This is one of my favorite videos about Down Syndrome - please share it!

Please share this video with family, friends, classmates, coworkers, and anyone else who needs to understand what it means to have Down syndrome.

Just Like You - Down Syndrome

This video explores the life, hopes, challenges, and dreams of three kids living with Down syndrome: Elyssa, Rachel, and Sam.

http://www.justlikeyou-downsyndrome.org/

Just Like You–Down Syndrome: A Big Message in 13 Minutes

By Abby Eden of Fox 4 KC:
The movie is called Just Like You-Down Syndrome. It’s the third in a series of Just Like You Films, made in the metro that aims to educate others about a unique situation. The latest focuses on Down Syndrome.
Hundreds of fans lined up Monday night, waiting to see the stars of the movie. What emerged weren’t the pouting faces of starlets, but the glowing faces of teenagers on a mission.
“I just wanted to encourage others to be friends with someone who has Down Syndrome because it really is a life-changing experience,” said Bobby Engen.
These best friends wanted to tell other people what it’s like to be a teenager with Down Syndrome. They’re spreading the message with the help of Just Like You films and the Down Syndrome Guild.
“The mission of Just Like You Films is to educate kids and other kids about unique circumstances that they may not otherwise know about,” said Jen Greenstreet, owner of Just Like You Films.
Their 13-minute film is expected to be shown across the country, even the world, and they’re enjoying their first night as movie stars.
“It’s amazing,” said Elyssa Schmitz.
It all started with the story of six best friends who decided to tell the world how much they’re “just like you”.  The funding for the movie came from private donations. It took two years to make.

Teen with Down syndrome crowned homecoming queen

By Dana Macario from Today Moms:What do you know, another cheerleader has been crowned homecoming queen. Except 19-year-old Allyssa Brubeck isn’t just your typical popular teen, she also has Down syndrome. While her coronation is reason enough to celebrate, what may be the most touching of all is her classmates’ reactions to all the fuss surrounding their new royalty. They just don’t understand what the big deal is. Who cares that she has Down syndrome? She’s just Allyssa, a happy, friendly cheerleader. As The Kansas City Star reports, the student newspaper journalists didn’t even think to mention her disability when writing the story of the Homecoming election results. Their adult supervisor had to convince them that it was worth noting. During her four years at Park Hill South High School in Kansas City, Mo., Allyssa has become an active member of the student body and a teen who seemingly has a hug and a smile for everyone. When the school district posted the story on its Facebook page, the kids couldn’t believe the amount of attention the story got.“Everyone in the stands was crying,” 18-year-old classmate Leah Smith told The Star. “Everyone loves her.”
“She deserved to be homecoming queen,” said Sam Boling, 17, who was a runner-up for queen.
While the teens at Park Hill South High School are taking this all in stride, adults are much more impressed with this year’s queen – and what it says about her fellow students. We can all hope that this is a sign that kids with disabilities are one step closer to being accepted as just another kid.
“They’re growing up together,” Amy Allison, executive director of the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, told The Kansas City Star. Disabilities among classmates “are negligible to kids. They see the challenges they face, but they see they are happy and they want to help.”
Allyssa’s mother, Cindy Small, was touched by the support for her daughter, whom she describes as fearless. She told the Kansas City Star that Allyssa had always kept up with her younger sister, 17-year-old Annabelle; whether it was biking, golf or swimming. When Alyssa decided she wanted to be a cheerleader, she went for it. And got it.
As for Allyssa, like any teen girl, she’s just thrilled to be her school’s Homecoming Queen. “I’m a winner,” Allyssa told The Star. “I feel awesome.”
Dana Macario is a Seattle area mom who’s incredibly impressed with Allyssa and her classmates.