"Together We Can Do So Much!"
Let's Have Some Fun
We hope you'll join us!
By: Stephanie Holland
For the next 30 days, we'll be posting every day (except Sundays) about a different group, resource, or advocacy movement. We have lots of guest bloggers lined up to give us an inside look on how
"Together We Can Do So Much!" Let's Have Some Fun
We made this little kick off video to give you an idea of what to expect this month.
We hope you'll join us!
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By Stephanie Holland
Those behind the scenes were not convinced that there would be enough time, money, or interest in the bill, at least not during this session, for it to gather much support from legislators who would be charged with finding the money and ultimately approving the Ethan Saylor Center for Self-Advocates as Educators. We were all pleasantly surprised by what we heard today.
The Senate panel seemed to respond favorably to the proposal after hearing the testimony. Sen. Thomas M. Middleton, the committee’s chairman, thanked Patti Saylor and promised that lawmakers would take action. Moving Testimony
This is one of those times when I can't improve on the original telling of this story. Video of the full day's hearings is available on the Maryland Legislature web site.
If you don't want to listen to the whole thing - I've provided some smaller sections: By: Stephanie Holland Yes, I'm a Sesame Street fan from way back, and today as I was looking at photos on my news feed, this song popped in my head and wouldn't go away. We're so lucky to have social media to bring us together across great distances, but there's nothing like meeting face to face!
In the Down syndrome community, we use the internet to form alliances and help each other reach goals. There are so many things we can do to help make the lives of those we love better and richer. Just about the only thing we can't do on the internet is give each other a big hug to show how grateful we are for the work they do. By: Stephanie Holland Sessions on Adult IssuesWe are so excited for the 321 eConference this year! Starting on World Down Syndrome Day ( #WDSD15 ), there will be three days of learning, sharing, and advocacy !
We here on The Road are super excited because this conference has a diverse line-up of sessions geared toward parents and caregivers of adults who have Down syndrome! So far, we have 14 different sessions that focus on adult issues, including a keynote address from Patti Saylor on the progress that has been made by #JusticeForEthan. This is just the beginning of a new source of information that will address our needs through virtual education with 321eLearning. If you have ideas for sessions you would like to see - even after the conference - feel free to email me! Originally posted by Stephanie Holland 5/22/14 When was the unexpected better than what you expected? This question comes from Mardra in her latest blog hop. She suggests that we go with our first thought - that's easy - Josh. I've often mentioned to family and friends how lucky I am to have Josh as a son. There's no drug issues No fear of becoming a grandparent too soon No late night parties, speeding tickets, or car accidents There are frequent and sincere "I love you"s Genuine gratitude freely expressed Hugs in public and companionship.
Thinking about this has made me realize how much we limit ourselves, and others, with expectations. If we hold strong to what we expect and try to change people to met our ideals, we risk two things: 1) a HUGE headache from slamming our heads against an immovable wall, and 2) missing out on the uniqueness of people and real, honest relationships. I'm so grateful to Josh for teaching me this and many other valuable life lessons. (Didn't expect THAT either!)
This year, we're changing the focus a bit on March 21st. For the 10th anniversary of this special day, we here at The Road are participating with seven other Down syndrome groups who created the "Random Acts of Kindness" campaign. [For more about the event, check out thearticle on Huffington Post from the chairman of IDSC - Beth Sullivan] The goal of the event is to raise awareness about Down syndrome while spreading the love and good cheer that comes with giving to others. Since our specific mission is to support adults who have Down syndrome and their caregivers, we've decided to offer a friendly challenge to all those participating in the R.A.K. event: Give Back to the Down Syndrome Community by Connecting with Adults in Group HomesOriginally posted by Stephanie Holland 5/12/14 You are an important person, the result of a complex mixture of characteristics that combine to form your personality. You have both positive and negative qualities – strengths and weaknesses – as well as personal likes and dislikes. This makes you totally unique and different from everyone else. You belong to the human family and yet you are an individual. You defy simple descriptions and labels because you are more than just a “type of person”. Each of us is convinced of our own worth. We each believe that the world would be changed forever if we were not present, and that is certainly true. We all play our respective roles in life, and without us things could not possibly be the same. These are the perceptions we embrace concerning our own lives. This is the opening paragraph to blog post by Michael Crawley - Saturday, March 22, 2014. The article goes on to talk about perceptions of people with developmental disabilities:
Originally posted by Stephanie Holland 4/17/14
It's a Daunting Task I'm guilty of procrastinating on this. I haven't wanted to think about a time when Josh and I are separated. Most of us don't. I am starting, reluctantly, to admit to myself that planning for the future is something I owe my son. So, I'll share with you what I'm learning, the resources I find helpful, and hopefully it will inspire me to get this done!
“The prom is an iconic event in American culture, one that is consistently drawn upon in contemporary media to show the triumphs and travails of youth. Along with high school graduation, the prom is often heralded as one of the most important experiences in high school, perhaps even of all adolescence. Images of the prom as a coming-of-age rite permeate our culture. Yet, if we were to presume that the prom is a rite of passage, to what precisely would it be a rite of passage?” p.2 Best, Amy L. 2000 Prom Night: Youth, schools, and popular culture. Routledge, New York, NY. Big news in the special needs community! Lately there has been quite a buzz about a sports figure and his foundation paying for dances to be held at churches across the U.S.
This year, we'll be celebrating World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st (3-21) with the seven national Down syndrome organizations by completing random acts of kindness. We've started a list of possibilities that our adults who have Down syndrome can do. You can see the list on Pinterest or on List.ly For more about the event, check out the article on Huffington Post from the chairman of IDSC - Beth Sullivan
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