It was Career Day at school yesterday. I was invited to speak to Alice's 5th grade class about being an author. The day before I spoke to Mrs. Damien, a teacher friend that tutors our daughter Rachel in high school. She encouraged me to make a brochure to hand out to the class...so I did! :)
At first I wasn't confident enough to go because I didn't want to be known as an author as much as why I wrote my book; to bring awareness to special needs and the orphans in Ukraine. With Mrs. Damien's help and encouragement, I went in feeling confident that I am a special needs advocate author! Thanks Mrs Damien! :)
I am interested in bringing awareness to people with special needs, their human rights and welfare, and the rights of the orphans in Ukraine, hidden away just because of their diagnosis, and at the same time aiming for inclusion and acceptance with my two little girls here in the United States. I know Hannah and Lera have a purpose. They have added beauty to my life in ways I cannot describe. I will not be satisfied until they are fully included in society and given every opportunity to be whoever they want to be! After all, isn't that what Career Day is for?
Opening the eyes of students to the possibilities available to all of them, the students were able to grasp the concept that we should never give up on somebody just because they have special needs...it might take them a little longer than everybody else, but they can still do it!
Career Day reaffirmed my belief that my girls have abilities, just like every other child. Children are our future, with or without special needs. We need to stop hiding them away, put them in the classroom, and give them jobs in society that they are capable of handling....
I shared a little video with the students made by the National Down Syndrome Congress http://youtu.be/sKUkj7Pmk_0. At the end, I passed around some things I brought home from Ukraine...some money, Lera's Russian Bible translated in English, a calendar.... I also shared some things from America...a picture of the girls first visit to see Santa, I even read them the e-mail I received that inspired us to adopt Lera!
It was a good day and I am thankful I had the privilege of sharing what God has put on my heart. We had some good discussion and the students were able to get the message behind it. That just because a person has special needs, it doesn't mean they can't do things...Happy Career Day! :)
After school Alice told me some of the kids said they wanted to be an author when they grow up ~ YES!
"All of this is for your
benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be
great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits
are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and
won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly
outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 NLT)
