Monique Matthews’ Health Messenger Profile

Hello my name is Monique Matthews. The sports I play for special olympics Maryland are basketball and flag football. I also coach track and field. The reason I wanted to become a health messenger is because I have had bad eating choices and with me becoming a health messenger will teach me better eating habits and inspire others to do the same.

Exercise

Health Story

Monique has done many speaking engagements from the Brave Talks to college classes about her story and the importance of Healthy Athletes. Here is her most recent speech:

I am here talking to you all today because I am one of the 6.5 million people in the United States that have an intellectual disability and I want to help make sure that all people with IDD have their voices and greatness heard.

People look at me and think that I’m NOT capable of greatness. And that I CAN’T do things.

Things like earning a high school diploma, holding a job, and playing sports competitively.

My peers and medical professionals have called me retarded. I am not sure I understood that term at first. But I sure understood the negativity around it.

But when people tell me I can’t, all I can think is… I know I can.

When I was in high school, I was told that I couldn’t earn a high school diploma until I was 21.

BUT I knew that if I worked hard enough, I could graduate at 18 with the rest of my class. Since I was a little different, my peers would tease and bully me. Because of this, high school was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. But, I pushed FORWARD and I received my diploma at 18.

When I walked across the stage in my cap and gown, I knew that my achievements would not be limited by my disability.

My hope is that instead of focusing on our differences, how about we join together and celebrate them? Let’s rise above the whispers and doubts and move FORWARD together.

So I am proud to stand before you and say….

I have an intellectual disability.

I AM capable of greatness.

I DID earn my high school diploma.

I DO hold a job.

I DO play sports (and compete on a national stage)

And I WILL move FORWARD.

I rose up through adversity and learned that I can do anything I set my mind to.

So, I want to share that we should spread more positive thoughts and not judge people. The people you look at funny and judge are like everyone else. With my intellectual disability, the R-word hurts deeper than anyone knows. It feels like no one understands that words are weapons too. Or even worse, perhaps they DO KNOW words can be weapons.

I want people to know that people with intellectual disabilities ARE capable of greatness. Don’t EVER underestimate us; rise with us.

Food & Nutrition