Dancing away differences: Event draws awareness to Down Syndrome, other disabilities

by Mike Landis and Robin Yancey from KY3:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -

Shuffling their feet to the beat, kids (and kids at heart) demonstrated their dance moves.

“The kids- they are dancers. I mean, that is the one thing that everybody always says about individuals with Down Syndrome…they can boogie,’ exclaimed Gretchen Miekley, Executive Director of Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.  The organization hosted a special ‘Spring Fling’ dance Friday night for individuals and families affected by Down Syndrome and other disabilities.

Down Syndrome, a developmental disorder, creates special hurdles for those like Khia Grey.

“I like going out and having a fun time with my friends,” she stated.

The event was a chance people with disabilities to forget about their challenges, and instead concentrate on being a kid.

At Disney Social Media Moms event, the small things made the event truly special

by Eliana Tardio from babble.com:

I’m very grateful for having been invited to the Disney Social Media Moms event this year. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it by myself with my two kiddos, but everything went great and actually much better than I planned!

The event was beautiful and we really enjoyed the family time. The second night, we were delighted with a beautiful dinner at Hollywood Studios, but the moment that made my day was when my daughter saw Minnie Mouse walking on the red carpet. She was holding her Minnie doll, so after watching Minnie walking, she turned to me and asked: “Mom, is that Minnie?” I said “yes” and then she said: “But, this is Minnie!” gesturing to her doll in her arms.

Surfer mom working to get sport in national Special Olympics

from CBS News:
Special Olympians compete in dozens of sports, but surfing has never been one of them.

But now, Jennifer Rowlette-Reneau's, former champion surfer and mother of a 6-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, is working to get surfing included in the national Special Olympics competition.

In Florida, Reneau started an annual surfing event for kids with Down syndrome, named after her daughter, Riley, called "Smiley Riley's Beach Bash." Its success led Florida's Special Olympics to include surfing, now in its third year.

Reneau's now working to get other states, like California, to hold competitions. If that happens, the national Special Olympics told CBS News the next step is for surfing to become a demonstration sport at a future summer games.
Watch Mark Strassmann's report from Cocoa Beach, Fla., link to the video above.