In April of 2017, the children’s television show, Sesame Street, introduced Julia, a muppet with autism. The show’s autism awareness initiative carried the theme: See Amazing in All Children. Thank you, Sesame Street, for continuing to introduce characters with differing abilities! As an educator of twenty years, I continue to strive to see the amazing…
“For many years, the voice in my head convinced me the sexual molestation happening to me was my fault,” Nicole* shared. Her perpetrator, a family member, began abusing her when she was five years old. She knew it was wrong, but his intimidation and control were threatening enough that Nicole stayed silent. Nicole withdrew and…
In July of 2017, Atlanta Redemption Ink was launched so the redemption Jessica* found when she covered her trafficker’s logo with a new tattoo could be shared with countless others. * Her real name is used with permission. Over 160 survivors of sex trafficking, abuse, gang involvement, and self-harm have received tattoos to cover branding…
H-O-M-E. Four powerful letters knit together. Most of us take home for granted. Not Addlia*. She truly understands what the other 553,742 homeless people in the United States in 2017 faced when they didn’t have a place to call home. Addlia and her son, Jaiden, were among those statistics just a year earlier. * Her…
Phobias. Fears. We all have them. Mine is snakes. Coming eyeball to eyeball with a shiny green one as a kid during an innocent game of hide-and-seek sealed it for me. My phobia – called opidiophobia – is mostly avoidable. But some phobias are not. Unfortunately, Niki’s is unavoidable. Some cringe at the idea of…