Courtney Mullins dreams of building the perfect world for her seven-year-old son Carter and others like him with disabilities.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Courtney moved to Tupelo in 2007 to be near her grandparents.

Carter was born with spina bifida. He has a persevering spirit and has faced many obstacles with fierce determination, thanks to the support of his mother and family.

Carter is a blessing and loved by everyone he meets. He loves music and is currently into Elvis. He is full of personality and energy. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him.

"He is a caring child and brings so much joy into my life. We have a good time together, and he brightens up my day," said Courtney.

Courtney's most significant struggle as a mom of a child with a disability is adjusting to her new life full of unexpected challenges and obstacles.  

"Some of my days are rough, but when I look at him, he makes everything better," said Courtney. "Despite what he has going on, he still enjoys life and keeps pushing forward."

Courtney thinks the biggest misconception about people with disabilities is that they are limited to certain things.

"They are not limited. There are things they can do. You don't have to leave them at home. They want to be included. Don't write them off because of their disability and what you think they can and can't do. Don't put limits on people with disabilities," said Courtney.

Courtney has good support from family, friends, and the community.

The Shine Foundation in Tupelo raised $26,000 to get Courtney a wheelchair-accessible van to make transporting Carter easier.

"They saw me struggling to get him in and out of the car and loading up his wheelchair in the trunk. It was a wear and tear on my body, and I wouldn't go places with Carter," said Courtney.

She was overwhelmed with joy and appreciation when she got news about the van, made possible by generous donations from the community.

"I can't even describe the feeling I have for them. They are a huge blessing," said Courtney. "There are good people out there willing to help, and people need to focus on the positive and not the negative."

Courtney feels it is essential to find the balance between being a mom and focusing on her own needs.

A few years ago, when her health started deteriorating, she realized she needed to prioritize her well-being and self-care.

"I try to do things for myself, like going to the gym, getting my hair done, or getting a pedicure. Don't feel guilty about taking care of yourself," said Courtney.

Courtney's best advice for building the perfect world for people with disabilities is to treat them like you would want to be treated.

The Matt Armstrong Autism Advancement Award was presented to the family of the late Matt Armstrong during the Creating Your Own Path autism conference on Thursday, September 8, 2022. The Mississippi Autism Planning Committee developed the inaugural award specifically to honor Matt’s dedication to enhancing the lives of people with autism through advocacy and leadership.

Matt made an enduring contribution to improving services and the quality of life of those on the autism spectrum. Matt’s work made people’s lives better. Some programs and services exist today because of him.

Matt worked for the Department of Mental Health for almost 40 years. He was Deputy Director at the time of his retirement. He worked in early intervention, behavioral health, family support, community, and intellectual and developmental disability services.

Matt helped the Magnolia Speech School write a grant from the Mississippi Council for Developmental Disabilities to fund an autism program that included training public school professionals. The program was so successful that the council increased the funding and formed a second autism classroom.

Matt also formed a team at Hudspeth Regional Center that provided behavioral support for students. Matt spent his career working to improve mental health and ID/DD services in Mississippi. His focus was always on the people receiving the services and their families, and he led the transformation.

He always advocated for people and families to access services in their communities. Because of Matt’s vision, hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were transitioned from regional programs to the community through waiver services. It was under his leadership and his vision that has continued. Matt worked to create a person-centered system that allows more independence. He was the best kind of change agent.

People that knew Matt knew him as a force of nature. When he set his sights on something, there was no stopping him. He was like a gentle stream that steadily carves and shapes the surrounding rocks. Matt was the kind of leader that led by example. He never sought the limelight and was always patient, kind, supportive, and diligent. Most people who have benefited from his work will never know his name. But that is not why he did it. He never sought recognition. It truly came from a place in his heart that desired to make the state better.

Matt was always watching out for those that were vulnerable and too often overlooked by others. The award recognizes and honors the man he was and the legacy he left behind for all of us.

Feeling celebrated and included is a vital part of the human experience. The Shine Foundation is a non-profit organization that works diligently to promote inclusion, acceptance, love, and togetherness through the programs they provide.

"We want parents to feel seen and supported. We want them to know we love their children and adults," said The Shine Foundation Executive Director Kelly Winter.

The organization was formed in 2019 by therapists at Beyond Therapy for Kids in Tupelo as a ministry for families of children with special needs in the community.

"We wanted to do more than only provide therapy services. We wanted to love on the entire family and support them," said Kelly.

Before the organization was created, the clinic hosted events for the children they served and raised money for families in need.

Last year's fall festival was their first event for the entire community and became the moment The Shine Foundation was born.

The fall festival was a collaborative event that over 500 people attended. It was made possible by the support and participation of the community, including businesses, churches, schools, and over 300 volunteers. Other family-center events hosted by The Shine Foundation have included a Valentine's Day dance, Christmas parade, and Easter Egg hunt.

This year's Let Your Light Shine Fall Festival will be held on October 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hope Church in Tupelo. Activities include a fashion show, wheelchair-accessible hayrides, games, trunk-or-treat, dancing, snacks, prizes, a silent auction, and more.

Families who have attended events have remarked on how they enjoyed spending time together in a judgment-free environment where they felt comfortable and accepted.

Having a loved one with special needs can be very isolating. The organization offers support group meetings throughout the year to help parents connect, have fun, and learn about valuable resources in the area. A parent's night out event is scheduled for November 10 at Hope Church in Tupelo.

Giving is at the heart of The Shine Foundation.

The Special Project Fund was started in May 2022. With the help of many wonderful contributors, the organization raised $26,000 for a wheelchair van that was donated to Courtney Mullins and her son Carter who has spina bifida.

Families can apply for the Special Projects Fund by emailing letyourlightshine2021@yahoo.com.

Another mission of the organization is to make the community more inclusive and accessible. They are doing so by raising money and partnering with Playground of Dreams to get an inclusive playground built in Tupelo.

The organization also works with churches to help them see that children's ministry is essential and excellent support for families. Many churches throughout the Tupelo area participated in an inclusive bible school during the summer.  

For more information about The Shine Foundation or to donate, visit them at https://www.facebook.com/groups/4376933815758072 or email letyourlightshine2021@yahoo.com. 

October

ADHD Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Depression Education and Awareness Month

International AAC Awareness Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Dwarfism Awareness Month

Dysautonomia Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Month 

Eczema Awareness Month

Liver Caner Awareness Month

 Learn Disabilities Awareness Month

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Raynaud's Awareness Month 

Rett Syndrome Awareness Month 

Selective Mutism Awareness Month 

Spina Bifida Awareness Month 

World Day of Bullying Prevention - October 5

American Veterans Disabled for Life Awareness Day - October 5

World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 

World Mental Health Day - October 10

World Sight Day - October 13

International Stuttering Awareness Day - October 22

Hydrocephalus Day - October 25

World Stroke Day - October 29

November

Alzheimer's Awareness Month

COPD Awareness Month

Diabetes Awareness Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month

 Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Prostate Cancer/Men's Health Awareness Month

International Stress Awareness Week - November 1-5

International Stress Awareness Day - November 6

Cancer Awareness Day - November 7

World Usability Day - November 11

World Pneumonia Day - November 12

World Pancreatic Cancer Day - November 13

World Diabetes Day - November 14

World COPD Day - November 18

December

World AIDS Day - December 1

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - December 3