Sprout Film Festival: Growing Awareness

by Ashley Miller from Boise Weekly:
Nicole Lang says she's isn't too picky about what kind of movies she sees, but she definitely has a type. Her favorite film is something she saw two years ago that you have probably never heard of.
"It was called Be My Brother," she told Boise Weekly. "We showed it the first or second year of the Sprout Film Festival. And we're screening it again this year. It's really touching. ... It's incredible."
Lang doesn't program film festivals for a living, not by a long shot. She's the program director of Boise-based nonprofit The Arc, which has provided therapy, care and training for thousands of individuals with disabilities since 1956. But for the past few weeks, much of Lang's energy has been focused on the Sprout Film Festival and movies--movies that she said will make just about any audience laugh a little, cry a little and most importantly, see the world differently.

How to talk to your child about people with disabilities

by Mary-Jane Williams from the Washington Post:
Growing up, I was never really exposed to children who had disabilities. The kids in my elementary school in the 1970s who had Down syndrome, autism or cerebral palsy were in a separate classroom, and we rarely saw them. And while I remember very clearly my parents talking about race, religion and sexuality, we never talked much about disabilities.
Sure, we were told that it wasn’t polite to stare, or ask a lot of questions. But that was the extent of the conversations.
We’ve come a long way. Now, many children with intellectual or developmental disabilities are in the same public school classrooms as their typically developing peers, for part, if not all, of the day. There are entire months set aside for autism and Down syndrome awareness, and plenty of blogs out there about parenting a child with disabilities. It’s become part of the mainstream.
But because we didn’t grow up with a lot of exposure to people with different abilities, many parents today struggle with how to talk to their kids about disabilities, according to Michelle Sie Whitten, the executive director of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Timberline baseball senior with Down syndrome stepping up to the plate

by Trevor Phibbs from Varisy Extra and OhioStatesman.com:
The final school bell chimes in mid-afternoon at Timberline High, signaling time to begin preparation for another baseball practice. Players act as groundskeepers andscatter across the diamond with rakes and garden hoses.
Senior Eddie Gordon can hardly wait to get started. Baseball has been on his brain from the moment he woke. Sprinting up the walkway, his excitement is pulsating; time is of the essence when it comes to practice.
Seconds from the gate, his eagerness combusts. "WASSUP?" he spouts from beyond the bordering chain-linked fence, waving his arms frantically. The team responds harmoniously, mimicking the famous Budweiser commercial.
Gordon's smile permeates across the field. This is the life. He's been an integral member of the Timberline program for the past two seasons, contributing as the batboy and serving as the team's unofficial moral deputy.
Born with Down syndrome, the opportunity to be one of the guys has meant the world.
But Monday night, his usual duties will take a back seat when he becomes a varsity player. After making an agreement with Centennial, Timberline coach Larry Price will pencil Gordon's name in the leadoff position to ceremoniously open Senior Night with an intentional walk.
Because for everyone involved in the program, Eddie has meant the world.

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.

Clarissa Serna Surprises Children On World Down Syndrome Day

by Caroline Flores from KRISTV.com NBC 6:
CORPUS CHRISTI - The kiddos with Special Needs at The Rise School got a special surprise on World Down Syndrome Day. Local singer and "The Voice" contestant Clarissa Serna stopped by to have some musical one-on-one time with the children.
The rise school is a school for toddlers and preschoolers who have developmental disabilities. The children attending the school have disabilities ranging from Autism to Down Syndrome.
On this special day the children sang, danced, and made some beautiful music with Serna.
Serna has worked with The Rise School in the past performing at fundraisers for them. She says these children and this school have a special place in her heart.
"I used to babysit a child with Down Syndrome and he was just so amazing. They're really, really smart very beautiful children," said Serna.
The Executive Director of the school says to have Serna singing with the children is special... Because no matter what the disability...music is the one thing they all connect to and love.
"To have this experience with the kids, we'll never forget it. It's going to be a memory we will always have," said Andrea Elizondo The Rise School Executive Director.