This past weekend was the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action conference. Consistent with past years, the schedule featured sharing sessions and breakouts on best practices for medical outreach and new and expectant parent support. With the advances being made in prenatal testing and research showing that the need for care and support is a key factor for expectant mothers making a decision following a prenatal diagnosis, this information is needed now more than ever. Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
What is a legacy?
In this post-modern, existential age, it can cause some to wonder what's the point of anything. How can we say anything we do truly matters? Well, on Monday, we said goodbye to a lady whose actions many families would say mattered to them. Continue Reading
February 7, 2013
What I hope Daniel Day-Lewis says at the Oscars
Daniel Day-Lewis is the odds-on favorite to win a historic third Best Actor Oscar. I hope he will say what we thought he would say in 2008, and speak to the billion people watching on the value of his brother-in-law. Continue Reading
January 17, 2013
I didn’t expect them to be as good as they are
The featured video is about the Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy for Down syndrome and runs around 5 minutes. The Academy is a two-day program where individuals with Down syndrome of all ages are paired one-on-one with volunteer instructors to take them through drills and learn tennis basics. The Academy was the inspiration of a father of a child with Down syndrome and a French Open Doubles winner. The messages from the parents are touching and the ones from the volunteers are powerful. Continue Reading
January 16, 2013
We are what we decide to be
One mother's take on raising her daughter with Down syndrome, who she describes as "perfect." As though in response to the quote I wrote about at this post, this mom has a different perspective: that her daughter is her "every day reminder that we are what we decide to be." Continue Reading
January 14, 2013
Guess who was at the 2013 Golden Globes?
Last year, it was a photo with George Clooney. This year, a photo with Dame Helen Mirren. I doubt Lauren's parents (or anyone for that matter) would have expected at the time the diagnosis of Down syndrome was delivered that Lauren would go on to have a recurring role in a smash TV show and attend premier Hollywood awards parties. Adding to the list of examples that demonstrate the wisdom I wrote about in this post. Continue Reading
December 6, 2012
In Memoriam: Donna Lee Preston, An Unexpected Life
On the “About Me” page, I mention that I am involved with several organizations devoted to serving individuals with intellectual disabilities. A week ago, a member of one of those organizations passed away. Her name was Donna Lee Preston, and she lived an unexpected life. Donna was born in another era for individuals with Down syndrome. She was raised in a time when institutionalization was the medically-recommended option following birth and before the modern era of early intervention, Continue Reading
December 3, 2012
A Review of Andrew Solomon’s New Book: Far from [what] tree?
Andrew Solomon's new book, "Far From the Tree," has been receiving a lot of coverage lately--and deservedly so. But, his final assessment begs the question: "Far from what tree?" Solomon's title sums up the contents of his weighty tome. Ten of the twelve chapters are devoted to a single condition each, e.g. Chapter 2, Deaf, Ch. 5, Autism, Ch. 11, Transgender. The title comes from Solomon's assessment that children born with differing conditions than their parents are in some fundamental way Continue Reading
November 21, 2012
Giving Thanks: For those who get to know those with Down syndrome
Happy Thanksgiving! For those going through prenatal testing for Down syndrome, let us give thanks for those who make the effort to get to know more about Down syndrome. Continue Reading
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