Text me! Tell me something good!
Do you know what “I.D.D.” stands for? Well I thought I did, but when I googled it to make sure, I was shocked.
I’m ashamed and a little embarrassed to say that I unknowingly associated it with hearing impairment for years now. I didn’t realize it described my own son.
It stands for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Well… there you go. I guess that’s our label.
But what’s in a label? I’ve watched Luke and so many other children defy labels their whole lives. It’s not that I believe labels are bad. I believe they help the larger community around us wrap their heads around a world that’s not easy to understand. A world where every child is as different as a snowflake or a finger print.
But from this mama’s perspective… I don’t get hung up on lables. I believe our job, as out-of-the-box parents, is to focus on our babies (yes, they are still babies to me no matter the age.) Our job is to love them, and help them in every way, and watch as they forge their own journey which typically shows just how gifted and capable they are.
Our guest today is Demetrice Smith. She is another example of a child who defied the odds and the labels. Listen to her journey. It’s chilling and wonderful. And then after listening, see if you could ever imagine someone giving this highly educated, powerful, driven, competent, brave and courageous woman the label of “mentally retarded.”
To learn more about Demetrice and her program, please visit: https://www.thepottershouse.org/idd/
For the TPH Connect App: https://www.tdjakes.org/app/
To learn more about T.D. Jakes, The Potter’s House, and their other programs, please visit: https://www.tdjakes.org/
Email contact: [email protected]
Find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tphdallas/ and https://www.instagram.com/bishopjakes/
Follow me on Instagram: @amykathleen.ak
https://www.instagram.com/amykathleen.ak/
Join our online community on Facebook: Collective Light Community
https://www.facebook.com/groups/277309686634356
Hosts: Amy Kathleen Smith | Insta @astoriedtable | www.astoriedtable.com
Edited by: Ben Hill* | http://benhillsound.com/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhillsound/
*starting with episode 60