Special meeting between Down syndrome achievers Stephen Green and Micky Neal

by Alexa Copeland from The Northern Echo:
THE country’s first parish councillor with Down’s syndrome made a four-hour round trip to meet a North East man thought to be one of the oldest with the condition.
Stephen Green, 48, was elected as a councillor on Nuthall Parish Council in Nottingham in 2012, making him the first and only serving British councillor with Down’s syndrome.
When Stephen’s father Grenville read a Northern Echo article online about the 70th birthday of Down’s syndrome man Micky Neal from Darlington, he set about arranging a meeting between the pair.
Mr Green said: “When I read about Micky, I just thought ‘I have to meet this family’.
“It is just amazing that Micky is the same age as myself, and at that time things were so much more difficult for people with Down’s syndrome.
“They were expected to be put into institutions and it is amazing that this lovely family worked together to give Micky such a happy and loving life.”
Mr Green said that although attitudes have changed, his son has experienced some negativity from councillors who do not think he is up to the job.
He said that Stephen makes his feelings clear by giving a ‘thumbs down’ to those councillors who say things at meetings that he does not agree with.
Mr Green added: “In his role as parish councillor Stephen is breaking down barriers.
“When he goes into schools to award prizes you can see the difference in the children after they have met him.

Association offers etiquette classes for those with Down syndrome

by Andrea Salazar from theeagle.com:
For teens with Down syndrome, a night out without their parents is almost unheard of.That's why the The Down Syndrome Association of the Brazos Valley offers etiquette classes that take the children out to nice restaurants and theaters without their folks.

"Without the expectation of a parent, it gives [the children] the opportunity to make these decisions themselves that this is how you act in public regardless of whether a parent is there or not," said Rose Schmitz, president of the local nonprofit group, working to support people with Down syndrome and their families.
The organization hosts classes for children and adults with Down syndrome throughout the year, including computer, math, reading, cooking, fitness and handwriting, to supplement lessons learned in school and help them gain life skills.

Zoe Perryman, opens up on TV about her quest for love

By Anna Young from Kent Online:
A young woman proved all you need is love when she found happiness on a TV dating show for people with disabilities.
Self-confessed hopeless romantic Zoe Perryman, from Maidstone, has Down’s syndrome. She has two engagements under her belt but her failed relationships only make her more determined to find ‘the one’.
More than a million viewers tuned in to Channel 4 last Thursday to watch the 24-year-old take a chance on The Undateables.

The series follows a group of hopefuls with learning or physical difficulties on their quest for romance.

Zoe was set-up with 32-year-old Nsimba Lupepe, from Ashford.

The pair’s first date was at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey and their second meeting was at Embankments, formerly the Barge, which floats on the River Medway in Maidstone. And five months after the episodes were filmed in September, the couple are still together. Zoe said: “It’s going really well. I go to see him and he comes to see me. I’ve met his family and he’s met my parents and some of my friends. He’s really nice. We’re very happy and just seeing how things go.”

A very special performer shines at Dixie's Got Talent

Story and photos by Cami Cox

Tonight, 19-year-old Madi Sonju fulfills a dream as she joins the contestants of Dixie’s Got Talent, competing for top honors in this annual talent competition. Madi, who will be performing a dance to the song “Let it Go” from “Frozen,” has unique talents that have landed her in the DGT finals along with 23 other acts – but Madi stands apart from her competitors in that she was born with Down syndrome.

But nothing stops this irrepressible young woman from achieving her goals – whether it’s competing in the Special Olympics, becoming a member of her high school cheerleading squad, being crowned homecoming queen or competing in Southern Utah’s biggest talent competition.

“This was Madi’s dream and she made it happen,” said her mom, Leslye Sonju.

Madi attended last year’s Dixie’s Got Talent competition with her family, and she was so entranced by the show that she made up her mind she would be onstage this year – not just in the audience. So she watched all year for posters to go up announcing the 2014 auditions. When they finally did, Madi took a photo of the poster with her cell phone and immediately sent it to her mom.

“She asked me every day: ‘Did you call? Did you call? Did you call?’” Leslye Sonju said.

Madi went through the audition process and made it all the way. Tonight, she’ll show the local audience just what she can do.

“I’m very, very excited,” Madi said.

Sexuality and Down Syndrome

from NDSS:

Human sexuality encompasses an individual's self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and social experiences relating to dating, marriage and the physical aspects of sex.

Sexuality & Down Syndrome

This section seeks to answer common questions about the important issue of sexuality and Down syndrome.

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Social and Sexual Education

An interview with Leslie Walker-Hirsch, M.Ed., FAAMR, about the importance of a social/sexual education for individuals with Down syndrome.

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