The Shut Up Sisters would like to give a special shoutout to the great folks at The Center for START Services at the Institute on Disability/UCED at the University of New Hampshire for giving us the sincere pleasure of being Keynote Speakers for their first annual “It Takes a Village” conference in Atlanta, Georgia on March 15. ” START is a national initiative that works to strengthen efficiencies and service outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and behavioral health needs in the community. We were thrilled to learn more about this incredible organization and to meet so many bright, caring, and dedicated providers and of course, entrench ourselves in Atlanta culture, which included:
- Being able to use the phrase ya’ll.
- Visiting a bar called Church. We loved returning home to our families and telling them that we “spent a great deal of time at Church.”
- Dining at the historic Varsity for delicious cheeseburgers, fries, and onion rings and taking home some hats “for the kids.”
- Making connections with bright and inspiring people from around the country.
- Learning there is no time change from Atlanta to Boston (who knew!)
- Riding in our first Uber.
- Coming home 7 lbs. lighter — if only it weren’t just in books.
Our presentation was a smashing success, as several people promised to invite others to join The Movement of Imperfection by visiting the Shut Up community on Facebook and bragging endlessly about their imperfect lives.
Dining at the Varsity in Atlanta.
Having some fun with our fellow START conference friends and fellow “Church” goers
Delivering the morning keynote to a fun audience (no hecklers)
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