Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Horses prove to be mysterious miracle workers for disabled



by Mike Tolson from Chron.com:
Of all the unusual Olympic events, from table tennis to synchronized swimming, the equestrian sport with the funny French name - dressage - stands alone. What other competition is customarily performed in top hat and tails?
So political pundits predictably had their fun when it was revealed that Ann Romney's very expensive dressage horse will be making its debut in London's Olympic horse ring. The fact that her family was able to take business tax deductions so that a horse could make intricate - and to the unschooled, rather odd - moves around a show ring with music playing in the background struck the cynical as one more piece of absurdity from the tax code.
Mentioned only in passing was Romney's reason for getting involved with horses in the first place. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 after experiencing a physical decline that included fatigue and numbness. A doctor suggested riding. Just getting on a horse and being led around a ring was a form of therapy. Seriously.
Just how serious is clear to Houston's Christine Phills, mother of 19-year-old Cameron and enthusiastic believer in equine-assisted therapy. She can't precisely explain why it works for her autistic son. The physical improvement of better muscle tone and core strength is easy to explain, but even those involved in it professionally can only guess why the bond between horse and rider has so many other benefits to those who suffer physical and intellectual challenges.
No limits
For those who do it, or dutifully sit and watch while their children, siblings or spouses do, the connection is all but magical. Romney said that riding saved her life. It helped her regain strength and control, and it led to more ambitious competitive riding. Most won't get that far, especially those facing intellectual disabilities, but you never know.
"I don't believe in setting limits," said Lili Kellogg, executive director of SIRE, which operates three therapeutic riding centers in the Houston area. "When you have a disability, so many things are beyond your control. The idea here is to make everyone totally independent if possible."
Equine therapy is a rapidly expanding tool for those who work with children afflicted with autism and its variations, Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities. It is equally useful for adults or children disabled by cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Therapists have come to increasingly rely on it for those suffering from psychological and emotional disorders, including soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who have experienced traumatic brain in jury or post-traumatic stress. Even troubled kids who are failing at school can be helped by riding.
On a sultry morning last week, Cameron and Chase did their thing at Southern Breeze Equestrian Center in Pearland. It was not dressage, though some impaired riders are able to get that far. Their weekly session was pretty tame stuff for the typical able-bodied rider. Cameron, who has been riding for six years, gets nervous when Chase goes too fast.
"We never thought he'd get this far," his mother said as Cameron methodically moved the horse around the ring under the direction of a specially certified instructor. "He continues to surprise us. We have a dog, but he doesn't interact with it. There's something to the horse that calms him down, and the riding gives him confidence. I don't know what it is, but they definitely have a relationship."
Southern Breeze owner Cathy Strobel had always been fascinated by equine therapy. Watching someone with cerebral palsy or a significant intellectual challenge learn to maneuver a horse was inspiring. But she didn't get around to adding that component to her center until she had a serious riding accident there 14 years ago.
"I went down with the horse and my hip and pelvis were broken," Strobel said. "I was lying there thinking my back was broken. I know you're not supposed to make deals at such a time, but I said to myself, 'God, please let me walk again and I will start that program.' When I started riding again, I found a therapist who was willing to work with me and we began doing it."
Today, she said, the therapeutic riding is the most rewarding part of her job. "You are making a difference in the quality of someone's life," Strobel said. "What could be better than that?"
Kellogg knows the feeling. She spent years as a competitive rider and instructor. She taught courses in equine science at a university. Now that seems like another life, and one that pales in comparison to helping people who face constant daily challenges learn to do something in which - for their first time in their lives - they are in control.
On this evening, she watched Ryan, Christian and Kalyn steadily move in an oval in the covered ring at the SIRE facility in Hockley. Again and again they went around. It was not a thrilling, fast-paced contest. It was really not much to see. Except to Kellogg - and their parents.
Stimulating experience
"It stimulates him in some sort of way that I don't understand," said Juan Carlos Carranza, minutes after his autistic 5-year-old son Christian finished his ride. "He seems happy. He is relaxed. And it's definitely helping him verbally. He never used to say much."
Every student is assisted by a specially trained instructor who stands beside the horse, and often there is another adult leading the horse around the ring. The long-term objective is to make the rider capable of handling the horse independently, a process that can take years.
"When they learn to control this 1,200-pound animal and to see it respond, and over time to have a relationship with it, that is huge for giving them for confidence," Kellogg said. "Animals are nonjudgmental. It doesn't matter to them if you don't look typical or have irregular speech patterns or may not have two legs and two arms."
Kellogg's head trainer, P.J. Murray, came late to therapeutic riding and now finds it more a calling than a job. Its rewards come every day, when she sees someone talk to a horse who used to never speak at all, or a child who so often must be tended to and is now, at last, in control of something.
"Think about it: They spend most of their lives with the world looking down on them," Murray said. "Now they are up on top and above everybody. It is very empowering."

Monday, July 30, 2012

Charges dropped against boy, man accused of sexually assaulting girl with Down syndrome


Prosecutors dropped sexual assault charges Monday against Kody M. Koonce, 17, and Rusty Begay, 20, citing inconsistent witness testimony of a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome.

Oklahoma County prosecutors dismissed their case Monday against a boy and a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl with Down syndrome, citing “witness inconsistencies.”
Kody Matthew Koonce, 17, and Rusty Begay, 20, of Choctaw, were accused of assaulting the girl Feb. 12 at a Choctaw residence.
Koonce was charged with rape and forcible oral sodomy, and Begay was charged with permitting sexual abuse to occur and forcible oral sodomy, according to court records.
The case against a juvenile defendant is pending in juvenile court, prosecutors said.
A fourth co-defendant, Cody Gene McGee, 17, of Jones, was charged with rape and forcible oral sodomy. He pleaded guilty in May as part of a deal with prosecutors and testified earlier this month against the other two defendants.

A rape case against two teenage boys accused of sexually assaulting a girl with downs syndrome is dismissed. The 17-year-old victim took the stand and said she made the whole thing up.
After more than an hour of testimony, the 17-year-old victim, the defendants, and their families broke down in tears after prosecutors asked for the case to be thrown out.
Prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss the case after the victim, who has downs syndrome and who prosecutors say has the mental capacity of a six year old, kept waffling on the stand.
She finally broke down during cross examination, saying she made up the story about the attack.

See the video report here:

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Journalist admits she would seriously consider aborting an IVF baby with Down syndrome

from Daily Mail by Toni Jones:
41-year-old Samantha Brick is desperate for a child.
Having tried to conceive naturally without success for four years her and her husband embarked on their first round of IVF treatment earlier this year.
The gruelling process has a very small chance of working for women over the age of 40.
Yet today the journalist told This Morning that if she does manage to conceive and then learns that the baby has Down's Syndrome she would seriously consider aborting it.
Despite spending thousands of pounds on trying to conceive many women are deciding to abort babies after learning that they will be born with the genetic condition, leading some anti-abortion campaigners to claim that they are treating babies like designer goods.
Is it right to choose the option of a termination after under-going such an emotional and physical treatment?
Samantha believes that it is totally justifiable.
She said:
'My husband and I have been trying for a baby for four years. It is not easy, all around me friends are conceiving and building up their families.

'Every month you hope for the miracle baby, and when that doesn't happen you just keep going and keep going.
'My firs attempt at IVF failed and my husband I have discussed in depth and at length whether we could keep a baby diagnosed with Down's Syndrome.
'I live in France,I know that people there don't have the same support, I would have to send my baby to a centre on Monday morning and then welcome them back on Friday night.
'I already have a large family including ageing in laws with their own problems and so it's not just myself that I have to think about it's everyone else in the  family and what that imapct would have on them.'
Samantha also raisd the issue of being an older parent to a Down's Syndrome child.
She says: 'I'm 41 now. What will happen to that child with Down's Syndrome if anything happens to me?
'I'm not just having a glass of wine and deciding to terminate a baby.
It's a huge decision and one I wouldn't take lightly at all.
'I actually think it would be selfish to HAVE that baby because of the impact on the local health services, the cost of raising that chlid and the support it would need.'
Also on the sofa was weather girl Claire Nasir, 42, who was told after conceiving through IVF that the chance of her having a Down's Syndrome baby was 1 in 20, but decided to go ahead with her pregnancy and has since had a healthy baby without the condition.
Claire said: 'When the doctors told us that there's a very high risk of Down's Syndrome - one in 20 - I was absolutely shocked.
'My reality changed, I went from the joy of being pregnant after so many years to having to have a tricky conversation with my husband about what we should do. 
'But I had produced this beautiful little feotus and was going to love the baby whatever.
'I went in to having IVF and getting pregnant with my eyes open to any consequences I would have to face.
'I don't think I have any right as a human being to choose that - I'm just lucky to have a miracle in the first place.'
As a journalist, Samantha has spent four years researching the risks while she has been trying to get pregnant, she says: ''50-70 per cent of couples who have a child with a disability end up spitting up.
'I want to have a child with my husband because I love him, I'm really happily married and I can't forget him as a factor
'I would love to have a child but he has a right in this argument too.
'I would hate to end up as that statistic.'
Talking exclusively to the MailOnline after the interview Samantha said: 'I absolutely stand by my comments and the position I took today. Far from being selfish, I believe I'm being selfless in putting the needs and wishes of those around me above my desire to be a mum.
'Its important to honestly debate such a difficult issues especial as 9 in 10 women will terminate such a pregnancy.
'My family and I have between us worked with hundreds of people with Downs Syndrome. Let's stop 'Disneyfying' this genetic condition and ensure families, and potential parents, can debate and discuss and have the full unbiased facts of exactly what they're getting into.'

Video: Samantha and Claire debate the issue on This Morning. Watch the full interview here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2178789/Samantha-Brick-Journalist-admits-seriously-consider-aborting-IVF-baby-Downs-Syndrome.html

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Down’s syndrome no handicap for this award-winner


from The New Age by Maryna van Wyk:

Sheri Brynard, a 30-year-old teacher’s assistant from Bloemfontein, who has Down’s syndrome, has become the voice of people suffering from the condition and a beacon of hope for parents of children with disabilities.

The pinnacle of her success was realised when she became the first disabled person in South Africa to have won in one of the categories in the Checkers Women of the Year Awards. She was crowned the winner in the category for youth workers at a prestigious event in Johannesburg, held on Saturday night, and received a standing ovation.

Susette Brynard, her mother, said yesterday the weekend was a very spiritual experience.

“I know miracles still happen when I look at her. She must be one of God’s favourite children because he gave her a responsibility to act on behalf of disabled people. She lives a daily life full of challenges and despite this, can contribute to the lives of others,” she said.

Shéri has set new boundaries for people with Down’s Syndrome when she qualified as an assistant teacher at Lettie Fouche School, in Bloemfontein. She is also a motivational speaker locally and abroad.

She’s the first and only person in the country with Down’s syndrome to have received a tertiary qualification, after she graduated from the technical college in Bloemfontein. She was also the first child with Down’s syndrome to attend and successfully graduate from a mainstream school, aged 21.

Shéri, who looked different from the other pupils, had to endure mockery and exclusion, but did not allow setbacks in her life to stop her from achieving her goals.

Competition spokesperson, Patti Quinton, said Shéri’s achievements had changed perceptions about people with intellectual disabilities. Because of her progress, schools are now more willing to give pupils with Down’s syndrome a chance in mainstream classes.

Shéri recently passed an audition for a role in the television series Binneland.

As part of the award, she won R30000 as well as R100000 for the charity of her choice.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Baby With Down Syndrome Is New Face of Designer Ad Campaign







from WFMY News 2:
A 10-month-old girl from Miami has been named the new face of designer Dolores Cortes' new DC Kids swim suit line. Valentina Guerrero is the first person with Down Syndrome to be the main model of a campaign.


from MSNBC by Samantha Randazzo:

 
Joe Klamar / AFP - Getty Images
A sweet moment: Designer Dolores Cortes, holding 10-month-old model Valentina Guerrero, walks the runway at the Dolores Cortes show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 on July 20 in Miami.

By Samantha Randazzo, Styleite
We have a feel-good story for you: Valentina Guerrero, a 10-month-old Miami girl with Down syndrome, is now the face of Spanish swimwear designer Dolores Cortés' 2013 children's swimwear collection, DC Kids.
Although she is not the first child with Down syndrome to model, Valentina is considered the first to land a campaign with a well-known designer. Cortés showed her collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 and even brought Valentina out to walk the runway. The designer told AdWeek:
“People with Down syndrome are just as beautiful and deserve the same opportunities. I’m thrilled to have Valentina modeling for us.”
Valentina’s mother, TV host and producer Cecelia Elizalde (also known as Ceceliz) told the Down Syndrome Association of Miami how she felt when the brand told her that they wanted Valentina to be their spokesmodel:
“I was excited, mainly because the fact that they are placing Valentina on a catalog sends a very clear message of inclusion; all children deserve the same opportunities, regardless of their physical, economic, social, racial or medical condition.”
Cortés has also pledged to donate 10 percent of the profits from the DC Kids line to the Down Syndrome Association of Miami. Check out the collection here, and look at the adorable photos from the campaign below!
 
DC Kids
Young fashionista: 10-month-old Valentina Guerrero, rocking a pink floral bathing suit, is the new face of DC Kids.
 
DC Kids
She's a natural! DC Kids designer Dolores Cortes said she chose baby model Valentina Guerrero, who has Down syndrome, because "all children deserve the same opportunities."

More from Fox News:
“She’s taught us far more than we could ever teach her,” she told Vanity Fair Italy.

“People with Down syndrome are just as beautiful and deserve the same opportunities,” Cortes said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have Valentina modeling for us.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/10-month-old-girl-syndrome-face-new-swimwear-ad-campaign-designer-dolores-cortes-article-1.1120740#ixzz21ezRaa3r


from People by Rachel Goldstein and Kristen Mascia:

Baby with Down Syndrome Lands Major Fashion Campaign

Valentina Guerrero
Brian Smith
The first time fashion scout Monica Hillman laid eyes on little Valentina Guerrero, she knew she’d found a beauty.
“Her eyes and her smile,” says Hillman, “touched my heart.”
Discovered by Hillman, a scout for Spanish fashion designer Dolores Cortés, Valentina — featured in PEOPLE this week — is considered the first child model with Down syndrome to land a campaign with a noteworthy fashion designer.
As the face of DC Kids, Cortés’s children’s swimwear line, 10-month-old Valentina made her runway debut July 20 at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 in Miami.
“The crowd went nuts!” her mom Cecilia Elizalde, a Miami-based TV host, tells PEOPLE of the response to Valentina, who was carried out by Cortés at the end of the show.
Though Valentina isn’t the first child with Down syndrome to model — others have been in ads for Target, Nordstrom and Toys”R”Us — with her new campaign, she’s one of the most high-profile.

“We’re definitely seeing a rise [in models with special needs],” says agent Fabiola Osorio, whose agency FFT represents another child model with Down’s.
These days it’s become more “important to companies to show different faces,” she adds of efforts within the retail and fashion industries to promote more diversity in their ad spaces.
That Valentina’s helping lead the way with that couldn’t make her parents any prouder.
“Life is so amazing with her,” says Elizalde.
For more on adorable Valentina, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
Valentina Guerrero
Brian Smith
–Rachel Goldstein and Kristen Mascia

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Presidential Proclamation -- Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 2012

- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Since our earliest days, America has measured its progress not only by the growth of our borders and the breadth of our economy, but also by how far we reach toward fully realizing the fundamental rights, protections, and freedoms afforded to each of us by our Nation's founding documents. For generations, many Americans with disabilities lived as second-class citizens who were denied those most basic opportunities. Not content to accept the world as it was, they marched and organized and testified, coupling quiet acts of persistence and perseverance with vocal acts of advocacy. And step by step, progress was won. Protections were put into law. And a wave of change swept across our country, tearing down the barriers that kept persons with disabilities from securing their fullest measure of happiness.

Today, we mark the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- a historic piece of civil rights legislation that affirmed Americans with disabilities are Americans first. When many wrongfully doubted that people with disabilities could participate in our society, contribute to our economy, or support their families, the ADA asserted that they could. Under this landmark law, America became the first Nation to comprehensively declare equality for its citizens with disabilities -- an accomplishment that continues to guide our country toward fulfilling its most essential promises not just for some, but for all.

Yet, despite the gains we have made, independence and freedom from discrimination remain out of reach for too many individuals with disabilities. That is why my Administration continues to build on the legacy set forth by the ADA. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with disabilities because of pre-existing conditions, medical history, or genetic information -- a provision that will be extended to all Americans in 2014. We have fought to protect and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid by improving benefits and opposing proposals that would shift costs to seniors and persons with disabilities. And earlier this year, we established the Administration for Community Living at the Department of Health and Human Services to help ensure people with disabilities have the support they need to live with respect and dignity in their communities, and to be fully included in our national life.

Because every American deserves access to a world-class education, we have worked to make learning environments safer and more inclusive. Last September, the Department of Education implemented new standards for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that will help measure and improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Moving forward, we will continue to take action to help all children learn, develop, and participate in instructional programs that equip them with the tools for success in school and beyond.

As we mark this milestone and reflect on the barriers that remain, we also pay tribute to the courageous individuals and communities who have made progress possible. Because so many advocates understood injustice from the depths of their own experience, they also knew that by allowing injustice to stand, we were depriving our Nation and our economy of the full talents and contributions of tens of millions of Americans with disabilities. Today, those Americans are leaders not only in every field and throughout every part of our national life, but also in the journey to bring the American dream within reach for our next generation. On this anniversary of the ADA, we celebrate the contributions Americans with disabilities have made to our Nation, and we rededicate ourselves to empowering every individual with those most American principles of equal access and equal opportunity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2012, the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I encourage Americans across our Nation to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of this civil rights law and the many contributions of individuals with disabilities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

A More Inclusive America: We Can’t Wait


By Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy (Reposted from DOL’s (Work in Progress) Blog)

Today (July 26) marks 22 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Like other pieces of civil rights legislation, this landmark law works to ensure a more inclusive America. Its passage paved the way for millions of Americans to more fully participate in all aspects of community life.

I am one of those millions of people. I was born blind. My sister Peggy was also born blind. We were the middle of six children, and as of yet there is no diagnosis for our blindness.
When Peggy and I were growing up, there was no ADA, and we didn’t know much about the emerging disability rights movement. We were too busy just being kids. But, fortunately, we had parents who understood the importance of inclusion and fought for our rights even before the law backed them up. To start, they advocated for me, and later Peggy, to attend our local public school. This allowed us to be part of, rather than separate from, our community. My parents couldn’t wait for change, so they made it happen.

Today, the ADA enshrines in law what my parents—and many others—already knew: the ideal of equal opportunity holds no water unless it truly includes all people, including people with disabilities.

That said, more than two decades after the ADA was passed, much work remains to be done. And that’s why I do what I do every day. I have the honor of leading DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), which works to influence national policy and promote effective workplace practices that ensure today’s workforce is inclusive of all people.

While ODEP does not enforce the ADA, the law underpins all of our work. We assist employers and individuals in understanding their rights and responsibilities through policy development, education and guidance. I sometimes say that we at ODEP are impatient. We want change. We want action. We want inclusion. Just like my parents when I was young, we can’t wait.

We can’t wait for more employers to foster a work environment that is flexible and open to the talents of all qualified individuals. We can’t wait for more businesses to integrate people with disabilities into leadership positions. We can’t wait for a more inclusive America, one where every individual has the opportunity to fully participate in and contribute to our great nation.

Kathy Martinez is the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy.

Will Becky Jackson from Glee attend College?


from Disability Scoop by Michelle Diament:
When students on Fox’s “Glee” graduated this season, many considered college. Now a Twitter campaign is calling on the show’s writers to make the same plan for a character with Down syndrome.
Using the hashtag #College4Becky, a social media push launching this week is encouraging the “Glee” writers to send Becky Jackson to college at the end of the show’s next season. Though the character is believed to be a rising high school senior, little has been said about her future...
“We want to plant a seed,” said Meg Grigal, the co-director of the group behind the campaign. “College is a real option for people with intellectual disabilities.”
Lauren Potter, 22, the actress with Down syndrome who plays Becky Jackson on “Glee,” attends Irvine Valley College in Irvine, Calif. in real life.
“I know she will love the idea (of Becky going to college) because she loves the idea that she is in college,” Potter’s mother, Robin Sinkhorn, told Disability Scoop, adding that she had not yet had an opportunity to discuss the campaign with her daughter who was traveling Monday. “It would be a great storyline.”
Potter’s character has long been a fan favorite in the disability community and the actress has not shied away from taking a stand. She’s used her platform as a “Glee” cast member to raise awareness about bullying of people with disabilities among other issues and currently serves as a member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
Officials at Fox did not respond to a request for comment about the Twitter campaign.

the open letter from Think College:
Dear Glee writers,
We think Becky Jackson is fabulous. And we'd like to ask you to send her to college.
More and more colleges across the U.S. are enrolling people with intellectual disabilities, just like Becky. Vanderbilt, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Highline Community College in Washington are just a few examples. All of Becky's friends on the show are heading off to college next year. That's something she can do too--but we haven't yet heard what her plans are after graduation.
Your show has made a huge impact on young people. Lesbian and gay teens have been inspired by Kurt Hummel to stand up to bullying. Glee is inclusive in a playful, non-preachy way. That includes Becky--both the way you write her, and how she's played by Lauren Potter.
If you make college plans for Becky, you'll be raising the expectations of all your viewers with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. You'll be helping them dream big, and know what options are out there after high school. We think that would be brilliant.
And if Sue Sylvester's baby does have a disability, she'll have a tremendous role model in Becky as she heads off to college.
Thanks for considering this idea! And thanks for all you do as writers on Glee.
With appreciation,
Meg Grigal, Ph.D.
Co-Director, Think College
Institute for Community Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Boston
meg.grigal@umb.edu

from Down Syndrome in the Arts and Media:
This is an excellent idea and could be in the works at GLEE since Becky has at least one more year of HS. But did anyone pick up the phone like a grown-up and talk to the producers first? Is the DS community becomming the bullies launching this sort of cyber campaign? There are many of us in Hollywood who advocate for many different causes. We work with producers and call on these tactics as a last resort. The next time someone has an idea and wants to talk to producers give me a call. We can set up a phone call or a meeting. I hope you don't estrange your cause because of the manner in which you took it on.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

New espisodes from the DSR Podcast



from the Down Syndrome Radio Podcast:
New espisodes are available on iTunes from Down Syndrome Radio. Down Syndrome Daily is featured in episode #6 and the NDSC Convention is freatured in episode #7.




  • DSR Episode #7: NDSC Convention Download Running on fumes and adrenaline, we recap the highlights of the NDSC Convention from a very busy weekend in Washington, DC.  From advocating on Capitol Hill to dancing the night away – with workshops, exhibits, hallway and pool meetings in … Continue reading




  • DSR Episode #6: Down Syndrome  In the first few installments of this humble podcast, we found ourselves continuously visiting one site for ideas for our “great/amazing/inspirational story” segment.  Down Syndrome Daily is an excellent resource for the Down syndrome community and we are very excited … Continue reading




  • Episodes on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/downrightawesome-down-syndrome/id535852575
  • Constituents share concerns with Ayotte



    by Saba Hamedy from the Nashua Telegraph:
    As superintendent of New Hampshire’s Kearsarge Regional School District, Jerry Frew has seen first-hand how cuts at the federal level can affect schools in the state.
    “If funding is frozen, eliminated or reduced for professional development, it has a dramatic impact on some of our small rural districts,” he said. In turn, the state would have trouble meeting its obligations, and the local tax burden would “crush” some areas in New Hampshire, he added.
    Frew’s concerns – along with those of his colleague Mike Martin, superintendent of Merrimack Valley School District Unit #46 – were among the issues raised Thursday with Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., at the weekly “Coffee with Kelly” in her Capitol Hill office.
    Ayotte has been making the rounds on the national TV circuit amid speculation about her becoming a running mate with Mitt Romney. Still, Ayotte says she’s committed as ever to the people of New Hampshire and the issues facing the state.
    Her weekly hour-long informal gatherings, which takes place at 9 a.m. every Thursday when the Senate is in session, are open to New Hampshire residents who are visiting the nation’s capital on business or pleasure.
    “Whether I’m at home or in Washington, I want to hear directly from Granite Staters,” Ayotte said later in a statement. “My weekly coffee is a great way for visitors from New Hampshire to let me know what’s on their minds.”
    On this particular Thursday, Frew and Martin were joined by about 12 others in Ayotte’s office in the Russell Senate Office Building, all snacking on donuts and drinking coffee in anticipation of speaking with the senator.
    When Ayotte arrived, she greeted everyone warmly. “I appreciate all of you being here today,” she called out to the group.
    Rather than sit at the head of a table in a more formal meeting-style session, Ayotte made rounds around the room, making sure to meet, talk and pose for photos with all of the attendees.
    Afterward, she hurried off to the Senate floor to talk about sequestration.
    Ayotte, who began holding the “Coffee with Kelly” sessions a little over a year – about six months after joining the Senate – is one of several members of Congress, including Montana Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, who hold informal gatherings in their D.C. offices.
    “It’s kind of like an open house,” said Liz Johnson, Ayotte’s press secretary. “There are constituent meetings every day – but this is an opportunity for families and visitors to chat outside a formal setting and spend personal time with Sen. Ayotte.”
    Johnson said the number of attendees varies from week to week, but that the sessions often get crowded, especially during school holiday periods. The largest group on a single Thursday was 62 people during April. People are able to attend after signing up online in advance.
    While some, such as Frew and Martin, attend the caffeinated sessions to talk about pending legislation, others, like Bedford resident Lisa Heaps, decide to come just for the experience.
    The stay-at-home mom of three – visiting relatives in Maryland – headed to Capitol Hill with her children, nieces, nephews and sister-in-law, as part of a family day in D.C.
    “We try and do something cultural every time we come back and visit the family,” said Heaps, who volunteered in Ayotte’s 2010 campaign. “I’m excited to have my family meet Kelly because I think she’s going to go places … I’m not here to air any issues. This is going to be more social.”
    And some, like Dodi Mitchell and Isaac Hartigan, both of Nashua, came to discuss policy as well as socialize with the senator.
    Mitchell and Hartigan, who has Down syndrome, were in Washington for the National Down Syndrome Convention.
    “We are here to educate,” Mitchell said. “I think that although most people understand that there [are] a lot of citizens in our community with Down syndrome, I think many people don’t know a person with Down syndrome – and they don’t realize how productive and capable and what an integral member of the community they are.”
    Mitchell, a coordinator for Nashua’s Special Olympics, said she felt talking to Ayotte would be helpful to hers and Hartigan’s cause. “I think [Sen. Ayotte] is interested in the issues and I definitely think she will be able to help us,” Mitchell said.
    Added Frew: “I think it’s really important that our senators and members of the House have access to us so they can hear the local impact of decisions made here. It’s a great opportunity for us to share a local perspective with these folks who have great intentions and quite frankly, the power to change things.”

    Educational apps to help your child learn

    from Special iApps:

    Special iApps is a non-profit social enterprise, dedicated to helping children learn. We develop apps for the Apple® iPad®, iPhone® and iPod touch®. All our apps are developed in close co-operation with education professionals, parents and children, and are designed to be suitable for typically developing children and those with learning difficulties or poor fine motor control.
    Modern smartphones and touchpads have the potential to transform children's education, because almost all children are attracted to them, and their interface is inherently more usable than that of a traditional desktop computer. However, apps to teach children only succeed if they are designed with an understanding of how children learn.
    We recognize that many children are easily distracted, and don't have the mental agility or manual dexterity of a typical adult. We carefully trial our apps with children of varying abilities, and incorporate feedback into our design and testing process.
    We work closely with other organizations that support children with disabilities, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and hearing impairment.

    Special Stories

    Create your own stories with text, pictures and sound. You can read and listen to your stories, print them to any AirPrint-enabled printer, and share them with friends and family. A universal app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Special Stories has many uses including:
    • Making photo albums about vacations, trips, and other events
    • Improving reading skills
    • Encouraging development of spoken language skills
    • Creating talking books
    • Helping with social skills
    • Explaining step-by-step tasks
    • Practicing foreign language skills
    • Sharing information between home and school
    • Sharing news with distant family and friends

    Tuesday, July 24, 2012

    Video from CAMP PALs Closing Ceremonies



    Wow… we can’t believe the inaugural year is over already. Here is the final video we played during Camp PALS West 2012’s Closing Ceremonies. We our campers and counselors so much already, and we can’t wait to see you all again next year. In the meantime, stay in touch!

    PALS programs provide a place for young adults with Down syndrome and their peers to try new experiences, gain independence, and build lasting friendships. Learn more at http://www.palsprograms.org/

    Monday, July 23, 2012

    Dozens of IVF babies are being aborted because they have Down syndrome

    from Daily Mail from Daniel Martin:
    Dozens of test tube babies have been aborted because they had Down's syndrome.
    Over five years, a total of 123 foetuses conceived through IVF-type treatments were terminated after the mother was told they suffered from the genetic abnormality.
    That equates to a termination on average once a fortnight.
    Often the women will have spent years trying to become pregnant and may have spent thousands on private fertility clinics in the hope of conceiving.
    Last night, anti-abortion campaigners said the statistics on IVF terminations showed that some women treat babies like 'designer goods' – paying a fortune to conceive but then aborting them when they turn out not to be perfect.
    Down's syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in each cell.
    The children grow up shorter than usual and often have learning or behavioural difficulties.
    There are believed to be around 60,000 people in the United Kingdom with the condition.
    Statistics show that in 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, a total of 127 abortions were carried out on babies conceived through IVF-type assistance.
    The data held by the Human  Fertilisation and Embryology Authority shows that Down's syndrome was the most commonly given reason for an abortion, cited in 31 of the cases – three times as many as in 1999.
    Foetal abnormality was the next biggest reason for abortion, accounting for 19 cases, while 15 babies with Edward's syndrome – another condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome – were also terminated.
    As it is not mandatory for reasons for terminations to be recorded, the number could be higher. No reason was given in 22 cases. Between 2005 and 2009, some 123 foetuses with Down's were terminated.
    Andrea Williams, of Christian Concern, said: 'We have to question the values of a society which focuses so greatly on adult “wants”.
    'That a woman pursues a baby through fertility treatment and then aborts it because it is not perfect is selfish and harsh.'
    Josephine Quintavalle, of campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: 'It is generally accepted that there is a significant under-reporting of abortions of babies with Down's syndrome, but I think we are especially saddened when we read of such abortions in association with IVF, where the women involved were clearly originally desperate to have a child.'
    The number of abortions carried out because of Down's among those who conceived naturally is more than 1,000 a year – or three a day. Around nine in ten women who are told they are going to have a baby with the condition opt for a termination.
    The number of terminations among potential IVF mothers could be influenced by the fact women often turn to fertility treatment later in life, when the risks of conceiving a Down's syndrome child increase markedly.
    Women over the age of 40 are 16 times more likely to have a Down's pregnancy than a woman under the age of 25.
    Last year around 15,000 children were born through assisted conception such as IVF, with more than half the mothers paying privately.
    A spokesman for the Down's Syndrome Association declined to comment on the figures. The charity campaigns for better counselling to help parents make the right decision for them.
    A spokesman for abortion provider Marie Stopes International said:  'We encourage anyone in this situation to find out as much information as possible about the implications of continuing the pregnancy before making their choice.'

    Sunday, July 22, 2012

    NDSC Convention Schedule for Sunday 7/22


    Sunday's itinerary at the NDSC Convention in Washington, DC


    8:30AM-10:00AM, 10:30AM-12:00PM Workshops
    The General Convention also consists of five workshop cycles, three cycles offered on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Each cycle offers a selection of 14 workshops that registrants may attend based on their interest.  These interactive workshops are provided by the experts – from those who pioneered in early childhood communication, to those who redefined the K-12 classroom and are on the frontier of adult challenges.  Each workshop is 90 minutes in length.  Some topics are repeated to give flexibility to attendees.

    7:30AM-12:30PM Kids Camp - registration is closed
    Kids’ Camp will provide a means for parents to leave their children between the ages of six months and 11 years (14 years for children with DS) for designated times during the weekend in a safe, structured, and fun environment.  This program will be offered to families registered for the general convention whose children are not old enough to participate in the Brothers & Sisters or Youth & Adults Conferences.  The camp will be offered in four separate sessions.  Registration is required for each session.


    8:00AM-12:15PM Youth and Adult Conference and Talent Show - registration is closed
    The Youth & Adults Conference really is the heart and soul of the weekend! It is designed to be a fun, empowering, enriching and safe experience for self advocates (individuals with Down syndrome) age 15 and older. With the support of NDSC’s Y&A Support Team, this conference is planned and presented by self advocates, for self advocates.


    8:00AM-12:00PM Brothers and Sisters - registration is closed
    The NDSC Brothers & Sisters Conference is a fun-filled weekend where siblings can share ideas and experiences and make new friends. It is a place to learn, to be inspired and grow, to be enlightened and encouraged, and to ask tough questions in a supportive environment.  Participants will learn about Down syndrome and disability related issues, including how to be an advocate for their brothers and sisters.

    12:30PM-1:00PM Grand Finale
    A closing General Session.
    8:00AM-1:00PM Exhibits Open
    There is also an Exhibit Area for vendors where you’ll find the latest in books, toys, teaching aids, apparel, software and more.


    See the NDSC Convention website for complete information.

    Saturday, July 21, 2012

    NDSC Convention Schedule for Saturday 7/21

    Saturday's itinerary at the NDSC Convention in Washington, DC


    7:30AM-3:30PM NDSC Convention Registration Open!


    8:30AM-10:00AM, 10:30AM-12:00PM, 3:30PM-5:00PM Workshops
    The General Convention also consists of five workshop cycles, three cycles offered on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Each cycle offers a selection of 14 workshops that registrants may attend based on their interest.  These interactive workshops are provided by the experts – from those who pioneered in early childhood communication, to those who redefined the K-12 classroom and are on the frontier of adult challenges.  Each workshop is 90 minutes in length.  Some topics are repeated to give flexibility to attendees.

    7:30AM-12:30PM, 1:15PM-5:15PM Kids Camp - registration is closed
    Kids’ Camp will provide a means for parents to leave their children between the ages of six months  and 11 years (14 years for children with DS) for designated times during the weekend in a safe, structured, and fun environment.  This program will be offered to families registered for the general convention whose children are not old enough to participate in the Brothers & Sisters or Youth & Adults Conferences.  The camp will be offered in four separate sessions.  Registration is required for each session.


    8:00AM-5:15PM Youth and Adult - registration is closed
    The Youth & Adults Conference really is the heart and soul of the weekend! It is designed to be a fun, empowering, enriching and safe experience for self advocates (individuals with Down syndrome) age 15 and older. With the support of NDSC’s Y&A Support Team, this conference is planned and presented by self advocates, for self advocates.


    8:00AM-5:15PM Brothers and Sisters - registration is closed
    The NDSC Brothers & Sisters Conference is a fun-filled weekend where siblings can share ideas and experiences and make new friends. It is a place to learn, to be inspired and grow, to be enlightened and encouraged, and to ask tough questions in a supportive environment.  Participants will learn about Down syndrome and disability related issues, including how to be an advocate for their brothers and sisters.

    12:00PM-1:30PM Lunch on your own

    1:30PM-3:00PM General Session
    The second of two Plenary Sessions. Plenary sessions feature inspirational keynote presentations by self advocates and Down syndrome experts from around the world who present on topics of broad interest.

    5:30PM-6:00PM NDSC Membership Meeting

    6:30PM-11:00PM Reception, Banquet, & Dance
    On Saturday evening, we will host our traditional Awards Banquet to honor outstanding achievement in the Down syndrome community in various categories.  This is a ticketed event, which includes a plated dinner and the awards presentation. 
    Immediately following the banquet there will be another awesome opportunity for all attendees to dance – no ticket required.


    8:00AM-6:00PM Exhibits Open
    There is also an Exhibit Area for vendors where you’ll find the latest in books, toys, teaching aids, apparel, software and more.


    See the NDSC Convention website for complete information.

    Friday, July 20, 2012

    NDSC Convention Schedule for Friday 7/20

    Friday's itinerary at the NDSC Convention in Washington, DC


    7:00AM-7:00PM NDSC Convention Registration Open!


    8:00AM-12:30AM Pre-Conferences
    Attending a Pre-Conference Session gives you the chance to spend four hours with a nationally-known speaker and dig deep into one specific topic. The sessions are structured to share best practices, content that is research-based and proven “how to” strategies. All sessions will include time for Q & A. Pre-cons will be held on Friday, July 20, from 8:00am to 12:30pm. Separate registration is required. Coffee and pastries will be provided.
    Pre-Conference handouts are only issued to the person registered for the session. Space may be limited in some sessions, so register early. On-site registration cannot be guaranteed.


    7:30AM-12:30PM, 3:00PM-8:00PM Kids Camp - registration is closed
    Kids’ Camp will provide a means for parents to leave their children between the ages of six months  and 11 years (14 years for children with DS) for designated times during the weekend in a safe, structured, and fun environment.  This program will be offered to families registered for the general convention whose children are not old enough to participate in the Brothers & Sisters or Youth & Adults Conferences.  The camp will be offered in four separate sessions.  Registration is required for each session.


    3:15PM-5:15PM Youth & Adult Kick Off Party - registration is closed
    The Youth & Adults Conference really is the heart and soul of the weekend! It is designed to be a fun, empowering, enriching and safe experience for self advocates (individuals with Down syndrome) age 15 and older. With the support of NDSC’s Y&A Support Team, this conference is planned and presented by self advocates, for self advocates.


    3:15PM-5:15PM Brothers and Sisters Get Acquainted Session - registration is closed
    The NDSC Brothers & Sisters Conference is a fun-filled weekend where siblings can share ideas and experiences and make new friends. It is a place to learn, to be inspired and grow, to be enlightened and encouraged, and to ask tough questions in a supportive environment.  Participants will learn about Down syndrome and disability related issues, including how to be an advocate for their brothers and sisters.


    3:30PM-5:00PM Sharing Sessions
    These popular sessions, facilitated by family members, are informal opportunities to meet your peers and share your joys, concerns and strategies with others. Please consider attending these sessions without your child with DS to allow parents to express their feelings with comfort and ease. The sessions are not audio taped.


    6:30PM-7:45PM Opening Session
    Friday at 6:30 pm, the first of two Plenary Sessions will officially launch the weekend events.  Plenary sessions feature inspirational keynote presentations by self advocates and Down syndrome experts from around the world who present on topics of broad interest.


    8:00PM-10:00PM Reception, Silent Auction & Just Dance
    In addition to educational programming, the NDSC Convention would not be complete without a dance or two! On Friday evening, we will hold our Just Dance! event for all attendees, immediately following the Opening Session.   At the same time, attendees can browse the Silent Auction and bid on one-of-a-kind items while supporting programming and activities that empower self advocates.  These two events are open to all registered attendees.  A cash bar will be available for all beverages.  Be sure to wear your convention name tag for admittance.


    12:00PM-10:00PM Exhibits Open
    There is also an Exhibit Area for vendors where you’ll find the latest in books, toys, teaching aids, apparel, software and more.


    See the NDSC Convention website for complete information.