What I Learned From People with Down Syndrome

I’ve been busy this week writing a guest post and group post. Today I am posting as part of a group writing project from Middle Zone Musings. The theme is “What I learned from (People)…” If you would like to see what others have written on this subject, a complete list will be posted on Middle Zone Musings on Monday February 11, 2008.

Last August my husband I went to the NDSC National Convention. We have a three year old daughter with Down syndrome and have heard about these conventions in the past, but I never really thought much of it. In August 2007, however, it was held in Kansas City so we were able to go without all the extra travel expense. I did not know what to expect, but was very impressed.

Since the birth of our daughter, we have been actively involved in the Kansas City Down Syndrome Guild. We go to monthly meetings with our local parent support group. We attend quarterly new parent breakfasts. We participate in the annual Buddy Walk. All of these meetings have helped us to realize that our daughter has as much chance to live on her own, go to school (maybe even college) and yes, even get married. At these local meetings, most of the parents involved have younger children. Like us, they are just beginning their journey down this special road and exploring what our children will become.

When you see young children with Down syndrome it is fun to watch them laugh and play. It is exciting to share your child’s accomplishments and hear of other children’s successes. But you don’t really get a feel for what it will be like for your child when she is older. Even at the Buddy Walk where older children and adults participate, you only get to see a brief view of that person enjoying one afternoon of his or her life.

I’ve been to a few work conventions in my life so I get the general concept. There are break-out sessions that you can choose from and you go to the ones that most interest you. Again, the sessions we chose pertained mostly to young children: eating problems; potty training; behavior issues; school and I.E.P.s (Individual Education Plans). But twice a day there was one large session that had a couple key note speakers. Some of these speakers were teachers or parents, but each session had one self-advocate. A self-advocate is a person with Down syndrome who is promoting his or her life and accomplishments.

I wish I could remember all the names of those impressive people. One person I do remember was Karen Gaffney. Karen has an impressive resume. She has accomplished things that many typical people could not. She swam on a relay team across the English Channel. She recently swam the width of Lake Tahoe. Karen has had hip surgery and only kicks one leg when she swims. She is an intelligent, educated woman.

Another person I met was Chris Burke. You may remember Chris as Corky on the television series “Life Goes On”. I am not one to get excited about meeting celebrities, but I was honored to meet Chris and I even got a picture of him holding my daughter. He has a band and has a children’s CD. I purchased a autographed CD and was impressed with how neat his handwriting was, especially after signing so many CDs. I know my writing would have been getting sloppy.

Thanks to these individuals and their parents, my daughter has a bright future indeed. Just 20 years ago if a person was born with Down syndrome the parents were told to put the child in an institution and forget the he was ever born. I have met people whose parents made this decision for their sibling. I have a friend whose aunt and uncle had to struggle to get education for their son. Their son is just a few years younger than me. The school would not integrate him because they thought he would not live past 10 or 11 and it was a waste of time.
What I have learned from people with Down syndrome is they have dreams just like you and me. I have learned no one should put limits on your dreams. I have learned everyone has obstacles in your life and with effort you can overcome those obstacles.