About Me

Me with my Sweet Man at his graduation

So, Hi, I'm Marybeth.

After having such amazing and influential grandparents and parents (you will hear tons about them too, they have dedicated their lives to helping so many as well) I guess my future was set.  I decided to pursue a career as a special education teacher.  All my life I was surrounded by these incredible individuals.  I loved playing with them, teaching them and learning from them.  The most influential of them being my sister Caitlin.  Our family has been so blessed by Catie.  You will probably be hearing about Catie a lot.  She is smart, funny, flirtatious (incredibly flirtatious), clever, witty, artistic, talented, playful, bright, friendly, faithful- I could just go on forever.  She has just made such a huge inpact on my life.  I feel so blessed to have such an incredible sister as my own.  I think about her daily and can't imagine how boring life would be without her.  Catie was born with down syndrome about 18 months before I was born.  I always say that I was born to take care of her physically and she was born to take care of me spiritually.  She is incredible as you will see in posts to come.  I wanted a classroom full of students like Catie, I was lucky enough that sometimes she would let me play school with her.  Oh how I loved it!!
So I graduated with a bachelors in special education and taught for 5 full years.  It was amazing.  I learned so much and had so much fun.  I loved trying to figure out how to help each individual student.  I loved creating resources and making things that could help them become more independent and begtter equipped to enter the world.  I am currently on my second year (recently moved to part time so I could be home with my new baby!!) as the behavior specialist for a school district-having begun a masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis.  Although I miss teaching beyond imagination I have been able to do some wonderful things and reach a larger number of students.  I have consulted to teachers, parents and caretakers on how to handle difficult behaviors and how to accomodate individuals with disabilities.  I have been asked to do inservices, trainings, given speeches and presentations.  I have been taught so much by such amazing teachers, students and parents.  It is remarkable what people do for eachother and the knowledge and dedication that they have.  I haved loved every second of what I have done and I as I get close to a hiatus in my career as I become a full time stay at home Mom I wanted to create a bridge that allows me to continue to help and carry on the legacy of my grandparents in helping others.  So thats enough about me for now, but hopefully we can learn from eachother as we celebrate amazing people, with amazing stories and open up doors.

In Honor

This blog has been a long time coming. 

 I always have big ideas and I usually start off strong and end very quickly. 

Heres to a change-doing a little bit better-making a difference.

After many requests and some pushes here it is. 

In honor of my incredible grandparents,

Matthew and Miriam 

I begin this blog. 

In hopes that I can touch even 1% the number of people that they touched,

that I can carry on the legacy they began that continues and will continue for decades to come.

These two dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others.  After having their first child they adopted 26 more children, all of whom came from less than mediocre homes and most of whom had physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities.  They opened their home to over 70 other children through their participation in foster care.  They were constantly adjusting their lives to make accomodations for these special children.   Their example and the example of others directed me down a career path that allowed me to do some of what they did.  I am so passionate about helping individuals with disabilities as were they.  They were compassionate and dedicated, humble and influential.  They were remarkable.  Those who knew them are forever changed. 

Through this blog I hope to:

Share my experiences

Spotlight successes

Foster relationships

Share Ideas

Provide Resources

Testify of the positive influence of incredible individuals.

Help others

and

Make someone smile.

All things that they did and do.

This blog can be a resource for anyone:

Someone struggling with a challenge

Family members of those with disabilities

Teachers of all kinds

Friends

Those who celebrate differences

Parents needing ideas for rainy days with their kids

Those who want to make a difference.

So grab a button and share the love.

As I continue my journey

From

Highheels to Sneakers