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Glenda Watson Hyatt: How WordPress Changes Her Life Daily

I was so thrilled when Glenda Watson Hyatt of the Do It Myself Blog volunteered her story of how WordPress changed her life for my WordCamp Portland keynote presentation. I’ll be sharing the videos and pictures of the program in the next few days, but I wanted to share with you Glenda’s personal story.

As you design and develop WordPress Themes and Plugins, and even WordPress itself, remember that you are serving thousands, maybe even millions of people just like Glenda. Creative, energetic members of society determined to give back to their community, yet unable to communicate in person or easily interact with a computer. They are reliant upon those of us who make the web possible, and social, to communicate with others by maintaining web accessibility standards.

I’ll Do It Myself by Glenda Watson HyattGlenda tells her story in her book, “I’ll Do It Myself.” Imagine being unable to communicate but having a lot to say. With the help of determined friends, family, and an off-and-on-again support community, made her way through high school and then into college, and eventually into her own consulting business without much ability to talk “normally.”

Glenda Watson Hyatt, Darrell Hyatt, and Lorelle VanFossen at Blog World Expo

Glenda Watson Hyatt, Darrell Hyatt, and Lorelle VanFossen at Blog World Expo

When she started blogging, she discovered that she could leave behind all the years of “I don’t understand you” and “What are you trying to say?” and people thinking she was retarded or a vegetable. She could express herself. She could communicate with others with no barriers. A whole world opened up to her.

I was extremely lucky to spend time with Glenda and her wonderful husband, Darrell, at Blog World Expo in Las Vegas. We had a great time visiting and both were extremely excited about being included in the WordCamp Portland event through video. I’m lucky to have found two wonderful new friends and I look forward to visiting them soon in the Vancouver, British Columbia, area.

If you have a social media or web technology conference in the Pacific Northwest – or anywhere for that matter – and you want an incredible inspirational blogger to speak to you, get Glenda. She will change your life with her smile and attitude.

Thanks, Glenda!

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Copyright Lorelle VanFossen, the author of Blogging Tips, What Bloggers Won't Tell You About Blogging.

This entry was written by Lorelle VanFossen and posted on October 1, 2008 at 6:43 pm and filed under Web Design, WordPress, WordPress News, WordPress Plugins, WordPress Themes, WordPress Tips with tags , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

13 Comments

  1. Claude Gelinas
    Posted October 1, 2008 at 9:26 pm | Permalink

    Glenda Watson Hyatt is an inspiration for us all who enjoy healthy hands to type away our huge articles without breaking a proverbial sweat.

    People for disabilities have as much to say as anybody else and if WordPress helps do that, I feel the world is a better place for it.

    We love you, Glenda!

    You’re amazing…

    Reply
  2. The Blog Artist
    Posted October 1, 2008 at 10:34 pm | Permalink

    hi Lorelle, I just “met” Glenda last night on Liz Strauss’ blog, what an awesome story of humanity meets technology.

    The need to communicate is a powerful motivator for all of us, Glenda is an inspiring example, thx for the video!

    Reply
  3. Gautam
    Posted October 1, 2008 at 11:04 pm | Permalink

    Hi Lorelle,

    I need your help to figure out which plugin is used on this particular site :
    http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/12/22/tag-managing-thing-plugin-for-wordpress-23-or-above/

    If you scroll all the way down, you’ll notice “Incoming Search Terms for the Article”.

    Can you please help me find which plugin is used there.

    Thanks in advance,
    G

    Reply
  4. ...paul
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 2:03 am | Permalink

    Thanks for this post Lorrelle.

    My health and disability problems are nowhere near as severe as Glenda’s, but in bad patches I can be virtually housebound for weeks and, even, months at a time. I’m relatively new to WordPress, and blogging in a niche market. But it has made a huge difference to me since getting involved.

    Glenda’s video is an inspiration.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
  5. netster
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 2:25 am | Permalink

    wow! this is truly amazing success story!

    a must share with every one!

    thank you for sharing

    Reply
  6. Amy Stewart
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 7:34 am | Permalink

    I have had the pleasure to get to “know” Glenda through Twitter, and have found her to be a true inspiration. Reading about how she copes with everyday things and accomplishes such big things despite her physical handicap, never with the slightest trace of feeling sorry for herself, makes me realize that virtually any problem is surmountable with the right attitude.

    I hope that someday I’ll have the chance to meet her in person too.

    Reply
  7. Lucy
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 9:28 am | Permalink

    Wow, that’s an AMAZING story. I’m definitely adding Glenda’s blog to my RSS feeds. One thing that I love about the internet and blogging in particular is how it gives empowerment to those who wish to communicate and write, no matter what their “physical context” is.

    Reply
  8. Dgold
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 9:45 am | Permalink

    Glenda’s video is great. Thanks for asking her to make that. I forwarded it to some of my non-WordPress friends, talking about accessibility.

    Lorelle, the caption on the photo of you 3 is non-standard. Most publications label the people in the photo from left to right, to match the faces in the pic. More accurate caption would be: “Darrell Hyatt, Lorelle VanFossen, and Glenda Watson Hyatt, at Blog World Expo”

    Reply
  9. katesaltfleet
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 1:56 pm | Permalink

    I just love how blogging brings people together like this.

    Reply
  10. Kym Huynh
    Posted October 2, 2008 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

    It’s so easy to forget that beneath what is initially obvious to us, there lies at its core, someone who is capable of intelligent thought and capable of feeling.

    Wow… just wow.

    Reply
  11. patriciaj
    Posted October 3, 2008 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    Glenda is an amazing writer. For those of you looking for a blogger or some good articles I highly recommend her.

    Reply
  12. andi
    Posted October 4, 2008 at 9:33 am | Permalink

    Very beautiful live.
    i’m indonesian. not good in english but i’m very glad if could know you.

    Reply
  13. Melodie
    Posted July 29, 2010 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

    Thank you! Glenda is a wonderful inspiration. Today I found her blog through another blogger and they are both now in my feed – and so are you! This is by far the best WordPress site I’ve come across yet, and believe me, I’ve looked at plenty! I’m a new and upcoming blogger having just started to learn how to build a website/blog. Actually, I’m amazed at how most training seems to be a bit backward for me – especially as I have to keep going back to ‘fix’ things that weren’t offered up initially. Examples are: Security – how to make your site secure (even the minimal is better than nothing at all!), SEO Headlines, Keywords, linking, etc. My website, http://www.whispersinmotion.com is going through transformation daily as I keep learning. Glenda’s free download eBook about accessibility is also extremely helpful and very clear. If I learn and start doing this right now, it will become second nature soon (I hope!) I am so happy I found yours and Glenda’s blogs! 🙂

    Reply

14 Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. By Left thumb still blogging! - Mardahl.dk on October 3, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    […] a captioned video of Glenda Watson Hyatt telling her own blogging story. Lorelle on WordPress also blogged about Glenda, writing something that I want to quote: As you design and develop WordPress Themes and Plugins, […]

  2. By Wie WordPress mein Leben verändert hat | blog-O-rama on October 4, 2008 at 10:02 am

    […] mein Leben, sondern das von Glenda Watson Hyatt, auf die mich die geschätzte Lorelle van Vossen gerade aufmerksam gemacht hat. WordPress als Therapie und Lebenshilfe. Da jauchzt und juchzt […]

  3. By Eisbrecher-Bibliothek » Blog Archive » Wie WordPress mein Leben verändert hat on October 4, 2008 at 10:02 am

    […] mein Leben, sondern das von Glenda Watson Hyatt, auf die mich die geschätzte Lorelle van Vossen gerade aufmerksam gemacht hat. WordPress als Therapie und Lebenshilfe. Da jauchzt und juchzt […]

  4. By Memento » Blog Archive » Wie WordPress mein Leben verändert hat on October 4, 2008 at 10:02 am

    […] mein Leben, sondern das von Glenda Watson Hyatt, auf die mich die geschätzte Lorelle van Vossen gerade aufmerksam gemacht hat. WordPress als Therapie und Lebenshilfe. Da jauchzt und juchzt […]

  5. By WordCamp Portland: How WordPress Changes Lives « Lorelle on WordPress on October 4, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    […] fans offered for how and why WordPress changed their lives. And don’t forget to check out Glenda Watson Hyatt: How WordPress Changes Her Life Daily, the video made especially for the finale of my […]

  6. By Do You Digg It | Glenda Watson Hyatt Continues To Inspire on October 5, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    […] Go here to see Glenda speak on Lorelle on WordPress. […]

  7. By JBot Mania » Blog Archive » The Left-Thumbed Blogger on October 5, 2008 at 7:42 pm

    […] Lorelle from Lorelle on WordPress blogs about meeting this amazing blogger. […]

  8. By Ear Info » Blog Archive on October 5, 2008 at 8:25 pm

    […] Glenda Watson Hyatt: How WordPress Changes Her Life Daily […]

  9. By The WordCamp Report » WordPress Fairy Blogmother Attacks WordCamp Portland on October 5, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    […] WordPress Fairy Blogmother concluded with a video created especially for the event by Glenda Watson Hyatt of the Do It Myself Blog which is now being spread across the web. Known as […]

  10. By Lorelle VanFossen - Fairy Blogmother Extraordinaire | Kym Huynh on October 14, 2008 at 2:12 am

    […] Lorelle promised me that she had someting up her sleeve. What surprised me was not the costume but the stories in her presentation (not to mention she somehow got me into the presentation too!). Visit Lorelle and Glenda today and don’t forget to check out the presentation. […]

  11. By The Freedom in Freedom of Speech « Lorelle on WordPress on January 27, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    […] here next to Glenda, I’m reminded of that dream. Blogging gave her the freedom to express herself that her body would not permit, opening up a huge world of interaction, relationships, and […]

  12. By John Mckenna, WordCamp Melbourne 2011 | Blogging, WordPress, Social Media, Web Publishing - WordCast on March 10, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    […] thinker Lorelle VanFossen can attest to the power of this idea and one only needs to look to the inspiring story of Glenda Watson Hyatt. Imagine being unable to communicate but having a lot to say. With the help of determined friends, […]

  13. By WordCamp Melbourne 2011: The Final Wrap-Up | Blogging, WordPress, Social Media, Web Publishing - WordCast on March 17, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    […] own Lorelle VanFossen can attest to the power of this idea and one only needs to look to the inspiring story of Glenda Watson Hyatt to see this idea in […]

  14. By WordCamp Whistler: WordPress Power Tips Slide Show « Lorelle on WordPress on June 10, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    […] also showed my popular “WordCamp Portland: How WordPress Changes Lives” including the fabulous video by Glenda Watson Hyatt of the Do It Myself Blog on how she, the famous Left Thumb Blogger, had her […]

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