When Traci Parks inspires others to see obstacles as opportunities, she's practicing what she's preaching. The University of Dayton alumna has survived clinical depression, suicidal thoughts and the loss of most of her vision. On the contrary, she has distilled from the dark days of her life an ever-glowing philosophy that has allowed her to flourish in a sighted world. Parks will bring her message of hope to campus as one of several events scheduled for the University of Dayton's Disabilities Awareness Week program to be presented Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Her topic will be ways in which faculty can better work with disabled students. Although nearly blind, Parks is a architectural photographer with her own business in Columbus. Her only subjects are buildings, and her clients are architects, engineers and construction companies throughout Ohio. In addition to her business, she has taken on a second career as a motivational speaker. Her goal is to challenges audiences, from high school students and nonprofit organizations to small businesses and corporations, to see the big picture as well.