Special Olympics introduces Powerful Youth Champion Video

With school about to take flight, why not encourage your child to become a Youth Champion with Special Olympics? 

Youth Champions help make a big difference in the lives of those with exceptionalities and in their communities, not to mention the powerful ways in which it changes their own lives.

Find out more here.

I absolutely love this video. Beautifully done.

Kudos, Special Olympics.

One Father's Response to the Cyrus/Thicke Debacle.  

I like everything he wrote, except the part about kicking his son down the street. I never condone potential child abuse.  

The rest, well said.

I Have a Dream, Too, Dr. King.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington and his I Have a Dream speech, here is one from the archives.  

I originally posted it to honor Martin Luther King Day, but it stands for this important anniversary of King's work, too.

Our nation and world need to remember, badly.

Thank you, Dr. King.

People Worth Talking About:

Wife carries double-amputee husband.

Let's talk about this couple, not Miley Cyrus.

RicStar's Camp participant. Erik Taylor Photo.

Breaking News!

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a bill today that ends the R word use in Florida!

Can you say ground breaking?

Let the discussions begin. Rest assured, there will be people who don't get this. But huge moment.

Details here.

Judy Winter Image 2013. All rights reserved.

Reminder: I try to update this blog 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. Be sure to pay them a visit!

Facebook: Special Needs Parenting Posts

Pinterest: Special Needs Parenting Board-Fav Resources

Twitter: Judy Winter

Erik Taylor Photography

Every so often news come along that reminds us all how much work remains before those with exceptionalities are better understood and families given the necessary support they deserve/need to raise these children well in their own neighborhoods.

This is one of those heart-breaking reminders that created outrage in the Internet blogsphere/world this past week.

As for the offending neighbor who suggested a child with autism be euthanized,  my response is that clearly this person has a disability much worse than autism.

The story and resulting outrage have created valuable, timely discussion and another teachable moment.

That's not all bad.

Reach the story here.

Judy Winter Image 2013. All rights reseved.

Play Ball!!

Short piece about the inclusion of kids with exceptionalities in America's Favorite Pastime,

Watch it here.

Back-to-School Memories

With back-to-school prep gearing up, here's one of my fav past posts from the archives.

Still timeless. 

Maybe it will help fuel a new, annual b-t-s rite of your own. Maybe help your parenting perspective, too. 

Enjoy my Letter to Eric.

Worth the Share:

Five states selected to participate in five-year, Federally funded national study to see how to increase amount of time kids with special needs spend in regular classroom with peers without exceptionalities. 

Yes, please.

read it here.

John Agar crosses the finish line at the 2013 Ludington Lighthouse Triathlon with support of family and friends and pure determination. Photo by Judy Winter 2013. All rights reserved.

After walking across the finish line of the 2013 Ludington Lighthouse Triathlon, John Agar experiences joy. Photo Judy Winter 2013. All righs reserved.

FOCUSED ON ABILITY

My Michigan buddy, John Agar, walked across the finish line of the Ludington Lighthouse Triathlon in Ludington, Michigan last Sunday. 

No small feat.

John has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around most days. He walked the last mile of this race, as he has others, and crossed the finish line with the support of his family and a walker. 

That's John's proud dad on the right.

ESPN was there filming John's story for an upcoming feature.

John Agar is a remarkable young athlete. 

John wouldn't be where he is today without the dedicated and loving support of his remarkable family. They never doubt his value.

What goals are you setting for your child, and yourself, today?


If you want to include your child in races/triathlons, here's a great resource to help you do just that.

Jammin at the Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp at Michigan State University. Photo by Erik Taylor. All rights reserved.

Time for some new posts here. Because I love music therapy and music therapists and all the good they do, especially for those with special needs, let's start with this report from CNN.

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.