Child’s inspirational graduation story touches hearts

by Leigh Garner from WIAT:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) – It’s the happiest and saddest day of the year at The University of Alabama RISE School in Tuscaloosa. Over 20 five and six year-olds are putting on the caps and gowns that make them look, as director Dr. Martha Cook puts it, “like little angels.”
After years of learning, growing, and loving; another batch of babies are graduating to kindergarten. The RISE school is a unique learning environment.
Started back in 1974, the program was designed to serve children with disabilities. Over the years, the program broadened to serve an equal number of children with disabilities and their typically developing peers.
At graduation rehearsal Thursday morning, Ute Jocham got a sneak peek of the night’s performances.  Her daughter, Mandy, is graduating.
“This is what we didn’t expect when she was born,” Jocham says. Mandy was born with a heart defect and Down syndrome. Her parents are from Germany, and Jocham didn’t know much about the condition.
“To be honest, I was shocked,” she says. “I didn’t know it, and when the doctor came into the room and said she had Down syndrome, I was in tears.”
Dr. Cook explains that in Germany, they don’t currently have any programs like RISE, and that people with Down Syndrome are often hidden away or institutionalized.
“I’m sure that her [Jocham] expectations were probably tempered by that,” says Cook.
Jocham learned about RISE from friends in the Tuscaloosa area. She was told that early intervention could be key the Mandy’s success in life.
Mandy first enrolled at RISE when she was just 9 months-old.  Since then, everyone around Mandy has been amazed by how much she has achieved.
“I wouldn’t change her for anything else, and she’s a blessing,” says Jocham.
Mandy is now trilingual, fluent in German, English, and sign-language. Cook says her fiery red hair reflects her big personality.
Her mother describes her as a social butterfly.
“She was standing in front of Northport Elementary,” Jocham says,”and Mandy said, ‘Wow!’  And she was so impressed, like, this is the school I’m going to, and I said, okay.  She’s ready.”

This Teen Refused To Walk At Graduation Without His Twin Brother With Down Syndrome

by Dominique Mosbergen from The Huffington Post:
Austin Coppola attended Fairport High School in Fairport, New York. His twin brother, Ty, who has Down syndrome, did not. But last week, at the school's graduation ceremony, that difference mattered little.
Austin had refused to take part in the ceremony unless his brother was allowed to walk on stage with him. Austin told his mom that Ty deserved the same recognition and praise he would be getting that night.
"'Mom, Ty has worked harder than me, he's endured more challenges,'" the twins' mom, Cheryl Coppola, quoted Austin as saying, according to ABC-affiliate WHAM-TV. "'Yeah, I've earned it, I worked hard for my degree, but he's worked hard in a different way.'"
On June 26, Austin got his wish. The young man and his brother, both wearing caps and gowns, took to the stage together to receive Austin's diploma.

What a great moment. Ty and Austin Coppola share the stage and graduate together! Fairport HS #2014 #brothers #twins pic.twitter.com/ydmh9uhaTp
— Patrice Walsh (@PatriceWalsh13) June 27, 2014

It was emotional moment for the 17-year-old brothers -- and for all those who witnessed it. The pair reportedly received a standing ovation from the crowd gathered. Austin took to Twitter to say the response brought him "to tears."

That standing ovation for Ty brought me to tears. The FHS class '14 will always hold a place in my heart. I hope to see all of you again !!
— Austin Coppola (@acoppola8) June 27, 2014

"This is probably going to be one of the most memorable moments of my life and it means so much to me that [Ty] can share it with me," Austin told WHAM-TV. "I'm definitely a much better person with him in my life. There's no way I would be the same without him. Not at all."

Graduation a fork in the road for fraternal twins in Va.

by Robert Anderson from the Roanoke Times:
SALEM, Va.  — Almost every varsity baseball game at Hidden Valley High School over the past three years ended the same way.
With Nic Ratliff striking out.
Each home victory by the Titans from 2011 to '13 was punctuated by an unusual postgame ceremony near home plate.
Ratliff, the Titans' star senior shortstop, would hold a bat menacingly over his right shoulder as his twin brother, Ben, delivered three pitches.
Strike one.
Strike two.
Strike three.
Hidden Valley players would cheer and applaud. Then Nic would put his arm around his brother's shoulders and the two boys would walk off together.
Just like they did Friday.
Nicholas London Ratliff received his Hidden Valley diploma during the school's graduation exercises at Salem Civic Center.
Benjamin Paul Ratliff also wore a cap and gown as he took part in the ceremony with his classmates.
However, Ben was not handed the same diploma as his brother. He received a "certificate of completion" as a special education student in Roanoke County, although he will go through some additional programs at the high school. Ben likely will remain at Hidden Valley until he turns 22.
You see, Ben was born with two strikes against him.
Ben has Down syndrome.

teen with Down Syndrome graduates with standard diploma

from 12 WSFA.com by Beth Shelburne:

Allison Gabriel is a young woman who has dreamed big since she was little. This girl with a big smile is a lot of things--daughter, sister, friend to many.

Allison's strengths have always been the focus in the Gabriel house, because even though Allison has Down syndrome, her parents say it's no big deal.

"Not everyone in this world is perfect. In fact I don't know anyone who's perfect other than Jesus and so... She is who she is," Allison's mom, Susan, said.

 Allison had to work extra hard to pass her exit exams to achieve her goal of graduating with a standard diploma. But despite that achievement, when you talk to Allison, it's never about her.

When asked how she feels about graduation, she said, "It feels great... And I like to be with my sister."

"She does have a heart like Jesus," her mom says. "I mean if you do something to offend her and she gets her feelings hurt often, if you say I'm sorry it's over with."

This compassionate young woman rises to the occasion, because her parents, Susan and Harry, expect her to.

Whether it's a beauty walk or playing basketball at Northridge High School, anything Allison has wanted to do, they've encouraged her and asked others to give her a chance.

Susan says Allison's success is in part thanks to her community.

When Allison was just six weeks old, she started early intervention at the University of Alabama Rise school.

"I think living in Tuscaloosa really, you are kind of at an advantage because when Allison was born Gene Stallings was here so his son was here and it was just people accepted things better," Susan said.

Allison's classmates love her, and what a gift she's given them: a lifetime of open hearts thanks to their time together over the years.

"She knows no boundaries and knows no limits," her dad Harry said.

And she got there with grace and the strength of her family's unconditional love. A big congratulations to Allison. The skies the limit.

see the video here

Self Advocate Sheri Brynard's Accomplishments

From The Star:

During the 17th Annual Hamlet Foundation National Awards Ceremony held last week in Johannesburg, Sheri Brynard of Bloemfontein was awarded the President Award for her achievements and work she does in the field of mentally disabled South Africans.

The Hamlet Foundation was founded in 1954 by a group of parents whose children were exempted from normal schooling and today it runs a school for intellectually disabled children, a residential centre for intellectually disabled adults and a protective workshop for intellectually disabled adult workers. Annually, workers and people in the field of the intellectually disabled throughout South Africa are rewarded at a gala night, which also serves as a fundraiser.

Sheri has Down Syndrome and has excelled academically like no other person with Down Syndrome in South Africa. She received her National N3 Matric certificate and went on to complete her N4 and N5 National Diploma in Educare.

Her papers were set and marked nationally and nobody could help her in any way. She also received the highest prestige award from the SA Downs Association, for academic achievement by a person with Down Syndrome, from Hellen Zille.

Sheri has achieved culturally, by being the first person with Down Syndrome to achieve the highest honour in Provincial and National eisteddfods between normal learners.

She has done 90 motivational talks nationally and internationally. She changes people's perspectives of persons with Down Syndrome. She is the ambassador for all people with Down Syndrome in South Africa and serves on the international Down Syndrome board.

Sheri is the only person with Down Syndrome to have a National Educational Diploma where she can pursue her occupation. She is an assistant teacher at a special school.

She also facilitates the self advocacy movement in the Free State.

She has shown that with determination, a positive attitude and a very strong will, one can overcome many obstacles and still reach those goals you set out to achieve. “My mother and my father always expected me to do my best and they supported and helped me to stay motivated every step of the way,” says Sheri.

Sheri Brynard's Graduation Speech:

Poet, Self Advocate: Julie Yeager

Julie's Poem

By JULIE YEAGER

I think of birds growing. I think of rainbows after a good wet cry. When the sun finally decides to come out from under a pile of gray socks, nothing really matters. A sip of your milk and a thought comes to mind. A blink a stare and emotion closing your eyes to stop the world dreams come true when your spirit becomes a simple act of kindness: Lights beyond the stars in the sky bring me hope and luck for what I know that is true something I believe in is why I stand up to show that it is important to be heard. My poetry does not always need a theme or rhyme It requires a person who knows God’s grace and true meaning of souls connection to each other. A walk and a new poem comes to mind about the birds and the bees but as you know I know about the moon and stars shining over me. Do you know about everything I do I check out a shake or two when you come around. I know you drive me crazy Every day at work I try as hard as I can just ring up my number and I hear a voice I try to avoid it I talked to friends and now I wanna find angels singing I am waiting for my life to be shared and now it is complete. I started with birds growing and rainbows now I am ending with sunlight and smiles to be everywhere in your heart and by your side all day long.

Julie Yeager graduated in 2006. At the time, she was the first student in Sonoma County's Full Inclusion program to complete 12 years of education in the program at public schools.

Yeager was born with Down syndrome, but that didn't stop her from attending Cherry Valley School and moving on through Petaluma Junior High and Petaluma High.

She graduated with the rest of her class from Petaluma, receiving a certificate of completion in lieu of a diploma.

Despite a recent health setback that has put her in the hospital for several weeks battling a lung infection, Yeager is doing what all graduates aspire to do — living independently and working at a productive job.

“We're proud of her,” says her mother, Gail Yeager. “She has her own apartment and is a regular member of the westside community.”

What makes her even more special is her talent. Yeager is a prolific poet.

Her poems are free verse, but what they lack in appropriate punctuation, they more than make it for in heartfelt emotion.

“The poems are written in prose style. She puts her feelings out there,” explains her mother.

From pressdemocrat.com