Story of Connecticut Boy's Truck Ride Garners Ford's Attention

by Jessie Sawyer from NBC Connecticut:

When Ford Motor Company heard how a Manchester landscaper made a teenager with Down syndrome smile with a simple ride in his Ford truck, a representative from Ford headquarters in Michigan wrote to him that the story sounded like something out of a country song "that makes you cry for all the right reasons."

So when Tom Topping, 54, responded that he was a "Toby Keith kind of guy," Ford offered Topping, the boy, Kevin Fellows, 15, and his family tickets to see Toby Keith perform  at Xfinity Theatre in Hartford this weekend. Ray Seraphin Ford in Rockville Connecticut, where Topping got his 2012 Ford F-250, is also detailing his truck for free after learning of the story.

The recognition is heartwarming, but ask Topping about his act of kindness and he'll tell you that his gesture wasn't much. For the Manchester Green Lawn Services owner, the special part of the story is really about Kevin and his moment in the truck, the "Big Red Monster," that made it feel like "Christmas in July."

"I gave a kid a ride in a truck and you're supposed to make kids smile," he said.

Kevin, a Coventry High School student, loves playing with trucks, cars and trains, often riding with his grandfather on his tractor in the past.

"He was very excited," said his grandmother, Gail Zanlungo, who has taken care of him often over the past 13 years. "He loves anything like a tractor that moves."

It all started when Topping was at Zanlungo's house in Manchester mowing her lawn on July 10. Zanlungo was Topping's first customer when he opened a year ago after a career in sales and he had never met her grandson, Kevin before. Kevin was visiting, going from window to window to watch Topping mow. He brought a lawn chair outside to sit and watch Topping continue in the backyard, a part of the house without windows.

Sayville's Meg LaBelle, with Down syndrome, scores goal in lacrosse game

by Stephen Haynes from Newsday:
Farmingdale goalie Olivia Kirk was brought to tears, so moved by a goal she allowed that meant as much as any she had ever prevented.
"That was a great moment; something special," said the senior, one of several players on either sideline overcome with emotion. "How often does something like this happen?"
Meghan LaBelle, a Sayville junior with Down syndrome, scored against Farmingdale with 4.9 seconds remaining in Friday night's game. She carried the ball from midfield, with the help of Sayville's Julianne Johnston, drove up the right wing and fired from close range.
Cameras flashed, video rolled, the benches roared and many in attendance became choked up. LaBelle just beamed, having just realized one of her fantasies.
"Playing lacrosse is my dream," she said, still giddy. "It's my favorite sport. I was excited [but] I wasn't nervous at all. I got to play with my best friend, Jules."
That would be Johnston, who has known LaBelle since kindergarten.

Oregon rundown: In San Jose, some people see Ducks' running back Byron Marshall as a star off the field as well

by Jason Quick from the Oregonian:
I wrote about Oregon running back Byron Marshall in today’s Oregonian, which details why his family has nicknamed him “Big” ... but there’s another person in San Jose who happens to think Marshall is bigger than life.
His name is Andrew Watson, and he has been the team manager for Valley Christian High for the past 15 years. He is 30 years old, has Down Syndrome. and is somewhat of a legend around the Valley Christian community.
Watson is so close to the football program, he inspired coach Mike Machado seven years ago to start Camp for the Stars, the first football camp in the nation for kids with Down Syndrome. The camp has since branched to Pittsburgh, PA and draws celebrities such as former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci, former 49ers players Dana Stubblefield, Ronnie Lott and Keena Turner to name a few.
Here is a great video about the camp, which I guarantee will make you smile.
The camp is hosted at Valley Christian, and each summer the campers get to choose a player from the team to be their counselor.
“Every year when it came time for Andrew to pick, there was never a doubt who he was going with,’’ Machado said. “It was B.’’
Said Marshall: “Andrew is such a cool kid. We got close.’’
Marshall doesn’t know how to explain their bond, it’s just something that is there he says, and Machado said it was beyond a manager being infatuated with the school star.

Teen with down syndrome honored as homecoming and prom queen

by Kym Clark from CBS Atlanta:
A Mid-South teenager had her dreams come true when she was homecoming queen at Bolivar High School. But Kara Marcum did not stop there. The senior, who was born with down syndrome, also earned the prom queen crown.

Marcum was crowned prom queen on Friday.

But back in January, Action News 5 met the popular senior when she was in the running for homecoming queen.

Her parents never imagined their daughter would receive such high honors when they first learned she had down syndrome.

Her PACE class teacher, Angela Galloway, says Kara's personality is what makes her beloved by the entire school.

Now that she has earned the title of both homecoming queen and prom queen, Kara has her sights set on graduation. She will earn her diploma in just a few weeks.

CBS Atlanta 46

Holiday Video from Best Buddies

from Best Buddies: 

Watch Anthony & Jorge in "The Gift of Friendship," on YouTube

 
As we reach the end of another year and look forward to the warmth and love of the holidays, we want to take a moment to thank you for all you have done for Best Buddies.

Despite a sputtering economy and so many competing human needs, our loyal friends continue to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through Best Buddies’ friendship programs on campuses throughout the world.

Our Jobs program is continuing to grow and provide meaningful employment for people with IDD, while the Ambassadors program is furthering the support of their leadership and self-advocacy trainings.

This year, we were blessed to have more riders at our cycling events, more student volunteers participating in our walks, and more supporters coming to our events across the country and the world.

However, there are still so many more people with special needs we have yet to reach who are isolated, excluded, bullied and unemployed. I am heartened when I receive emails from student volunteers like Will Macon at our Vanderbilt University chapter.

Last week, I called Will to thank him for his outstanding work for Best Buddies, and he replied, saying, “Best Buddies has shaped my life, and that’s more amazing than any word of mine can adequately express. I idolize the work you do and the organization you’ve built. It has been, is, and will be the brightest light in my life for as long as I live.”

During this wonderful season, as you think about gifts for your loved ones, please consider giving the gift of friendship and jobs to our special friends by visiting www.bestbuddies.org/donate.

As a funny gift to you, my buddy Jorge and I filmed a short video that illustrates the true meaning of the holidays. Visit our YouTube page or click on the image below to watch. And thank you again for all you do for Best Buddies. I wish you and your family a blessed and happy holiday.

In Friendship,
Anthony K. Shriver
Founder and Chairman

The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
© 2012 Best Buddies International

Lauren Potter speaks at Best Buddies International Leadership Conference

Lauren Potter speaks at the 23rd Annual Best Buddies Internatio​nal Leadership Conference​: Inclusion Revolution​, about her experience with Best Buddies, how the organization has helped make her dreams a reality, and how it can help others with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve their own dreams.

Buddy Ambassador Ziad Hozayen takes the stage at the 23rd Annual Best Buddies Internatio​nal Leadership Conference​: Inclusion Revolution​, and delivers a powerful speech about the need for social inclusion. Watch as he tells his personal story, and how Best Buddies has changed his life.

Buddy Campers learn about inclusion and acceptance

from the Daniel Island News by Emily Johnston:
If you walked through the doors of Providence Baptist Church on a morning last week, you would have been welcomed by the wonderful group of therapists and volunteers at this year’s Buddy Camp.
For the past six years, the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry (DSAL) and Coastal Therapy Services have worked closely together to host Buddy Camp in order to give children with Down syndrome and typically developing children an opportunity to form lasting friendships while promoting inclusion and acceptance.
On the Monday of camp, the Buddy Campers with Down syndrome bring a sibling or a friend who is a typically developing child around the same age; for the remainder of the week, the children are “buddies.”  Each set of buddies gets a volunteer who makes an award for each child and presents it to them on the last day of camp. The volunteers that worked with the kids are mostly graduate students from MUSC and nearby universities like USC and Appalachian State.
This year’s Buddy Camp received a grant from the Charleston Country Medical Society Alliance. “The grant that we received is responsible for everything,” said Shelley Ackley.
Ackley, a speech pathologist for Coastal Therapy Services and one of the Buddy Camp coordinators, was nothing but thrilled to talk about everything that went on during the camp. Every day there were 30-45 minute sessions with music therapist Jennifer Gosset. “They absolutely love the music sessions,” said Shelley of the children, “they jump and sing. It’s a great time.”
Katrina Sander says that her son Joshua loves the music portion of the camp, showing a special interest in the xylophone. Other fun events that occurred during the week included painting and crafts, a visit from eight therapy dogs from K9 Cares, a dance lesson from Trudy’s dance studio, and even an opportunity to play with some large tortoises brought to the camp by Stephanie Burgess. At the end of the week the camp invited the children’s families to the church for a farewell pizza party.
Having a daughter with Down Syndrome, Bobby Howard, the President of the DSAL, holds events such as Buddy Camp close to his heart. He notes that Buddy Camp’s main goal is to establish friendships that will last well into the future. Bobby went on to say that it is extremely important to have events like Buddy Camp for the children to under-stand the importance of acceptance.
Along with Buddy Camp, DSAL also puts on many other events throughout the Lowcountry, including cookouts, youth groups, and the annual Buddy Walk that will take place this year on October 7 at Etiwan Park.
For more information on DSAL and events that they host, visit their website at: dsalowcountry.orgFor more information on Coastal Therapy Services, visit their website at: coastaltherapyservices.com

A fight to make friends

 

Walk raises money for a statewide peer program

By Molly A.K. Connors from the Concord Monitor:

For the last 10 years, it's been easy enough for Susan Zimmermann's son, Oliver, to play with kids his age, even if they don't have Down syndrome like he does.
But in two years Oliver will be in middle school. By then, Zimmermann said, Oliver's condition will make it a little harder for him to keep up with his peers. There's the risk he could become lonesome and socially isolated.
"It's sad, but it's what happens," Zimmermann said in an interview yesterday.
She wanted to get Oliver involved in Best Buddies, a charitable nonprofit that pairs intellectually and developmentally disabled people with peers who have similar interests.
But New Hampshire doesn't have a statewide Best Buddies program - there are three chapters, but their presence is limited and the volunteers depend on staffers in Massachusetts.
So about a year ago, Zimmermann and her friend Sarra Dennehy, whose son is also 10, has Down syndrome and attends Concord schools, decided to start one.
They formed a board of directors and set out to raise $250,000, the amount Best Buddies International requires to establish a state office staffed with a director and program managers. Those people, in turn, bring Best Buddies chapters to schools across the state.
Yesterday, about 400 people showed up to help them at the inaugural New Hampshire Best Buddies Friendship Walk, a one-mile loop from the State House through downtown Concord. After the walk, advocates danced to live music, ate barbecue and played with Darcy, a Shetland pony who came from New Boston for the event.
Established by Anthony Shriver in 1989, Best Buddies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works with nearly 700,000 people with and without disabilities worldwide.
The organization doesn't ask its participants to identify their disability, but one in six children in the United States is diagnosed with a developmental disability, which ranges from mild speech disorders to cerebral palsy and autism, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Peter Fleming, 47, of Manchester is one of the many people who said he's looking forward to finding a buddy in New Hampshire.
Fleming said he's already very busy working his job bagging groceries at Stop and Shop and volunteering with the Manchester Lions Club and the governor's commission on disabilities, but he agreed to be on the board of directors of Best Buddies New Hampshire.
Fleming is already part of "e-Buddies," an email pen pal program through Best Buddies International. Several years ago, he just happened to be paired up with Tim Shriver, the CEO of the Special Olympics and son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
At least once a week, Fleming said, he and Shriver exchange emails.
"We talk about the Red Sox; we talk about our families," Fleming said. "He's a big Red Sox fan."
Fleming said he got to meet Shriver in Washington, D.C., a few months back and would like a companion closer by, too.
"We can do stuff together," he said.
Taryn Seybold, a 36-year-old emergency room nurse, wants her son Nicholas, 16, to have a buddy, too. He's had a wonderful experience so far with Concord High School's peer-to-peer program, which pairs "typical" students with intellectually and developmentally disabled ones, Seybold said.
But she worries what will happen after Nicholas turns 21 and won't be able to go to school anymore. He has the same dreams as any other teenager, she said: get married, have a family.
She wants him to have a fulfilled life and not have to depend on her for all of his needs.
"Just like any kid, he doesn't want his mom hanging out all the time," Seybold said, walking up South State Street.
Nicholas followed closely behind, arm-in-arm with one of his three "typical" friends from the high school.
Nicholas's friends, who graduated Saturday, said they would volunteer with Best Buddies once it launched in New Hampshire. Sitting in the shade after the walk, they said it's possible they've benefited from the relationship more than Nicholas has.
"He's one of the nicest people I've ever met," Mckenzie Dow, 17, said, right before Nicholas grabbed a Monitor reporter's hand, kissed it and asked for it in marriage.
He uses that line a lot, they said.
Organizers said they've raised $40,000 toward their goal of $250,000. They estimate they raised at least $35,000 yesterday.
A statewide chapter can't come soon enough for Sarra Dennehy, who said it's becoming harder for her son, Liam, who has Down syndrome, to keep up with children in their neighborhood. The kids are kind, she said, but they've gotten bigger and faster and stronger, and Liam just can't hold his own.
"Liam watches all the kids in the neighborhood play," she said. "And it sucks."
If you slow down long enough to let him in your life, she said, you'll be better for it.
"It really opens your eyes to the heart and the soul of people instead of just the exterior," she said.

Two friends with Down syndrome competing in the LA Marathon

from the Examiner by Lindsey Rowe:
Angela Armenta & Antoinette Mendoza are two friends who have Down Syndrome, but they are not letting that stop them from completing the LA Marathon March 18th!

These two determined ladies are part of Team ARC, an organization that helps individuals with developmental disabilities and an official charity of the LA Marathon. According to ARC, Angela & Antoinette will be the first women with Down Syndrome to complete the LA Marathon, and they are beyond excited to hold that title! Their inspiration came about when they saw their friends Rafael & Tim, two men with special needs, complete five marathons over the last few years.

Angela will embark on this journey with her friends by her side, along with her brother Joe and sister Rebecca, encouraging her to complete the 26.2 mile journey. Since the beginning of her training, her family says that Angela’s heath has improved and that through this rigorous process, her personality has come alive, her speech has improved and she is actively using new vocabulary words she has learned while training. Despite being diagnosed with a hole in her heart at age 5, with medical clearance from her doctor, Angela is determined to succeed and ready for this challenge!

Antoinette’s dream is to finish the marathon alongside her two friends, Rafael & Tim. Already an avid 5k participant, she is very proud of the medals she currently has and cannot wait to add the LA Marathon medal to the collection. Antoinette beams when she tells people about the race “I can do it, run all the way from Dodger stadium to the ocean, I try my best, 26.2 miles, I love it!” Antoinette will be running with Rafael, Tim, an ARC staff member who has volunteered to assist them and a Physical Therapy student from USC.

As these two inspirational ladies make history, Team ARC hopes to bring awareness to the developmentally disabled community and the importance of health & friendships, while giving hope to parents of children with special needs.

Sophomore is a member of the dance team

from Billings Gazette by Donna Healy:

A sense of belonging helps smooth any teen’s path through high school.

For sophomore Hannah Rogers, the West High junior varsity dance team is a spot where she feels she fits in.

Although she stays on the sideline when the team dances during halftime performances, she knows the moves and the music.

Hannah, who has Down syndrome, started practicing with the team during the summer after eighth grade, said Tracy Stanaway, the team’s coach.

She could memorize the steps, but her movements were just a bit slower than the team’s. So instead of performing, Hannah became the JV team’s manager.

“She’s got instant friends on the dance team,” Stanaway said.

Hannah calls them “my girls,” and her devotion to the team is apparent.

“She shows up at every practice, every game, every fundraiser, everything,” Stanaway said.

“I have to be there for my dance team,” Hannah said.

Before each performance, Hannah makes sure team members remove their jewelry, pull back their hair and position their uniforms securely to comply with Montana High School Association rules. During practice, if the girls are chattering, Hannah lets them know they need to quiet down.

“Sometimes they listen to her better than they listen to me,” Stanaway said.

So far, Hannah has rejected the idea of performing with the JV dance team, but she sometimes dances with them during practice sessions.

“When we’re warming up, that’s usually when a song comes on that she jumps up and dances to,” Stanaway said.

“Tonight, Tonight” is one of her favorites.

Hannah also practices with the Special Olympics dance team, which will perform this summer during the opening ceremonies at the Special Olympics Montana Summer Games.

“When I was a kid, I loved to dance and I loved to sing,” Hannah said. “It’s way fun.”

That delight comes across when she dances.

“I can just tell that she absolutely loves music and dancing and how free she can be,” Stanaway said.

Volunteering as the dance team’s manager has helped build Hannah’s confidence, said her mother, Suzanne Rogers.

“It’s opened her up. She’s more social. She knows a lot of people,” Suzanne Rogers said. “She is very comfortable in that school environment.”

Since Hannah was little, she has been friends with Joey Lucara, who was the West High football team’s manager for five years. Lucara, who also has Down syndrome, graduated in May but has remained involved with the football team.

“They still have him come on the sidelines, just to be there cheering them on,” said Joey’s mother, Lisa Lucara. “He’s kind of a sideline fixture at the games.”

Joey, who is 20, works in the shipping department at Energy Labs. A former member of the school’s cross-country team, he remains a fervent fan of all West High sports teams. At basketball games, he sometimes sells 50-50 raffle tickets for the booster club.

“He knows so many people that he can walk up in the crowd and they’ll generally buy tickets from him,” his mother said.

The pair went to TWIRP and the prom together, and Stanaway hopes to get Hannah and Joey to do a dance number together.

“There’s so much joy when she and Joey dance,” Stanaway said.

She envisions choreographing them dancing on the gym floor surrounded by the dance team.

Christmas wishes come true for man with Down syndrome

from Boston Herald by Richard Weir:

When a widowed friend died suddenly in March, leaving her 37-year-old son with Down syndrome alone in the world, Robin Lungo became his adoptive mom — a deed that nine months later has renewed her Christmas spirit and provided her a gift she can’t buy at the mall.


Despite living on a meager disability check and battling breast cancer, Lungo, 58, a widow herself and mother of a grown daughter, kept her promise to her late 71-year-old friend Mary and took her son William Marshall Jr. into her small Somerville apartment.


She has dug into her savings to keep up William’s routines, taking him to the movies once a month and to his weekly bowling league, and splurging on the popcorn he loves at both. But Christmas was proving to be a hardship because Lungo knew William cherished the holiday and was used to a bounty of gifts his mom would leave under their tree on Christmas and Little Christmas, an Irish celebration on Jan. 6 marking the Feast of the Epiphany.


“He believes in Santa. He can’t wait for him to come. He’s got his list on the refrigerator. After Thanksgiving, he was sitting in the chair, and he says to me, ‘He’s coming. Santa’s coming.’ Every time I say it, I get goose bumps,” she said. “William is used to a big Christmas.”


“Derr Sante Clus,” begins the list that William penciled on loose leaf paper in a 6-year-old’s syntax and proudly showed a reporter, itemizing the things he needs (a new hat, gloves) and wants (Disney DVDs, CDs of oldies music).


“My husband died Thanksgiving 18 years ago. It hasn’t been happy Christmases for me for a while,” said Lungo, who said having William in her life has brightened her holidays. “He will come over and just rub my face and give me a hug and a kiss. He’s very affectionate.”


So she dusted off her artificial tree and, for the first time in years, strung lights and hung decorations to make her home more festive for William. But still she fretted about finding the money to buy him gifts.


A friend, however, wrote a local Down syndrome support group seeking help in buying gifts for the man with the boyish spirit who still believes in St. Nick. The group’s founder, Melanie McLaughlin, whose daughter Gracie, 4, has Down syndrome, was so moved she reached out to her network of moms and collected three bags of donated gifts and $150.


“It’s a beautiful thing that she did. She’s honoring her friend by caring for her son, whom she’s known for a long time and clearly loves. It’s not easy. She’s living paycheck to paycheck,” McLaughlin said.


A grateful Lungo said the presents will make William so happy today and make her smile as she watches him open them.


“The whole spirit of giving and Christmas has come full circle for Robin,” said Lungo’s friend, Jackie Murray, 56. “She’s always been a giver and with William she has received the true joy of Christmas. His gift to her is the gift of love.”


And, explained Lungo, a renewed purpose in life.


“He gives me a reason to be here, too. I’m a three-time cancer survivor. I think that’s why I’m here. To take care of William. It’s kind of my job. I promised I would do it and I’m doing it. Right, William?”


“Yep,” replied William.

special girl takes on traditional school

from the Coloradoan:

When Gretchen Coon walks to the bus stop every morning, the 6-year-old is already famous, waving at everybody in sight and yelling their names.

She stepped off the bus at Linton Elementary School on Monday morning and began greeting her public, shaking hands and hugging the many parents, teachers and students who approached her as if she were a celebrity as she walked to her kindergarten classroom with confidence and pride.

In many ways, she is a celebrity. Gretchen has been a familiar face to the Linton family since her sister, Brigid, 7, stepped through the school’s doors. The girls’ mother, Linda Trentman, volunteered for the school and often brought Gretchen along.

While many people know her for her big heart and huge hugs, Gretchen Coon has another
characteristic most recognize: Down syndrome.

But unlike some special needs students, Gretchen started school in a traditional classroom Monday, a decision her parents, Trentman and Jeffrey Coon, said was crucial to her development.

“The statistics on Down syndrome are changing because more and more kids are being given the opportunity to be educated in a traditional classroom with their peers, as opposed to going to special schools or away to institutions,” Jeffrey Coon said.

Beyond the benefits to Gretchen’s own learning process, Trentman said her daughter’s ability to love without prejudice will teach other students to live openly with kindness and respect.

“Let (special needs kids) be who they are,” Trentman said. “They make other people better people. She still brings tears to my eyes because she’s such a great kid.”

“She’s been a magnet for everything positive,” Jeffrey Coon added. “I have flaws; she has none. Everything that comes out of her is 100 percent pure.”

Gretchen has always opened her heart to meeting and loving everybody she meets. Whether it’s her big sister’s classmates or a person on the street, Gretchen proudly extends her hand to make a new friend, Brigid said.

“She’s the brave one.”

For her parents, Gretchen’s first day of school was a milestone they have prepared for since she was born. As for Gretchen, going to school for the first time meant only one thing: making new friends at recess.

“I’m going there to have recess,” Gretchen said. “I go outside and play around. The end.”

She waited patiently as she sat in her classroom for the first time, learning how to sign up for lunch, hang up her backpack and sing the morning song. But finally, it was time.

Gretchen ran out to the playground, beaming in anticipation, and headed straight to the jungle gym. She marched up the stairs without the slightest hint of trepidation as a group of about 10 students gathered at the bottom to cheer her on.

She looked down and hesitated.

“C’mon, Gretchy,” her sister and friends cheered.

With a small smile, she slid down into the arms of a family that loved and appreciated her for being just who she is.

Meet Do Something Awards Winner Sarah Cronk

from dosomething.org:

Sarah won a $100,000 Grand Prize at this year's Do Something Awards on Vh1. Check out what inspired Sarah to start her program in her interview below.

Sarah Cronk watched her older brother Charlie struggle to fit in during high school because of his disabilities. He was depressed and anxious, until the captain of the swim team invited him to join. Suddenly, the cool kids welcomed him, and he found a new group of friends. Inspired by Charlie, Sarah co-founded the first high school-based inclusive cheerleading squad in the nation. Today, The Sparkle Effect has generated 26 squads in 15 states and South Africa, encouraging a culture of acceptance in every community.

Interview with Sarah Cronk

DoSomething.org asked Sarah how she got started with her project and what advice she has for other young people.

DoSomething.org: How did you feel when you first learned of the problem you are addressing?

Sarah Cronk: When I first began to see that most high school students with disabilities are excluded from high school sports (and the accompanying social benefits), I felt disheartened. My older brother Charlie was born with a disability that prevents him from fully understanding social cues, yet Charlie is very socially motivated and one of the kindest people I know. Transitioning into high school was rough for Charlie. Then, a popular upperclassman invited Charlie to join the swim team. The swimmers accepted Charlie into their social group and gave Charlie a place where he belonged. To me, this idea of belonging–of being an accepted part of a high school community–shouldn’t be considered a privilege available only to some students. Rather, we should consider it a basic human right.

DS: How do you feel about it now?
SC: I feel very optimistic! I have seen first-hand the willingness teens have to accept and include their peers with disabilities. I also feel that teens are perfectly positioned for this important task. Adults, no matter how well meaning, simply cannot provide the social acceptance that every teen wants. Only teens can lead the social inclusion movement.

DS: What person or experience sticks with you from when you first started your project?
SC: I will never forget my experiences with one of the girls on our local Sparkles squad. Alison arrived at the first practice with a unique set of challenges. She felt uncomfortable with the texture of the practice mats and refused to stand on them. For several practices, she came dressed in a variety of different wigs. She spoke only if called by the name of the particular character (like Hannah Montana) she had dressed as that day. At first, I didn’t know how to handle the situation, so I looked to Alison’s mom for guidance. Her advice: just go with it. Following her mother’s lead, I decided to meet Alison where she was, even if that meant calling her Hannah Montana for a few weeks. For a while, I let go of teaching Alison cheerleading skills altogether. Instead, I worked on building trust.
During the first few football games, Alison attached herself to one of our peer coaches–literally. Alison clung tightly to her arm, and would not to let go even to clap or jump. Eventually, about four months into the program, we began to see a shift. Bit by bit, we saw the wigs and costumes less often. Alison began to respond to her own name, to interact with the other girls, and to participate right along with everyone else. She even began calling her teammates in the evenings and arranging for movie dates and shopping excursions on the weekends.
Now, it is always Alison, not Hannah Montana, who shows up to practice. It is Alison who cheers in front of hundreds of fans. It is Alison who struts out onto the basketball court independently, confident that her teammates are there if she needs them, but also confident that she can perform beautifully in front of the students.

DS: Who or what is your inspiration to keep going?

SC: My biggest inspiration is hearing back from cheerleaders, students with disabilities, and their parents who have benefitted from their own Sparkle Effect squad. I also love to hear from teachers and administrators who say The Sparkle Effect has inspired a resurgence of school and community spirit. Cheerleaders across the country have reported that they love their work with The Sparkle Effect so much that the trajectory of their lives has changed. Some have decided to go into special education. One girl even went on to create another inclusive club within her school, which sponsors monthly inclusive social events, like pizza parties and movie nights.
My favorite stories are from parents. Parents of students on Sparkle Effect squads report that their children have improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater confidence, and higher self-esteem. Some parents have even reported that the benefits of inclusion on the field have resulted in better report cards in the classroom. One father told me that he heard his daughter say more in a 45-minute Sparkle Effect practice than he had heard her say in the past four years.

 

DS: Can you describe the moment you knew that you were actually making a difference?
SC: Our local Sparkles squad began practicing in the high school cafeteria in the summer of 2008. The Sparkles did a great job in the safe, sheltered environment of our school’s cafeteria. However, I worried about the student body’s reaction during the Sparkles’ debut at the first home football game. Our “front line” of seniors is known for being particularly rowdy, and I was concerned about how they would respond to our new group.
As it turned out, my fears were completely unfounded. As the Sparkles took the field with us, the entire student section—even the senior boys—stood up and began chanting, “Let’s Go Sparkles, let’s Go!” When we finished performing, the entire stadium full of spectators rose to their feet and began to cheer. At that moment, I realized that this unprecedented and unlikely squad was going to change my high school forever.

DS: What was the most difficult roadblock you faced when you tried to start your project? When you were growing it?

SC: While finding our first local Sparkles turned out to be relatively easy, the first few weeks of practice were bumpy, to say the least. One girl repeatedly threw tantrums. Another kept hitting, kicking, and scratching her teammates. Many of the girls lacked impulse control and all of the girls lacked focus. We decided to go back to basics. We focused a little less on cheering and stunting and a little more on games and exercises that would help us get to know one another. After a few weeks, the girls learned to trust us and one another. They actually began to skip into practice with bright eyes and huge smiles.
The Sparkle Effect came with a completely different set of obstacles. When I first created The Sparkle Effect, I had enthusiasm, passion, and a website that included all of the tools necessary for other teens across America to duplicate the success of our Sparkles’ program. What I didn’t have was money. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without funds, I was forced to come up with creative ideas for getting the word out about The Sparkle Effect. I turned to national organizations focused on disabilities, high school sports, and volunteerism, and asked them to profile The Sparkle Effect on their websites cost-free. The support I received was both humbling and awe-inspiring. Within a few months, The Sparkle Effect was appearing on several national websites. Then, much to my surprise, in the fall of 2009, our local Sparkles squad captured the attention of the national media. After appearing in People Magazine and on Oprah, I received tons of e-mails. The national exposure invigorated and inspired hundreds of cheerleaders across the country.

DS: What’s been the biggest lesson through the process?

SC: I have learned that while having compassion is important, acting on that compassion is critical. I have also come to understand that social inclusion helps people learn to see the person and not the disability. I have thoroughly enjoyed turning on its head the stereotype of cheerleaders as self-involved elitists. Sparkle Effect teams instantly transform what was previously seen as the most exclusive group in high school into the most inclusive.

DS: What has surprised you the most about the journey that has taken you here today?

I started the Sparkles and The Sparkle Effect because I wanted to help students with disabilities find social connection. I didn’t fully understand that connection is a two-way street. Through my work, I have found levels of connection that I never expected. I thought that I would be teaching students with disabilities. I did not realize that they would be the ones teaching me.
The amazing, wildly enthusiastic support from student fans nationwide has been a surprise. When it comes to the social inclusion of students with disabilities, students are leading the charge and sending the message loud and clear to other teens and adults: Tt’s cool to care.

DS: What advice do you have for other young leaders who are having a tough time getting their ideas off of the ground?

SC: Adopt an unwavering belief that you can and will make a difference. If and when you get stuck, let go of the uncertainty about the big picture. Refuse to see roadblocks. Instead, see signposts. Understand that roadblocks are actually arrows pointing to a new (and usually better!) path to your destination.
Also, assume that people are good and helpful and well-meaning (people love positive reinforcement).
Finally, never be afraid to be totally excited about your work. The world needs more unbridled enthusiasm.

DS: If you could have done one thing differently based on what you know now, what would it be and why?

SC: I would have sought advice and assistance earlier than I did. I [knew that I would] only generate squads if people knew about them. I decided to mail 100 letters to high school cheer squads nationwide, telling them about The Sparkle Effect and urging them to start a squad. This work generated not a single squad.
Then, in a moment born more of desperation than inspiration, I contacted Jeff Webb, the President and CEO of Varsity, Inc. and the Universal Cheerleading Association, the two largest and most successful cheerleading companies in the world. Mr. Webb had started his extraordinarily successful company by himself out of his tiny apartment, so I thought that maybe he would be willing to offer advice. Not only did he offer advice, Mr. Webb has turned out to be one of my most ardent and effective supporters. His companies have featured The Sparkle Effect on their websites, in a video that aired on closed-circuit hotel television at the Walt Disney Resort during the National Cheerleading Championships, and at cheerleading camps across the country. Mr. Webb also agreed to partner with me to provide cheerleading uniforms to new Sparkle Effect squads throughout the country. His company, Varsity Spirit Fashions, matches Sparkle Effect grants dollar-for-dollar and adds a 20% discount to all uniform purchases. Through Mr. Webb’s unwavering support, The Sparkle Effect has reached virtually every high school cheerleader in America and outfitted seventeen squads nationwide. Now, whenever I need help, I ask for it!

DS: What’s next for your project?

SC: The Sparkle Effect will continue to generate and outfit squads coast to coast! The Sparkle Effect is enjoying tremendous momentum. We have generated twenty-seven squads, twenty-three of which were created in the past fourteen months alone!
In the highly competitive world of high school sports, teens are taught to perfect their skills, to conquer, to win. Sparkle Effect squads are not about perfection; they are about connection. In many towns across America, Friday night football and basketball games are the main event. Sparkle Effect teams nationwide are throwing a big, bright spotlight on the richness that results from inclusion. Fans are leaving sporting events entertained and inspired. I know that the magic of The Sparkle Effect can easily reach into every high school in the country. When it does, game night in America will never be the same.

Bonus Question: If you could have any celebrity film a PSA for you, who would it be and why?

SC: Jane Lynch! On the hit show Glee, Jane plays Sue Sylvester, a wonderfully wicked high-school cheerleading coach. Sue defied expectations when she allowed a sophomore girl with Down syndrome to join the Cheerios squad. It was soon revealed that Sue has a sister with Down syndrome. The close relationship between the sisters exposes Sue’s tenderness and humanity. I believe that Jane Lynch appeals to teens and adults alike and she would be the perfect celeb to promote The Sparkle Effect!

Football Camp for the Stars supporting people with Down syndrome

from pittsburghlive.com:

Through his fascination with football, Chris McGough has learned to love the limelight. Just not enough to prefer star quarterbacks Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger or Matt Cassel to a self-described journeyman who has briefly been their backup.

"Tyler Palko is my favorite in the NFL," McGough says of the former West Allegheny and Pitt star now with the Kansas City Chiefs, "because he's my friend."

Their friendship runs so deep that Palko teamed with the McGough family to form TC House, a nonprofit organization designed to build a group home in Imperial for adults like Chris with Down syndrome. Its annual golf outing has raised $200,000 in seven years, as well as awareness for the chromosomal condition and its impact on the lives of family and friends.

For as much as his friendship with an NFL player gives McGough a sense of stardom, the reciprocal effect is reversed: McGough has shown Palko how to gain better perspective by never placing him on a pedestal.

"He's helped me way more than I've helped him," Palko said Friday morning at Quicksilver Golf Course in Midway. "I remember a game where I threw an interception to end the game and came off the field all hot and bothered and (ticked) off. My parents stayed away, but Chris came up and hugged me and said, 'Tyler, you threw it to the wrong guy.'

"It comforts me to know that there are people in the world like Chris that are put here on earth for a purpose, to not have someone look at you like, 'Can you sign this?' Or, 'Can I have free tickets?' He just wants to come up and give you a hug. He doesn't care if you win or lose. He just wants you as a friend."
After spending the past eight years as the ball boy and manager for the West Allegheny and Duquesne football teams, McGough, 22, wants nothing more than to play the game that he loves so much.

That's where another NFL connection comes in.

San Francisco 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, a West Homestead native, hosted his second Football Camp for the Stars for males with Down syndrome at Thomas Jefferson High School. McGough is one of 35 campers who went through drills Thursday and scrimmaged yesterday.

"I coach football for the 49ers, so it ends up being the NFL, the three-letter deal — and I get all that. But being able to see the camp in California was a big deal," Tomsula said of visiting Mike Machado's camp at Valley Christian High in San Jose. "They were getting it, and it was just pure competition. The closest I've seen to football in the backyard was high school football, but even that is getting to be not as pure. This is pure, man.

"I said, 'This would be perfect for Pittsburgh.' "

Perfect in that, even during the NFL lockout, the camp is getting support from the league's players and coaches. Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch and former Penn State and NFL receiver Bobby Engram, now a quality control assistant with the 49ers, served as guest speakers.

Tomsula and TJ's Bill Cherpak, who both played for George Novak at Steel Valley, joined with the Woodland Hills coach and their players to serve as instructors. They made it as authentic as possible, never cutting the campers a break — which is just the way they want to be coached.

"We're not going to put on the gloves and treat them soft and gentle," Tomsula said. "You try to make it as real a practice as you can, and they appreciate being treated just like a kid instead of a kid with."

That's why it was hard to tell what Steve McGough was more excited to talk about: building TC House with a back deck that overlooks West Allegheny's football stadium or watching his son Chris fulfill a dream by playing football under the Friday night lights.

"It's his chance to go out and learn these things that he's watched for years," Steve McGough said. "He sees the Friday nights when other guys get recognition, and he gets to do that. When he's competing in the Camp for the Stars, it's with kids of his talent. And it's all about encouragement. To see him compete, it's no different for me than any other parent. It's exciting.
 
"He'll talk about it for a year and do it again next year."

Score it a touchdown for those touched by Down syndrome.

Eagle Scout and happens to have Down Syndrome

More than 70 people gathered last week at Dixon Elementary School to celebrate the promotion of Brookfield teenager Jonathan Schmit, who has Down syndrome, to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Jonathan, 16, began scouting with the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout when he was 8. The troop was led by Jonathan's father, Brian Schmit, in the family's house.

"Lesson One was don't jump on the couch," Jonathan's mother, Michelle Schmit, said in a phone interview before the ceremony.

Jonathan said after the ceremony that it took him about a year to feel like he knew the other Scouts and was a part of the troop. When he began Scouting, he did not expect to continue long enough to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. It was a year later, when he discovered his grandfather's Eagle Scout pin in a drawer at home, that he was inspired to continue.

Jonathan's troop, which started as eight Cub Scouts, is now down to five Boy Scouts, including two of Jonathan's closest friends: Tyler Gray-Hoehn and Aaron Bauer, both 15. Gray-Hoehn and Bauer have known Jonathan since kindergarten, which the three attended at Dixon Elementary.

"Jonathan's always been motivated. He's a leader," Gray-Hoehn said.

Gray-Hoehn and Bauer described the community service project Jonathan organized as part of his promotion to Eagle Scout: elevated gardens outside Dixon Elementary so that students with disabilities who were unable to go to the school's rooftop greenhouse could still participate in class activities. Jonathan managed to get the help of about 20 people for his project, including Scouts who had stopped attending meetings years earlier, according to Gray-Hoehn.

Bob Agnew, Jonathan's grandfather, as well as Jonathan's father, the troop's current master, led much of Friday evening's ceremony. Among those in attendance were Jonathan's elementary, middle and high school teachers, as well as Jonathan's three younger siblings.

Jonathan's elementary schoolteacher, Anita Lange, described him as "a wonderful student to have in class." In addition to Scouting, Jonathan is heavily involved in student council at Brookfield Central High School and manages the school's basketball and football teams, said Lange and her colleagues. Jonathan also competes athletically; he won fourth in basketball skills in the 2008 Special Olympics Wisconsin State Indoor Sports Tournament.

Jonathan's promotion to Eagle Scout coincided with another Scouting event for the Schmit family: Jonathan's youngest sibling, Timmy, 6, attended his first Cub Scout meeting a week earlier. Michelle Schmit said her husband would be stepping down as master of Jonathan's troop to lead Timmy's troop. She hopes that Jonathan will serve as a role model for her younger children.

Jonathan said after the ceremony that he plans to take a short break from Scouting this summer. He already has collected 36 merit badges, and he hopes to collect more upon his return to Scouting in the fall.

As an Eagle Scout, Jonathan joins the ranks of astronaut Neil Armstrong, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and director Steven Spielberg.

from jsonline.com

Miss You Can Do It Pageant

The Annual Miss You Can Do It Pageant is a national non-profit pageant created just for girls and women with special needs and challenges and a whole new world that opens just one night a year. A world where wishing on stars and dreaming big is an every day event, and a world where everyone has an equal opportunity. It's a world where there are no need for special education classes because all you have to do is ask for help and you've got it, a world where every dream has the possibility of becoming a reality.

The first pageant was in 2004, and those who witnessed the beginning could not have possibly anticipated the incredible growth the Miss You Can Do It Pageant has achieved. This competition puts its contestants on a memorable path, this experience leaves them with great memories, strong friendships, and a defining sense of accomplishment. This surreal night is a once in a lifetime experience!

This pageant was created as a stepping stone for girls and women with special needs and challenges, so that they realize if you truly believe in yourself, ANY DREAM CAN COME TRUE! And they will leave this pageant with an abundance of self confidence that will live far past this magical evening.

From missyoucandoit.com