Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany K. Daniels.
Tiffany, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Dallas, TX after graduate school to complete my clinical fellowship year with Dallas ISD as a Speech-Language Pathologist. I can’t believe that was almost 10 years ago. I always say to people that Dallas is where I became an adult. I’ve learned so much about myself since moving here and also a lot about the communities that I have lived, served, and worked in. I feel like I have always known my passion for some time, but it’s experiences through community services that I have gained since moving to Dallas that led to my purpose.
From canvassing for some of Dallas ISD Board of Trustees with Dallas Kids First, to serving with DFW Urban League Young Professionals, to teaching ESL classes at Vickery Meadows. To speaking with young girls through the Police Athletic League, to being a part of the inaugural class of Leadership ISD. To volunteering with CLASP International in Lusaka, Zambia, to teaching parent engagement classes through Big Thought’s Thriving Minds After school Program. To being a mentor for the Young Women’s Education Foundation at Irma Rangel High School, to starting a non-profit that benefits children with special needs, I have better understood my gifts and talents.
Many times, I found myself trying to understand why I felt the need to be so involved. But, now I know. The reason is that each of those organizations and experiences taught me invaluable lessons that were needed to help prepare the vision for The Learning Paradigm.
One of the things I learned was that each of those organizations recognized a need. With my background as a Speech-Language Pathologist that provides pediatric home health to children in many communities in the Southern Sector, I was able to recognize a few needs. A need to close a gap for those families that face the reality of raising a child with disabilities, but do not have the resources or awareness to adequately know how.
A need to provide an alternative child development program for those parents who make approximately $14 an hour and no longer qualify for Medicaid to pay for therapy services. A need for a culturally diverse organization to help with racial equity as it relates to diversity and inclusion, and a need for there to be advocates in under served communities that provide education and support for those children with special needs.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I honestly don’t think it should be an easy road. Anything worth having takes work. Anything worth sustaining takes resiliency. I remember someone asking me during the interview process to be accepted into United Way’s Non-Profit Infrastructure Initiative in what way could I describe resiliency as it relates to my nonprofit. I had the hardest time articulating a response. To me, that was a moment to let that panel know my why. To help them feel my why.
Being able to share your vision with individuals who may not be able to relate to your message is a true gift that is imperative to any mission-driven organization. I remember reading somewhere how vision equates to why. If you can’t clearly explain why your organization is needed in the community, it becomes difficult for individuals to champion behind you. That may include board members, donors, partners, and etc. Having a clear vision is one of the keystones of any successful organization to be able to share why you exist, what services you offer, and who benefits from what you provide, which results in more community awareness. That is a challenge that I strive to better daily.
Another challenge that I face is finding a balance between working a full-time job and running a non-profit. I feel that I’m on my way to strategically align the two. But, it does take time and patience. There are some days when I am overwhelmed. But working with the pediatric population, you have to be “on” during the therapy sessions (my full time) as well as after school at soccer or baseball practice (the nonprofit). Time management plays a big part in making sure that both are being maintained. I have to say it is a work in progress, but well worth it.
The Learning Paradigm – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Learning Paradigm was founded in 2016 on the principles of ensuring appropriate and accurate child development programs in our community. As advocates for those with special needs, the organization greatly understands the impact that disabilities can have on the lives of an individual and their family. With integrated sports (soccer and baseball) and inclusive based programs, we hope to redefine society’s perspective on these children so that there is an understanding that children with disabilities are not different, but may have a different way of learning, coping, and dealing with issues.
Our children need the support of empathetic individuals who want them to be successful and gain functional living skills just as their peers. The mission of The Learning Paradigm is to implement programs in underserved communities that nurture the skills and capacities of children with special needs. The vision of the organization is for children with special needs to become self-sufficient individuals through social-emotional learning. Our hope is to highlight their strengths and abilities, instead of their disabilities.
A part of that is understanding what you are capable of and being able to recognize that within yourself. Our programs have proven beneficial in helping to expose children to everyday activities that provide a sense of “normalcy” and contribute to their social-emotional growth. Through our Within Reach mentor program, our children have demonstrated an increase in self-esteem, desire to try new things, and attention span. Our parent has become more assertive when asking questions about child development and also see the importance of being their child’s advocate and role model. Our volunteers, in which several had never worked with children with disabilities have become more empathetic in understanding that these children are just like any other child. Just may require a little more patience.
Recently, the organization added a beneficial program, Jargon Consulting Services, which will help provide free to very cost-efficient services which include parent education, advocacy, staff training, and speech therapy. As one of the few organizations in the southern sector of Dallas to provide these types of services, we pride ourselves on being accessible by building relationships with community partners such as local recreation centers and libraries that will help eliminate any barriers that may interfere with providing the programs, awareness, and resources that are needed to support our children with special needs.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
A proud moment for me was coming across a post on social media from one of our parents that read, “I would like to thank The Learning Paradigm organization for giving our children the opportunity to SHINE.” I believe I instantly started crying when I read that first sentence. Reading that helped to reaffirm what our mission is. It helped to reassure that it may not be easy, but making a difference in these children’s lives is worth it. It helped me to reclaim my purpose.
For everyone involved in the growth of The Learning Paradigm, I am grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thelearningparadigm.org
- Phone: (469) 759-9597
- Email: tdaniels@thelearningparadigm.org
- Instagram: @learning_paradigm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelearningparadigm.org/
- Twitter: @TLPDallas
Image Credit:
Kory Williams Photography, D. Michae’ Photography
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