A Lifetime in 27 Years
The Invisible Disabilities Association is excited to announce their National ID Initiative in this Facebook Live presentation. This has been a passion of mine and Wayne’s for many years!
Hi Friends! We have exciting news! IDA will be broadcasting the 2018 “Be the Voice” Awards Gala tonight, LIVE! Right here on Facebook, October 19th at 6:45 PT / 9:45 ET.
We understand that for most people living with invisible disabilities, travelling to this event is not possible. So, IDA is bringing the evening to you!
Since 2008, the IDA Team has provided videos of the Award Galas on YouTube so that people around the globe could watch and share in the evening’s awareness, awards, special guest speakers and entertainment! IDA has also provided partner tickets (as available) to many people living with invisible disabilities, who otherwise would not be able to attend!
However, for the first time this year, IDA is extremely excited to bring the evening LIVE to you, for all to enjoy!
Come as our guests! Compliments of IDA! Read more in the IDA post! See you there!
Be the Voice Part One: https://www.facebook.com/InvisibleDisabilities/videos/331493710731521/
<3 Sherri
Most of you have probably already heard this song by Taylor Swift! But I love this Africanized version by Alex Boye! Not all the words apply, but after I listen to this the chorus helps me remember to Shake It Off!
Whether it is a person saying something ridiculous or a frustrating phone call with an insurance company, I am too good at internalizing the pain and anguish, which turns into increased physical pain! So, I must learn to Shake It Off!
Listen and sing with me! Listen enough times that it comes up during the day when you need it most!
Hi Friends! Have you subscribed to my blog yet? Are you following me on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest? What are you waiting for?
Simply go to the top right side-bar to follow me!
♡ Sherri
My mom, Carole Mitchell, was chosen as Elderlink Home Care, Inc.‘s senior of the month for July! They are choosing one person a month to celebrate their 30 years in business. We were so elated to get this news! My mom certainly deserves recognition for her years of service in business and devotion to friends and family! And it included a $300 grant!
Thank you, Elderlink! And thank you, Shannon U, for telling me about the nominations for this!
Hi Friends! Have you subscribed to my blog yet? Are you following me on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest? What are you waiting for?
Simply go to the top right side-bar to follow me!
♡ Sherri
“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire! Cuz I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar!” Cover tune, “Roar.”
Living with a chronic illness can bring out so much judgment and assumptions towards us from family, friends, doctors and even strangers. Often these things can cause us to want to retreat or avoid speaking up for ourselves.
Now, I am a “peacemaker” and I do not like negative confrontations. I would rather let what people say bounce off of me … but it doesn’t. I tend to internalize what they have said and it eats me up inside!
Therefore, I do not think we have to resort to being unkind, but we need to believe in ourselves and stand firm on the ground that we are valuable, have purpose and our illnesses do not mean we are weak, lesser, nor do they mean we are at fault.
So, let’s stand up for ourselves! Let’s stand strong! We can be heard with kindness, but let’s be heard and let’s fight for our relationships, care and lives!
Be sure to watch the video below! I love this version, because I am Safari Sherri! Enjoy!
Alex Boye, featuring the Ft Mom Bloggers United sing the Africanized version of cover tune, “Roar,” by Katy Perry.
Let’s ROAR!!!!!!
Safari Sherri
LOOK at what we got from my BFF Patti for Mother’s Day! Yes, I am a mom! I am a mom to the 2 most amazing “kids” ever!
The new Invisible Disabilities Facebook Frames I designed are out!
The ones I made for the 2017 Invisible Disabilities Week were a hit! Over 6,500 people used them on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Check it out! I made one for friends and family, too! http://FBFrames.MyIDA.org
Follow the Invisible Disabilities Association on Facebook!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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
Here’s My Happy Place!My happy place is an outdoor pool! I feel free and relaxed when I am in the water! I can even get some exercise in the water, whereas it is virtually impossible for me on land. Pools are fairly available, compared to let’s say trying to travel somewhere to get to a beach. But I feel like I am at a resort when I am at an outdoor pool! And that makes them awesome!
Outside with my animals (but not heat).
Spending time with friends and family
Disneyland or Disney World (someday again I hope)
At a wildlife preserve or conscientious zoo (rare)
Beach (only been a few times)
Going out to eat
Watching movies
Playing cards
Playing games
Watching fun videos online
Playing Scrabble online
Playing Solitaire online
Don’t have one? Keep searching, because we all need not just one, but many! We need ones that are rare, as well as ones that are very accessible. It could be anything from the beach to a restaurant to sitting on your couch watching a movie. List as many as you can think of and use them as refuge from the stress of this life!
Remember! We have to be intentional every day about finding joy and laughter, amidst the battles! We can’t just wait for them to fall onto our laps! It’s imperative!