Have you noticed it?  Have you noticed the way in which we communicate and conduct business has fundamentally shifted?  We are no longer solely communicating with our mouths and voices as a society.  A GREAT majority of us are using technology and social networking sites to communicate, work, conduct business and stay connected.  We, as a society, have shifted our communication style.  It is my belief that this shift has occurred in such a way to literally wrap it’s arms around the segment of our population who communicate with sign language or who cannot articulate in such a way to be understood.  Our communication methods are literally evolving to include more of our society than EVER before.  There are 8 of every 1,000 people in the United States who have some sort of communication disorder.

To fully grasp this just notice throughout your day how often you are communicating using technology via email, texting or social networking sites.  If you still conduct many of your conversations over the phone or face to face, stop and think, “How would I be having this conversation if I did not have the use of my voice or if I could not articulate what I’m trying to say?”  There are options now that weren’t available years ago! I, for one, believe there’s more to what is occurring in our communciation style than meets the eye.  I can’t begin to imagine where this is headed.  What I do know is that this is a GOOD thing for my daughter, Lillian, and those like her.

This is the VERY reason I was driven to create the Turning Views Foundation, the Different iz Good movement and the Gift a Voice Project.  We began a recycling program through which we collect last generation iPhones, iPod Touches and (soon) iPads to be donated to those who communicate with sign language or who cannot articulate.  **Update** We now take ANY used/inactive cell/mobile/smart phones. We also have it set up so that schools, companies, churches, etc can hold a Gift a Voice cell phone recycling drive and pay NO shipping for mailing the phones!

We also just got our first media coverage about the iPhone, iPod and iPad recycling program.  You can read the article at Reno News & Review’s website and The Gift of a Voice in Sparks News Tribune.  Please visit the Different iz Good website if you would like to learn more, see how you can Get Involved, take a look at our Wish List or even browse our Different iz Good store!

Would love to hear your thoughts in the Comments section! Thanks y’all!

18p- Description and Image from Chromosome18.org

I’m in love y’all!  In love with my daughter, Lillian, in love with Janine Cody, founder of the 20 year old Chromosome 18 Registry, in love with Rick Guidotti of Positive Exposure and in love with absolutely every one of my fellow Chromosome 18 Registry members.  I love the sense of family we share and the feeling of understanding and closeness that our common thread holds.

I attended the Chromosome 18 Conference last week in Tulsa; at which we also celebrated the Registry’s 20th birthday.  This was my 2nd conference to attend.  Attending the conference solidified for me that I am committed and will attend this conference EVERY year. More than that, I absolutely must bring Lillian and Thomas with me, too.  I want Lillian to experience the joy, love and fun that the other affected kids, teens, young adults and adults experience while at the conference.  I want Thomas to be around and experience the pure love and sheer dedication of the siblings to the affected individuals.  The absolute number one aspect that moved me the most was the Sibling Panel.  These beautiful kids, teens and young adults are the cream of the crop.  I must have Thomas begin to experience and be around these fabulous people.

I cannot thank Katie Bailey Schilly enough for inviting me to present at the conference this year.  Had she not invited me and stayed on me I would not have attended this year and would have missed this eye opening and good for the heart and soul experience.  My presentations were “Safe Social Networking and Online Communities” and “Enhancing Communication with Technology and Social Networking“.  I so thoroughly enjoyed sharing my knowledge and passion with my Chromosome 18 family.  It meant the world to me!

Show up y’all! One never knows what will happen when you show up at events and engage with those whom you share a common thread.  Actually, you can help steer what happens if you set your intentions BEFORE attending these events.  I’ll expand on this a bit more in an upcoming post about the 2010 eWomenNetwork Conference!  Rick  Guidotti, if this makes it’s way to you, thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul for your enthusiastic offers of help, support and Positive Exposure’s images in furthering the upcoming Turning Views Foundation and the Different iz Good movement! You are an AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL man and I look forward to collaborating with you!!

If you are a part of the Chromosome 18 family or, heck, a part of any organization that supports those with genetic differences, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Y’all are stuck with me, Lillian and Thomas now! See ya in Indianapolis next year ~ July 2011!