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About Us
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The
Disability is Natural web site is brought to you by BraveHeart
Press, the family-owned business of Kathie Snow. The mission
of this site is to encourage new ways of thinking about disability
and to help create a society in which all people are valued
and included.
Kathie is the wife of Mark, the mother of Emily and Benjamin, and a
zealous promoter of new ways of thinking about disability. Her book, Disability
is Natural: Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children
with Disabilities, 2nd Edition, is the culmination
of 16 years of experience as a public speaker, trainer, and
consultant on disability issues. Kathie believes
it's time for new perspectives about disability, and she created the
Bowl of Apples logo to illustrate that just as a green apple is more
like red apples than different, individuals with disabilities
are more
like people without disabilities than different. In addition
to her book, Kathie has produced an enlightening
and provocative video, and a line of
products and a variety of articles---new
ones are added regularly---to share the revolutionary common sense that
disability is natural!
Kathie's interest in disability issues began in 1987, when Benjamin was diagnosed
with cerebral palsy at the age of four months. Today, Benjamin attends community
college (he was recently inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society),
has won a national film award, and lives the life of his dreams! These achievements,
however, were not "part of the package" at the time of his disability
diagnosis. Like most parents in similar situations—Kathie was initially
bewildered and somewhat frightened by the diagnosis. And as many other parents
do, she eagerly entered the world of services, interventions, and expert opinions—Disability
World. At first, Kathie felt the relief that comes from the protective arms of
professionals in the early intervention system.
Within a year, however, she began to question the conventional
wisdom of Disability World. When her son was three, she
 |
Benjamin Snow, age 17, meeting Senator John Kerry at a Colorado rally in October 2004. |
was
a participant in Texas Partners in Policymaking, a leadership
development program for adults with disabilities and parents
of children with disabilities. The Partners training program
featured state-of-the-art information presented by nationally-recognized
speakers. In addition, the personal lifelong experiences of Kathie's
classmates, especially the adults with disabilities, was a valuable
component of this life-changing experience. The Partners training
validated Kathie's belief that her son and others with disabilities
could and should enjoy rich, full, and real lives, and the training
provided Kathie and her classmates with information, skills,
and strategies to influence change.
Upon
her graduation from Partners in 1991, Kathie wrote an article about
the importance of using People
First Language, she and her family moved to Colorado, and she
was invited to speak to the next class of trainees in the Texas Partners
program. The rest, as they say, is history. Invitations from Partners
programs in twenty-five other states followed, and her career as a
trainer and public speaker on disability issues blossomed. Kathie has
updated her People First Language article on a regular basis, and it
has been included on a variety of other web sites, in newsletters,
and training materials. It has also been reproduced for conferences,
used by churches and other community entities, and parents, people
with disabilities, and professionals have shared it with others in
their sphere of influence. In 2001, after ten years as a public speaker,
Kathie wrote her ground-breaking Disability is Natural book,
created a companion video and a line of products to promote new ways
of thinking, and launched this web site. In addition, her Disability
is Natural Free Press E-newsletter includes articles on innovative
change, strategies for inclusion, and other new ways of thinking!
The Disability is Natural book, video, web site, and Email
newsletter are changing lives, and her articles have been reprinted
in numerous publications and used in training sessions. The 1st and
2nd editions of her book are being used by several universities to
educate professionals in various fields. In 2007, Kathie published
a variety of her thought-provoking handouts in a new book, 101
Reproducible Articles, for use by parents, educators, and professionals of all kinds.
Kathie also inspires change face-to-face! With common sense, humor, and a rebellious spirit, Kathie enlightens and entertains participants in workshops and trainings across the United States and Canada. She challenges the old ways of thinking, and helps parents, people with disabilities, and professionals acquire new perceptions and attitudes—the first rung in the ladder of change. And if a full-fledged conference isn't within your budget or schedule, consider one of Kathie's teleseminars. Kathie's presentation specialties include:
Disability
is Natural! Kathie's
"signature" presentation—new attitudes and perceptions, including
the importance of People First Language and focusing on people's
strengths, gifts, and abilities.
Creating Community—From
Clienthood to Citizenship: Using natural
supports and generic services to achieve community inclusion
for children and adults with disabilities, by focusing
on the strengths and interests of individuals and the assets
of communities.
Inclusive Education: A variety of subsets
are available on strategies for educators, parents, and
children to ensure students with disabilities are included and successful
in age-appropriate general education classrooms.
Self-Determination for All: Three keys can ensure children
and adults with disabilities live self-determined lives, included in their homes,
schools, work, and communities.
Cooperative Advocacy: Too often, disability "advocacy" is seen in a negative light by those on the receiving end! But when we move from advocates to diplomats and use common sense and negotation skills, positive outcomes are possible for all.
Collaboration
Works! How
service providers and generic community entities can collaborate to improve
services for, and community inclusion of,
people with disabilities.
Overview of disability rights laws, history of the disability movement,
working with the media, and more!
Kathie works closely with conference and
meeting planners to create exciting, lively, skill-building presentations
which result in positive, long-lasting outcomes. Participants in Kathie's
workshops consistently evaluate her presentations highly:
What a powerful presentation you gave -- radical,
but powerful! I get it now, I really get it! I'm sharing your message
with others and I can see the light bulbs coming on!
Stephanie from Virginia
Your talk was very informative and funny. I have Asperger Syndrome, and
I'm so glad someone else feels the same way about things I've observed
in my life.
Jana from Texas
I am so appreciative of what you shared in your presentation and how
you shared it. You gave me hope that my husband and I can do right by
Taylor, and that he can have a good, normal life and be happy. I am less
fearful and I can't tell you what a relief it is to be less engaged with
fear. It gives me much more freedom to be propelled by joy. Most of all,
thank you for the love and humility of your sharing. It was very clear
that you care deeply for all children and their parents.
Susan from Oregon
Kathie brought back to some of us why we do what we do -- and some of
us, on a given day, had forgotten the dream.
MaryAnn from Indiana
The powerful words and your passionate presentation resulted in hours
of soul searching. Thank you!
Ruth from Georgia
Thank you for your presentation. As the mother of a son with autism,
I've been through a range of emotions and you helped refuel my fire. I
hope to refuel the fires of others someday, just as you did for me. You
are an inspiration, a guiding light for those of us who have just begun
to reach out of the dark.
Suzanne from Kansas
I thought this was the most truthful of all the presentations at
this conference.
Participant at Indiana statewide conference (anonymous evaluation)
Kathie's presentation was refreshing! New and innovative ways to look
at disability. Her approach has the potential to revolutionize the way
we look at disability.
Professional from Texas (anonymous evaluation)
Thank you! Your presentation was awesome and life-changing! I feel
like a different person and I now look at my son in a completely different
light!
Debbie from Georgia
MORE RAVE REVIEWS
Contact kathie@disabilityisnatural.com to inquire about her presentations.
[A New Way of Thinking]
[The Disability is Natural Book and Video]
[About Us]
[People First Language]
[The Disability is Natural Store]
[Revolutionary Common Sense Articles]
[Presentations/Exhibits]
[Rave Reviews]
[Newsletter Library ]
[Contact Us]
[Home]
Disability is Natural
BraveHeart Press
Toll-free: 1-866-948-2222
1-719-687-0735
Fax: 1-719-687-8114
P. O. Box 7245
Woodland Park, CO 80863
Copyright © 2001 - 2008 by BraveHeart Press
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Our words reflect the way we think, so let's get rid of descriptors like "handicapped, physically disabled, mentally retarded, learning disabled" and other words that focus on the condition instead of the person. People First Language promotes dignity and respect for all!
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