Marty Mimmack, M.Ed.

My Baby Has a Disability, Now What?

​     This talk explores both the emotional and the psychological/logical challenges that may seem insurmountable. Marty’s first-hand family stories and personal rugged perseverance will lift your spirits and bring joy to your heart as he shares the triumphs and stumbling blocks his parents experienced early in his life.

​​

Always Look On The Bright Side of Life - For Everybody

     Positive thinking, deliberate decision-making and rational goal setting make our lives so much easier. Many of us face confusing hurdles influenced by finances, family, relationships, spiritual life, play-time, etc.

     In this Keynote-style presentation, Marty uses his personal and academic experience to demonstrate both intellectual and spiritual/emotional skills. For example, when ones self-esteem is called into question, certain thought processes are called for. Marty covers practical and realistic ways to raise your heart, mind and soul.

     In a world that sometimes lacks compassion, sensitivity and kindness, how we can take action to spread a sense-of-belonging, self-worth and competence to others through meditation, prayer and active intention is covered.​

     This interactive presentation is an inspiring and motivational retrospective on the advances of people with disabilities throughout history. Using the present as the focus, Marty recounts critical moments is social work, bio-medical ethics, and jurisprudence as well as universal design in architecture and community and business staff attitudes. Also available are classes and services covering business management and development for disability-owned businesses, and simple combinations of political action topics and disability in society issues from an academic and concerned citizen perspective.​

​​

What Is In "I Can't" - For those who can't and their loved-ones

     After an injury, illness-onset or disability people often find difficulty with cognitive processes, communication skills and emotional responses. When our needs and wants change rapidly due to unforeseen circumstances we have to have skills to communicate, act with patience and show kindness. These new circumstances can dramatically affect our relationships at work, in doctors’ offices, and especially at home with family and friends. This realistic yet upbeat interactive talk takes us though the details of our thoughts and emotions during a period when life can be nerve-racking.

     To build personal coping actions we first examine the beliefs and values we bring to the situation. Talking about and reflecting on these predispositions will open the way for new thinking and discovery of options. Then as we begin to clarify how our beliefs and values interact with our new limitations, we will have a better understanding of, and compassion for, ourselves and those around us.
   So come and work on your disposition, attitude and awareness during your rehabilitation, recovery and “return to normal.”

 

Eat, Think and Be Merry - For All: We may meditate well, we can pray well, we eat well…but HOW WELL DO WE THINK?

     Good cognition is often taken for granted. This group will help clear the intellectual and interpersonal communication channels for better relationships at home, at work and in the community. Practicing consistent problem solving methods and decision-making thought processes makes our lives easier, more intimate and satisfying. Marty has a lifetime of direct experience and 2 academic degrees supporting his building blocks approach to good thinking. He will present demonstrations, offer tips and suggest methods for figuring out solutions to problems as well as take “case” inquiries from those in the audience. Join Marty as he takes a look at how we think critically, live thoughtfully and respond wisely to our daily challenges, major events and life’s little surprises!

​​

Character Education Through Disability Awareness

     The 40-60 minute assembly-style or small group presentations teach Confidence, Acceptance, Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance and Understanding by focusing on:

• Interpersonal Social Skills - Offering, asking for, and receiving help

• Multicultural Understanding - Promoting the strength of human diversity

• Self-Esteem - Building a positive self-image

• Healthy Coping Action - Constructive responses to disappointment and anger

• Critical Thinking - Sorting, Assessing, Prioritizing, Analyzing, Choosing, Retrying

​​

Successful Communication for Parent & Child/Teen​

     ?Does your child or teen-ager misbehave or get in trouble too much at school, at home or in the community?  This course teaches parents and their 9-19 year old children how to communicate better and resolve behavior problems almost no matter where it manifests. 

     Designed to have both parent and child attend, this course covers how to improve your & your son or daughter's ability to think, communicate and act effectively.  Family members will gain an understanding of behavior prevention, management and response strategies that are practical and easy. Additionally, demonstration of positive character traits such as confidence, acceptance, perseverance, respect, responsibility and understanding will be presented. Finally, what to do when either party is at their wits end is explored.

Note: This course is not counseling, it is an opportunity to learn simple techniques for personal success.

​​

Pedagogy of Disability - For Educators

​     These courses look at disabilities with special education teaching methods as a starting point. Whether the individual’s handicap is visible or invisible, the self-esteem, motivation, basic human needs and home life must be accounted for to improve classroom success and perseverance.  The costs and benefits of “mainsteaming” are examined in relationship to the impact of mainstreaming on classroom management and instructional methods.

​

Etiquette of Disability - For All

​     Social, linguistic and political etiquette concerning disability is in flux constantly.  How we make reference to, how we act around, and the laws we pass for, disabled people seems to be endlessly scrutinized. Marty will recount personal stories and extract the lessons he has learned about political correctness, social prejudice and linguistic labels.

​

Responsibility of Disability - For the Disabled

​     Thankfulness for help received, openness to teach others and acceptance of oneself are three responsibilities of people with disabilities.  Sometimes a disability is viewed as freeing the one with the disability from certain responsibilities (e.g., produce income, cleaning house). In this session, Mimmack challenges the disabled to be self-reliant, motivated to achieve and to carry a positive attitude.

​​

Disability and Psycho-sexual Development​

​     Dealing with the basic needs of children with disabilities can be hard enough, but sex education is an important need that must not be overlooked. Whether the disabilities are cognitive or physical, all adolescents go through puberty, self-discovery and periods of sexual stimulation. Parents can lead the way by knowing the stereotypes, confronting personal shyness about the subject and applying Mimmack’s easy to use method’s for developing healthy sexual morays in their children with disabilities.