Mom of 6 adopted kids advocates for children in foster system
As the mom of six special needs kids, Rachel Selby is making big strides advocating for foster children and kids with disabilities throughout Ohio.
'I have a pretty awesome family and it's pretty unique. I'm a single mom with six kids, and I've had the privilege and honor of adopting these children,' said Selby.
SEE MORE: Remarkable Women of Dayton 2025
Selby describes her household as loud, busy and full of love. Her journey here was not exactly what she planned, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
'I initially was thinking maybe one baby straight from the hospital,' said Selby. 'It was opening my eyes to the great need out there to the foster care system, of how many children don't have a home.'
Selby began fostering in 2009, and since then she has finalized adoptions of six children, all of them with special needs.
'I think special needs children can be often misunderstood. I think we as a society is general are pretty accepting, but we spend so much time trying to teach special needs children how to interact with typical peers. And I really think it could be the other way around,' said Selby.
After an eye-opening experience to the problems with the foster care system, Selby became an advocate for foster and special needs kids in Ohio.
'You know, children, they can't speak for themselves and they can't band together to be heard,' said Selby. 'They don't have a voice in the political arena, and that's so important to me and I'm passionate about it.'
Selby is part of a non-partisan organization called Ohio Kids First, working with both sides of the aisle to be a voice for children. Currently, the organization is working on childcare access and making it more affordable for families.
Selby's friend Pam says Rachel is one of a kind, and a truly remarkable woman.
'Her family adventures make you laugh at times, they make you cry at times, and it gets even more exciting when you hear how she puts her political science skills to work, focusing on legal strategies to combat child abuse,' said Pam Hagwood, Selby's friend. 'Rachel has the energy of ten people. She's very kind and welcoming. She's the calm in the storm. She's smart as a fox.'
But Selby doesn't see herself as any more remarkable than anyone else. In fact, one of the most important things she tells her kids is that each person is special.
'Everybody has been blessed with a gift. Everyone is good at something,' said Selby. 'And to find out what that is and to explore it and to do well with it, to serve others, that's so important to me.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
63 Laksa: $2.80 bowls of Sungei Road-style laksa at Ghim Moh Road Market
All the way to Ghim Moh just for laksa? I was not entirely convinced that our in-house TikTok maestro, Rachel was being serious. The name 63 Laksa did ring a bell, though. I've had friends rave about the stall's signature dish for at least a couple of months and it has been in the news for its extremely affordable S$2.80 laksa bowls. The latter part especially intrigued me and questions flew through my head. Was it really possible to get quality ingredients and put enough effort into every serving for that price? Did Rachel just need a hand model for her viral TikToks? The answers lay waiting at Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre. Kelly Ng, 51, who runs 63 Laksa uses a recipe that dates back to the 1960s and was originally his grandfather's. That recipe was based on the famous laksa stall on Sungei Road (that's still around at Jalan Besar, in case you are wondering) which spawned a number of copycats, leading to what is now known as the 'Sungei Road-style' laksa. What does set it apart to an extent is that Kelly uses a gas stove for all the cooking. It's a deliberate decision to move away from the mess and smokiness of charcoal. 63 Laksa is only open for breakfast and lunch (8am to 2pm) and there is apparently a queue at both mealtimes. Our plan to beat the lunch crowd by heading there at 11am worked out perfectly— there were just 5 people ahead of us. What I tried at 63 Laksa Rachel and I ordered one small bowl of Laksa (S$2.80) each, as well as two (large) pieces of Mackerel Otah (S$1.40). I did a double take when my bowl arrived. Where were the chopsticks? All we had been given were a spoon each. Peering into my bowl, I unravelled the mystery. The noodles were cut up into spoon-friendly pieces! If nothing else, that one trick will save you (or likely your Mum) the time that would otherwise have been spent trying to get rid of little yellow laksa soup stain dots from your clothes. The bowl was filled virtually to the brim with laksa that was a wonderfully appetising pale yellow colour (incidentally, almost exactly the same shade as the tabletops). There was also fishcake and a dollop of sambal. A pleasant coconut milk fragrance wafted from the steaming bowl. Nanyang Spice: $6 earthworm laksa tucked away in Sim Lim Square draws attention? I became a fan with my first mouthful. Kelly's laksa goes easy on the salt and the well-handled seasoning went hand-in-hand with the intensity of dried shrimp. The fishcake is nothing to write home about, but gives the dish some essential bite. Rachel ordered cockles with hers and I stole one from under her very eyes. Meh, still not a fan of cockles. One of things I liked about the laksa here was that it was light, and not packed with the creamy heaviness that will give you a food coma. I was able to go back home after and begin on my first draft of this article right away. (Seth, are you reading this?) Despite abandoning the thicker (and perhaps more substantial) approach to laksa, the dish is not wanting in terms of flavour. With the otah as a side, I felt that I had a complete meal with a range of tastes and textures. Final thoughts There's little doubt that a large part of the appeal of 63 Laksa is the economy factor— it's really difficult to find a S$2.50 meal anywhere, even at a hawker stall. While it may not seem like much to many of us, it probably does make a difference to the residents of the surrounding housing estates. That said, while I did find the small bowl filling, most other people would find it a tad too small to be a full meal. It may be more accurate to describe 63 Laksa as the place for the S$4.80 laksa bowl (the larger option) as that would be what most people looking for breakfast or lunch would settle on. On the other hand, if you have little kids in tow, this is the perfect place to introduce them to laksa. The petite bowls aside, you can also ask for bowls to be less spicy to develop your kids' appreciation for this mainstay of Singaporean hawker dishes. Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre is home to several stalls that have received nods from international publications. I am happy to say that 63 Laksa easily makes the cut for me. Expected damage: S$2.80 – S$4.80 10 best laksa spots in SG for an irresistible meal [2024 update] The post 63 Laksa: $2.80 bowls of Sungei Road-style laksa at Ghim Moh Road Market appeared first on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Ask Rachel: I thought I was a straight woman but I'm head over heels for my neighbour, Sarah
Have a sex or relationship question? Ask Rachel about it using the form below or email askrachel@ Dear Rachel, I am in my early 30s and live alone in a small house in a nice area. I've had a few long-term relationships with guys, one being quite significant but it fell apart at the true commitment stage. When I moved here about 18 months ago, I met a neighbour whom I shall call Sarah who is a very fit mid-50s, lives in a lovely, larger detached house and is divorced with two grown-up daughters. We both love cooking and music and she introduced me to lots of friends and got me involved in the local am-dram group. I will admit that I was probably drawn to her as a mother substitute (mine died when I was only seven) but I don't feel the need to make excuses because of that. I have never been attracted to members of my own sex previously and assume she hasn't (although I dare not ask) but this was like a lightning bolt and I spend my entire day thinking of her and calculating ways and excuses to text her, call her or simply knock on her door to spend time with her. I've never been so happy as things are now but I really need to know if she feels the same and, if so, whether to take it further. I'd be astounded if she doesn't realise that I am head over heels in love with her as I'm like a teenager (puppy?) when we're together, which is often. There's the problem with her daughters; will they see me as trying to 'muscle-in' on their inheritance if Sarah and I become partners? What if Sarah says no? Might I ruin the best thing in my life? Do I need more than I have? Sex isn't necessarily essential as love and closeness is really what I seek but the thought of sleeping together is dreamy too. One minute I imagine her just waiting for me to say I love her and falling into each other's arms and the next, there's the nightmare of facing rejection and trying to rebuild what we now have amid a troubled and somewhat ruined atmosphere. Is this just a cowardly way of me asking you to make the decision for me, Rachel? – Anon Dear Anon, Let's go through your letter as it comes. Only a novelist of the calibre of Sarah Waters – start with The Paying Guests – could do justice to the simmering sapphic domestic romantasy you outline. Your few long-term relationships with men didn't work out. You're living on your own in what I think is called a 'bougie' neighbourhood (I'm seeing a Gail's, inn serving craft ales, church hall where you do your am-dram, Italian restaurant specialising in rustic pasta dishes from Puglia, etc). Down the road, in an even more desirable family house (what the French call 'une villa avec jardin') lives 'Sarah' the fit divorcée. You are smitten for the first time with a person of your own sex, and pining for more. It's clear that you are very aware of the tricksiness of the situation: she's older, she's better housed, you hang out a lot and you have 'fallen head over heels in love with her'. My immediate reaction to this is twofold. One, forget the fact that she is female. You are passionate about this person, how they make you feel, and what they mean to you. What's between their legs is beside the point unless and until it gets physical. You are wondering how to move it to that next stage, to move her from back burner to front burner. Switch the sexes, then: if she were some hunk in the 'hood, what would you do? You'd arrange drinks in the local… you'd gaze into his eyes… you'd ask about his love life… you know the drill. And then, at the end of the evening, it's do you fancy a nightcap at mine or getting a bit nuzzly as you say goodbye… and Bob's your uncle or not. When it comes to Sarah, yes, you do risk changing the basis of your relationship if it's a shocked, hard no from her. But women are nothing if not forgiving. If she values your friendship, I doubt she will fling you into outer darkness for the crime of falling in love with her. I doubt she will cast you asunder – or unfriend you, as we say now – if you make a subtle approach. As Alan Clark – the celebrated Tory lunger – wondered in the innocence of the pre-MeToo era: 'How do you know a pass is unwanted until you've made it?' In my younger days, a couple of girlfriends suggested we take things up a notch and I said thank you but no thanks and it was all swept under the rug quite fast. I wasn't appalled, I was flattered! Most people would be if a younger person declared undying love and on the whole, we Brits are far too terrified and constipated about telling people we love them, even on their deathbed. Moving to my next reaction, then. Reading between the lines, you suspect you have fallen in love with a mother figure. I'm sure there is something in this. Your curious assumption that you will be seen as a beneficiary of her will by her daughters only confirms my suspicions. She represents maternal and financial security, and perhaps this is what you are in love with as it's been missing from your life. Of course you ache for the love, nurture and comfort of an older woman that sadly you lacked from an early age and this is what I think you should say to Sarah. So I'd come clean and tell her this. You think you are falling in love with her but you don't want to lose her as a friend and companion whether she reciprocates or not (I'm afraid you have to assume she doesn't – listen to your gut here. Why would you be writing to me if you were sure that your approach would be met with the answering gleam?). At the same time, you should be open about the unhealed 'childhood wound' that is sending your emotional compass into a spin when you're around her. My instinct is that you are in an emotional storm and you should sit it out until it passes. If you are impelled to push it further despite this advice, and ask her to walk on the wild side with you, it is, as you know, high risk, high reward. At the moment your relationship is simmering on the back burner and it looks like only you want to move it to forward and start cooking with gas. Either way, I suspect that Sarah – if she is kind and nice as well as mature – will feel compassion and not revulsion if you admit you have fallen for her, and either way, you will survive. As my late mother always said: ''Tis better to have loved than to have never loved at all.' Ask Rachel anything… Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
New York teen tragically killed in Florida watercraft crash during graduation trip
A New York teen was killed after the watercraft her sister was driving crashed against the docks during a graduation trip in Florida — with her heartbroken father jumping into the water to desperately try to save them both. Rachel Aliza Nisanov, 14, was celebrating her eight-grade graduation with a family getaway to Fort Lauderdale when she boarded a personal watercraft with her 16-year-old sister, Aviva, NBC 4 reported. 'They were coming back to the dock from what I understand, and they lost control and they hit the dock, and they both went flying and hit the dock,' their brother, Yonah, recalled. Advertisement 3 Rachel Aliza Nisanov was just 14 years old. Family Photo Their father, Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, of Queen's Bukharian Jewish community, was nearby on his own watercraft when he saw his girls fall into the water. 'My father doesn't even know how to swim,' Yonah told the local outlet. 'He jumped in. My sisters were unconscious. Advertisement 'Their life jackets were on, they were lying flat and my father jumped in and scraped up his hands, feet, his back all over to save them. He did what he could,' the brother added. 3 Nisanov and her sister crashed into the dock after they lost control of the vessel, their brother said. NBC The sisters were rushed to the Broward Health Medical Center, where Rachel had succumbed to her injuries. Aviva was listed in critical condition and had undergone surgery late Tuesday night. She remained sedated on Wednesday, Yonah said. Advertisement The grieving brother described Rachel as a kind person who was 'always going the extra mile' for others. He said Rachel was the one most excited about getting on the boat. 3 Aviva was listed in critical condition as of Tuesday night. NBC Rachel's body was flown back to New York, with her funeral being held Wednesday night at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center, in Forest Hills. Following the service, her body will be flown to Israel for a traditional burial in Jerusalem the following day, the center said. Advertisement Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. The agency noted that at the time of the crash, three personal watercraft were operating in the Intracoastal Waterway 'as part of a guided tour.' During the tour, the sisters 'jumped the wake of a passing vessel, lost control, and collided with a concrete dock,' the FWC said during its preliminary findings Tuesday evening.
