No Dummy

Speech Topics

for

Schools,

Teacher's Seminars, Educator's Conventions

Drawing from her own personal experiences as a kid, Sue Thomas’ ability to reach all school aged youth with “No Dummy” is both powerful and transforming as she talks about the ‘bullies’ in the classroom and the ‘human targets’ on the playground. Then she crosses the age span to touch the core of the frustration and

hopelessness in parents and educators alike.

Go "Behind the Scenes with Sue Thomas:FBEye" and see that from her earliest recollection, Sue Thomas looked forward to boarding that yellow school bus with her brothers. But as the only deaf child in her community the classroom presented unique learning challenges, compounded by the ridicule and bullying of her classmates. This is the personal testimony of how one teacher's dedication made a life-changing difference.

"The Agony of Defeat..the Joy of Triumph" shares the story of a child full of hopes and dreams... but a teacher's worst nightmare. Drawing from true life experiences Sue shares that it is only through experiencing failure that we can truly understand success.

In “Changing Lives” Sue champions those who saw potential in a little deaf kid. Although Sue’s silence hindered her learning the academics in the traditional school setting, the life-lessons she took home were far greater than found in any textbook.

Look Who's Talking...

“Sue’s honesty in presenting some of the painful moments of her past encourage honesty…I weep with joy for what God did in Sue’s life.” -Guy Doud National Teacher of the Year

"You are truly a gifted communicator and your life’s experiences enable you to speak with wisdom and passion. We have received nothing but the highest accolades.” -Jerry Haddock Regional Director ACSI School Convention

“Sue Thomas is the real thing—she is refreshingly honest. Her stories are compelling, moving, motivating, and ones that touch everyone, but even better than that, so is she.” -Tic Long, President, Youth Specialties

“We went to hear her speak before an audience of several hundred people, and were spellbound, as was the entire audience.” -Seymour Friedman Senior Vice President Columbia Pictures Television

“Deaf since the age of 18 months, Sue Thomas neither asked for nor received sympathy for her handicap at any time in her life: Indeed, as a youngster she was known to periodically bloody the noses of kids who taunted her in school. As an adult, Thomas became an accomplished pianist, and earned a political science degree from Massachusetts Springfield College…” Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

“Fearless and fiesty Sue Thomas has inspired…faith is what keeps her going.” -TV Guide 2002

“Uncommon courage …” Family Circle Magazine 2004

taken from AMBASSADOR

(Atlantic Christian School Newsletter

Spring 2009)

Student's Urged To Listen

For God's Voice

She hears the still small voice of God, but cannot hear a doorbell ring or hear her dog, Katie, bark.

She travels the world speaking to thousands of people and singing her favorite song, “Silent Night,” yet she cannot hear the sound of her own voice.

Sue Thomas, an internationally acclaimed speaker, has been profoundly deaf since just before her second birthday. She has used her struggles with surviving in the world of sound to inspire adults and children alike to seek God’s plan for their lives, no matter what kind of difficulties they may have to overcome.

Thomas, 58, shared her life story with

ACS students at chapel on December 5 and

challenged them to use their God-given gifts

and talents to help others.

“Each one of you holds a gift for the world,” Thomas said. “Search your being to find what you truly love to do and pour your life and effort into it and become the best you can be.”

Thomas spent years as a child with therapists

learning to develop her voice and in the process became an expert lip-reader.

She was teased and ridiculed in school for her disabilities, but persevered and went on to earn a college degree.

Her unique skills landed her a job at the FBI in Washington, DC, where for 3½ years she did undercover surveillance by lip-reading. In 2002, her life story became the inspiration for the prime-time TV series, “Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye,” which is now watched in some 60 nations around the world.

“I never thought I’d have a TV show based on my life,” Thomas said. “God used the TV show to give me the opportunity to travel around the world and speak to people in different countries aboutGod.”

On one trip she went to Nagasaki, Japan and met a woman who had survived the bomb. “I told her, you survived so that one day you would have someone tell you about Jesus,” Thomas said.

After concluding her remarks with her own rendition of “Silent Night,” Thomas met and spoke one-on-one with students, parents, and members of the community who were invited to attend the

chapel.