For
most people, it isn’t until an issue or situation personally impacts them
before they hone in on the challenges they and others like them are facing, and
begin working for positive change. That’s
the case for the millions of people going full-throttle behind campaigns to
raise funds for specific causes, lobbying for bills to change legislation,
generating awareness about the issues and personally advocating for those who
can’t do it for themselves.
That
was definitely the case with me.
Although I was always sympathetic to the challenges people with
disabilities faced, I never really thought about how difficult it was for the
families to manage the various aspects of those challenges. That was until I had my daughter, Sierra, 24
years ago, who was born with cerebral palsy.
It was at that time that I decided I was going to do everything within
my power to ensure that she and others like her, had what they needed to live
their best life possible.
Figuring
out how to advocate for my daughter was something else again. I admit it, I’m not one to stand in pouring down rain or
the scorching hot sun carrying signs and shouting out messages. I fully support and encourage their efforts; it’s just not the way I felt I could be most
effective.
However,
as a public relations and multicultural marketing professional for many years,
as well as working as a freelance journalist, I decided I could make the most
impact by doing what I did best…telling the stories and sharing the facts
through the media. So I began writing about the people, their needs, their
families, their challenges, their achievements, the services, the supporting
businesses and organizations, the advocates, the government, etc. Whenever and wherever I could infuse key
messages about the disability community, I did just that.
I
did it by writing my book, The Elected
Lady—Finding Victor in the Challenge (Words of Faith, Reflections and
Inspiration for Mothers of Special Needs Children and Other Moms), in the
hopes that it would bless other moms like myself, with its spiritual content,
poems and personal accounts of the trials and triumphs of four mothers handling
their children’s disabilities. The book also includes personal stories from
Kate Gainer, a well-known staunch disability activist in the Atlanta community,
who did not let the fact that she was born with cerebral palsy stop her from
having a full life, including getting married! Kate has been an
integral part of successful initiatives on behalf of the disability community
through various organizations, including the Georgia Council of Developmental
Disabilities and she continues to inspire me.
As
a multicultural marketing and PR consultant, I raise my voice by developing
workshops to help educate companies on the value of designing and executing
marketing programs targeted to the disability community, the largest minority
community in the nation (56 million people), encompassing every race and
economic status. I also do it by encouraging
clients to financially support the various organizations within the disability
community, via their corporate social responsibility efforts.
I
volunteer my time, professional expertise and financial support to non-profits
like AADD, Dentistry for the Developmentally Disabled, All Children Are Special
and others whenever I can. In addition, I share as many positive stories about
the amazing things people with disabilities are doing across the country and
the little-known achievements being made and spoken about, on my online radio
talk show, “Exceptional People, Exceptional Lifestyles.”
These
are the ways I try to raise my individual voice and make it count on behalf of
my daughter and the many families of children with disabilities and it has been a
blessing to serve. I encourage you to
raise your voice in whatever way you feel comfortable and inwardly led, to
speak up, stand up and show up for the disability community and the many
mental, physical, financial and emotional challenges families are facing every
day. It’s easy, it’s fun and it’s worth
it. Let’s be sure to make our voices
count- for them.
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