Meet Alma Schneider

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alma Schneider a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alma, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from seeing how much being part of a community can help individuals who are struggling become hopeful and confident enough to change the world.
When my son was born with a debilitating disability, I felt ashamed and very isolated. Once I allowed myself to discuss the feelings with others in similar situations, I felt less isolated and more empowered to change the perception of disability in my community.
I decided to start a support group that has now been running for 17 years! We have over 600 families and we help each other with emotional support, practical resources and social activism.
I co-founded a non-profit helping create and foster community for parents of children with disabilities,

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I co-founded 1in6 Support. Our mission is to empower and uplift families of children with disabilities by providing emotional and practical support, fostering accommodating communities, and collaborating with organizations and communities dedicated to creating a more accessible and inclusive world.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I am open to any and all opportunities. One never knows who you will meet, what information you will learn to help you in your important work.

Learning to say “no” to projects/volunteering that are not in line with my passions or work.

“Perfect is the enemy of the good” is my motto. Many people do not take on or finish something if it is not perfect. As long as it is mostly presentable and respectfully prepared, submit it!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

We are looking for people to help us sustain our organization. Parents of children with disabilities stand to lose a lot of services/benefits if our communities do not speak up. We are interested in collaborating with people who truly understand the vital importance of the work that we do for families, whether it is volunteering with our organization, donating money, in-kind donations and more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.1in6support,org
• Instagram: @1in6support
• Facebook: 1in6 Support, 1in6 Support Allies
• Linkedin: Alma Schneider

Image Credits

credit: Alma Schneider