Welcome!
We are all so happy that you decided to stop on by our home on the World Wide Web! Thank you.
This portion of the site is dedicated to the TIPS Book – a revolutionary book everyone needs in their library.
The TIPS Book is the brain child from the mind of five individuals , Joseph Stanley, Marilee Adamski , Mei-Chyn McCrory, Tracee L. Garner and Tonya Gilchrist. This team of diverse and talented people saw a need to create a one-stop place for information on living and thriving though having a disability. They each believe there is so much to do in life and that any kind of disability should not slow you down. What’s more, they wanted to share over thirty years in thriving and living a complete and full life despite disability, with others.
Read more About the Authors below, and then check out the Request for Stories (RFS) to see how you could be involved in our new project! Soon, we’ll have our first newsletter and if you are interested in contributing an article or advertising in it, please drop a line to Tipsvolume1@yahoo.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
The TIPS Team
About the Authors
Joseph Stanley - Joseph was born in Coimbatore, India in 1980. He graduated from Carmel Garden school and went on to do his Bachelor's in Computer Science in REC, Trichy, India. After his graduation he decided to pursue his higher studies in the United States. He ended up doing his Master's in UW Madison where he also met his fiancée Marilee. He moved to Northern Virginia to pursue his career as a software engineer. He is presently working at Microstrategy and loves his job.
Tonya Gilchrist – Tonya has been an advocate for many years. As Deputy Director at Independence Now, she coordinates and manages disability systems advocacy activities, writes grants, assists consumers to learn about Social Security benefits and employment options and has supervised youth activities. She has been a part of the Maryland Youth Leadership Forum as staff and has taught high school students with learning and emotional disabilities about advocacy skills, housing, budgeting and other issues important to transitioning youth. Tonya holds a Master’s degree in social work and is working towards licensure as a clinical social worker. From the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, Tonya has had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for most of her life. Tonya and her husband, Don, live in Maryland and tremendously enjoy traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad as well as kayaking and swimming. Tonya’s motto has long been, “anything is possible.”
Marilee Adamski - Marilee was born in May 1976 in Stevens Point Wisconsin, with a disability called quad-Amelia. She was born without arms and legs. Her disability didn't stop her. She graduated Stevens Point Senior High School in 1995. While she was in High School, she worked at Sentry Insurance. She attended college at UW-Whitewater in Whitewater Wisconsin. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design in December of 2001. She had a few opportunities to work as a Graphic Designer throughout college. Marilee then moved to Madison, Wisconsin to work as a Graphic Designer at a printing firm. While she was in Madison she had met Joseph Stanley. Joseph was finishing up with his college career when he decided to move to Virginia to start his Job career. Marilee decided to go with Joseph to Virginia, to have more job opportunities in the Graphic Design area that she loves to do. Recently Marilee was the graphic designer for national best-selling author; Tracee Lydia Garner’s fourth-coming book entitled Love Unchosen.
Marilee and Joseph are planning to get married in June 2008. After a few year of being married, they both plan on moving back to Stevens Point, Wisconsin to be closer to family. Marilee would like to be able to continue making people happy in what she loves to do, being a graphic designer.
Mei-Chyn McCrory - (pronounced May-Chin), is a graduate of George Mason University with a BA in Communications, concentrating in Media and Public Relations, and Interpersonal Communication. Briefly she worked for the Department of Defense but realized her true passion was tutoring students with special needs. Following her strong belief that “Knowledge is Power”, she encourages those who can do – to do. Her students have met success navigating the educational maze to make many accomplishments in their academic course work. Currently, Mei-Chyn lives in Northern Virginia, tutoring a disabled college student with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Tracee L. Garner
Tracee L. Garner is a Virginia native living a productive life with Muscular Dystrophy. She speaks to the disability community on an array of subjects and is a natural and graceful leader, advocating and promoting issues that concern the disabled population. Tracee holds a Bachelors degree in Communications from Old Dominion University and she has been a guest for the radio show On A Roll, with founder and host Greg Smith, a live weekly syndicated commercial radio talk show on life and disability. Tracee is serious, diligent and dedicated to removing the barriers people with disabilities must confront to gain inclusion in all facets of life. A visionary behind the TIPS Book, she believes it will become a point of reference for all persons with disabilities both seasoned and “newbie’s”. Tracee is on many boards including the Coalition for Housing Opportunities In the Community for Everyone (CHOICE), a non-profit organization focusing on advocating for more affordable AND accessible housing options for people with disabilities in northern Virginia.