Category Archives: Books

An Awareness and Arts Day at T.R. Paul Academy of Arts and Knowledge Kindergarten

Nick, with his Awesome in Action team, was fortunate enough to be invited to speak to the kindergarten class at the T.R. Paul Academy of Arts and Knowledge (TPAAK)this week. Nick thoroughly enjoys keeping it real with young people as they find his method of speaking (a speech device) and his method of walking (atop his flaming hot rod wheelchair) so fascinating. In turn, he helps them understand things like walking, or rolling, the way he does, and speaking with a mechanical voice. He shows how he is able to write his story books and run his business.

On this occasion, the class offered some great ideas for what Nick’s next adventure might be!

Thank you to T.R. Paul Academy of Arts and Knowledge for an exhilarating afternoon with your students.

Posted in Awesome Advocate, Awesome in Action, Books, children, disability awareness, Fort Collins, learning, Outreach, Schools, students

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A Meeting of Two Authors: Children’s Author Deannie Humphreys-Dunne

Sep 4

Posted by AwesomeinAction

Meet children’s author Deanie Humphreys-Dunne. We were introduced by a mutual friend who saw that we had some common interests in writing children’s stories, animals, and horses.

I had the honor of reading one of Deanie’s stories, Tails of Sweetbriar, a silver medal Feathered Quill Book Award winner, and a Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention. Tails of Sweetbriar is the story of a young child diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy joining in partnership with a failed racehorse who loves to jump.

I found the story personally inspiring, and let me tell you why: Tails of Sweetbriar chronicles young Deanie’s struggle with her diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, a physical condition that means she will never walk. In this intense, personal story of persistence and strength, Deanie pushes through her diagnosis to realize her goal of not only walking, but becoming a champion horseback rider.