Candri Hodges

“Candri Hodges lives in Pennsylvania with her husband.  Her writing credits include four children’s books–When I Grow Up and three historical novels.  Candri’s short stories for kids have appeared in several magazines.  When not writing or reading,she enjoys gardening and antique shopping.”

Linda Kurtz Kingsley

Linda graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art with a BFA in Illustration and an MA in Art Education. Her first job as art teacher at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf introduced her to the hearing impaired that became a life long interest. After continuing her studies at Smith, Gallaudet, San Jose State, Pennsylvania State, Community College of Philadelphia, and Chapman, she became an academic teacher of the deaf, Communication Handicapped Specialist, and Resource Specialist.

I graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a degree in music

education and taught one year! Then along came marriage

and motherhood!

I was always interested in writing as a career, but detoured into music education in high school and college which was most useful. I taught music and conducted multiple choirs in various churches and in the United States Air Force (USAF chapels in the United States and overseas. When my husband entered the USAF Chaplaincy, it seemed like a good time to pursue writing and I began selling my first articles. I had also written and helped direct plays and programs. I compiled them into my first book, published by Judson Press. I continued my writing career when we were transferred  to England.

In 1978, I changed directions again and entered the field of special education and music therapy. With the birth of our first grandchild, who was born with cerebral palsy and profoundly affected, I became ‘Nan” and wrote motivational stories for these very special children. As it is difficult to find publishers in this field, I founded Jason & Nordic Publishers and have encouraged other ‘experts’ to write upbeat children’s books for children with disabilities and their friends. We call this line of books ‘Turtle Books.’

I am a member of Authors Guild, Authors League of America, American Association of University Women and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and am still involved in music as choir director of in our local church.                          .

Published writings include 18 books, program materials and many units of church school curriculum materials for various denominations as well as  over fifty photo essays, short stories and plays.

Sheri Plucker is a freelance writer who has articles published in many magazines and books including Chicken Soup for the Mothers of Preschooler’s Soul, MOMSense Magazine, Soul Matters for Mothers, Blessings for Mothers and her first children’s book titled, “Me, Hailey.” Sheri derives her passion to educate children and adults about Down syndrome from her daughter Hailey, who has Down syndrome. She has a B.A. in Recreation Management from Eastern Washington University. Sheri enjoys her daily runs, which led to her first marathon. She and her husband Doug and their three children live in Snohomish, WA. www.sheriplucker.com

Bill and Laurie started dating in high school. They both graduated from Longwood University, Va. in 1991. Laurie received her degree in Health and Exercise Science. She began her work as a fitness specialist in the field of corporate fitness. The following year they married and in 1993 had their first of three children. For the next eleven years Laurie was a stay-at-home-mom, all the while still keeping her roots in the fitness arena and teaching a variety of aerobic classes. Though still teaching aerobic classes in the evenings, Laurie now spends her days as a teacher assistant for elementary students with emotional / behavioral disorders.

Bill received his degree in physical education. He spent the first six years of his career teaching elementary physical education and the last ten years in special education. During that time, he received his Masters in Education Administration from George Mason University, Va. and his Doctorate in Education from the University of Virginia.

Bill has presented over thirty times at the district, state and national levels covering topics from the history of special education to teaching strategies when including students with disabilities. He’s the recipient of the Virginia Teacher of the Year Award, the Southern Region Teacher of the Year Award, and inducted into the Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

Bill and Laurie are actively involved in their church and with their children’s schools.

Rosanna received her business degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio.  She then went on to complete a program in Non-Profit Management from the University of Wisconsin.  For most of her career, she has been involved in the world of non-profit health care.    She was involved with the Arthritis Foundation for approximately nine years.  And, during this time, she became committed to fighting the devastating disease of arthritis.  Re-discovering her love of writing, has led her to freelancing as a health and travel writer.  Realizing that most of the country does not understand the impact that Juvenile Arthritis has on children, she wrote Peter and Friends at Camp. She wrote the story to be an encouragement for children and their families, as well as, bring awareness to the disease.

As a busy mom, Rosanna divides her time between family, church and work.  She is actively involved with her church ~ Cornerstone Harvest Church, in Lima Ohio ~ where she is the Department Director of the Publications Department and is active in the children’s ministry.

Rosanna and her husband Craig reside in Ohio. Along with their two sons, they have a goldendoodle and a four-year old goldfish.    Together they enjoy traveling, the great outdoors and spending time as a family.

Judith Mammay has worked with children with autism and their families as a special education teacher in New Hampshire. Upon retirement she moved to Florida with her husband and began her second career as a children’s book writer. Besides It’s Time, she has written a mid-grade book, Knowing Joseph, also about autism, and has had articles published in The Autism Perspective (TAP) magazine.

She is active in the Space Coast Writers’ Guild (SCWG) and the Society for Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). In addition to writing, she enjoys nature photography, playing golf, and spending time with her grandsons, one of whom has autism. Contact her through her website at www.judithmammay.com

Kate Chamberlin

Kate Chamberlin lives in Walworth, New York with her husband and two grandchildren. Three grown children have already flown the coop. She was active in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Church and her neighborhood. She was teaching Nursery School when she became blind. Not ready to become in-active or let her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and New York State Teacher’s Certification go to waste, she learned Braille as well as cane travel, and trained with a guide dog at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. (1989) and Upstate Guide Dog Association (2004).

She developed a Feely Can And Sniffy Jar Program to explain how blind people can do so many things. With the support of her family and friends, and the use of a talking computer, her teaching career continues through the Study Buddy Program she initiated to tutor elementary children in her home. Her role model as the former director of Community Partners: The Homework Place, the author of a published children’s book, an Anglican Sunday school teacher, a newspaper columnist, and as a Free-lance writer enables her to encourage blind and other people with handicapping conditions to live life to their fullest potential.

Mrs. Kathryn G. Chamberlin in her own words:

“I’ve known since Third Grade that I wanted to be a teacher. I just never realized that I’d be a blind teacher. Teaching is still exciting for me.  Instead of having a class of 25 students for the whole year, I teach hundreds of students through my Feely Can and Sniffy Jar presentations. Now, I can reach even more students through my twin-vision book “The Night Search”.  I tell my audiences that while we’re going to have fun during the presentation, it in no way mocks or diminishes the trauma and devastation being blind can cause. It is, rather, about choices.  I had no choice about going blind, but, I do have a choice about how to handle my handicap and the people around me. Through my Feely Cans and Sniffy Jars presentation, students and adults get to really understand what it is to be blind and how so much can still be accomplished. The audience actively participates in various problem solving situations with humor, innovation and technology.    An important part of the presentation is the built in questionand answer time slots between topics.

Some of the topics I address are: the talking computer, my guide dog, the long white cane, how I became blind, the independent living aids I use and free-lance writing.

My guide dog and I enjoy traveling and would love to visit you.

So That’s A Guide Dog Team
Sometimes people aren’t real sure what to do when they see us. Here are a few guidelines:

1) Do say hello to the person, not the dog. By saying my name, I’ll know you’re talking to me.

2) Do say your own name, so I know to whom I am talking.

3) Do ask me if I need assistance before you just grab me. I maybe concentrating on walking, not confused about where I’m going.

4) Do ignore the dog if she is in harness. She’s on duty and may not play. Don’t distract her while she’s working. Beware! Her pleading eyes may get you into trouble!

5) Do tell me if you are holding open the door for us. Sometimes I use the closed door as a landmark.

6) Do speak up if we’re in a crowd or location with a lot of noise. I’m not hard of hearing, but, when there is a lot of commotion around us, it is hard to keep up a conversation without eye contact for clues.

7) Don’t say, “Hi. Do you recognize my voice?” You might be embarrassed about who you really sound like!

Don’t tell your kids, “Look, there’s a blind dog.” I’m the one who’s blind. My guide dog is sighted.

9) Don’t wave hello and then get upset because I didn’t respond. Both my guide dog and I are friendly and love to visit.

Next time you see us, don’t be shy. Speak up. Let’s chat.