Charlene Pell - Facing forward in this altered body
Charlene Pell is the author of the award-winning memoir “In This Altered Body” and is also the founder and executive director of Facing Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with congenital or acquired facial or physical differences contend with staring, improve control of social interactions, and communicate confidently.
Thirty years ago, Charlene survived a catastrophic plane crash that burned 64 percent of her body, severely injuring her face and hands. Before her accident, Charlene was vice president of communications for one of the most prominent design centers in the United States, the Design Center of the Americas.
As a result of her disfigurement and the lack of psychosocial resources available to her during her recovery, Charlene researched and created programs and resources to help herself and others adjust to their changed appearance and circumstances. Since 1998, she’s shared her insights as a keynote speaker at conferences for burn survivors and healthcare professionals. She created a nationwide program titled “What to Do When People Stare: A Workshop to Teach Individuals with Disfiguring Conditions to Contend With Staring and Improve Control of Social Interactions.” Her work has been published in Skin, Psychology Today, the American Burn Association’s Journal of Burn Care & Research, and other periodicals.
Socials:
Website: charlenepell.com
Website: facingforwardinc.org
Book: In This Altered Body (Amazon AU)
Enjoy the visual here on Youtube
