Publisher's Synopsis
Find your inspiration to either become more involved in disability-focused supports or get the direct support you need to move forward with your own visionary idea to help more people with disabilities. Whether you are a person with a disability, provide support and resources for people with disabilities, or have a loved one who has touched your heart, the authors in this book are talking to YOU. They have shared their hearts and souls in every chapter as they take you from their initial creation ideas through the joys and challenges of their very personal stories. Much like traditional start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures, every leader in this book began with a burning sense of purpose and commitment to the journey. However, in addition to the typical business-growth issues entrepreneurs face, the authors of this book have the added complexity of caring for someone with a disability or dealing with the daily challenges of having a disability themselves to various degrees. This beautiful difference is what makes this book so special. Uniting the stories of these exceptional disability leaders provides you with a unique perspective on the real struggles and commitment required to create and grow a disability-focused offering. It is their greatest hope that you find your story and inspiration to become an exceptional leader also. Contributing authors: Mai Ling Chan, Angela Mahoney, Cassidy Huff. Catherine Hughes, Celine Osukwu, Denise Resnik, Erin Hawley, John Gomez, Karin York, Martyn Sibley, Peggy Lane, Simon Calcavecchia, Stuart Duncan, Yudi BennettUnited by Mai Ling Chan MS, CCC-SLP. Foreword by Eileen Grubba, actress, writer, producer, and advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities in film, TV, and advertising. Mai Ling is a mother, entrepreneur, speech-language pathologist, business strategist, speaker, podcast host, and author. Originating from Keyport, a small fishing town in New Jersey, Mai Ling embraced cross-country relocation which uncovered personal strengths, weaknesses, and identified areas for life-long growth. Building on these hard-earned lessons, Mai Ling also embraces her curiosity and love for human connections and she shares these passions through a variety of disability-focused offerings. She has provided comprehensive speech-language services and advocacy to individuals and families affected by communication disabilities for over 14 years. She has also been working to increase access to online professional and caregiver education through a number of digital platforms. This stems from her love for all things technology related. She has years of experience creating disability-related websites, online learning platforms, and incorporating tablet technology into disability classrooms. Mai Ling is also working to bring advanced technology to the augmentative and alternative communication industry in her role as Director, Growth and Achievement with a leading brain-computer interface and AAC company, Cognixion. Listen and learn from her and other disability leaders through her podcast, Xceptional Leaders, where she co-hosts a bi-weekly program dedicated to spotlighting high profile topics and disability thought leadership with Martyn Sibley (named the 3rd Most Influential Person with a Disability, Power 100 List, Britain, 2016). When Mai Ling isn't podcasting, Zooming, conducting FB Live interviews, or responding to emails, you can find her immersed in a new Oculus game, playing with her mini-Australian shepherd, or laughing with friends and family.
