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COPING WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH PONY OFFICIAL SITE:
http://copingwithpony.weebly.com/
OUR LITTLE INSPIRATIONS BOOK:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/matthew-palumbo/coping-with-disabilities-through-pony/paperback/product-21737037.html
The best part of BronyCon 2014 was the genuine kindness of all those who made it possible.
Our first night at the convention my son and I met a family at the hotel who had come exclusively as a result of how the show changed their children's lives for the better. This was again the case on the second night when we met a wonderful mother and her two kids at the hotel pool.
In this second instance my son and I got to really know the family. As my son played with the children, Tommy and Alexa, I talked with their mother, Carolyn. She shared with me her story of what brought her to BronyCon. This was a story much like the one that inspired me to get the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel started in the first place. This being how her son with special needs was inspired by My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and she wanted to bring him and his sister, who also likes the show, to the convention to see what the Brony community itself could do to further inspire him to cope and see beyond his condition.
Something I personally enjoyed was learning how the mother, like me, had a condition that was gradually robbing her of one of her senses. We bonded well as our kids played. We also learned a lot from each other as she told me of her own amazing tale of inspiration in which involved a very involved mother who did all she could to ensure she was never bound by her condition. My mom and dad were the same way and it was nice to be reminded by someone who had a very similar experience growing up.
Carolyn and her kids did not know that children got free autographs by the Voice Actors nor did they know there was a free promotional card waiting for them in the Vendor Hall. When this news was shared it was smiles all around. Since I had brought some of my Trading and CCG cards I invited the family up to our hotel room to pick through what I had so the kids could get autographs.
It was heartwarming to give the kids cards for the VAs to sign. I also gave them a copy of the Haposaur story, Captain Scuttles.
The third and final night we had a play date so my son and her kids could enjoy the pool one last time. She shared how elated the kids were to meet the VAs and get autographs. She also shared how her kids really enjoyed the work of myself and Nicholas Bonanno with her son wishing he had a Scuttle plushie! It was a truly wonderful experience with this time spent with Carolyn, Tommy, and Alexa being the absolute highlight of the convention. The only thing that rivaled it was putting on the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel itself.
Another point I must mention is how unfortunate it was that my good friend, Latisha, was unable to attend the convention as a result of the Air Force cancelling her leave two weeks prior. This was extremely depressing with the cherry on top being how Latisha was unable to sell her tickets to both BronyCon and Otakon.
To try and rectify this situation I sent Latisha my promo card, The Mane-Iac. I also included the convention booklet and map for her. I wanted to try and find her something else but there was nothing she'd be interested in that didn't cost an arm and a leg.
What you see beside the Mane-Iac card is a prize that I'm glad I was able to get. It's the Smarty Pants card that was offered at Everfree Northwest! Anyone who watched the episode Lesson Zero knows exactly what I'm talking about with regard to this card. I scanned the back so you could read the interesting story of Smarty Pants as well as the tale Enterplay and friends made for what Big Macintosh did with Smarty after claiming it for his own.
BronyCon 2014 was indeed an event filled with lots of Friendship and Magic. Should I be invited back to redo the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel next year I'd be all over it. I've even started thinking of ways to improve upon this initial presentation to keep it fresh and meaningful. It would also be nice to meet up with Carolyn and her family again who have already mentioned they will be returning next year.
http://copingwithpony.weebly.com/
OUR LITTLE INSPIRATIONS BOOK:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/matthew-palumbo/coping-with-disabilities-through-pony/paperback/product-21737037.html
The best part of BronyCon 2014 was the genuine kindness of all those who made it possible.
Our first night at the convention my son and I met a family at the hotel who had come exclusively as a result of how the show changed their children's lives for the better. This was again the case on the second night when we met a wonderful mother and her two kids at the hotel pool.
In this second instance my son and I got to really know the family. As my son played with the children, Tommy and Alexa, I talked with their mother, Carolyn. She shared with me her story of what brought her to BronyCon. This was a story much like the one that inspired me to get the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel started in the first place. This being how her son with special needs was inspired by My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and she wanted to bring him and his sister, who also likes the show, to the convention to see what the Brony community itself could do to further inspire him to cope and see beyond his condition.
Something I personally enjoyed was learning how the mother, like me, had a condition that was gradually robbing her of one of her senses. We bonded well as our kids played. We also learned a lot from each other as she told me of her own amazing tale of inspiration in which involved a very involved mother who did all she could to ensure she was never bound by her condition. My mom and dad were the same way and it was nice to be reminded by someone who had a very similar experience growing up.
Carolyn and her kids did not know that children got free autographs by the Voice Actors nor did they know there was a free promotional card waiting for them in the Vendor Hall. When this news was shared it was smiles all around. Since I had brought some of my Trading and CCG cards I invited the family up to our hotel room to pick through what I had so the kids could get autographs.
It was heartwarming to give the kids cards for the VAs to sign. I also gave them a copy of the Haposaur story, Captain Scuttles.
The third and final night we had a play date so my son and her kids could enjoy the pool one last time. She shared how elated the kids were to meet the VAs and get autographs. She also shared how her kids really enjoyed the work of myself and Nicholas Bonanno with her son wishing he had a Scuttle plushie! It was a truly wonderful experience with this time spent with Carolyn, Tommy, and Alexa being the absolute highlight of the convention. The only thing that rivaled it was putting on the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel itself.
Another point I must mention is how unfortunate it was that my good friend, Latisha, was unable to attend the convention as a result of the Air Force cancelling her leave two weeks prior. This was extremely depressing with the cherry on top being how Latisha was unable to sell her tickets to both BronyCon and Otakon.
To try and rectify this situation I sent Latisha my promo card, The Mane-Iac. I also included the convention booklet and map for her. I wanted to try and find her something else but there was nothing she'd be interested in that didn't cost an arm and a leg.
What you see beside the Mane-Iac card is a prize that I'm glad I was able to get. It's the Smarty Pants card that was offered at Everfree Northwest! Anyone who watched the episode Lesson Zero knows exactly what I'm talking about with regard to this card. I scanned the back so you could read the interesting story of Smarty Pants as well as the tale Enterplay and friends made for what Big Macintosh did with Smarty after claiming it for his own.
BronyCon 2014 was indeed an event filled with lots of Friendship and Magic. Should I be invited back to redo the Coping with Disabilities Through Pony panel next year I'd be all over it. I've even started thinking of ways to improve upon this initial presentation to keep it fresh and meaningful. It would also be nice to meet up with Carolyn and her family again who have already mentioned they will be returning next year.
Category All / Miscellaneous
Species Horse
Size 602 x 358px
File Size 161 kB
Aw, what cool cards! :D Haha, Smarty Pants is adorable and it's neat ya found a card with it on there.
I remember hearin' about the lady who liked our story and was thinkin' of makin' a plushie! I'm sure it'd be neat if she did, but it's just cool you've gotten folks to enjoy the Hapos! :3
I remember hearin' about the lady who liked our story and was thinkin' of makin' a plushie! I'm sure it'd be neat if she did, but it's just cool you've gotten folks to enjoy the Hapos! :3
Like you so wisely said, "It doesn't matter if we ever get popular so long as we have fun getting our ideas out there."
Recalling the paraphrased above I am cool if she never talks to me again. Knowing her kids liked the book while also knowing I was able to give them cards they didn't have was super fun. They also didn't know kids got free autographs or there was a free promo card. The mom was so happy that I enhanced their experience even beyond their expectations just by enjoying some quality conversation. :)
The sad thing of it all is that my pen pal wasn't able to make the conventions and her tickets didn't sell. :( So I did my best to make up for it to her by giving her my BronyCon Program and Mane-Iac promo card. It doesn't compensate the money she lost on her ticket for BronyCon or for being cheated out of Otakon but I hope it does at least gives her a feeling like she was there.
If we do a panel next year I'm hoping the military doesn't cheat my longtime pen pal out of her vacation. Meeting her after 17 years would be just as good as if we had met after 16. :)
If I hear back from the mom about a Scuttle plushie I'll be sure to let you know. I'd love to share it with you.
The fact you believed in the Hapos enough to help me bring them to life is something I'm eternally grateful for. It was a lot of time and effort on your part. Please know Hapo will always be a shared ownership between you and I. It'll never again be just my work for I can't do it without thinking of you and how you made it real. *Snugs*
Recalling the paraphrased above I am cool if she never talks to me again. Knowing her kids liked the book while also knowing I was able to give them cards they didn't have was super fun. They also didn't know kids got free autographs or there was a free promo card. The mom was so happy that I enhanced their experience even beyond their expectations just by enjoying some quality conversation. :)
The sad thing of it all is that my pen pal wasn't able to make the conventions and her tickets didn't sell. :( So I did my best to make up for it to her by giving her my BronyCon Program and Mane-Iac promo card. It doesn't compensate the money she lost on her ticket for BronyCon or for being cheated out of Otakon but I hope it does at least gives her a feeling like she was there.
If we do a panel next year I'm hoping the military doesn't cheat my longtime pen pal out of her vacation. Meeting her after 17 years would be just as good as if we had met after 16. :)
If I hear back from the mom about a Scuttle plushie I'll be sure to let you know. I'd love to share it with you.
The fact you believed in the Hapos enough to help me bring them to life is something I'm eternally grateful for. It was a lot of time and effort on your part. Please know Hapo will always be a shared ownership between you and I. It'll never again be just my work for I can't do it without thinking of you and how you made it real. *Snugs*
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