What Dance Techniques Can Be Used to Teach Children with Severe Disabilities?

When the pediatrician placed the measuring tape around her infant’s head and noted, “His head is a little small,” Joanne De Simone knew that motherhood wouldn’t be as she had dreamt. After a devastating diagnosis, she was not prepared to raise a child with life-limiting brain malformation – and then her second child was diagnosed with autism.

Joanne De Simone is a graduate of Hunter College with degrees in dance and special education. After dancing professionally, she dedicated her life to teaching children with disabilities and supporting families.

“It’s realizing that we live simultaneously in love and grief. In the end, dance teaches us not only how to move freely through pain but also how to fall and recover.”

Her story will grip your heart as she shares how this struggle drove her to reconnect with the lessons she learned as a modern dancer.

Special educator Joanne De Simone bears all in this raw and transformative memoir that captures how she used lessons of modern dance in her journey through motherhood with two children with disabilities.

Inspired by her experience performing José Limón’s There Is a Time, based on Ecclesiastes 3, each chapter of Fall and Recovery details a dance lesson and the dichotomy of parenting children with disabilities. Over time, Joanne discovers that surviving motherhood isn’t a matter of strength, bravery, or faith. It’s about linking your past experiences and creating your own purpose. It’s realizing that we live simultaneously in love and grief. In the end, dance teaches Joanne not only how to move freely through pain but also how to fall and recover.

Fall and Recovery 

Joanne is a special education advocate for the Alliance of Private Special Education Schools of North Jersey. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Exceptional Parent

Magazine, and the Rumpus among other publications. She is a contributing author to “Barriers and Belonging: Personal Narratives of Disabilities.” Joanne and her son, Sebastian, were instrumental in a legislative change allowing students with intellectual disabilities to participate in NCAA D3 intercollegiate sports. Joanne has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, on HuffPo Live, CNN, and GMA3.

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How 15 Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life and Your Health

When Kim Rahir was in the hospital, paralyzed from the hips downwards, she felt like she had lost her power, dignity, and humanity. This totally shifted her perspective on what she valued in life. 

Kim is a 60-year-old mother of three who was diagnosed with MS ten years ago and decided to ignore her doctor's advice and muscle her way back to a happy life. Last year she became European Champion in Masters Weightlifting in her age and weight category. Her journey inspired her to leave her career in journalism in her 50s and become a health coach for middle-aged women - with a big focus on reactivating and rebuilding muscle.

Today, she helps women tap into an abundant source of vitality. It works by reactivating and maintaining muscle and eating to nourish and flourish.

Listen to her interview and start the Fabulous in 15 approach. Just fifteen minutes a day can change your life. Her approach helps women become lean, strong, and fabulous in fifteen minutes daily.

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Trust Your Feelings - They Are There For A Reason

For much of Janet Sherlund's young life, she felt helpless.  She thought it possible to discover who she really was or find a way to fill the big, black hole at her core. She believed finding her birth mother would heal the deep loss and grief, but with absolutely no information, and before the era of DNA testing, she was helpless to do so and thought her only choice was to live with the pain. 

The title of Janet's book, Abandoned at Birth, Searching for the Arms That Once Held Me, sent shivers up my spine as I knew many who had lived in that pain.

If you are adopted or know someone who is, this interview could change the way you look at adoption. We adopted our son when he was three days old and nothing has impacted me more than this interview. 

No matter how much you love your adopted child or have been loved as an adoptee, this interview will reveal your emotions at the core and answer those deep questions you may have. It is an unflinching examination of the grief and trauma caused by this primal separation and the dogged determination it takes to face the forces of opposition—both internal and external—to finally achieve answers. 

It is stunning to realize that only ten states make birth records available to American-born adoptees and their biological parents. This presents a painful obstacle to discovering their origins and ending the agonizing hunger to know their identity. 

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Janet Sherlund poignantly captures this journey in her elegant and heart-wrenching memoir, ABANDONED AT BIRTH: Searching for the Arms That Once Held Me. Sherlund paints a vivid portrait of the detachment and longing of an adopted child and the lifelong quest to find her biological mother. 

ABANDONED AT BIRTH illuminates the darker side of adoption, and what it takes to heal. “I hope it starts conversations about the rights of those given away, loss and grief in adoption, the biology of belonging and identity, and why love is not always enough to extinguish the pain,” Sherlund says. Like many adoptees of her generation, Sherlund was the offspring of teenage parents. Her mother was forced to have her baby in secret. Sherlund would come to learn that her mother was unusual for her time. Not only did she not tell the father she was pregnant, she also wanted nothing to do with her baby and never even looked at her newborn.

When Sherlund began her search, all she had to go on was a false narrative written about her biological parents by the adoption agency. The twists and turns, setbacks and disappointments, and surprising familial connections finally achieved make ABANDONED AT BIRTH a page-turner of a memoir.

 

Janet served on nonprofit boards in education, health, and the cultural arts before writing her memoir, Abandoned at Birth. Her single most significant life event was being given up for adoption at birth. Being adopted undermined her sense of trust and personal value and impacted every decision she made. It also led to a lifelong quest to find her biological mother, with the hope of finally feeling a tether to this world, a sense of belonging, and ultimately, herself. Her memoir fulfills a lifelong dream of raising awareness about loss and grief in adoption, and why it takes more than love to survive that trauma.  A graduate of Colgate University, Sherlund lives on the island of Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts.

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Do You Know How to Survive by Laughing in the Face of Trauma?

On Aug. 23, 1987, 26-year-old Selonia Reed was found dead in the parking lot of a

gas station in Hammond, Louisiana. Nearly forty years after her death, on Jan. 30, 2023,

her husband Reginald Reed was sentenced to life in prison for her murder.

But that’s far from the entire story.

In this interview, Reggie Reed shares his tragic and unbelievable story that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The events surrounding the unsolved murder of his mother and the subsequent indictment and trial of his father are heart-wrenching. He faced difficult situations several times and felt like there was no solution or way out. Personal struggles, failures, and challenging circumstances caused him to feel overwhelmed and powerless.

Reginald L. Reed Jr. is an author and an accomplished professional in the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a master’s degree in business and global marketing.

Reggie will show you that feeling helpless or hopeless is a normal part of the human experience, and it’s okay to seek support and help during those times. Sharing feelings with someone you trust or seeking professional help can make a big difference in overcoming those emotions. You must realize that it is okay not to have all the answers and ask for help when needed. 

Do not miss this amazing true story.

Reggie Reed when his mom was murdered 

Selonia Reed

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As featured in Newsweek and A&E's Cold Case Files

A Publishers Weekly Memoir and Autobiography Spotlight Read

A Goodreads "Great Reads About Mental Health" Top 50

"A Memoir that plays out more like a true crime story." — A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast

"My heart was pounding as I experienced what was happening in the courtroom. If you enjoy digging deeper into the fallout of true crime, consider picking up The Day My Mother Never Came Home. Reed has done a great job of sharing his deepest emotions." — Pick a Good Book

"More than a memoir. A life-changing masterpiece of one man’s ability to face multiple life traumas head on." — Reader Paula

Reed invites you into his journey of healing and the pursuit of justice.

With raw vulnerability, he delves into the depths of his trauma, offering glimpses into the psychological impact on his life while also offering a powerful message of hope and resilience. Reed’s story highlights the indomitable spirit that can arise from even the darkest of circumstances.

The Day My Mother Never Came Home is not simply a true crime tale; it is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the importance of shedding light on the truth. With each turn of the page, you will find yourself captivated by the narrative. Follow Reed’s journey as he grapples with raw emotions and questions the complexities of true justice. This book will leave an indelible mark on your heart and mind, compelling you to reflect on the fragility of life and the strength it takes to overcome tragedy.

If you seek a gripping story that will remain with you long after you have finished reading, The Day My Mother Never Came Home is a must-read. Join Reed on this transformative journey as he reclaims his voice and sheds light on the darkest corners of his life.

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Have You Borrowed Trouble When You Dwelt on What Did Not Happen?

At twenty-two, Jennifer Cramer-Miller was thrilled with her new job, charming boyfriend, and Seattle apartment. After she received a devastating autoimmune diagnosis, she soaked a hospital pillow with tears and grappled with words like “progressive” and “incurable.”

Unwillingly, she crossed over from thriving to kidney failure. Her chances of survival hinged upon the expertise of doctors, the generosity of strangers, and the benevolence of loved ones.

But what kind of life would that be?

Jennifer Cramer-Miller is an author and speaker who focuses on stories of hope. Her new memoir, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, received an International Impact Book Award, a Book of Excellence Award, and a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She serves as the Board Chair for the Minnesota National Kidney Foundation (NKF), an NKF PEER Mentor, and a Donate Life ambassador. As a patient advocate, she helps others manage uncertainty, move forward with hope, and find some joy. 

Everybody has something to deal with and uncertainty does not discriminate. Usually, Jennifer is the only person in the room who has had four kidney transplants but not the only one who has suffered trauma.

Jennifer's interview will equip you with skills to deal with trauma on any level. 

Spanning two-plus decades, this family love story explores loss and acceptance, moving forward with uncertainty, and forging a path to joy. Four kidney transplants later, Cramer-Miller is here to shine a bright light on people helping people in difficult times with a story that will make you want to hug the humans you love. Because sometimes it’s the sorrows that threaten to pull us apart that ultimately unite us in hope.

2024 International Impact Book Awards Winner: Family and Medical

Book of Excellence Award Winner: Family

Publishers Weekly, starred review, PW Book of the Week, August 2023

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Incurable Optimist

Many of you shared that reading Incurable Optimist made you feel more optimistic, 

and you wanted a way to keep it going. 

 One Lovely Thing is a journal to help you find beauty amidst bummers.

Fill these pages with your joys, sorrows, snippets, songs, the trivial, the tremendous, anything, and everything. Sure, we all have bummers, but I believe (even on lousy days) we can find one lovely thing. And seeking loveliness helps lift us as we muddle through.

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One Lovely Thing Journal!

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Did You Realize Your Body Is a Machine Capable of Healing Itself?

Allan had hit rock bottom after eight years of trying and failing. He had never felt more miserable. But a phone conversation with my daughter got me thinking differently.

Coach Allan is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, a Precision Nutrition Level II Master Health Coach, and a Functional Aging Institute (FAI) Certified Functional Aging Specialist. He has earned specialties in Fitness Nutrition, Corrective Exercise, Behavior Change, Performance Enhancement, and On-line Personal Training.

When Allan was looking for resources to fix his health and fitness, he was frustrated that there were no podcasts or books for people over forty except for chair yoga and stretching.

He started working on earning various certifications to fix himself and publish his findings. 

In his interview, Coach Allan shows us how to make getting fit easier. He is the host of the 40+ Fitness Podcast, the largest and longest-running health and fitness podcast for people over forty. 

It is practical, informative, and easy to follow – get started NOW.

 

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As we age, it can get more difficult to lose weight and stay fit. Decades of poor exercise and eating habits make achieving wellness after age forty substantially different from staying healthy in our twenties. Stop wasting time with fad diets and training programs designed for millennials. This all-inclusive fitness guide will get you where you need to go.

In The Wellness Roadmap, certified personal trainer Allan Misner provides powerful tools for middle-agers who want to live happier, healthier, and fitter lives. He helps us understand our bodies' unique needs and abilities while offering invaluable direction for choosing sustainable training, nutrition, and recovery plans that suit our specific fitness goals. He introduces the concept of the wellness GPS to kees us focused along the way.

It is never too late to get healthy and fit. The Wellness Roadmap shows you the way to a better life.

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How Do You Deal with Grief that Can Lift Your Skin Off the Bone?

Several times throughout Carrie Pierce’s life especially the last three years – there were moments of despair. Without any warning, as she and her mother were moving to Idaho to start a new life, her mom went into kidney failure overnight. She was diagnosed with a highly advanced multiple myeloma. 

You may be able to relate to the trauma and the strength it takes to push through, stay focused, and win like Carrie had to due to her being alone in a new community and devastated after losing her parents.

Carrie E. Pierce has written professionally for more than twenty years, most of them spent writing acclaimed health and wellness articles and books for midlife readers.

She attained her dream of working in the film, radio, and television industry. She has been published many times and co-hosted two acclaimed, internationally syndicated radio shows. She is the co-director of Morgan Pierce Media & Publishing.

During her writing career, Carrie discovered the need for quality children's literature that could be enjoyed by parents and grandparents as they read aloud to them.

Eager to fill this niche, she began crafting quality stories that contain important life lessons, written in a style that does not talk 'down' to children but, instead, encourages them to learn new words and ask questions as they gain important tools for overcoming fear, pushing past loss, and accepting themselves as they are.

Carrie speaks from experience with an honest voice that holds nothing back. 

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Tommy Tomlinson was a five-year-old boy with a small body, a big bedroom closet, and even bigger fears about just what, exactly, lived in that closet between the hours of midnight and five a.m. each night.

This tale of rollicking adventure takes the reader on a life-changing journey through the process of overcoming fear and conveys many important and heartfelt lessons along the way.

Storytime is a time to create special memories with the children in your life; however, many adults find it challenging to discover appropriate children's literature that's well-written and enjoyable for adults and children alike. Carrie Pierce believes you should be able to feel confident the book you're reading to your children is free from agendas or inappropriate themes, which is why she prayerfully crafted The Tale of Tommy Tomlinson's Tennis Shoes, a superbly written children's chapter book filled with wholesome adventures, higher-level vocabulary that sparks conversation, 15 original and beautiful illustrations as well as time-honored values so your story times can help you create the shared memories you desire.

When read aloud to children, the age range for this book grows to accommodate ages 6-12. Great for boys and girls alike, and makes the perfect bedtime story, spread out over many nights. Beautifully written and extremely poignant, The Tale of Tommy Tomlinson's Tennis Shoes is a must-read if you have young ones struggling with fears, insecurities, or feelings of not belonging.

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High atop Mt. Ellinor, in a thicket not too far below the great Pacific Northwest timberline, lived a small apple tree, a mere sapling. Her name was Abby.

And so, this journey of bravery, blossoming, and overcoming begins...

Abby Apple Tree is written in the style of children’s books of long ago and at times uses larger words and adult grammar to get children engaged deeply, asking questions and learning- not only about language but about the processes of overcoming fear, challenge, and heartbreak as well.

This is a relatively short book and can be read in 2 or 3 segments. Great for naptime, bedtime, or story hour.

If your child or grandchild has fears, insecurities, and/or feels out of place, this is a MUST-READ story!

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What is the Best Way to Maximize Your Potential and Change Your Mindset?

At two years old, Alan Lazarus lost his father in a car accident. Twenty-four years later Alan was in a near-fatal car accident and questioned his life choices as he reached an all-time low.

Through his search, he found the answers he needed and turned them into helping multitudes of people find meaning and purpose. Alan saw a scary pattern in the world. He worked in industrial automation as an outside sales engineer and it scared him. 

He recognized that due to automation, the jobs available to the less educated population were getting exponentially less available as technology continued to innovate, improve, and proliferate exponentially.

A

Alan used to sell equipment that took away jobs, which was going to happen with or without him. But he realized that if we are not a part of the solution, we are a part of the problem.

Alan's mission is to help others design fulfilling lives, maximize their unique potential, and build aligned businesses they love on their own terms. 

Now he helps to empower people to have a bigger, better, and brighter future through the power of self-education and holistic self-improvement, and to help people create their own jobs. 

Alan has a powerful combination of technical expertise and business acumen specializing in peak performance, productivity, organizational design, and individual, team, and business optimization.  He leads a global team at Next Level University, has given hundreds of trainings worldwide, and completed thousands of one-on-one coaching calls with clients.

Alan would be honored to help YOU get to the next level of your life, love, health, and wealth.

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