Thanks, Media, for the Great L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Coverage!

Thanks to MSU Today, the Lansing State Journal, City Pulse and Ludington Daily News for the great and immediate coverage of my L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award! 

More to come. :)

Click links above to read the interviews.

Vote daily through Nov. 15 at WomenofWorth.com and like, share, comment on all social networking posts.

Much appreciated!!

@LOrealParisUSA #WomenofWorth #lorealpartner #ricstarscamp #Ludingtondailynews #lansingstatejournal #citypulse #MSUToday



JudyWinter.com

2020 RicStar's Camp Dates Announced!

Jenna Taylor Photo. All rights reserved.

The 2020 camp dates for the 18th Annual Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp (aka RicStar's Camp) held at the Michigan State University Community Music School have just been announced!!

Adults: June 11th-13th.
Children, Adolescents & Young Adults: June 15th-17th.

Find our more, sign up to volunteer, and camper registration here.

Scholarships are available! 


JudyWinter.com

Winter Chosen as 2019 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree

Photo by Nilaya Sabnis for L'Oreal Paris

I'm incredibly proud and honored to announce that I've been named one of ten 2019 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honorees for my work on behalf of the Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp!! AKA RicStar's Camp!

Please go to WomenofWorth.com & VOTE DAILY thru Nov. 15th for RicStar's Camp for the National Honoree award and an additional $25,000 for our deserving camp/pers. And please vote, share, comment on your social networking sites, too.

Every single vote counts.

Thank you for helping us continue to serve individuals of all ages and disabilities by providing continued access to important music therapy in a summer camp setting focused on nurturing and celebrating individual abilities!

@LOrealParisUSA #lorealpartner #WomenofWorth #ricstarscamp #musictherapy #celebrateabilities

My Forbes.com article

Eric Richard Winter. 1990-2003. Jena McShane/McShane Photography. All rights reserved.

Check out my op-ed on Forbes.com published yesterday entitled 'Institutionalization Isn't the Solution to Senseless Violence,' here.

My take on institutionalization, mental illness and gun violence.

www.JudyWinter.com

Wednesday WOW! America's Got Talent: Kodi Lee

Erik Taylor Photos. All rights reserved.

Don't miss this story/video that highlights the power of music, big talent and a mother's unconditional love. 

Do yourself a favor and watch Kodi Lee's unforgettable America's Got Talent audition here.

Lee is a talented musician who is blind, has autism and he gets the Golden Buzzer and a standing O from AGT judges.

Never say never.

www.JudyWinter.com

Follow me on FB

Winter Images. All rights reserved.

Follow me on Facebook, where I post almost daily. 



www.JudyWinter.com

RicStar's Camp 2019 Registration!

Jenna Taylor Photo. All rights reserved.

Reminder that registration for the 17th Annual Eric  'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp, aka RicStar's Camp, is now ongoing! All ages. All abilities. Sibs welcome. Scholarships. Volunteer ops, including for teens, dance, movement, certified therapy dogs, housing support, and so much more!  Did I mention, lots of fun?

RicStar's Camp changes lives.  Join us and take part in all the magic.

Details here.

www.JudyWinter.com

Weekend Spirit

Jenna Taylor. All rights reserved.

"I'm slowly becoming the person I should have been a long time ago." -Charlotte Donning.

www.JudyWinter.com

Weekend Spirit: Rumi

RicStar's Camp. Eric Taylor photo. All rights reserved.

"Wherever you stand, be the soul of that place." -Rumi

JudyWinter.com

Follow me on Facebook

Judy Winter. Author.  Barnes and Noble, NYC.

A reminder that you will find much more regular special needs updates on my professional Facebook page.

Check it out here.

JudyWinter.com

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

In honor of March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, this guy. I will always love him. 

My forever muse.

Judy Winter Images. All rights reserved.

JudyWinter.com

Love Wins

Photo courtesy of RicStar's Camp. All rights reserved.

These are especially difficult times in our country and world. Hate, violence, lack of civility, dishonesty and darkness seem to be the new norm.

But I believe strongly that eventually love, goodness, humanity, compassion and light triumph all. 

Powerful stuff.

The song "Love Wins" by Carrie Underwood seems to be an anthem and a light for me right now. Maybe it will brighten your life, too.

Few things are a sure bet. But this much I do know.

Music holds the power to heal us.

If only for a few moments of much-needed respite.

And, Love Wins. 

Listen here.

JudyWinter.com

Love not Hate

My thoughts are with the people of New Zealand during this time of unspeakable horror and tremendous grief and loss. 

Love not hate.

Judy Winter Images 2018

www.JudyWinter.com

Weekend Spirit

Winter Images. All rights reserved.

"As she waits for the future, she leans into the present, for there are truly beautiful things to be gathered there." -Morgan Harper Nichols

Do you see them?

www.JudyWinter.com

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, and all those that fight for equality and justice for all, especially for our children, I share with you this powerful battle cry: "The Champion" by Carrie Underwood and Co. Never give up.

You're far more powerful than you know.

Watch Champion here.

www.JudyWinter.com

Facebook Reminder

Winter Images. All rights reserved.

As we take on the many challenges of 2019, a friendly reminder that you'll find more regular posts (usually daily) on my professional Facebook page.

www.JudyWinter.com

CHRISTMAS REFLECTION 2018

Jenna Taylor Photo. All rights reserved.

Christmas Reflection. 

Each December, when my heart and soul start to feel a bit off in light of all the holiday magic, festivities and lovely holiday updates from others, I take time to check in with my son.

Eric passed away unexpectedly in 2003 at age 12 from complications of cerebral palsy.

At this especially emotional and frantic time of year, I gift myself respect and attention for the place in my heart that will never full heal, a sacred place reserved just for a mom and her beloved son.

With powerful emotions never far from the surface.

Holding Eric close to my heart at Christmas is a healing tradition that helps center my holiday world.

Makes it a tad brighter, too.

If you're grieving, and I know many people that are right now, I hope this post helps grant you permission to honor your loss, even embrace some new traditions in time.

Forget other people's expectations.

Loss is hard. Carrying it around forever is hard, too. Remember to take care of yourself. Be gentle. Patient. Loving. Hide under the covers if needed.

Try not to drink.

The intensity of grief won't last forever.

If you're trying to support someone that has experienced great loss, don't go silent.

Show up.

Ask about his/her loved one, then listen to the resulting, heartfelt, emotional words.

Your full attention is a sacred, healing gift that never gets old. No matter how much time has passed.

And for the record, a parent never gets over losing a child. Ever.

I will always be the mother of two children. Just ask me.


www.JudyWinter.com.

HOLIDAYS TIPS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES

Judy Winter Images

One from the archives. 

My Holidays Tips for Special Needs Families. 

Still timely.

'Tis the season, after all.

Feel free to add your own.

Watch mine here.

www.JudyWinter.com

MADELINE STUART HAS HEART SURGERY

Judy Winter Images

Madeline Stuart, that popular, ground-breaking model with Down syndrome, recently had open-heart surgery. 

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for full healing. Stuart has been a big part of helping redefine beauty in the fashion world.

Read about her recent health news here.

www.JudyWinter.com

DECEMBER PARENTING FOOD FOR THOUGHT