Dearest Friends,
What are we doing this month? Come for a great time with one of the most upbeat and positive speakers you will ever hear. I have asked Chris te Kampe to come and visit with us. I could tell you impressive stuff about Chris like how has worked for 13 years helping people who have disabilities or that he has presented in, national and international conferences ... but what I think you will like most about Chris, is how refreshing he is as he shares his positive feelings about people who have disabilites.
Maybe it is because he has a good heart...which he does. But I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that his brother has a disability. Please come and meet this wonderful, wild and crazy guy.
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never, ever the same."
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Who ? Chris te Kampe
When? Tuesday May 12, 1998
Time? 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Where? Mesa Student Services Building
1025 N. Country Club
(between University and Brown on East side-
corner of Country Club and 10th place)
Respite? Kids welcome of course!
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This past Saturday night I went to an 18th birthday for my friend Ryan Larcey. I met his friends, Justin and Brett, (19 & 23) and as we spoke I wondered if their mom's had any idea when how great they would be when they grew up. Justin told me about attending his prom and how much that meant to him. Brett talked about speaking before his graduating class. I think of the many 'tests' our kids have to pass to get along in this world ... then I realized something. They are not really the ones being tested in this school of life ... we are! And how are we doing? From what I saw at our last meeting...I feel like I am surrounded by honor students! I have to tell you it meant the world to me that so many of you came. Thank you. For a moment as I talked with Ryan and his friends, it was as if I as able to look ahead into David's life. At his birth I thought I would have to protect him from this cold cruel world. I was wrong. Recently David took off on his bike. He had been gone about an hour and I had looked everywhere. As I drove around I said a prayer that my Father in heaven would help me find him. I was prompted to go the opposite direction and soon I saw David. He was riding toward home on his bike wearing his "Zuka Juice" hat and his "Zuka Juice" shirt. I was okay until I caught up with him- then I began to cry. I asked him where he'd been. He looked a little surprised. He told me he had gone to Zuka Juice to find his big brother Luke. Never mind that Zuka Juice is a mile from my home or that I didn't think he even knew how to get there! After I had my nervous breakdown, I realized something. David is growing up, whether I am ready or not. The next week I told him if he is big enough to go to Zuka Juice, he is big enough to go to school on is own. With a delightful look in his eye that said "It's about time Mom!", he jumped on his bike and off he went to Gilbert Jr. High. Of course he didn't know that his mom was not far behind, ducking in the bushes, just in case. As I followed him I observed some things ... an unknown friend saw him and waited so they could ride together... kids went by in cars and called "Hey David!"... on his way home his chain came off and about 9 kids stopped to help him ... but most importantly, I discovered the only thing that keeps David from being independent is me. I am learning it is when I let David take risks his true growth begins.Never do for your child what he can do for himself.
Does full inclusion work? I believe it does. kids didn't help him because they felt sorry for him, they helped him because he is their friend.
What I have learned by being David's mom, is that it is his 'disability' that is helping me discover 'abilities'. It is for our children we stand up and speak, when it would be easier to sit down and be quiet.
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Schools are microcosms of society; they mirror both positive andnegative aspects, values, priorities, and practices of the culture that exists outside the school's walls. Schools also are training grounds where the youngest member of society develop attitudes, interest, and skills that they will use throughout their lives.Therefore, schools must assume responsibility for improving negative societal conditions. In other words, if we want society to be a place where an increasingly diverse group of people get along with each other, where all people are valued as contributors to the common good, where all people share basic rights as described in the U.S. Constitution, then schools must reflect those values by providing environments in which the values are modeled by adults and students and in which the very structures, teaching practices and curricula reflect and model those same values.
pg.52 Inclusion A Guide for Educators by Susan Stainback & William Stainback
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I have a good friend, who is gentle and soft spoken. Probably given the choice, her favorite thing would not be to fight so her son could have inclusion. Yet she has come to understand each gain, however small, as he learns to be appropriate with his peers, is what it's all about. She believes in giving her son the chance to grow up in every sense of the word and that is why she is willing to stand up and be counted.-----------------
I have heard subtle comments implying it is not cost effective to educate our kids with typical kids. Perhaps not...but then I think of the quote,
"Lincoln did not free the slaves because it was cost
effective.
He did it because it was the right thing to do."
Kathy Hansen
It will take courage to stand up for your child rights. As you already know parenting is not a job for cowards. You have been given the gift of seeing your child as a person who deserves to grow up in a world who will accept him for what he is.
When David was 5, I was fighting for his right to be educated right along with his non-handicapped neighborhood peers. Someone made the comment..."Mrs. Johnson is acting this way because she hasn't gotten over the guilt of having a retarded child and she is trying to pretend he's normal."
I live with this boy day and night. I do know David has a disability. And about that guilt?... I know God gives us these babies not as a punishment, but to help us become who we should be. I also know that the leaders of tomorrow are his peers today. I want them to grow up with a moral conscience so that when I am gone, they won't feel comfortable putting him away 'with his own kind' like they did years ago..
Sometimes you will hear, "We have always done it this way'." I love the story of the grandmother who was noted for cooking the best hams ever. As she prepared it, she would cut each end off just before baking. In time, each daughter and granddaughter did the same. One day a granddaughter pulled her aside and asked "Grandma, How come we cut of the ends of the ham before we bake it?" Grandma smiled..."I don't know why you do it honey, but I do it so it will fit in my pan!"
Thank you for understanding our kids don't have to 'fit in the pan.' I am so proud of you for speaking the truth especially when it would be easier to be quiet. I know speaking up for your child will not make you popular. People may wonder why you do it? It is because when he was just hours old you held him and you realized you are all he has. If you don't speak up, who will?
As we teach our society to value our children as
individuals, we help them look beyond the label of
'Down syndrome' to see the child. Today Jamie Luna
was telling me about the love she felt for her
daughter, "Big Al".
She said, "I love her up... 'Down'
...and every where in-between." What a great mom!
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I want to give a special thank you to Melinda Ridgway who has been working as a volunteer in our nursery for the past few months. I know an angel when I see one!
==========================================
We are proud to announce the birth of
Taylee Emma Smith
March 7, 1998 * 12:24 p.m. * 7lbs. 3 oz.
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I also want my friend, Elke Shenberger know how much I love her and how grateful I am that she came to be with us as we shared that night. She and Bob lost their precious 3 years old daughter, Allie, this past January due to leukemia.
A lump came to my throat as I watched her tenderly hold 6 month old Jackson Berg. I know the tears in her eyes were those of a mother's love. Do you know what her advice to us was? -- "Enjoy every minute of it."
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EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
On Saturday May 23, 1998 John Shriver will host a
desert walk at Ursuary Pass for all children ages 9 and up. Not only will they have fun but it will
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Right now...
...somebody is taking your advice.
...somebody is wishing they could ask you for advice.
...somebody wants you to succeed.
...somebody is succeeding because of you.
...somebody is looking at your picture.
...somebody is writing you an email.
...somebody is thinking of you.
...somebody is caring about you.
...somebody misses you.
...somebody wants to talk to you.
...somebody wants to be with you.
...somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
...somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
...somebody wants to hold your hand.
...somebody is praying for you.
...somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
...somebody wants you to be happy.
...somebody wants you to find him/her.
...somebody is celebrating your successes.
...somebody wants to give you a gift.
...somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
...somebody hopes you're not too cold or too hot.
...somebody wants to hug you.
...somebody loves you.
...somebody admires your strength.
...somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
...somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on
...somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
..somebody thinks the world of you.
...somebody wants to kiss you.
...somebody wants to protect you
...somebody would do anything for you.
...somebody wants to be forgiven
...somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
...somebody wants to laugh with you all night long about
old times.
...somebody remembers you fondly and wishes that you
were there.
...somebody is praising God for you.
...somebody values your advice.
...somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
...somebody wants to stay up all night watching old movies
with you.
...somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
...somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
...somebody treasures your spirit.
...somebody wishes they could suspend time.
...somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
...somebody can't wait to see you.
...somebody wishes that things didn't have to change.
...somebody loves you for who you are.
...somebody loves the way you make them feel.
...somebody wants to be with you
...somebody is hoping they can grow old with you.
...somebody wants to be your friend
...somebody is wishing you thought as much of them as
they think of you
...somebody wishes you knew they exist
...somebody looks up to you.
...somebody want to be just like you
...somebody is always watching you.
...somebody is in love with you (whether you know or not)
...somebody wants to hear your voice.
...somebody wants you to call them.
..somebody wants you to do for them one of the nice
things above..
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"The ability to stand by one's principles, to live
with integrity and faith according to one's belief- that
is what matters, that is the difference between a contribution
and a commitment. That devotion to true principle-
in our individual lives, in our homes and families,
and in all places that we meet and influence
other people that devotion is what God is ultimately
requesting of us."
Howard W. Hunter
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
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Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona!inc.
Gina Johnson
425 E. Tremaine Ave.
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(602) 926-8685
gina.j@juno.com
"I know God will not give me more than I can bear.
(Nuestro contacto de hable hispana para nuestro grupo de apoyo a los padres "Sharing" es me querida amiga Raquel Hoffman, si tu necesitas de ella por favor llama al 357-9594.