Learning Heroine LLC

11/02/2026

New article post starting with “A lesson in the quantum “

Been meditating and studying quantum- it’s so cool 😎

11/01/2026

I remember seeing a flyer for a special needs event and thinking, "This is perfect for my family."

We got up early. Packed snacks. Grabbed sensory items. Charged iPads. Loaded everyone into the car.

We arrived early and it looked amazing.

There were balloons, decorations, games, volunteers, booths. I felt genuinely excited.

Finally, I thought. Something designed for families like ours.

Then the event started.

Little by little, I realized this wasn't actually designed for families like ours.

The games weren't accessible for my son's motor challenges. There weren't enough volunteers to help him participate. Other families became impatient when it took us longer at the stations.

Eventually, someone suggested we might enjoy a different section of the event.

We walked over.

It was a coloring station.

Puzzles.

Very young children.

My heart sank.

Nobody was trying to be cruel.

Nobody told us we couldn't be there.

Technically, we were included.

But we didn't belong.

That's a lesson I've learned over and over again as the parent of disabled children.

Inclusion is being invited.

Belonging is being EXPECTED.

Belonging is creating spaces where people can fully participate instead of simply being present.

It's one of the reasons I wrote *How Do You Spell Belong?*

All I have are decades of experiences that taught me why this book exists. I am never going to tell you to simply "buy this book" though you really should buy. this. book. But I am no salesperson, I am a storyteller. And stories carry the marketing.

This story isn't about autism. It is about being human. Most of you have experienced some version of this. I am not talking about disability here. I am sharing another moment I realized that being invited and belonging are not the same thing. And that distinction is the entire heart of HDYSB.

Everything at this event was designed around a different kind of disability than my son's. And the moment I tell you my heart sank was the moment I recognized what was happening. We stood in the middle of this event, feeling completely alone.

We were included. We weren't excluded. We just didn't belong.

So why didn't we belong? And that is a question I have had to answer on my own for many years. And now, I am tired of taking it on myself, so I am giving it you.

That's exactly the conversation HDYSB wants to have.

10/30/2026

Hi friends and clients!

Let’s all be supported and centered in mediation!

Keep on the lookout for:

Conflict Coaching Sessions for you or you plus others (1-1 with me to help you work out what you want to focus on, or me plus your parties to help navigate your conflict)

Pre-Mediation Coaching- to help you get your energy processing, organized, and in alignment with your goals.

Divorce Coaching (especially when you have children and homeschool/ have a child with complex needs) I can help support you and share tools from coaching and yoga

Future to come ( Once certified, I can be your mediator! We can take breath breaks and do stress reduction- my yoga scope of practice is expansive and ready to serve).

Thanks for those who have followed along in my adventure chats as I finished my Virginia Supreme Court Mediation courses (All done! So many training hours- phew 😮‍💨 and I now have observations and co-mediations to work towards for full certification in the four non-lawyer appellate level mediation court levels I trained in). I’ll be working towards certification by working with certified mediator mentors who can help provide the next level of training in the coming months. While I work on that, I thought I’d share some fun facts about mediation so you might consider it depending on what court related concern you find yourself encountering.

Personally, as a worker with learners of all ages, parent educators, educators, and caregivers- I’m actually going to be pursuing certification in divorce and custody as a primary sphere to add to my client support offerings.

Here’s more info on Virginia Mediation from the Supreme Court of Virginia: “Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process in which a trained neutral mediator facilitates communication between the parties and, without deciding the issues or imposing a solution on the parties, enables them to understand and to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to their dispute. It helps the parties understand and recognize their underlying needs, overlapping interests and areas of agreement. In Virginia the mediation process is voluntary and confidential.”

Use the Searchable Mediator Directory to find a certified mediator near you. If you have an active case in a district court, contact that court’s mediation coordinator or the clerk’s office for more information.

10/30/2026

10/30/2026

10/27/2026

One of the most elite universities on Earth handed its classroom to anyone with Wi-Fi.

MIT has put almost all of its courses online. Free. No tuition, no application, no acceptance letter.

Think about what people pay for this. Families take on serious debt for a shot at those lecture halls in Cambridge. The same material is sitting on a website, waiting for a kid in Lagos or a retiree in Leeds.

You won’t walk away with the degree. The knowledge, though? That’s yours if you want it.

Most people will scroll right past this.

10/24/2026

Invisible illnesses are still real illnesses.

People with M.E/CFS and chronic illness don’t need more judgment or dismissive advice.
They need support.
Understanding.
Compassion.
And to be believed.

You can’t always see someone’s suffering from the outside.

If you agree this needs to change, share this post to your story so more people understand what invisible illness is really like.