Inclusion Programs | Our Special Families Village

Down Syndrome – The News You Need This Week (1/31/12)

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Procedures To Use The Treadmill Training In Infants With Down Syndrome

Check out this Free Downloadable Treadmill Training Protocol from Noah’s Dad.

National Running Program Launched by Research Down Syndrome Foundation to Support Down Syndrome Cognitive Research

Building on successful marathon and other race events during 2011 in major cities, including New York City, Chicago and San Diego, RDS is expanding its running program to greatly increase its research funding, and has been accepted as a charity partner in multiple marathons across the country. Shorter fun races are being organized as well. “We are grateful for the enthusiastic support we received in events during 2011,” states Dr. Robert Schoen, RDS President, “Our goal is to support persons with Down syndrome by significantly increasing our fundraising in 2012.”

Adults With Down Syndrome Can Live Independently And Have A Satisfying Life

According to Craig Kendall, co-author of “How to Live, Love and Succeed with Down Syndrome” parents should develop a transition plan a year or so before their your loved one leaves school. Every person with Down syndrome is different, of course, so no two life courses will be the same. Kendall recommends that at least a year before a child is getting ready to leave school, the parents meet with school officials and try to develop a transition plan for them.

Hanby’s inclusiveness provides an education

Now 14, Rogers’ daughter Ariel, who was born with Down syndrome, spends more than 80 percent of her day in mainstream classes with her peers at Hanby Middle School in Gold Hill.

Northridge’s Gabriel provides unlimited inspiration

Allison Gabriel is an 18-year-old senior guard for the Lady Jaguars. She’s not the leading scorer or rebounder. She’s not the tallest or fastest player, and she doesn’t start. What she brings to the program is an inspirational attitude.

Dad with Down syndrome son: Don’t feel sorry

Smith wants to de-stigmatize Down syndrome in his blog, NoahsDad.com.

I started off today’s post with one from Noah’s Dad and I want to close with this interview with him. Rick is an amazing inspiration for all of us with Special Needs Family Members.

If you have found any great resources or stories, please share them in the Comments Section.

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What if this happened to your child?

Special Thanks to Terri Mauro at About.com for shining a spotlight on this. I took this directly from her post:

Site of the Day: Petition to Tell the St. Lucie County School District to Respect the Rights of Students with Disabilities
Friday June 12, 2009

What It Is: An online petition in protest of the decision by Alex Barton’s school district to allow the teacher who had her kindergartners vote him out of class to keep her contract and tenure.

Who’s In Charge: The petition was posted by Kristina Chew, who originally blogged about the case at AutismVox and now writes at Autism – Change.org.

Why It’s Worth Checking Out: Though a court recently upheld the district’s sanctions against the teacher, Wendy Portillo, the school district has now reversed them itself, amid a huge wave of support for the teacher from parents in the district, and harassment of Alex’s mother and brother. While it’s understandable that even good teachers make mistakes, the fact that there has been no meaningful apology here, no acknowledgment by the teacher and the community that the teacher’s actions were harmful to all the students in that classroom, and a growing atmosphere of blame toward Alex and, particularly, his mother is something that we as parents of children with special needs have to speak out about. It may not make much of a difference in St. Lucie, but it’s a contribution to the larger conversation about bullying and abuse in schools.

Where to Start: Add your name to the online petition.

And here’s another post where the teacher explains her side of the story.

And please comment here – what do you think of this and what do you think we should do about it?

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