Do you need a speaker or singer for your community group, school, or conference? Do you need help finding information or resources for coping with a disability or other special need? Do you need information about making your conference or program accessible to people with disabilities?
Sarah has a unique combination of experience and education that enables her to offer presentations to meet a variety of needs.
Sarah has been ministering with music since 1986. She blends her gifts of songwriting and singing with a strong testimony of God's grace and provision in times of need. She has also been teaching adult Sunday school classes since January 2007 and has occasionally spoken to church groups regarding various topics. She is available to provide ministry through music or teaching for church services or retreats.
Sarah has been speaking at conferences, schools, and community events about disability issues since 1988. She is comfortable communicating with people from a variety of backgrounds and can tailor her presentation for a wide variety of audiences:
Sarah can also provide a variety of research and consultation services. Examples include:
A combination of personal experience, education, employment, and self-study give Sarah a unique perspective that allows her to relate easily to people with disabilities, their families, professionals, and the general public.
Sarah was born 12 weeks prematurely and has spent her life coping with visual impairment resulting from retinopathy of prematurity; psychiatric difficulties; chronic respiratory illness; and neurological problems. Her experiences led her to study education, health care, and disabilities both in the college environment and independently. Sarah has a bachelor's degree in psychology and special education with an emphasis on education. She completed additional coursework in elementary and secondary education, education and rehabilitation of the visually impaired, and church ministry. After graduating from college, she continued to educate herself independently about disabilities, health care, and alternative treatments.
Sarah has worked at a variety of jobs both as an employee and as an independent contractor. Her work has included services as a child care provider as well as personal care attendant. She has also provided tutoring to students from elementary school age to college level in a variety of subject areas, consulting to homeschooling families, and training in skills of daily living.
Sarah has been using computers since 1990 and has taught herself to operate several screen access programs as well as many mainstream computer applications running under DOS, Unix, Linux, and Windows environments. In 1995, she taught herself HTML so that she could put her knowledge to use on the World Wide Web. Her skills and knowledge of HTML, adaptive equipment, and Windows software led her to work as an independent contractor with Freedom Scientific, Inc., providing technical writing services. Sarah has also provided HTML training and consultation on accessible web design privately for individuals who were building their own web sites.
Sarah has also served on a number of committees providing guidance to schools, colleges, and community groups regarding accessibility of programs and services for people with disabilities. She feels passionately about the need for people with disabilities to achieve a balance between being able to access appropriate specialized services and to participate as fully as possible in community, work, and school activities.
Sarah provides the following services at the stated rates. To discuss arrangements for any of these services, please email Sarah.
Sarah is a remarkable person of faith and courage. She is an inspiration to all who know her and is a gifted communicator both through music and speaking. She is one whom people take quickly into their hearts.
--Steve Williamson
Sarah was the first one to help me to know without a doubt that I could handle educating my son, who recently became visually impaired. Even though I had homeschooled for nearly 18 years, my confidence was shaken by seeing a new world of unknown territory ahead of me. I wasn't really ready to quit but you can't make progress without some hope and confidence. Sarah gave me encouragement, resources, and ideas that enabled us to move forward!
--Margaret Myers
Sarah and I were asked to lead a discussion for the Candle in the Window conference on access issues to communities of faith. We constructed scenarios for discussion and divided into two groups for part of the session. Sarah thought of a number of creative scenarios and also showed herself to be an able discussion leader.
Sarah has an in-depth knowledge of visual impairment and education. When I have a question, I can usually ask Sarah and get a quick response. If she doesn't know the answer, she knows where to find it.
I have found Sarah to be a very empathic person who looks beyond the words that people speak and understands what is underneath or behind them.
--Rick Roderick
Sarah Blake is not only a great resource for information but a wonderful listener. My daughter was born 3 1/2 months premature. She is now 4 1/2 years old and going through the process of testing to determine the type of muscular problem she has had since birth. Recently I posted a question to a prematurity forum about a specific type of neuro-muscular disease that is very rare in children. Not only did Sarah respond with kind words of encouragement; she also put me in contact with someone who has the disease so I could talk to them. Without Sarah's kind heart and vast knowledge of issues and connections to others I would not have the peace of mind that I do today.
Stacy
Chicago area
mom to Paige, 4 1/2 years old, former 25.5 week preemie (1 lb 12 oz) with Epilepsy, sensory integration dysfunction, reflux, asthma and a muscular issue
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