Stephanie Hamilton is a mom to three girls including 16-year-old Ruby, who has Down Syndrome and Autism. Ruby has been the catalyst and inspiration behind Stephanie’s quest for true inclusion in the UAE for the past decade. Stephanie was the parent voice and a catalyst for the launch of the KHDA Inclusion policy, and was named one of the country’s top influencers in education. Stephanie has participated in many initiatives and panels on inclusion to provide solutions for People of Determination over the years. She is the creator of I am ME (most extraordinary), a photography project aimed to educate, advocate, and mainstream beauty in difference, and The Mindful POD, a support group for parents of determination.
We talk about:
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Being a parent of a child of determination
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How to deal with bad days – and there are very bad days
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The changing landscape of inclusion in the UAE
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The Special Olympics
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Where to find support for your family and your child
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Dealing with bad bosses + toxic colleagues
Where to find Stephanie and Ruby:
Instagram: @stephnektar @iamrubydxb