Kelly Sinclair had her share of difficulties when she was young. Having a hearing impairment was a challenge, but the effect of being labeled mentally disabled was profound.
“It’s made me who I am today,” she said.
Ms. Sinclair, Temple Public Library children’s department assistant librarian, will receive the first John C. Garth Person of the Year Award on Oct. 15 at the Bell County Judge and Commissioners’ Committee on People with Disabilities annual awards luncheon.
When she was a child, Ms. Sinclair was slow to talk and slow to walk, so her parents took her to a school nurse to be tested to determine if she was ready to start school.
Though there were other tests, the one she remembers was a sheet of paper with drawings of a cow, a cloud, a rainbow, a car and other items.
“I was asked to pick out the items that belonged in the air,” Ms. Sinclair said.
She had just seen the movie “The Absent Minded Professor,” which included a flying car, so she chose the car. The only cow she had seen was a picture of a cow jumping over the moon - she selected the cow. Clouds were a given, however, the rainbow was a puzzle, after all, the start of the rainbow reaches down to the ground.
Sinclair said she knows that test wasn’t the determining element in labeling her mentally retarded, but it didn’t help.
During her first year of school, Ms. Sinclair was seated at the back of the room, making it nearly impossible for her to follow what was happening at the front of the class.
She was moved to the front of the class her second year, but because of her hearing impairment and the accompanying speech problems, she was still considered slow.
“My mother was my champion,” Ms. Sinclair said. “She spoke up for me … she made them give me a chance in school.”
Her mother’s willingness to fight for her made it easier for Ms. Sinclair to fight for herself.
By the fifth grade, Ms. Sinclair said she had caught up and was doing grade-level work.
“I went on and graduated from college … so there you go,” she said.
To improve her speech Ms. Sinclair took a few speech and drama classes in college and perfected her word pronunciations.
“If I concentrate I can enunciate fairly well,” Ms. Sinclair said. “When I’m tired, I get rubber mouth.”
Ms. Sinclair said her affinity for children comes partly from her own struggles and knowing what it’s like not to be taken seriously.
“We’re not real conscious of Kelly having a disability because she does such great things with the kids,” said Judy Duer, Temple library director. “I know the award is well deserved.”
Sharron Stephenson, Region 12 education specialist for transition, nominated Ms. Sinclair for the award.
Ms. Sinclair was one of the first people Ms. Stephenson met when she moved to the area six years ago.
“She’s a wonderful resource for anyone looking for services for those with disabilities,” Ms. Stephenson said.
Ms. Sinclair’s thoughts are that it doesn’t matter what a person’s needs are, someone should be helping them when they can, she said.
Ms. Stephenson said she didn’t know Ms. Sinclair was hearing-impaired until this summer.
“It’s not something she puts out there,” Ms. Stephenson said.
Being given an award named for Judge Garth, Ms. Sinclair said, is an honor.
“To receive an award named for a man who did so much for the community kind of inspires one to continue to give back to the community,” she said. “I’m really honored.”
Others set to receive awards at the luncheon include: Harper Clark of the Telegram, Media Person of the Year; Shelton Janes, Harry Wilson Athlete of the Year; Scott Yearwood, Volunteer of the Year; Paul Medina, Pat Elliott Inspirational Award; Melody Euler, Family Member of the Year; Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Marvin Walker, Bell County Judge’s Award for Meritorious Service; and Riley Woods, Jennifer Phillips Award.
