Embracing Limitless Abilities

Welcome to my blog site. I look forward to you joining me on this journey through my world. I have approximately 13 years of experience with this population ranging from direct care to case management and now the executive director of a Senate Bill 40 board in a rural county in Missouri. I have learned through my time working with this population that they are human, like myself, and have hopes, dreams and feelings like everyone else. They don’t like to be ignored or talked down to any more than anyone else does. There are some that require a simpler language when conversing with them. But simpler language does not mean talking to them like they are a young child. Over the years, I have found ways to engage with these individuals in a way that they feel comfortable with me, will open up to me, and view me as a friend, not just a professional person that is there to link them with a service or help them learn a daily living task.

I love what I do, I love interacting with this population. They are some of the most happy and fun people I know. Regardless of the type of day I am having, interacting with those I work with daily always puts a smile on my face and lightens the burdens of the day. My goal with this site, is to share all the ways the individuals I interact with daily shapes my world. And if through my stories I can help others learn how to engage and be comfortable holding conversations with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, all the better. There will be times that I will share helpful ways to engage these wonderful people in a way that allows them the respect and dignity they deserve, while also providing you with a new way to look and interact with this population and share the joy and innocence they exude. I will also share fun stories of the interactions I have with my “friends”.

I encourage interaction and communication with myself through the comments. I would also appreciate ideas of topics that interest you, or that can assist you in engaging and interacting with these amazing people, and comments of your thoughts with a story or a topic. So, jump on board and let’s enjoy this journey together.