October Series: Stories of Entrepreneurship- Part 2

 Hi Family Matters Friends!

I hope you are enjoying the fall season with cooler temperatures, trips to the orchard, and a spooky movie or two! This week, I am going to wrap up our October series on “Stories of Entrepreneurship.” If you loved any of the stories, feel free to comment on this post and share below. If you or someone you know is doing anything related to self-advocacy or wants to share their story, please let us know! We are also sharing our blogs on our Twitter @FamilyMattersIL- so your story could also be shared there! In November, I will be sharing about post-secondary education opportunities- so stay tuned! Now sit back, grab a cup of hot cider, and hear more about successful entrepreneurs!

Warmly,

Megan

1. Equally Fit 💪🏋️🧑‍🦽:

As an adult with autism Mark Fleming, the owner of Equally Fit, firmly believes that just because someone may have a disability doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a chance to be as fit as someone without a disability or that they deserve a trainer less than properly qualified. With this in mind, Fleming started Equally Fit out of the trunk of his car in 2016 before opening it’s first physical location in 2019. Equally Fit offers functional training incorporating strength and cardiovascular training as well as exercises to improve motor planning, social skills, and balance.

2. The Fry Guy 🍟🙋🏽👕

Ronnie Brown has an affinity for fries that has earned him the nickname The Fry Guy. Born with Down Syndrome, Ronnie was on a feeding tube for the first six years of his life. As soon as he started eating solid food, he fell in love with French fries. Fifteen years later, Ronnie created a  catering menu full of garlic fries, Texas chili fries, and so many more fries packed with flavor and topped with delicious sauces. Bonus: Ronnie also sells t-shirts for fry lovers and Down Syndrome supporters. 

3. Spacerobot Studio: 🤖🧑‍🎨🏳️‍🌈

Spacerobot Studio is a small art business run by a queer & neurodivergent art nerd, celebrating neurodiversity, pride, alternative communication... and a passion for crafting and knitting! They sell items such as communication necklaces, neurodiversity jewelry, clothing, stim jewelry and more! Check out this shop at the link above!

October Series: Stories of Entrepreneurship

Hi! 👋 My name is Megan and I am an intern with Family Matters PTIC this year. I am a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but spent over 10 years working as a high school teacher supporting students to achieve their goals as they transitioned out of high school. This month, my blogs will focus on individuals with disabilities that have created their own businesses! Now, more than ever before, young adults and recent graduates are pursuing their dreams and passions by opening up their own businesses. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Etsy are making it easier than ever to connect with others and collaborate together! The business featured will share a brief bio about the owner, the work that they do, and what their mission/vision is for their company. I will always be sure to include their business information in case you want to research yourself or connect with the company.

This week, I am going to feature 3 businesses owned by people with disabilities that we can not only learn from, but support. Grab your coziest blanket and a fresh cup of tea (or your favorite warm fall beverage!) and get ready to learn about some amazing entrepreneurs! Stay tuned for another blog in this series later in October! 

1. Blake’s Snow Shack 🍧: 

In 2015, Blake Pyron decided to open up his very own snow cone business following his graduation from high school. When he did this, he became the first business owner with Down Syndrome in Texas. Blake’s Snow Shack now covers more than 31 unique flavors including “Bug Juice”, “Hulk”, and “Shark Attack.” In the years since first opening the doors of his business, Blake now advocates for equal pay for those with disabilities, as well as created the #DSWORKS Blake Pyron Entrepreneurship Scholarship,which supports others with disabilities pursuing entrepreneurship. If you are interested in learning more, you can visit their website at the link below!

http://www.blakessnowshack.com/

2. Bradley’s Blocks 🐶🎨🖌️:

Bradley is an adult entrepreneur in Michigan that has used his passion for art and animals to develop an Etsy Business selling pet portraits! Here is a bit more information from his Etsy site: 

“Bradley creates the portraits in a multi-step process. He starts by drawing and painting the portrait at "Hearts for the Arts Studio" in Grand Rapids, MI. In his workshop at home, Bradley sands and paints different sized wooden blocks. He assembles the portraits onto the blocks with background paper that compliments the portrait and/or meets the customer's request for certain colors. Since this is custom art, it takes about 6-8 weeks to complete and ship after Bradley receives an order.”

If you are interested in learning more about Bradley and his art business, feel free to visit his website at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BradleysBlocks

3. Purely Patrick 🍪🍞🥣:

Patrick is an entrepreneur with cerebral palsy that has created his own company titled, “Purely Patrick.” Patrick assembles dry ingredients for treats such as dreamsicle cookies, country soup, corn bread and more! Patrick packages reusable water bottles and with dry ingredients through the use of assistive technology. He sells his product at his local farmer’s market and craft fairs but also provides shipping! Learn more about Purely Patrick here:

https://purelypatrick.com/

Special Sparkle

 

Bridget Brown

 

 

Hello again

 

I hope you are having a fun Fall so far. Wow, can’t believe that 2022 is flying by.

 I love fall! 

 

My last blog was an interview with my friends Kelly & Karen Neville. I learned so much about their life, and their business “Special Sparkle”.   I hope you enjoyed reading about them.

 

Today, I thought I would give you an update about my new college experience. Maybe some of you are thinking about a post- secondary college experience or some of you might already be in college.   I am excited that some of you might be considering college for your future.

 

I went to College of DuPage for a number of years. That is my local community college.  They have lots of exciting classes there but I was hoping for something more inclusive.  I also did a summer college program during Covid at John Wood Community College online.  That was fun!

 

 So you might be wondering what is my college experience like now.   I currently am a student at UIC (University of Illinois CHICAGO). I am in a new inclusive program called the CO-OP program, under the Disability Studies College.  This program just started up and it is very exciting.

 

I also have an internship in the School of Nursing at UIC.

 

I started last Spring and my first class was called Radical Inclusion.  This was a perfect class for me because I am an inclusion advocate and it gave me information about the history of inclusion so I know how to be a better advocate for people with disabilities. It was very interesting. 

 

 I also took a class called Career building.  This was to help me prepare to get an internship and employment.  I learned how to make a cover page and learned the difference between formal vs informal questions. I also learned how to get a paid internship. Because of this class I now have a paid internship at the nursing simulation lab in the nursing department at UIC.    

During that time, I even made friends because I worked with a team of my peers who were also in the CO-OP program. Being part of this class I learned the importance of being professional in my relationships.

 

Now this Fall I am studying Disability in American film.   I am learning how people with disabilities are portrayed in movies and how that describes their life to people. That can be positive or negative.  I am learning that it is important to hear real voices of people with disabilities so they can share their stories about their lives.

 

I love my internship at the Nursing department.  I have an internship working in the simulation lab. I am also an actress and I work as a patient with a disability so the students can learn about how to work with individuals with disabilities in a health care setting.  It is very exciting and a new program for the nursing department.  I love it!

 

For me college life is wonderful!   Being part of a college and being included in general education classes is great.  I love working in a team with other students who are also in the program and some who are general college students.   I am looking forward to getting to know more students and professionals.  I just love being a student at UIC and working in the nursing department.

 

Life as a student is different but I am learning the ropes of being safe and using self-determination by speaking up for myself and for helping others out. I also learned that classmates are very kind, respectful and that I can trust them.

 

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts about my college experience.  If you are thinking about college, I encourage you to check it out and see what is available in your area and throughout the country.  There are lots of great programs!  I am available to share my experience with you so if you are interested you can contact me and we can talk more about my experience.

 

 

Have a great October and dwell in the possibilities!!
Bridget Brown

Kelly

 

How is your summer going? I hope you are doing fine and that you had a good summer.

I am back at home from my summer vacation. This summer I had fun working at a camp in the candy and Ice cream store. I also went to Traverse City in Michigan and to a YMCA camp in Colorado and stayed in a YURT. I am excited to start my classes at the CO-OP program at UIC. 

Today I had the chance to interview my good friend Kelly Neville. She is an amazing self-advocate who is turning 31 in a few weeks.  She was in her sister’s wedding recently and is going to a lot of her friend’s weddings. She loves getting dressed up, getting her nails done and of course, loves anything that sparkles. She loves high fashion, shoes, puppies, baking cookies and following color trends.

Kelly has a bunco group and paints in her free time.  She is very creative and one of her favorite things to do is to make Diamond Paintings. She is a true artist!

Kelly does many amazing things but her superpower is making jewelry and having her own business called Special Sparkle. She is very creative and makes beautiful heartfelt jewelry with love and passion.  Kelly likes to say her mother, Karen is special and she is sparkle. She has a studio in her home and makes jewelry every day. She loves working, having her own business, making jewelry and selling it.  She works very hard and is super focused. Her wonderful business has grown so much and she is very busy right now preparing for Christmas. She sells her jewelry at craft fairs, The Hope Gallery in Indiana, BEST shop in Virginia and Artful 21 in Ohio. She donates some of her jewelry to Catholic Charities and organizations that work with folks with disabilities.   Owning her own business gives her great joy and makes her happy.  She has dedicated her life to making a difference in this world, sharing her gifts with others, inspiring other self-advocates to have their own business and follow their dreams.

She is a successful public speaker and is proud that she was the graduation speaker at the Ray Graham Training Center High School.

I asked Kelly what are some things that make her successful and she said:

 

·         She works hard and never quits when things are difficult.

·         She works every day.

·         She is focused and dedicated.

·         She is organized.

·         She plans ahead.

·         She has a great partner.

·         She followed her dreams.

·         She asks a lot of questions.

·         She always looks for people who encourage others.

·         She is positive and loves her job.

·         She knows that she can do it !!

·         She is always learning new things.

·         She sets things up for success.

Her motto is: Work hard and play later !

She would like for all self-advocates to have their dreams come true!  Kelly always encourages others to follow their dreams!!

You can learn more about Kelly and Special Sparkle by checking out her website:
specialsparkle.com You can see her jewelry and all the names she gave them and you can put an order in if you find something you love. Kelly is featured in the book Looking Up: The Truth About Down Syndrome by Flinkow, Brianna Book

 

Aubrie Westmaas by Bridget Brown

 

Bridget Brown

 

Hello again.  I hope your summer has been a blast. I hope you are doing well and having fun.

Today I talked to one of my good friends Aubrie Westmaas, a bright young woman who gives great smiles and has had an extraordinarily life.

 

Aubrie is an amazing self -advocate who is successful because she always expects extraordinary things in life.  She is a big dreamer and advocate. She has a lot of spunk!

 

She grew up in Pittsfield Illinois and was included all the way through high school. For her transition years she went to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. When she graduated, she went to Helen Keller National Center for Deaf Blind Youths & Adults in Long Island New York.

She loved NEW YORK!  Aubrie loves ALL kinds of theater and her big dream in life is to be a Broadway actor, so living in NEW YORK was a dream come true for her.

She just moved into her own apartment in Quincy, Illinois and is looking forward to getting settled and meeting new people. It is in a friendly community and she likes all the neighbors she has met so far.  She hopes to develop a circle of support in Quincy and in her community.  I plan to interview her in a few months and see how things are going on her journey.

 

Aubrie is an incredibly successful self-advocate. She does presentations with her organization called Expect Extraordinary.  Aubrie was recognized as the 2014 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference Student of the Year. In 2019, Aubrie was a top finalist in the NPR Student Podcast Challenge. Her podcast is featured in an episode of NPR's Code Switch. 

 

Aubrie has been an advocate as long as she can remember. After learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. in third grade, Aubrie said, "Martin Luther King, Jr. said we should treat everybody equal. But we're not doing a good job of that   She once visited the state capitol and sat at the governor's desk. She's attended statewide conferences, rallies at the capitol, and met Temple Grandin. In June 2019, Aubrie graduated from Illinois Partners in Policymaking.  

​

 When I asked Aubrie to share some thoughts about what makes her successful, this is what she said:

 

·         Find good and supportive people in your life. You might have staff that helps you but also you need to find friends and family who are in your circle of friends.

 

·         Be true to who you are so people know the real you.  You need to be who you are so people can help you create a life that works for you!

 

·         Accept your disability as a whole and accept who you are at the moment.

 

·         Ask for help when you need it. Have a team to help you problem solve. It is difficult to know when to keep trying and when you need to speak up and ask for help.

·         Always be dreaming about your life in some way. Aubrie knew she loved theater and wanted to be an actor on Broadway and she needs people in her life who will honor her dream.

 

·         Keep going and never give up!!!

 

·         Surround yourself with people who “get you” and make them a part of your life.

 

·         Don’t be afraid to try new things.

 

·         Tell someone if you are afraid so they can help you work through the issues. Don’t give up because of fear.  In her family their motto is “WE DO HARD THINGS”.

 

·         Dream big! One of Aubrie’s superpowers is that she is a spectacular dreamer. She would like to bottle dreaming so she can give it to other people.   

 

·         If you get discouraged or disappointed, just accept it as part of life.  If she tries something and it doesn’t work out it can be devastating but she just realizes that she did all she could and then the decision isn’t about her any more – it is about others.  She lets it go and it helps her deal with disappointment.

 

Aubrie says,

"People with disabilities should be treated ordinary. But we do have some extras."

 

Our ExtraOrdinary dream is a world where...

 

People with disabilities take charge of their own lives.

 

People with disabilities live, learn, work, play, and worship in ordinary places with everyone else.

 

Old ideas and attitudes are replaced with open minds and welcoming hearts.

 

You can get in touch with Aubrie through her email
Broadwayaubrie@gmail.com

 

 

Social Skills to Social Success Virtual Support Group

 

Social Skills to Social Success

Virtual Group

 

Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center will be offering The Social Skills to Social Success virtual support group. This group is designed for youth ages 14-22.

It is not always easy for children with disabilities or special health care needs to make friends or build social skills. It takes work. In addition, it can make such a difference in their lives to be able to connect with other children and people outside the family.

 

See this testimony from our friend Zoie.

It has not always been easy for me to learn social skills. I have a diagnosis of NVLD and it makes social situations more difficult for me to navigate. Sometimes it feels like there are all of these social rules and I don’t know them. I have learned a lot since I was younger and have gained a lot of social skills. Social skills are important when it comes to making and keeping friends, carrying on a conversation, finding and keeping a job, and asking for help. A lot of people have helped me build my social skills. I feel like I learn the most from my friends. I also think it is helpful when I practice using my social skills when I talk to my doctor about my health or when I order food at a restaurant. I have been looking for a job and recently applied for a job and I was contacted for an interview. I had to use my social skills during the interview. Thankfully I was offered the job and will start soon. Building strong social skills have helped me become more independent.

 

The objective of social skills training is to teach students to acquire healthy social relationships by improving their social skills and social problem-solving skills. 

In our new virtual support group, we will explore different aspects of social skills and improve those skills through educational materials and group discussion.

These meetings will take place on the third Thursday of each month. You must first contact our office to receive information to join the group. This allows youth to have discussions in a safe environment. For more information, contact us at Family Matters at 1-866-436-7842

 

Happy Summer

 Happy summer to all of you! I hope you are enjoying your summer so far.

In the summer I work at a camp as a general worker and in an ice Cream & candy store.   It is lots of fun and a little less busy than the rest of the year.

This month I interviewed my friend Kari Winters. She is an amazing self- advocate and she has had lots of interesting adventures in her life.  I was in special Olympics gymnastics with her for many years.

Kari helps her sister make jewelry for her business.  She sings with a glee club and is a member of Aktion Club. Aktion club is part of the Kiwanis but run by self-advocates.  It is a service organization so the goal is to help others. They have lots of great activities locally and around the world. I am also a member of our Aktion club and so I get to see Kari a lot at the meetings. She also coaches kids in gymnastics at Flying High and she works at the Humane Society with cats.  She has 4 cats and loves them very much .

Kari went to Elmhurst college for 4 years in the ELSA Program. It is now Elmhurst University.  Her group had the same learning opportunities every other traditional student had but things were adapted. She loved going to college.

I asked Kari what helped her be successful in college and she said that she knew that she wanted to go to college and had confidence in herself. She had support from others especially her parents.  She said “I could stand up for myself and I knew my limits”.  Kari believes that you can only fail at something if you don’t try it.  I love that philosophy.

In college she was thrilled when her professor encouraged her to go to Springfield as a guest speaker.  She talked to legislators about post-secondary education. It was very exciting and an honor.

In 2020 Kari won first place in the state for the Miss Amazing Pageant for girls and women with disabilities.  For her talent she sang and signed “SPEECHLESS” by Naomi Scott from Aladdin.  Then as MS. Queen, she went to the national pageant in Nashville. She performed her talent, had an interview with judges, and she was in a formal gown.  SO exciting!!!! She might do it again but she is not sure.

Kari has advice for other self-advocates.  First, she thinks it is important for people to find their passion because it is good to do what you love. She believes successful people try new things and take risks. She knows that It is important to have courage and confidence in yourself.  So don’t be afraid, just go out and try it and find people to encourage you in your life and support you when you need it.

What an amazing person!! I am so glad to have her as my friend.

I hope she encourages you just like she encourages me!

Happy July !!!

Bridget Brown

Kariwinter@sbcglobal.net