A website with stories and articles from and about the disabilities community. The Mighty shares stories of those who have disabilities and those who are affected by them. A wonderful source of encouragement for anyone impacted by or experiencing the struggles of disabilities, it features personal, real-life stories told by a variety of people. It appears nothing is too big or too small to be discussed on the site. An "A-Z Conditions" tab located in the upper left corner of the website takes you to an extensive list where you can find posts specifically relating to a certain condition. If you would like to receive a personalized feed of stories, you can sign up by clicking the submit tab (also located in the upper left corner of the website) or click "My Personal Feed" on the red bar across the top. Once you have created an account, you can submit your story to The Mighty. Let us know if your story is published on The Mighty, and we might feature it on our blog! -Gillian Smit, 4/3/17
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Inviting women affected by disability to a monthly support group Joni and Friends is a faith-based support group for moms of kids with special needs. They meet the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Olive Ranch Elementary School at 5280 Stirling Street (Room #103) in Granite Bay. The small group setting gives a chance for women to fellowship while relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea and a few snacks. It is a great opportunity to ask questions of other moms and mentors, sharing stories and struggles, listening to helpful advice, and just knowing you are not going through this unique and amazing journey alone. Some members have family, friends, or caregivers to help with day to day struggles. Others come seeking help and friendship. Each "friends club" meeting on the first Tuesday of every month is open to any women who would like to stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. There is no obligation and no cost. For more information contact Laurie Newton at (916) 213-1439 or Galina Lyashenko at (916) 474-9958 - Andrea Smit, 3/30/17
Special Kids Day is an amazing FREE family event put on by the Lions Club (District 4-C5 Lions) for children with special needs. It takes place once a year on the grounds of Ride to Walk in Lincoln, located at 1630 HWY 193. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community groups such as Boy Scouts and Leo Club along with caring & experienced Lions help by volunteering their services in this safe, family-friendly outdoor location, to set up craft booths and carnival games, and play with/guide/mentor the kids. Through these interactions, volunteers help the kids build and grow so they feel great about being accepted for who they are. This event is FREE for children (ages 0-99) and families of those with emotional, developmental, and physical disabilities. There are no expectations, lots of helping hands, and something for everyone to participate in. Food and drinks are provided and there is no cost to participate. The outdoor event will include music, entertainment, special rides, service personnel and animal demonstrations, and a variety of activities for all ages. Two moms shared about their experience taking their kids to last year's event. "I'm beyond grateful for wonderful, caring organizations like the Lions Club for hosting such an amazing event for kids with special needs." "Everyone was so great with my twin boys. We were able to spend three hours there without tantrums and I could eat without issues with them!" A simple online registration and more information as well as pictures of last year’s event can be found here: -Andrea Smit, 3/30/17
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud with illustrations by David Messing. “All day long, we are either filling up or dipping into each other’s buckets by what we say and do.”
– Carol McCloud We each carry around an invisible bucket. Everything we say and do either fills or dips into someone else’s bucket. When we fill another person’s bucket, are gets filled as well. When we dip into someone’s bucket, however, we find that ours becomes empty. Through easy-to-understand language and simple concepts, McCloud has created a beautiful book to teach children about kindness. Personally, I think this book’s title is somewhat misleading. Yes, it is a guide to happiness, but it is also a tool for teaching so much more: generosity, appreciation, kindness, affirmation, and gratitude. Most importantly, it encourages children to think about the positive and negative consequences of what they say and do. The book gives concrete examples of how they can implement the concept of “bucket filling” in their lives. Charming illustrations by David Messing help these situations come life and keep children interested in the message of the book. This 32-page picture book is recommended for children ages 4-9, and I agree with that age range. If you child is an early reader, you could even read this book with them at age 2 or 3. At 18-years-old, I still enjoy reading this book. Sometimes it takes the simplicity of a children’s picture book to remind us of life’s most important (and sometimes most challenging) concepts. - Gillian Smit, 3/2/17 |
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