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.

FELICITY HUFFMAN USES THE R-WORD ON THE TALK

MINI RANT: YES, I WAS WATCHING THE TALK TODAY WHEN FELICITY HUFFMAN, WHOM I LOVE, USED THE WORD 'RETARDED' TO DESCRIBE HER OWN CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ASKED IF MADONNA WAS AS POPULAR AS LADY GAGA. OOPS.

NERVOUS SILENCE.

THE SHOW HOSTS, WHO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MANY GROUPS, TOTALLY IGNORED THE REMARK, SO THEY SHARE SOME SHAME/BLAME HERE, TOO. THAT SAID, HUFFMAN IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO TWITTERLAND TO ADMIT SHE SCREWED UP AND SHE APOLOGIZED, WHICH IS MORE THAN OTHER CELEBS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

I FORGIVE HER.  DO YOU?

READ HER WORDS OF REGRET, HERE.

MAYBE THE TALK CAN TALK ABOUT THIS FURTHER ON TOMORROW'S SHOW.

Lots of new special needs posts on my special needs Facebook page. Check them out! 

More posted here, soon.

Sunday Spirit: "All know the way; few actually walk it." -Bodhidharma

Are you one of them?

Judy Winter Image 2013. All rights reserved.

Find my book here.

Find Me Online:

Reminder: While I am posting here regularly, most of my special needs daily posts now appear on my professional Facebook page. Here are the links to  my current social networking sites.

Facebook- Special Needs Parenting Posts

Pinterest- Special Needs Parenting Board-Fav Resources

Twitter-Judy Winter

Tumblr-Winter Visions: pretty things. pretty words. pretty images. General interest blog.

Read Aloud for 15 minutes!!

I like. I share. I like this resource because I love reading. I believe strongly in the value of reading daily to your child, including to those with exceptionalities. I did it with my son and it became one of our most precious times of the day. I know it impacted his learning in positive ways, especially when I intentionally messed up the words to Dr. Seuss books. 

I can still hear the laughter. 

Please, read to your children!! 15 minutes. That's all. If you need to start out small because of attention issues, etc., do so and then build on that success. You and your child have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

If you are struggling with your own literacy issues, making this effort difficult or impossible, seek support. Start with your local library. It's okay to ask for the help you need. 

It will change your child's life and yours, too.

Today is World Autism Awareness Day: Light It Up Blue!

I love my state. I love my bridge. What is your state doing to Light It Up Blue for today's World Autism Awareness Day? 

What are you doing?

Did You Know? 
Tomorrow, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day.April is Autism Awareness Month. 

Find out more, here.

Light It Up Blue.

Image courtesy of Autism Speaks.

Dwarfism and OZ the Great and Powerful

Kristin Riley plays a Munchkin in the new blockbuster Oz the Great and Powerful. The 31-one-year old Michigander has a rare condition called primordial dwarfism. Riley is 3 foot five inches tall.

Read more here.

Focused on Ability.

Good Friday Blessing

Perfect weekend for me to proclaim that without faith, I would never have survived the brutal hits life has served up and I certainly wouldn't be passionate about serving others. My footing is less steady and sure than it once was, but I'm much less naive and less selfish and much more forgiving and quieter, humbling in itself. I believe what I cannot prove and that has made all the difference.

Good Friday blessing.

Where do you draw your strength?

Judy Winter Photography 2013. All rights reserved.