Mark Chartier
M.A. Special Education/ M.A. Curriculum
CO, US"Always believe you can make a difference, but never let your differences keep you from what you believe."
This is my core message to my audience members when speaking about building and developing positive relationships, overcoming disabilities, abuse, and mental illness, and accepting and embracing human diversity in our ever-changing world of idiosyncrasies and social biases.
As a child, I exhibited bizarre actions such as neck thrusting, facial grimacing, eye blinking, barking, and screaming, which caused me to be ostracized in school. I got in many fistfights, had poor grades, and was suspended from school frequently. In short, I was a teacher's worst nightmare. Despite this, I was fortunate to have some very caring educators who inspired me to do my best in everything I did.
When I was 17, my father took me to a neurologist who diagnosed me with Tourette's syndrome. Although we finally had an answer for my behavior, this was just the first chapter of my journey with a disability.
After barely graduating high school, I was admitted into college on a probationary status. Every day was a battle with my Tourette's symptoms and the side effects of medications. A brain injury in 2000 also caused me to develop a significant stutter that made communicating with others exasperating. But I overcame these challenges and earned a BA in English.
As I considered where I wanted to go from there, I thought about the people who made a positive impact on my life growing up; the answer was easy — educators. So, I decided to pursue an MA in Special Education, which I completed in 2005.
I began teaching special education in 2008 and quickly became known as "Mr. C" to my students. I fell madly in love with teaching and realized that my disability served as a bridge with my students. They realized that "Mr. C." was "different", so they were able to identify with me in a unique way.
My passion for teaching kids with disabilities has inspired me to share my story of triumph and success, as well as the poignant anecdotes and life lessons I have experienced with my students. Through poetry, memoir, and humor, I prove that anyone can conquer any challenge with a positive attitude, hard work, and determination.
Today, I am a published author, a motivational speaker, and a disability advocate. It's been a long journey from being the teacher's worst nightmare to becoming a success story they can be proud of, but it's taught me so much about myself and life that I can now share with others.
"Always believe you can make a difference, but never let your differences keep you from what you believe."
This is my core message to my audience members when speaking about building and developing positive relationships, overcoming disabilities, abuse, and mental illness, and accepting and embracing human diversity in our ever-changing world of idiosyncrasies and social biases.
As a child, I exhibited bizarre actions such as neck thrusting, facial grimacing, eye blinking, barking, and screaming, which caused me to be ostracized in school. I got in many fistfights, had poor grades, and was suspended from school frequently. In short, I was a teacher's worst nightmare. Despite this, I was fortunate to have some very caring educators who inspired me to do my best in everything I did.
When I was 17, my father took me to a neurologist who diagnosed me with Tourette's syndrome. Although we finally had an answer for my behavior, this was just the first chapter of my journey with a disability.
After barely graduating high school, I was admitted into college on a probationary status. Every day was a battle with my Tourette's symptoms and the side effects of medications. A brain injury in 2000 also caused me to develop a significant stutter that made communicating with others exasperating. But I overcame these challenges and earned a BA in English.
As I considered where I wanted to go from there, I thought about the people who made a positive impact on my life growing up; the answer was easy — educators. So, I decided to pursue an MA in Special Education, which I completed in 2005.
I began teaching special education in 2008 and quickly became known as "Mr. C" to my students. I fell madly in love with teaching and realized that my disability served as a bridge with my students. They realized that "Mr. C." was "different", so they were able to identify with me in a unique way.
My passion for teaching kids with disabilities has inspired me to share my story of triumph and success, as well as the poignant anecdotes and life lessons I have experienced with my students. Through poetry, memoir, and humor, I prove that anyone can conquer any challenge with a positive attitude, hard work, and determination.
Today, I am a published author, a motivational speaker, and a disability advocate. It's been a long journey from being the teacher's worst nightmare to becoming a success story they can be proud of, but it's taught me so much about myself and life that I can now share with others.
The Power of Positive Relationships
Mark defied tremendous odds to overcome multiple disabilities including Tourette's syndrome, brain injury, and speech impediments to earn two master's degrees and become a special education teacher with over 14 years of experience building unique relationships with students.
As a child, Mark displayed significant behaviors and had poor grades. In short, he was a teacher's nightmare. But because of positive relationships with his educators, he persevered and triumphed.
Because...
The Power of Poetry in Overcoming Adversities
The art of poetry can be so healing and cathartic!
Through Mark's journey as a young man with disabilities to a special education teacher of students with disabilities, he has employed the medium of poetry to express and explain emotions that are sometimes unexplainable in everyday conversations.
When Mark was an undergraduate English major, he developed a significant stutter due to a brain injury that made speaking exasperating; however, he discovered a love for...
Mark Chartier: From at-risk to at last
"If you believe, you can achieve." These are words Mark verbalizes to his students on a daily basis. But to Mark, these aren't just words of fodder; these are words that personify Mark's journey from an at-risk student to a walking success story. You will walk away inspired by the resiliency and persistence of the human spirit.
As a child, Mark developed symptoms of Tourette's syndrome at a young age while his parents were in the midst of a divorce and a custody battle. It...
