Minutes With Patricia Moody

By Tania Ortega-Cowan (Contact)
Thursday, December 31, 2009

The happy advocate

The way Patricia Moody approaches life is proof that her title of "The Happy Advocate" is absolutely accurate. Patricia very happily dedicates her time and energies as an advocate for others with Down's Syndrome.

Patricia led the way for inclusion during her high school years and graduated from Sebastian River High School in 2003. She was then employed as a classroom aide for the School District of Indian River County, working with children with disabilities.

"I dearly love children," she says with her face full of love and joy, her voice kind.

Next, she was awarded the National Down Syndrome Society’s post-secondary scholarship to Indian River Community College (now Indian River State College) and completed courses in American Sign Language I and II, making A’s in both.

"The beauty of sign language captured my heart as a teenager," she says.

Already a client at Sun-Up Center in Vero Beach, Patricia had an idea.

"She was the one who offered to volunteer to teach sign language at Sun-Up," says her mother, Nancy, proudly. "She initiated it."

"I said to Dennis Bartholomew that I would like to teach sign language for one of the classes, and he said 'Yes! Let's do it!' and that is what started it," says Patricia, smiling.

When Patricia's coordinator told Chuck Bradley at Abilities Resource Center (ARC) about her, he interviewed Patricia and hired her to teach at ARC. Always wanting to give of her talents, she then had the idea to volunteer to teach hygiene at ARC.

"I knew that nurses wash their hands and it made me think that this was something very important for everyone to know about," she says.

Patricia now serves on the board of directors for ARC as a "self advocate" and she brings up topics she sees that are in need of change.

"I like to listen to people and their ideas and thoughts," Patricia says. She also helps raise funds for ARC, and writes letters on its behalf.

Patricia volunteers at her alma mater, Sebastian River High School, teaching classes in sign language to the students.

Blessed with many talents, Patricia is a singer. "I will be giving a benefit fundraising concert for ARC on March 26, a Friday night, at 7 p.m. at the First Church of God in Vero Beach."

She also donates her beautiful singing voice to events for the American Cancer Society Relays, the Miss Hibiscus contest and Special Olympics. She also signs in Senior Resource Association's Silver Tones concerts.

Patricia serves on the board for the National Down's Syndrome Congress and it recently implemented a national program that was her idea.

"It is very important to be able to make new friends and not feel alone," says Patricia. "Friendship Club is a national network of Self-Advocates aged 15 and up who have Down's Syndrome and can contact each other. So we connect through emails, and this summer the Congress' conference will be held in Florida, so we will all be together."

How does she feel knowing her program is now in place and functioning beautifully? "It makes me feel very comfortable," she says.

Q&A

I have met: Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John, Brooke Shields, Miss America Heather Whitestone and Barbara Bush

I want to meet: Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta (I loved him in "Grease")

Favorite books - Ooooo! I love to read mysteries!

True happiness is: Love, peace, joy, grace and fun

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/dec/31/5-minutes-patricia-moody/?partner=RSS