education Archives - Sherri Connell

My New ID Wallet Helping Others with Invisible Disabilities

November 5, 2017 By Sherri

For several years, I have been wanted to design some sort of ID Cards with a Lanyard and Card Holder. I wanted something that I and millions of others living with invisible disabilities could wear to doctor appointments, the grocery store or on the bus.

The card would say, “I Live With An Invisible Disability” on the front. And the cards that could be handed out would share, what is an invisible disability.”

This would give a visual to people living with debilitating conditions, in the hopes that we would be able to get better help in the stores and possibly a seat on the bus when all the seats are taken. It would give us a chance to bring awareness and education to the people we met, without having to expend the energy to explain to people what is an invisible disability.

The Invisible No More ID Wallets Were Born

Finally, I put a pencil to it and showed it to my hubby, Wayne, founder and president of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA). Wayne loved the idea, but he wanted to go a step further. He suggested instead of just having the badge on the end of the lanyard, to actually have a wallet for the cards.

I thought this was a perfect way to also allow people to carry their insurance card, credit card, cash and pens when they are going to a doctor’s office or grocery store! This way, when I have an appointment, I don’t have to carry my whole purse, I just put my essentials into the ID Wallet and I have my hands free to use my cane or crutches. Voila!

In September 2017, the ID Wallets were launched for the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Invisible Disabilities Week! It was a great addition to the IDA Store, along with Katie Maskey’s new IDA Lapel Pin!

Read more about both items, as well as the Invisible No More Glow-in-the-Dark Wristbands. Order from the IDA Store. All proceeds go to help support IDA’s work around the world!

2017 Invisible Disabilities Week Was A Huge Success

November 5, 2017 By Sherri

This year’s 2017 Invisible Disabilities Week was a huge success! The week was founded and declared by the Invisible Disabilities Association in 2014, by my hubby Wayne Connell.

Making a Difference for Others Living with Debilitating Conditions

2017 Invisible Disabilities Week Team: Sherri, Cassandra, Suzanne and Katie

Since I live with debilitating illness every day, I decided to volunteer for this week. I create all the activities for the week, with the MEME’s for people to share and participate (I was an art major before I switched to theater).

This year, I also created three Facebook Frames which were extremely popular. Over 6,500 people used the frames on their Facebook Profile Photos and many of them posted these photos on their other social media platforms! It was GREAT to see people so excited to be a part of the week!

I am so thankful to have had a wonderful IDW Team helping me get the word out and interact with the attendees this year! There is no way I could have done this alone. Thank you, Suzanne, Katie and Cassandra!

Invisible Disabilities Week Gets Worldwide Coverage

People from all over the world were sharing their stories, awareness endeavors, fur babies, service dogs, favorite people, places and more on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

There were several posts on the Invisible Disabilities Association’s Facebook Page that had hundreds of comments and on Instagram and Twitter, colleges, groups and businesses were participating in the week!

IDA’s Wayne Connell Brings Awareness to Invisible Disabilities

Wayne Connell, IDA founder and president had two television interviews during Invisible Disabilities Week, where he was able to share about millions living with illness, pain, injury and disability. It was an amazing opportunity to reach the hearts of the audience and bring awareness to friends, family, doctors, neighbors and society at large.

You can see the television interview on KUSA-TV 9, Colorado and Company with Denise Plante:

A second television interview was featured on FOX31 Denver KDVR-TV, Colorado’s Own Channel 2 KWGN-TV, Daybreak with Natalie Tysdal:

Wayne also was a guest speaker for two corporations, bringing education and awareness to their employees. Wayne’s invisible disabilities presentations at Accenture and TIAA were very well received and Wayne was honored and grateful for the invitation and opportunity!

Invisible Disabilities Week Concludes with “Laugh Out Loud” IDA Awards Gala

The 2017 IDA Awards Gala,”Laugh Out Loud” in Denver on October 21st was a spectacular evening!

We thoroughly enjoyed our hilarious Comedian, Sam Adams as our Headliner and the sensational, Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, Neurohumorist and Hall of Fame Speaker as our Master of Ceremonies.

It was truly an evening full of inspiring stories, touching presentations and lighthearted fun, bringing awareness to millions of people living with invisible disabilities. We had the privilege of honoring several incredible individuals and organizations who are making a difference in the world for people living with disabilities. Doctors, nurses, friends and family were walking away saying, “Wow! I didn’t get it until tonight!”

As you may have noticed, we had a 70’s theme for those who dared to get groovy! … And they did! Attendees had a blast dressing in bell-bottoms, mini-skirts and disco shirts! The laughter and fun was contagious, as people mingled, danced and met new friends!

We would like to say thank you to all of our amazing sponsors and attendees who joined us for this wonderful night! We are grateful for your love and compassion for people living with invisible disabilities. And thank you to all of our special guests, chairpersons, gala committee and volunteers for working hard to make this an incredible night, none will soon forget!

All in all, it was a fantastic week of awareness, education, sharing and friendships! See you all next year! www.InvisibleDisabilitiesWeek.org

Sherri Brings Awareness to Lyme in May

May 22, 2015 By Sherri

I got Lyme at the age of 14, from a tick bite. I immediately started having chronic headaches and infections. At 19, I started having balance issues and paralysis. By 27, I was paralyzed from the ribs down and so sick I could hardly move.

Decades and countless treatments later, I am still unable to care for my own daily, survival needs and am literally fighting for my life! Read the rest of my Lyme Story.

Did you know that many celebrities have battled Lyme Disease? For example, Avril Lavigne, Richard Gere, Debbie Gibson, Daryl Hall, Yolanda Foster, Ben Stiller, Parker Posey, Karen Allen, Jane Alexander, George W. Bush, Candice Accola, Ashely Olsen and more.

Gere said,

This is one scary disease. I felt as though every ounce of strength had gone from my body… Just turning my head to see the time on the clock was a major operation. I felt as if my life was going in slow motion (18 Celebrities…).

Hall said,

“It can make you wanna die if you’re not dead.” He has also said that the lack of widespread recognition of the severity of chronic Lyme (as opposed to just acute Lyme) is “almost a bad joke” to anyone who actually suffers from it (18 Celebrities…)

I want to bring awareness to Lyme and other debilitating conditions, so that others will not have to suffer the lifelong battles that I have had to endure nearly my entire life by receiving proper treatment early. I also want to bring encouragement and tips!

Keep fighting!
There are tons of mainstream and alternative treatments out there that are helping people with early to late-stage Lyme.
Clean up your diets! Many foods cause inflammation and/or feed the Lyme.
Clean up your environment! Rid your homes and bodies of chemicals that attack the nervous and immune systems (paints, stains, new carpets, cleaning products, air fresheners, smoke, perfume, chemically fragranced laundry, personal products, etc).
Create a support system (meet others living with similar challenges, see a counselor if needed, find a Lyme Literate Doctor).
Find a passion that gives you joy and feelings of accomplishment.
Focus on daily blessings and achievements, no matter how small.
Try to stay positive, because our attitudes impact our immune system.
Reach out to others with validation, a listening ear and compassion.
Don’t let go of who you are.
Know that you are valuable, worthwhile and have purpose no matter how limited you are.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
BELIEVE in yourself!