a little background info for you, too, to bring you up to speed. 

Reminder. I try to update here on a fairly regular basis, but most of my daily special needs posts now appear on my professional Facebook page. Here are the links to my current social networking sites pertaining to special needs.

Facebook: Special Needs Parenting Posts
Pinterest: Special Needs Parenting Board-Fav Resources
Twitter: Judy Winter

Monday A.M./P.M. Mantra:

It's OKAY to ask for help. What's your most pressing need this week? Go wrangle up the support you need to help meet that need. 

It's not a weakness to ask for help. Just the opposite. It's empowering.

Judy Winter Image 2013. All rights reserved.

Monday Spirit:

I missed sharing Sunday Spirit with you yesterday, so let's make it Monday Spirit instead. I think this quote is a good one for week-long motivation and daily living. Hope you agree.

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every moment with love, grace and gratitude." 
-Denis Waitley.

Face of RicStar's Camp 2013!

Judy Winter Image. RicStar's Camp 2013. All rights reserved.

I know you want to see this amazing face of ability from RicStar's Camp 2013.

Evan Fiorella is one of our long-time, terrific RicStar's Camp participants from Canada. He is now studying music at Michigan State University's Community Music School through a specialized program. He asked me if I thought Eric (my son and camp namesake) could hear all the music campers were playing at camp and if he'd be proud. I answered by showing Evan a photo of himself that I had just taken of him in his rock session. Told him this was his answer.

Also told him he got extra points for looking like just another crazed MSU student.

Focused on Ability.

Monday A.M. Mini Rant:

So, it's Monday and I'm coming off an amazing high from watching so many people of all ages with exceptionalities showcase their hard-hard-won successes at RicStar's Camp. 

Today's headline/breaking news? Kim Kardashian had a baby girl. Pardon me if my brain/soul are having trouble balancing the two realities.

Famous for what, exactly?

Now, if her five pound little darlin ends up having any kind of special needs, we'll talk.

Mini rant over.

Got a great idea for a rehabilitation or assistive-technology device? You might get it funded. 

More here.

So You Think You Can Dance contestant, Shane Garcia, stutters and uses dance as language. 

He speaks volumes.

Watch here.

Random Thoughts:

"It's not your job to like me; it's mine." -Byron Katie

Judy Winter Image. All rights reserved.

A MOTHER'S DAY WISH

When it comes to sacred mommyhood, I've been twice blessed; hit the parenting jackpot both times. 

While Sunday's yearly focus on moms is now bittersweet for me because of my son's passing ten years ago, I'm honored to proclaim that I will always be the mother of two incredible children. Major life blessings. Don't underestimate how blessed you are, either, even during the roughest parenting moments.

My Mother's Day wish is that others see their children through new eyes of gratitude and possibilities. That would be a true gift.

Happy Mother's Day to me, and to you, too.

Mother's Day Inspiration: Eunice Kennedy Shriver

"The gift my mother gave me was the gift of possibility. The gift that I could do anything that I wanted to do." -Maria Shriver

Wednesday WOW! Want/need a little mid-week inspiration? Watch this tribute to Eunice Kennedy Shriver from her daughter, Maria Shriver. 

Beautiful and powerful.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver wasn't my mom, but she will always be my hero and an on-going inspiration in my work and life. Wish I'd had the honor of meeting her.

Lucky Maria.

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics. Used with permission.

Wednesday's Weekly Words of Wisdom: Thomas Edison. 

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

Thursday's Tip: 

Don't ignore kids with special needs at family gatherings. Work hard to include them and teach other family members to do the same.

If that requires training, teach them.

Challenging the Ladies of The Talk to Talk about Yesterdays' R-Word Controversy;

Here's what I posted at The Talk's Facebook page. You can add your voice, too. Please, speak up.
________________________________

As an author/speaker/activist on special needs issues, I was hoping you chatty ladies of 'The Talk' would address yesterday's R-word/Felicity Huffman controversy and your own lack of response to it after it happened on air. Unfortunately, you chose not to do so and instead spent time high fiving yourselves over your Emmy nominations (congrats, by the way). 

But I, and many others who care deeply about and advocate for the special needs population, are more than a little disappointed at your avoidance of the subject, especially since you do such a great job addressing other important human rights issues/topics.  This topic is no less important. 

We've come a long way regarding awareness and coverage of disability rights, but we've a long way to go as supported by your silence. Perhaps you'll revisit this R-word discussion//controversy in one of your upcoming programs. One can hope.

You have the voices to do so and it's a discussion worthy of your talk time.

So please, ladies, get talkin.

Here, once again, is a prior piece I wrote about why I find R-word use so offensive and hurtful and why I, like millions of others, advocate for not using the terminology. Only the names of the offenders have changed.

Great Summer Internship Op!!

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Details, here.

A.D.H.D. or Sleep Deprivation?

What if your child (or an adult) doesn't really have A.D.H.D., but rather, a sleep disorder?

Fascinating read from Sunday's New York Times, and much food for parenting thought.

Get those kids to bed early, and yourself, too.

Wednesday's Word of Wisdom: Felicity Huffman re: her use of the word retarded on The Talk yesterday.

"So sorry about the R word. It's all I can think about; wish I could rewind and not use such an offensive term......I deeply apologize for my thoughtlessness and I ask for your forgiveness.....I have people who are very close to me that are mentally challenged and I believe in acceptance, love and inclusiveness. 

I messed up."

I'm pretty sure she heard from Eva Longoria, who has a sister with intellectual disabilities.


And this one, from Maya Angelou. "When you know better, you do better."

Forgiven.