THE GIFT OF INCLUSIVITY! It’s All About Attitude Karen Simmons CEO, Founder Autism Today Co-author “Chicken Soup For The Soul: Children With Special Needs”

Turn to your neighbor Tell them about one of your biggest challenges Then tell them one of your greatest attributes. What a wonderful world it would be if we began seeing the gifts in others rather than their flaws.

How Could Anyone by Libby Roderick How could anyone ever tell you You were anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you You were less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice That your loving is a miracle? How deeply you're connected to my soul

Consider this The Special Needs community represents 1/3 the US population which is 5% greater than the Hispanic. Meeting the needs of people with disabilities and their families goes beyond care-giving. It impacts the following areas working, living, educating and even marketing to this population.

Why the Chicken Soup book? 1.Breaking the cycle of fear and lack of understanding around the special needs diagnosis 2.How understanding the world of special needs will create inclusivity 3.How Special Needs people offer powerful, unique gifts to our world 4.Why the Chicken Soup for the Soul, Children with Special Needs book was born

Increased understanding of a “hidden culture” will lead to greater inclusion

Conquering our fear of the unknown will help us move towards positive outcomes

Moving past our denial will reward us with best outcomes. We are all angels unaware!

When circumstances touch us, we begin to see and recognize it in others thereby becoming more aware

Recognizing the gifts in unexpected circumstances is truly the greatest reward

Even though situations may not be as they appear, seek to learn the lessons they teach us

To make things work no matter what, we must do whatever it takes with relentless persistence

See the good and the humor people with special needs give us IS THIS YOU? I asked who do you mean by "My" ? of course it's mine if you're asking me, but if you're asking if it's your son Jonathan's (a proper question) then the answer is yes. If you can't understand why the question is flawed: the only way the question could be answered "no" would be if someone's addy was compromised by someone else, who was honest enough to deny having said address. No big deal or anything, but it might be confusing to other people. Plus i'm just trying to pad this message. Also, on a lighter note, check out DHMO.org. Remember the whole dihydrogen monoxide thing i was pitching? Well someone made a website dedicated to it. It's really funny. Yours, -Jonny S.

The lessons are many, patience, slowing down, acknowledging the little things

My story in the Chicken Soup book

One-size-fits all approach to anything is obsolete. Our need for speed has trumped exploration and discovery, the foundation for resilience in an ever- changing world. And it is in that exploration that a whole new world is born

Inspiration! SpecialNeedsToday.com SoulSupporter.com The song “We Are All One”

“We Are All One” No matter how we are on the outside, we're all the same on the inside. Through awareness people’s attitudes can move from a place of separation, to acceptance and inclusion. It will help people let go of their fears around understanding things unknown. ” Shane Lamotte Living Illusion Shane & Jason Lamotte Living Illusion

Inclusivity means… We all have our own unique challenges and attributes. We need to quit Dis-ing people and start seeing the “GIFTS” we all possess inside. TRULY, WE ARE ALL ONE!

The Gift of Inclusivity