The blogging conference session was tagged "Advocates and Activists: Harnessing Social Media for Social Good in the Face of Compassion Fatigue." I slipped into the back of the room. Late. I assumed I'd hear about India. Haiti….I was curious, but I admit, I wasn't exactly jazzed. Yet, I figured the session related to me because I am an advocate, a blogger and a published author who writes about disAbility causes….

That afternoon, I drove home from the conference inspired. The power of the panelists' messages still surge regularly through my memory circuits. To my surprise, that afternoon, most of the panelist were parents of special needs children.

"Love Next," an oil painting of  "a Wren's egg cradle," which hung in the garden of the artist, Kim Barrick. She notes, "Surely the baby birdies were a happier sort because of their love nest."

Besides being mother to two children, one with Cerebral Palsy, panelist Ellen Seidman, of the blog Love That Max, has some impressive professional chops as editor for numerous national magazines. Besides her heart-felt, quality advice, below, she impressed and touched me with her genuine kindness and compassionate personal connection.

Said Ellen to the conference audience: "Finally after two years [after he was diagnosed] I stopped feeling bad for him. [And,] I stopped feeling bad for myself.

"I don't feel pity. Max is not to be pitied. It's just who he is."

When blogging about her son, she explained that she doesn't always zone in on the challenges. "I don't share all the downer stuff….[And,] when I'm sad, I deal with it. I write about it."

Anissa Mayhew has an ardent fan base of friends. Legions. She joined the community with the "mommy blog" Hope4Peyton, subtitled "a family living, loving, laughing and hoping through cancer." Her son was diagnosed and eventually cured of childhood cancer. In 2009, however, Mayhew suffered a stroke. She now blogs at #FreeAnissa: Wheelchairs are the new black. You got it. There's no room for pity in Anissa's life either.

Typing with one hand, "really, really, really slow," Anissa says she writes "really short posts. You'd like it. You'd come back."

Said Anissa: "I have three kids. I'm still a mom. I'm still disabled. I'm really, really lucky to be here today.

"I want to make pain accessible [in my blog]. I want to make it common. I want to make it okay. I want you to feel it in your core."

Anissa told of the day a solicitor for a childhood cancer charity telephoned and began her pitch with: "Did you know that children can get cancer?" "Oh, really? Tell me about it," said Anissa. Patiently, politely, she listened. Then, she interrupted the caller: "Now, let me tell you about OUR cancer and OUR stroke. And then let me tell you about our joys!"

I've italicized the above quotes to emphasize how much they resonated with me and express my beliefs about disAbility. As readers of this blog, I hope you already know: These. Are. MY beliefs!

In closing, here's a Valentine's wish.  What can parents of typically developing children do, an audience member asked the panel–which also included Ryan Marshall of Pacing the Panic Room and Ellie Schoenberger of One Crafty Ellie, and moderator, Megan Jordan of Velveteen Mind, whose infrequent but delicious writings make her one of my favorite bloggers. She's written extensively about surviving Hurricane Katrina, which launched her notable blogging career. To the audience member's question, Ellen responded:

"Teach your children that kids with special needs are a little different but still need friends.

"Let's celebrate all kids' differences!"