As a toddler, Meliney seemed to be as any toddler would – curious, outspoken, and just adorable. Throughout her childhood, her family and educators realized she was not meeting developmental milestones the same as her peers. Mel spent five years in special education classes during her high school years leading to her graduating with a certificate of achievement at 19 years old. Fifteen years later, Mel is just now understanding the challenges of being developmentally delayed and the consequences of not having a diploma or GED.
Like all of us, Mel grew up with big dreams. She aspired to be a barber or a policeman. However, because Mel never received a diploma or GED, she is unable to attend hair school or the police academy. Having jumped around from one minimum wage job to another for most of her adult life, Mel is now happily receiving Social Security benefits and focusing on ways to be the best version of herself she can possibly be.
Despite traditional subject matters such as English, reading, mathematics and finances being difficult for Mel, she excels in many other areas including arts, sports and caretaking. Mel is an avid artist and particularly loves sketching. She plays basketball with her nieces and nephews. However, what Mel spends the most time doing is helping take care of family even more disabled than her. Meliney was unaware of her developmental delays for most of her life, but now that she has come to terms with her strengths and challenges, she devotes her life to using her best traits to help others, especially her mother.
Mel wishes there was better education for people with disabilities such as hers. She believes the past few decades of her life would have been considerably easier if she, her educators and her family had been given better resources pertaining to education and occupational training. Mel is uncertain that her strengths can be used to further aid in disability research but insists she will always contribute however she can to help others hopefully avoid some of the challenges she has faced.