Public Speaking |
How I Began Public Speaking
In 2011 I met a most wonderful woman named Leslie DeDora who had created a non profit agency called 'A Touch of Understanding" which is a non profit that seeks to educate children and educators about individuals with various types of disabilities. They emphasize the allegory of "walking on another's shoes" which can be very profound especially when the shoe is attached to a large and complicated looking leg brace.
After meeting Laslie DeDora I began to volunteer with ATOU as a speaker. I would share my experiences as a child getting teased and beat up at school. I also had a very touching, and surprisingly positive, experience with a peer that turned my life around. That pivotal story I tell is about one child showing kindness to another, which in turn changes the life of the child who was shown the kindness. Through my story children learn they have the ability to be a positive influence on others lives. The main point I wanted children to walk away with is that their actions toward others really do matter.
After meeting Laslie DeDora I began to volunteer with ATOU as a speaker. I would share my experiences as a child getting teased and beat up at school. I also had a very touching, and surprisingly positive, experience with a peer that turned my life around. That pivotal story I tell is about one child showing kindness to another, which in turn changes the life of the child who was shown the kindness. Through my story children learn they have the ability to be a positive influence on others lives. The main point I wanted children to walk away with is that their actions toward others really do matter.
My Audience
A majority of my speaking engagements have been in school settings with the non profit group "A Touch of Understanding". The schools have been elementary, junior high and high-school. Independently I have spoken at universities and for the state of California.
What I Speak About
My speeches are generally about the effects of bullying, the power of empathy and the importance of disability awareness and etiquette. Though I cater my speeches to my audience the following is a list of topics that I think are important;
- Increase awareness of disabilities in general
- Increase knowledge about psysical disabilities as well as invisible disabilities
- Identify and clarify misconceptions about various disabilities
- Disability etiquette
- How non disabled folks can navigate the dilemmas that seem to accompany talking about disability
- Knowing that there are laws protecting persons that have disabilities
- Exploration of attitudes about disability, both past and present
- How to provide opportunities for inclusion for individuals with disabilities
I would also enjoy speaking about the many benefits of Psychotherapy.
Therapy can be helpful not just for individuals and couples but also other close relationships like best friends and even business partners.
Therapy can be helpful not just for individuals and couples but also other close relationships like best friends and even business partners.