RMHC Instructor Jill Heilman, who specializes in rehabilitation counseling and pediatric disabilities, offers guest lectures to medical professionals and pre-professionals on the psychological aspects of pediatric disabilities and how it impacts the family. Her knowledge comes first hand as a mother of three children – Neeley, Halle Grace and Ben – all who have faced many medical issues. Her daughter Halle Grace was born with a rare chromosome deletion, 18Q-, and lost her battle at the age of 15. Dr. Heilman provides the guest lectures as part of her promise to honor the memory of Halle Grace. She covers topics that include communication skills, disability stigmas, disability awareness, the school individualized educational plan (IEP) process, and the psycho-social impact of disability on child and the family.
This month, after 14 years of speaking to nearly 3,000 students in counseling, pre-med, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, nursing, physician's assistants, public health and more, Dr. Heilman was joined by her middle daughter Neeley, who shared her own story of her various diagnoses that include Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). She shared her story virtually with over 30 graduate rehabilitation students at Gannon University.