About Me
I'm a professional counselor. But, my most important job is mom to 2 wonderkids. My first, born in April of 2012 had his first diagnosis at the age of 3 months, landing me in the perpetual neverland (I have since learned all special needs moms face) of diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plans, new meds, referrals, therapies, and ultimately the replacement of the life we planned, with the life that is. My second, born in August of 2013 has never had a diagnosis, but at the age of 5 already champions her role as a sibling of a special needs, along with being a smart, spunky, talented, funny kid that brings a smile to my face on a daily basis.
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Both of my kids, one with several diagnosis, and one without, are wonderkids. They are amazing and I am sharing our journey for so many reasons. We have a story to tell, we have a deepened faith to express, an encouragement to spread, and a grief to process. It is has always been my mission to make the most of every moment, and now I am learning how to do this as a special needs mom. I invite you to come along, celebrate, pray, learn, and discover with us as we realize in fullness our new found identity as a family with a special needs child.
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It is my hope that this blog will evolve and be a place that I can update and share our personal journey, insights for and with other families of special needs children, as well as educate the general public about and for everyone person with or affected by disability - this is a precious and valuable community of people with(ironically) more to teach us than we have to teach them, if we able bodied and minded people are smart enough to learn. I know I can't cover or know every topic on disability, but I believe there are common threads we all share once impacted by it.
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As I've mothered my son and my daughter, and counseled other moms of wonderkids, I have come to believe that as a society, we are only capable of being as compassionate as we treat our special needs community. When we overlook children and people with disability and their families, when we exclude them, neglect to reach out and support them, or neglect to provide supports for them to be included in the same activities that able bodied and minded people take for granted - going grocery shopping, traveling, school, work, play, and worship - we harden our hearts to the least of these.
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That said, I can't brag about knowing better before I had my son seven years ago. Before him, I confess that I had no interest in accommodating my life to include or be sensitive to this community. I confess that I excluded people with disability by not inviting and accomodating them or their families. I have now personally experienced that exclusion on the basis of special needs, and I know that it feels like rejection. On the other hand, being sensitive to and advocating for inclusion and accomodations has opened my heart and taught me much. I have found a rich, compassionate, and small group of friends who are a part of this special sorority. I'm grateful to God for bringing my son into my life so that I could learn to be a voice not only for him, but for others like (and not like) him.
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Lastly, my ultimate plan is to create a platform to speak out and teach. I see the need for a continuing conversation around how relationally isolating special needs can be and what the solutions are. I hope one day to produce and provide sensitivity trainings and material that will educate extended family, friends, places of worship, business, and healthcare professionals on why it's just as important to be relationally inclusive and sensitive to the families weathering the journey of special needs, as it is to be 'ADA' compliant.
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Thanks for reading.
XOXO
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Zeke and Leona's Mom
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