The following was an article I submitted to the Jewish Braille International. JBI Library connects people who are blind, have low vision, or have print disabilities with Jewish literature, culture, and community. Its free services include audiobooks, braille and large-print materials, along with accessible cultural programs that bring Jewish life and learning to readers around the world.
In 1963, when I was 10 months old, I suffered a head injury in a car accident. Being in a coma for 10 days led to problems with my vision, coordination, and speech.
In elementary school, I had problems with my eye/hand coordination. The result was a lot of frustration with art and physical education. I was upset that my art work did not look like the other students’ work. I was also annoyed about being picked last for team sports.
In junior high and high school, I had adaptive physical education to make things easier for me. The adaptive physical education teacher in high school encouraged me to join the swim team, which I did for two years.
Following my mom’s death when I was 14, I became depressed. Still, I persevered in education, first earning a bachelor’s Degree in Human Development in 1985. I also got my master’s Degree in Education in 1988.
Several years later I became a caretaker for my father who was suffering from a chronic illness. It was a terrible time. He passed away in 2014. Then, I had problems with anxiety, too.
Like so many others who have suffered from multiple traumatic events in their lives, I saw several mental health professionals. Unfortunately, it has only been since 2015 that I connected with a counselor and a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who have helped me to move forward. Thus, it has been a godsend to continue seeing them.
The unexpected benefits of my physical and emotional challenges have been the self-motivation to excel to the best of my abilities in formal education, as well as continuing to educate and motivate others. I have been a Motivational Speaker since 1997. I focus on the importance of having a positive attitude, along with a sense of humor. I have also found various ways to adapt to situations, which is the focus of a children’s board game, ‘Call Me Capable.,’ that I created and codeveloped with the original publisher, Franklin Learning Systems. It was published for 15 years, between 2002-2017.
I can relate to, Helen Keller who said, “I am thankful for my handicaps (challenges). Through them I have found my work (Journalism & Motivational Speaking), my God and myself.” I am also thankful for my website (www.capablecarol.com), that expresses my advocacy and activism.