You are an important person, the result of a complex mixture of characteristics that combine to form your personality. You have both positive and negative qualities, strengths and weaknesses and personal likes and dislikes. This makes you unique and different from everyone else. You belong to the human family and yet you are an individual. … Continue reading PERCEPTIONS
SUCCESS
How do you measure success? Is it the ability to amass large sums of money? Is it the accumulation of possessions? Is it the acquisition of power? Is it being able to get what you want, when you want it? By society’s standards, the outward trappings of success are what count. Your home, your car, … Continue reading SUCCESS
INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES
Unfortunately, there seems to be a significant amount of confusion surrounding intellectual challenges. That misunderstanding starts with a lack of a clear definition of what constitutes such a disability. The simplest explanation is that an intellectual challenge is characterized by deficits in both thought and behavior. Many people assume the condition is present from birth, … Continue reading INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES
ACCEPTANCE
As human beings, we have an overwhelming desire to be accepted. We want others to feel comfortable around us so that we can enjoy inclusion in all the areas of life that we believe are important. We each do our best to fit in and to not stand out in a way that draws negative … Continue reading ACCEPTANCE
WORDS
Words are the products of our thoughts, attitudes, opinions, beliefs, and convictions. That is why the language we use has great power. Fortunately, we always have the choice to speak in either a positive or negative manner. We can be outspoken or cautious. We can be abrasive or comforting. We can be accepting or judgmental, … Continue reading WORDS
POLITICS
The regrettable state of politics in our nation is a concern for all of us. Unfortunately, many people do not take the actions, or lack of action, by elected officials seriously – until it suddenly affects them personally. But if we allow ourselves to step back and look at the bigger picture, we can see … Continue reading POLITICS
WHAT WE CAN LEARN
Learning is a lifelong process. From the moment we’re born until we draw our final breath, we are constantly discovering new facts and processing useful information. What makes that ongoing adventure possible is the realization that we can learn from anyone – including individuals with intellectual challenges. We only need to keep an open mind. … Continue reading WHAT WE CAN LEARN
DIGNITY AND RESPECT
The life of a person with a developmental disability is filled with challenges that most members of society will never be forced to deal with. Things we take for granted such as inclusion and acceptance are rights that they are often forced to struggle for. While most of us have the automatic expectation that we … Continue reading DIGNITY AND RESPECT
EMPATHY
Empathy is the ability to sense, understand and appreciate the feelings and experiences of others. It requires taking the time and making the effort to focus on someone else without judging them and without giving in to the temptation to deny the validity of their perspective. Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case in the lives … Continue reading EMPATHY
DIVERSITY
The world is now comprised of 7 billion human beings, each completely different with distinctive characteristics and personalities. This complex diversity of humanity is astonishingly beautiful. Every person contributes to life in his or her own way which allows individuals to work together to create a better society for all of us. Although the subject … Continue reading DIVERSITY
A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS 