INTRODUCING ANN MCGEE GREEN

Like so many in the SNA a family connection drew me into this wonderful community. My husband, Barry, has a younger brother with profound physical and mental challenges. Barry and I were dating and were attending a week long discipleship conference in Lynchburg called Eagle Eyrie. When the conference ended, Barry asked if I wanted to stay the weekend for another conference that he was leading the music for—a Retreat for Adults and Youth with Special Needs. I loved how he respected and ministered to this community. With tears in his eyes, he told me that the parents and chaperones were his heroes. Less than a year later we were married and have attended this conference every year of our 35 year marriage (including two virtual ones where he led music and we led a dance online) Our children now attend as leaders with us. They have gone every year of their lives. Unfortunately the retreat is almost always the same weekend as Stetson, so that is why I am almost never at our fall meeting.

I help people plan for the future so that they and their loved ones (with and without physical or mental challenges) can live their best lives and they have a plan in case of their own disability. This includes educating people on what public benefits that they or loved ones may be eligible for.

Join the SNA! Join NAELA and in my case VAELA. Go to local disability conferences, meet the leaders, parents, and participants. Volunteer with the ARC, Special Olympics, Easter Seals, or another agency in your area active in the special needs community.

Depends on the time of year. During warm weather, perhaps a walk or a bike ride. Seeing friends or family. Playing a game or listening to a podcast.

A real problem I have is that I have a number of books that I start and am in the middle of at any one time. Mostly on audible as I am in the car a lot and I can listen to a book then. One I loved this year was Atlas of the Heart by Brene’ Brown. The hardback version is beautiful. A client gave me My two Elaines, by Martin Schreiber, a memoir of a spouse with Alzheimer’s. A sobering read I am finishing is How the South Won the Civil War by Heather Cox Richardson.

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