Rocket Ship
March 21st is recognized as World Down Syndrome Day. We come together to advocate for inclusion and celebrate our friends and family members with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. This special day is a reminder of how strong this community is. If you would have asked me 10 years ago what I knew about Down syndrome, I would have answered “not much.” Nine years ago, after an uneventful pregnancy, everything changed. I gave birth to…
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Meet Cristina
I am Cristina, a 28-year-old woman with Down syndrome. Sometimes it takes longer for me to learn new skills, but that has not stopped me from doing what I love. Getting more education is one of my goals. I enjoyed school because I loved to learn and be with my friends, some who also have disabilities. Sometimes it was not so easy making friends and going to regular classes, but I set a goal…
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Christmases With Daniel
Our first Christmas with Daniel was before he was even born. Unbeknownst to him, he made his first plane ride in utero: a trip to see my dad in Florida. We visited New Smyrna Beach which has been a special spot for my family for a long time, from the time of my paternal great-grandparents. I walked the water line and took pictures while Daniel’s two-year-old sister walked into the ocean for the very first…
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Gratitude
A 2011 study in the American Journal of Medical Genetics found that self-reported happiness among those with Down syndrome was at a staggering 99 percent. The same survey found 79% of parents felt their outlook on life was more positive because of their son/daughter with Down syndrome. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with…
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Our Favorite Month of the Year
It is finally our favorite time of year! October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time when we give recognition, raise awareness, and celebrate all the individuals who have the extra chromosome and the extra brightness! What is Down syndrome? Down syndrome is a genetic condition where a person is born with an extra copy or part of a copy of chromosome 21. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, about 1 in 700 babies…
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Is Advocacy Really a Four-Letter Word?
The topic for our blog this month is advocacy in ARD committee meetings. So, let’s start with the concept of Advocacy. Advocacy used in the world of special education usually means that parents and school staff disagree over some aspect of their child’s program. However, advocacy also means sharing our perceptions, dreams, hopes, and ideas for our children with others. I think the lesson here is that everyone, including school staff, comes to the ARD table…
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The MAC
In 2021, Mayor Ron Nirenberg introduced San Antonio as “Inclusion City, USA” after major changes were launched at the San Antonio International Airport. Now here’s another reason why our city continues to live up to and exceed its nickname: The MAC. The Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland, located on the corner of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks adjacent to the Heroes Stadium, is another project from Gordon Hartman coming in the fall of 2022. This…
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Summer Fun!
Summer fun in the sun! As a working mom of five children, ages 4 through 14, it takes skillful planning to fill the summer months with “fun!” To do this, I either enroll them in enrichment academies or summer camps, have play dates at the pool, attend local events, take them on vacation, and the list goes on. Well, it is mid-summer, and the novelty of summer has started to wear off. Inevitably, I have…
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Welcome!
Welcome to Better Together: The 321 Blog! If you’re new here, we’d love for you to sign up for our post notifications so we can stay connected. You can do this by clicking “Allow” on the popup notification at the top of your browser window. Thanks for visiting! I want to start by introducing the team that will be writing for this blog. Our Family Community Resources Committee (FCRC) is composed of: Judith Moening –…
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