Exceptional Needs Today Issue 7

Page 66

MY WORD

How Writing the Story of My Lifetime Disability Brought Me

Freedom, Peace, Joy, and the Compassion to Help Others By Victoria K. Mavis, SPHR

I NEVER DREAMED OF WRITING A BOOK—JUST AS I DIDN’T IMAGINE MY CHILDHOOD ROMPING IN A BARN WOULD RESULT IN A LIFETIME DISABILITY THAT MAKES EACH STEP PAINFUL, CAUSES PEOPLE TO STARE, TURNS HEADS IN AVOIDANCE, OR SETS OFF WHISPERS AS I LIMP BY. HOWEVER, LIFE TEACHES US THAT ALONGSIDE FOLLOWING OUR DREAMS, IT’S ESSENTIAL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNPLANNED OPPORTUNITIES; TOGETHER, THEY CAN LEAD TO A LIFE BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGINATION.

66 | Exceptional Needs Today | Issue 7

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EXCEPTIONAL ADVICE FROM MESHELL I’M A SINGLE PARENT—AM I READY TO DATE AGAIN?

4min
pages 78-80

RAISE YOUR VOICE: AUTHENTIC CASTING IN MEDIA

9min
pages 73-77

THE POWER OF ART THERAPY

5min
pages 71-72

TAKING CARE OF YOU—THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE WHEN THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS

3min
pages 69-70

HOW WRITING THE STORY OF MY LIFETIME DISABILITY BROUGHT ME FREEDOM, PEACE, JOY, AND THE COMPASSION TO HELP OTHERS

8min
pages 66-68

EVERY CHILD HAS A SONG SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION THROUGH MUSIC

5min
pages 63-65

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IEP GOALS AND IEP OBJECTIVES

5min
pages 50-52

FINANCIAL FOCUS ENSURING YOUR EXCEPTIONAL CHILD’S NEEDS ARE ALWAYS MET WITH A FINANCIAL PLAN

4min
pages 48-49

FIRST STEPS FOR MANAGING CYSTIC FIBROSIS DIAGNOSIS

9min
pages 55-57

FORMING A BOND WITH HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY AS A STUDENT WITH A DISABILITY IS ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY

2min
pages 53-54

SECRETS I WISH I’D KNOWN ABOUT TRAVELING WITH MY AUTISTIC SON

4min
pages 33-35

SAFETY GOALS WITH NICOLE KEEPING INDIVIDUALS WITH EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS SAFE THOUGH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES

3min
pages 61-62

BEST WAYS TO IDENTIFY AND MANAGE DEPRESSION

6min
pages 58-60

NATURE NOTES OUTSIDE ADVENTURES, PART ONE: BOOSTING THE SENSES USING SIMPLE SENSORY ACTIVITIES

6min
pages 37-39
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