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Denedria Banks
 
Topics: Disabilities, Inspirational, Motivational Your today does not have to equal your tomorrow. Disabled since childhood, speaker/author Denedria Banks lives in two worlds: patient and service provider. It’s this unique perspective that allows her to offer a fresh point of view on living with disability or chronic illness. Speaking to groups since age six, Denedria instills in audiences from all walks of life the courage to seek out a better tomorrow. Diagnosed at age nine with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome, an inherited, degenerative peripheral nerve disorder, Denedria has watched her body and physical function deteriorate over the years, but she has not allowed her disease to control her life. In 2002, she suffered a left hip fracture, causing her to ask, "Why me?” Ultimately, she found her answer in a follow-up question: "Why not me?" While recovering, Denedria realized that she wanted to educate others about the challenges of living and working with persons affected by chronic illness. From her unique, dual perspective, Denedria now offers valuable insights to people living with disabilities as well as to those providing services to the disabled community. “Life is an adventure,” says Denedria. “You just need to be willing to take the ride.” Denedria is the author of Melodies of My Life, a funny, deeply moving and insightful coming-of-age portrait of a young black woman growing up in Los Angeles with an inherited debilitating disease. You’ll leave her inspiring talk with a fresh perspective on living with disability or illness, challenged to think outside the box, push against the grain, and find the gem within. Her presentations include: Three-Dimensional Living Discover your essence by learning how to define yourself. Scheme of Life Learn how to turn your life into an adventure, avoiding the pitfalls along the way. Getting to Know Your Patient (The Therapist and the Patient) Learn from valuable personal experiences of patients and service providers. Melodies of My Life: A Disabled Girl’s Journey to Womanhood Listen as Denedria reads from her book and shares her experience of writing, and of the healing she received through the process. What People Are Saying… ”Thank you for your participation in our Annual Meeting & Clinical Care Conference held in Kansas City, MO. Your presentation of “Chronic Illness & The Dialysis Patient: An African-American Perspective” was a true success." - Katrina M. Dinkel, MA, Meetings & Special Projects "Congratulations on a spectacular job hosting our 9th Annual Fashion Show at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center which showcased patients from our Adult Brain Injury and Neurology Services!” - Christina Webster, CTRS “You have done a fine job weaving together many issues of identity, family, race, culture and social work and described what happens when people acquire a disability, rather than experience it from birth. I am recommending that our faculty use it as a reader for first-year students in graduate school and for the BASW social welfare core course, as well.” - Pearl V. Wollin, Lecturer, MSW Practicum Coordinator Ms. Denedria Banks has a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento. She has worked in the area of social services for ten years, serves on the Board of Directors for Westside Center for Independent Living, Los Angeles, CA, and is a member of Southern California Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She’s also associated with the Rancho Los Amigos Performing Arts Program. Contact: (310) 686-6141 E-Mail: dbanks1922@earthlink.net Website: http://www.gemwithin.com Availability: S. California, Nationwide |
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