My Inspiration for Creating Online Learning Instruction for Disability Advocacy (OLIDA)
I’ve been asked “What inspired you to establish OLIDA Learning?” The short answer is a lack of resources for high school students with disabilities. The long answer goes back to 1999, the year our youngest daughter, M. was born. Looking back to my younger self as a mom who was trying to understand some of the odd behaviors of our newborn, I think about what knowledge and insights could have helped me and my family navigate the complex special education path.
I noticed within weeks that my newborn baby was not making eye contact with me. As she grew, other red flags began to appear, such as delayed walking and talking. Physicians at the time were not looking at developmental milestones as much as physical health. M. was healthy, but as I began to dig deeper, I became more concerned. Our daughter did not engage in playing with toys or other children. Shortly before her 3rd birthday, we reached out to a Birth-to-Three program for further evaluation.
I will never forget the meeting with the Birth-to-Three team who offered their evaluation and handed my husband and I a lengthy document with their findings. When I read the sentence “M. will have difficulty learning simple things” I was paralyzed by these words. I thought to myself “how could she possibly learn complex things like math, science, chemistry, and how will she navigate the world as an adult.” It is the realization of every parent’s fears; my perfect child is going to face a lifetime of difficult challenges.
If you are reading this as a parent of a child with a disability, whether physical, cognitive, or both, I understand some of the challenges you face. Each person is unique, and I know there are parents and care givers who climb a mountain before 9:00 am just getting their child ready for the day. You are the silent heroes who carry on fueled with nothing more than pure love. I hope you will join me, Debra Desmarais, Senior Partner at OLIDA Learning and mom, as we continue to design and produce online courses for teens and young adults with disabilities. We will be speaking to you as a partner and resource to support our kids toward their goals.
