Peyton Goddard |
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Peyton Goddard, the Cuyamaca College Valedictorian for 2002, is in the midst of a great journey, plotting a course to live a purposeful life. For the first time, she is "full-top" ready to embrace her future. |
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Peyton has lived her entire life in San Diego. At the age of 3, she was labeled autistic, a misunderstood condition that makes purposeful movement undependable. Consequently, she lacked a dependable way to communicate with the world. Trapped within her body, she spent twenty years within the restrictive environments of the special education system, ultimately ending with a “Letter of Recognition” from Kearny High School. In 1997, Peyton began using an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), a method where technology and applied resistance enables purposeful movement and communication through a computer. For the first time she gained a reliable method for interaction with society. Since then she has regularly presented at numerous conferences across the United States, including Syracuse University, the Colorado Department of Education, and the PEAK Parent Center in Colorado Springs. Significantly, Peyton was awarded the 1995 Collaborative Advocacy Award from TASH, the international association promoting inclusion and supported participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life. Locally, she presents many workshops at SDSU, CSUSM, Point Loma Nazarene University and USD. Audiences include teachers, administrators, policy makers, public agencies, parents and students. Her topics are diverse, but generally focus on supporting and accommodating students with different learning styles in inclusive settings. Peyton began at Cuyamaca College in 1998 at the age of 23. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and graduates with her Associate Degree in General Studies. She plans to continue her speaking and advocacy, as well as follow a career in Leadership. She hopes to enroll in a four year University within the next year. Post graduation, Peyton is committed to completing her book. |
To the documents pageTo Peyton's Photo AlbumSend Peyton an E-mail |
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How to order Peyton's video:"Helium Hearts"Video presentation -- approx. 30 minutes Cost: just $20.00, plus shipping Viewed at the conference entitled: Releasing the Hidden Potential - April 5, 2003Phoenix, Arizona
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