034- Living with an Invisible Disability with Michelle Steiner

Welcome back to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In today's episode, we are joined by Michelle Steiner, who bravely shares her experience living with invisible disabilities, including dyscalculia, limited hand dexterity, and visual perception issues. Michelle works as a paraeducator, advocating for people with disabilities and emphasizing the importance of connecting with others who share similar experiences. She discusses her childhood diagnosis, the invaluable support she received from her parents, and the profound impact of their advocacy. Join us as Michelle candidly unpacks the challenges she faces due to her disability and sheds light on the empowerment found in focusing on one's abilities rather than limitations. We'll also explore the importance of disability representation, the impact of societal views on learning disabilities, and the support resources that Michelle passionately advocates for. This is an episode you won't want to miss as we delve into the complexities of living with and parenting a child with invisible disabilities.

3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Empowerment through Connection: Michelle emphasized the importance of connecting with others who share similar experiences. Finding a supportive community and focusing on abilities rather than limitations can be transformative for individuals with disabilities.

2️⃣ The Power of Advocacy: Michelle's story highlighted the crucial role of parental advocacy in supporting a child with special needs. Her parents' unwavering support, reassurance about her intelligence, and proactive advocacy significantly impacted her journey.

3️⃣ Embracing Adaptive Solutions: Michelle's experiences shed light on the impact of technology and adaptive solutions in education and daily life. Recognizing the value of personalized learning experiences and adaptive tools can make a profound difference for individuals with learning disabilities.

"My parents did a lot of advocacy for me when I was younger, and I can remember having my mom was great for explaining my disability to other people and they were accepting, and I thought to myself, oh, I wish I could do that."

Connect with Michelle Steiner:

Links: https://www.michellesmission.net/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013356902200 https://www.instagram.com/steiner7250/

References:

Non- Verbal Learning Project: NVLD Home | The NVLD Project | Non-Verbal Learning Disability

Eye to Eye: Home - Eye to Eye (eyetoeyenational.org)

All Abilities Media: All Abilities Media

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Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay