31 for 21 - Power Cafe at the Buddy Walk

Just a heads up to local peeps -- come check out the Power Cafe's table at the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk in Wakefield, MA this Sunday 11-3!

31 4 21 Buddy Walk pics!

Sorry I'm a few days late...  We had a great time at the Buddy Walk on Sunday!

We met Rachel Coleman of Signing Time:

We met some new bloggy friends:

And walked:

...and walked....

...and walked:

All in all, several thousand walkers participated, raising about half a million dollars for educational and medical services, research, and advocacy.

Haftorah Beam - Lech L'cha

How providential that this week's parsha is Lech L'cha -- "Go forth (to yourself)" -- as we get ready for the Buddy Walk.  The Torah portion is about Abraham walking the walk -- literally and figuratively -- that will change the world and the way that humanity understands the spiritual realm.  Buddy Walks are about walking the walk -- literally and figuratively -- to change the way that humanity understands those who are "different".

The Haftorah reading clearly echoes this theme:

²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob,
Why declare, O Israel,
"My way is hid from the Lord,
My cause is ignored by my God"?
²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is God from of old,
Creator of the earth from end to end,
He never grows faint or weary,
His wisdom cannot be fathomed.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary,
Fresh vigor to the spent.
³⁰ Youths may grow faint and weary,
And young men stumble and fall;
³¹ But they who trust in the Lord shall renew their strength
As eagles grow new plumes:
They shall run and not grow weary,
They shall march and not grow faint.

Actually, I struggled to take an excerpt out of this.  It is all SO GOOD.

31 4 21 Buddy Walk this Sunday!

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress will be running the 17th annual Buddy Walk this Sunday.  Why do they have to do it on Columbus Day weekend?  I'm trying to recruit people to walk with us, and everybody is going away for the weekend!  It's not fair!  Waaaaahhhhh!!!!

Anyway, if you want to sponsor me, please click here.

A new year at Learning Program

Today was the first meeting of the year at the Down Syndrome Learning Program, affiliated with the Boston Children's Hospital.   Like last year, there were 2 sessions.  In the first session I worked with the "Level 2" class, which I recognized as last year's "Level 1"s. They have grown so much!  So much more coordinated, their speech was so much improved, and at least half of them already knew their letters and numbers.  Then I worked with the "Level 3" group, who were likewise impressive in their ability to flow with the schedule and engage with the instruction.  I felt so energized and happy -- and looking forward to seeing some of them at our local Buddy Walk in 2 weeks!

Here is their video from the early years:




The children featured in this video are now 12-13 years old, and have graduated to the "Lunch Buddies" program.  I saw several of them on my way out.   What wonderful promise!

Buddy Walk By the Sea this Saturday!

Falmouth, MA, this Saturday July 27 at 9AM!!!!

If you think you can make it, please let me know so we can meet up!

And if you want to sponsor me, that would be great too!

Buddy Walk By The Sea - Summer 2013!

I just signed our family up for this summer's Buddy Walk in Falmouth, MA on July 27, 2013.

Donate here for a good cause!

31 for 21: Buddy Walk 2012 Pictures!

Wow, what a day!  My little ones were real troopers, and walked about half of the 3-mile walk before settling in to their strollers and falling asleep for their naps.  (Sorry, no pics of cute sleeping boys).  We were near the end of the march.   Apparently around 3000 people attended!

Of course, the first thing we did when we got there was get our autographed photos of Lauren Potter (Becky from Glee):

We also got to hear her talk, and she was absolutely delightful!  She also received an award from an appreciative supporter:

There were other performers as well, and lots and lots of cute kids everywhere!

Thank you to everyone who supported us!

31 for 21: I love home-preschool!

Just sayin'.  I love exploring a topic, or a skill set, and watching the 4-year-old and the 2.5-year-old grapple with it each on his own level. Love it, love it, love it!  I can just see integrating a little child with Down syndrome into the mix.  Yum!

For example, when we do the Buddy Walk on Sunday, the 4-year-old will definitely walk the whole time, but his little brother will probably take breaks in the stroller.  Will you please sponsor us?

31 for 21: How I got here

I have no children with Down syndrome.   I don't really know anyone personally with it.  So how did I get involved in this?

Down syndrome really first entered my consciousness during  the 2008 elections, with Trig Palin.

Then my daughters introduced me to the show Glee, which features characters with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

My youngest child was born a few months before I turned 41.  The possibility of Down syndrome was very real, and my husband and I discussed at length what the implications would be for our family.  We realized that, with everything we knew at that point, that we would not abort a child with Down syndrome.  As it turned out, he was born with 46 chromosomes, but the idea that a child with a disability would not be a tragedy was planted.

In January of 2012 I was taking a seminar through Landmark Education, which challenged participants to think of "something big enough to be worth your life being about".  Without thinking much, I put down the first thing that popped into my mind: "Making a difference for children with Down syndrome."  I promptly forgot about this when I got home.  But after that week's episode of Glee, I did in fact start Googling for Down syndrome volunteering opportunities, and found a program through Children's Hospital Boston, which I contacted.

I also found this video and this blog.  The ABC feature was very recent at that time.  Likewise, Katie Musser had just come home a few weeks earlier, and it was not at all clear that she would even survive.  Here is her full story since then.  It is rather long, but since I have been following it -- Susanna Musser writes exquisitely! -- this has had the most impact on my feelings about special needs adoption. Please read her story -- it is fascinating!

This past summer, I took another Landmark Education program, which challenged me to take an issue of importance to me and make an impact in the community around it.  And here I am.


Oh, and please sponsor my family in this Sunday's Down syndrome Buddy Walk!  Thanks!!!

Massachusetts Down Syndrome Buddy Walk 2012!

The potential of people with Down syndrome has increased tremendously in recent years.  What used to be a dead end in most cases just 50 years ago, is now just an extra challenge with incredible rewards.  Children with Down syndrome are a joy to their families and all who know them.  Medical advances, early intervention, and increased inclusion and awareness has made it possible for them to expect normal lives, including college, gainful employment, marriage, and full participation in the community.

My family will be participating in the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk on October 7!  I am so excited!

Please donate here to support Down Syndrome awareness!