Becky's Motivational Blog: Archive

I wanted to take the opportunity to share this amazing website (www.idealist.org). They’ve been helping people turn their good intentions to action since 1995.

If you’re looking for ways to learn more about non-profits or volunteer opportunities in your area, this is the place to go. I’ve found out about some amazing organizations through Idealist. I’m particularly interested in getting more involved with children related charities so I’ve searched for those in the Los Angeles area on the site.

Charities that I have already been involved with and have built wonderful relationships from research on this site include 826LA, American Cancer Society, Art of Elysium, Camp del Corazon, City Year, Communities in Schools, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Feeding America, Free Arts for Abused Children, Free the Slaves, Fulfillment Fund, J.K. Livin’ Foundation, Los Angeles Food Bank, Los Angeles Women’s Shelter, Make A Wish Foundation, My Friend’s Place, Operation Gratitude, Project Angel Food, P.S. Arts, Reading to Kids, Stand Up 2 Cancer, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Step Up Women’s Network, and Young Storytellers Foundation.

I encourage you to partake in at least one volunteer opportunity a month. It’s very rewarding.

Mar 31, 2011

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” —Bill Cosby

Mar 31, 2011

I stumbled upon this site today and thought I’d share another incredible organization that promotes the acceptance of people with physical differences and beauty within.

Organized in 1972 by a Columbus, Ohio physician Dr. Philip K. Wood as a forum for the promotion of the achievements, as well as the needs of, people with mobility impairments, Ms. Wheelchair America recognizes the accomplishments of women who utilize wheelchairs for mobility. The non-profit program which consists of the State Coordinators and State Titleholders has grown to include programs in more than 30 states and the District of Columbia. The state programs are staffed and coordinated by volunteers dedicated to increasing public awareness so that all citizens will be afforded the opportunities to lead productive and meaningful lives.

The mission of Ms. Wheelchair America is to provide an opportunity of achievement for women who happen to be wheelchair users to successfully educate and advocate for the more than 52 million Americans living with disabilities. Unlike traditional beauty pageants, Ms. Wheelchair America is not a contest to select the most attractive individual. It is instead a competition based on advocacy, achievement, communication and presentation to select the most accomplished and articulate spokeswoman for persons with disabilities. The selected representative must be able to communicate both the needs and the accomplishments of her constituency to the general public, the business community and the legislature.

As Ms. Wheelchair America, the national titleholder has numerous duties. These include promoting awareness of the need to eliminate architectural and attitudinal barriers, informing the able-bodied public of the achievements of the millions of people with disabilities across the nation, and assisting with the establishment of programs in all 50 states by promoting Ms. Wheelchair America. During her year long reign, she will have the opportunity to travel visiting advocacy groups, making public appearances and conducting radio, print ad, and TV interviews. The commitment and personal example of the titleholder serves to further the mission of Ms. Wheelchair America.

Mar 31, 2011

“I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a specific reason that I was born the way that I was, without my lower legs and that reason is because that is how I am set apart from the rest of the pack.” ~Katy Sullivan

Katy Sullivan was born without legs and has worn prosthetic legs throughout her life. She was raised in Alabama and spent her early years trying to be just like her siblings, flipping around in gymnastics and practicing three times a week with the local swim team. Sports became frustrating because it was hard for her to keep up with the other kids so she turned all of my energy into becoming an actor.

Moving to Los Angeles in 2004 brought her not only tremendous opportunity with acting but it also brought her the blessing of meeting Will Yule at Hanger Prosthetics. She was gifted a pair of running legs from Hanger, and a new chapter in her life was created.

Through the generous support of Hanger Prosthetics, she received custom made running legs built especially for her body. In her new carbon fiber sprinting legs she began to compete at a higher level and started to excel in the competitive world of physically challenged track and field.

Katy just found out that she’s been invited to represent the USA on the Paralympic Track team at the World Championships in New Zealand!

In addition, Katy’s part of a group called the Amputee Empowerment Partners and all that they do is sit down with people who are facing amputation or just after the surgery and listen to their worries, questions, fears and stories. She feels so strongly about this work for many reasons. She believes that it helps people heal with hope instead of doubt, shows people what is possible, and gives people something to strive for. With her positive outlook, she sets an amazing example for all amputees.

I had the honor to meet Katy, and her husband Jay, through my old boss Mike a little over two years ago. Without her prosthetic legs on, we’re the same height!

Everyone should subscribe to her blog!

Mar 31, 2011

Today is National Doctor's Day!

“Each one of us, either by choice or by chance, has been profoundly touched and our lives improved by a physician’s compassionate and professional care. They are committed to our good health and well-being, and for this we should be grateful.” ~ Jim Edwards, CEO Greater Hazleton Health Alliance

A big thank you to all the wonderful doctors who work and make a difference daily! It’s the perfect opportunity to thank my two specialists who contributed to my great health today!

Dr. Steven E. Kopits was my childhood orthopedic specialist. Dr. Kopits had deep roots in Central Europe as he was born in Hungary. In the 1980s, with HIS establishment of the International Center for Skeletal Dysplasia, as its founder and director, at the St. Joseph Medical Center, Dr. Kopits had become fully absorbed with his lifetime passion: the caring for and healing the orthopedic problems of little people.

I would take annual checkup trips from Boston to Baltimore, where Dr. Kopits practiced medicine, from the age of six months until I was sixteen, when he said he no longer needed to see me. Our first visit was when I was six months old. My mother and father were still so scared at this point because they wanted to make sure that I was going to live a healthy life and nobody had previously reassured them as much as Kopits did the first day they met. Dr. Kopits had a waiting room full of people when we arrived and he was willing to sit down with my parents in order to ease their worries. From that point forward, my mother and father knew that I was going to be just fine. Dr. Kopits performed two surgeries on my legs. One, when I was three where he removed part of the fibulas from both of my legs in order to fix my bowed legs. Then when I was thirteen, about the time when I was at my peak growth, he removed bone from my pelvis and inserted it where bone was first removed when I was three.

Unfortunately after I turned eighteen, Dr. Steven Kopits died at age 65 from a brain tumor, he had been battling for some time. Patients came from all over the world seeking Dr. Kopits’ expertise and compassionate medical care. He’s already missed by so many.

In my opinion, Dr. Benjamin Carson is another miracle doctor. Dr. Carson had a childhood dream of becoming a physician. Growing up in a single parent home with dire poverty, poor grades, a horrible temper, and low self-esteem appeared to preclude the realization of that dream until his mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence. Now, he’s an internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon best known for leading a surgical team in a successful operation to separate Siamese twins, joined at the brain. In addition, he’s recognized for his expertise in performing hemispherectomies, where half the brain is removed to stop seizures. He is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital as well as assistant professor of neurosurgery, oncology, and pediatrics at the School of Medicine. Called the man with gifted hands for his surgical skill, Dr. Carson’s example of overcoming poverty to become a leading scholar and scientist has inspired millions.

In June, 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the President, which is the highest civilian honor in the land.

Although he has been involved in many newsworthy operations, Dr. Carson feels that every case is noteworthy, deserving of maximum attention. In October 1999, he performed a laminectomy on my back. He successfully removed seven pieces of my vertebrae in order to relieve spinal cord compression. I could have been paralyzed if I decided not to have this surgery or if my spinal cord was damaged during the procedure, but he saved my life.

I owe many thanks to Dr. Stephen Kopits and Dr. Benjamin Carson. They are my true heroes.

Mar 30, 2011

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.” —John Jakes

Mar 30, 2011

“Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars, fulfills itself.” —W. C. Doane

Mar 29, 2011

I had to share this article, which happens to be written by my dad’s cousin with the same name as him, and I look forward to watching the documentary film “Wretches and Jabberers,” once it hits theatres.

Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, who have been advocates for 10 years for people with autism and the disabled community at large, are about to get a new platform for spreading their can-do message: They’re the focus of “Wretches and Jabberers,” a documentary film opening next week in 40 cities that makes the point that “disabled” doesn’t mean “dumb.”

Autism, which has no known single cause, is a developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

“My motivation is about changing the general public’s perception about people with different abilities,” says the film’s Academy Award-winning director Gerardine Wurzburg. “That’s what this film does. It challenges people’s perceptions about autism and it communicates it through the perspective of people labeled by society. At the core, it’s a human rights and civil rights issue.”

Thresher and Bissonnette suffered in silence for much of their lives, until the advent of what’s known as augmentative or alternative communication devices. Typically, the devices consist of special keyboards equipped with voice output software that turn typed words into spoken ones.

Thresher, who lived at home until he was 21, went to public schools. Bissonnette was institutionalized into his 20s, at the now-closed Brandon Training School and the Vermont State Hospital.

Below is some advice that Thresher and Bissonnette gave to the mother of an 11-year-old girl with autism when she asked the two what advice they had for parents like her.

“Believe in their intelligence, presume competence and most of all don’t sideline them. Make sure they live a life with dignity, having a purpose in life.”

This is just another story that inspires me and I hope to set the same example for parents of children with dwarfism.

Mar 29, 2011

“I hope you are as much of an inspiration to others as you’ve always been to me.” —P.J. McCann, a close friend from growing up who made my day today after I shared this blog link with him. He’s an amazing friend and was always my designated dance date!

Mar 28, 2011

I wanted to introduce everyone to two of my greatest inspirations. They’re two very powerful women who I had the honor to meet and become close friends with about a year ago.

Alexis Jones is the CEO/Founder of I AM THAT GIRL (http://www.iamthatgirl.com), which is a socially conscious, empowerment company for girls and women. Alexis has navigated the beauty industry as a teen model, earned a Masters in Communication from the University of Southern California, hiked to the base camp of Mt. Everest, and gained world-wide exposure as one of the final contestants on the CBS hit show “Survivor” Micronesia. She has created a bold reputation for herself due not only to her exceptional life experience, but her commitment to critical inquiry into the human experience and her passion for inspiring people to recognize and fulfill their highest potential.

Emily Greener is the Executive Director of I AM THAT GIRL. Emily’s strong leadership, strategic planning, creative marketing mind and bold personality have proven to be the key elements in her professional and personal success. I absolutely love these girls and can’t say enough great things about them. I hope to join them on tour some day.

They just returned from a month long East Coast speaking tour, including an invitation only visit to the White House. In addition, Alexis just had a great interview with NPR today: https://preview.npr.org/internedition/spr11/index.php?id=67. I’m so proud to call them my friends.

Take a moment to check out their website. Both men and women will feel more confident and empowered.

Mar 28, 2011

“Change is automatic. Progress is not. Progress is the result of conscious thought, decision, and action.” —Anthony Robbins

Mar 27, 2011

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” —Conrad Hilton

Mar 26, 2011

Charla Faddoul, the little person from “Amazing Race Season 5,” is another inspiration to all people with physical differences.

As a contestant in the “Amazing Race,” she’s shown the world that size doesn’t matter. What matters is one’s determination to accomplish a goal. Whether she was able to finish the race or not, she has already accomplished much more than she ever imagined. In addition to Charla’s participation on the “Amazing Race,” she was able to obtain her Juris Doctorate at age 23.

With someone as dedicated, passionate and driven to succeed like Charla, we’re making the steps towards showing the world that we can accomplish anything we put our minds to, no matter what our physical differences may be.

Mar 26, 2011

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” —Steve Jobs (Co-Founder & CEO of Apple Inc.)

Mar 25, 2011

Little People of America & The 2011 National Conference

Mission of Little People of America (LPA)

LPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism throughout their lives while celebrating with great pride Little People’s contribution to social diversity. LPA strives to bring solutions and global awareness to the prominent issues affecting individuals of short stature and their families.

I’ve mentioned this organization in previous posts before, however I wanted to go into a little more detail in this post. It’s relative now more than ever because The 2011 Anaheim California National Convention is taking place this upcoming July 1st through 8th. I’m fortunate enough to serve on the planning committee.

Little People of America, Inc. is a national non-profit organization that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families. It’s the only dwarfism support organization that includes all 200+ forms of dwarfism. There are an estimated 30,000 people with dwarfism in the United States, and 651,700 around the world. No other organization in the world provides more resources, support and information for people with dwarfism. I’ve been actively involved in Little People of America since 2003. My first convention I attended, where I met some of my closest friends today, was in Boston, the summer after my freshman year in college.

Members include average-height parents of a child with dwarfism, adults of all ages with dwarfism, average-height spouses, grandparents, relatives, siblings; and the medical community. We also encompass people of every ethnicity and economic level.

LPA is comprised of 14 Districts (typically made up of one to four states) and within those, 62 Chapters providing services to local areas.

Little People of America is a primarily all-volunteer organization for persons and families involved with the condition of dwarfism. They do not diagnose, treat, or provide genetic counseling. We are involved in peer and parent support, medical resources and referrals, scholarships, and programs that benefit the dwarfism community, while trying to promote education, community outreach, personal and family strength, and life achievements. I plan on integrating LPA and their mission into several of my future awareness initiatives.

LPA offers information on employment, education, disability rights, adoption, medical issues, clothing, adaptive products, and the many stages of parenting a short-statured child - from birth to adult. Information is provided through a national newsletter, the LPA Today, and numerous seminars and workshops which occur locally at chapter events, regionally at District Meetings, and nationally at the yearly national conference. The national conference takes place in a new city each year.

The 2011 LPA Anaheim National Conference is expected to draw 3,000 attendees from throughout the United States and abroad for a week of events, workshops, sight-seeing, learning, and connecting with others in the dwarfism community who face similar life challenges. I feel honored to serve on this year’s conference committee. I’m helping out with the Barty Room (an entertainment room for adults over the age of 21, with a new theme each night of the conference), talent show, and the online fundraiser auction. In addition, I will be speaking about my life experiences at a panel with a speaker whose been a great mentor to me over the past few months. I feel honored to be a part of this amazing organization and I look forward to a great week of reuniting with close friends.

Mar 24, 2011

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” —Booker T. Washington

Mar 24, 2011

Wendy Kopp: CEO and Founder of Teach For America

“At the center of transformational change is a transformational leader.” ~Wendy Kopp

Today I had the honor to listen to and watch Wendy Kopp, CEO and Founder of Teach For America speak. My mother is a retired teacher and my sister is still a teacher, so I’m a strong advocate for education. We can solve this problem of educational inequity. Teachers have the ability to provide kids with a tranformational education by approaching the them with a whole lot of energy and doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

“Right now, children growing up in low-income communities do not have the same educational prospects as children in more privileged communities. Socio-economic challenges in low-income communities put added pressure on schools as children come to school with a wide range of needs and disadvantages; yet, our schools and districts do not have the systems, resources and capacity to compensate for these additional challenges. As a result, the educational achievement gap in this country is striking.”

Teach For America’s mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequality by recruiting our nation’s most promising future leaders, outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors, to commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and to become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity.

Teach For America serves the students and schools most negatively impacted by this gap in educational outcomes. Teach for America places corps members in 20 urban and rural communities where they exceed traditional expectations to ensure their students progress academically. At the same time, corps members gain the insight and commitment that lead them to be effective lifelong advocates for change from both inside and outside the field of education. Thus, Teach for America is building a powerful movement to eliminate educational inequality, a movement that fuels itself through expanding the opportunities available to children growing up today, and that ultimately aims to effect fundamental, lasting change by addressing the root causes of the problem and implementing systemic solutions.

In her new book, “A Chance to Make History” (www.achancetomakehistory.org), Wendy shares what she has learned in her twenty years at the center of a growing movement to end educational inequity in America.

She advised us to take a moment to reflect on the extent of the disparities in our world, on the fact that those who spend their lives addressing them inevitably come to see their solvability, on the enormous assets we possess due to inexperience, and on the kind of long-term, sustained commitment necessary to see through their complexity and have a chance at actually solving them.

Everyone should check out Wendy’s new book, along with encouraging college students and recent graduates to apply to Teach for America.

Mar 23, 2011

John Young, an achondroplastic dwarf in Massachusetts, has been competing in triathlon races for the past four years.

“Get out and try. You will never know if you can do it, unless you make the attempt.” ~John Young

John Young is an athletic inspiration to all. I grew up involed in sailing, skiing, soccer, and swimming and admire his strengths. In addition, there are several dwarf athletes in current world competitions. The Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) organizes competitions at the annual national convention of the Little People of America. Parents should encourage children with dwarfism to be as independent as possible and should treat them as they would children of average stature by encouraging participation in sports.

“I think it’s just the idea that there are a lot of people in life, when they look at a person’s physical makeup and that person has a goal, they say ‘You can’t do that because you don’t have the perfect body.’ Part of me wants to break that mold.” ~John Young

As I continue my daily workout regimen, I’m so inspired and determined to work harder by John’s motivation.

Mar 23, 2011

Last Tuesday evening, The American Association of People with Disabilities held its 2011 Awards Gala, which brought together leaders from government, business and the disability and civil rights communities.

AAPD honored the “Glee” cast and creative team for leading the way in how young people with disabilities are perceived in popular culture.

Actress Lauren Potter, who plays the role of Becky Jackson on “Glee,” accepted the award on behalf of “Glee.”

Lauren Potter has Down Syndrome and said she will use her fame to help change negative perceptions about people with disabilities and will work to stop bullying by teaming up in an anti-bullying campaign with AbilityPath.org. AbilityPath.org’s mission is to build a community that brings together professionals and parents of children with special needs from around the globe to learn, share and strengthen the process of supporting the ongoing healthy development of children and youth with disabilities.

I hope to see more awards and recognition like this in the future. I look forward to watching Lauren’s campaign launch!

Mar 23, 20111 note

Midget or rather M****t

My thoughts on the word M*****t are that “Little People” who accept it often say they have a problem with the term “Little People” as if the notion of being little implies a negative or inferior person. Those who have this feeling must ask themselves what about being called little makes you inferior?” Contrary then, the notion of being called Big makes you superior? Logic dictates that bigger does not mean better, so why do we insist that being called little is bad? The M-Word does something that “little” cannot do; it eliminates our humanity. If, as a people, we accept this label and all it traditionally holds for us then we deserve the label. To rebel against it is not only our right but our purpose.

Danny Woodburn

Mar 22, 2011

Becky's Motivational Blog

April 2011

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