COLORADO SPRINGS DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION FOURTH ANNUAL BUDDY WALK
WHAT: 3-mile course through the streets of Manitou Springs. WHEN: Saturday. Walk-up registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Walk starts at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Memorial Park, 502 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs.
HOW IT RAISES MONEY: Through pledges.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES: Will help provide information and support to
people with Down syndrome, their families, professionals and the community.
ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME: Down syndrome is one of the most common causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities. It occurs approximately once in every 800 to 1,000 births.
TO REGISTER: 633-1133 or www.csdsa.org.
CONTACT US: Send information on future walks and runs to Carlotta Olson, The Gazette, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs 80901 or e-mail cdolin@gazette.com.Forinformation, call 636-0221.
Copyright 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
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Expectant parents are undoubtedly filled with an array of emotions. They are excited, happy, nervous and scared all at the same time.
Add the news, however, that their child will be born with Down syndrome and the emotions reach critical mass. But for all too many parents this is a reality as studies show that one out of every 600 births will result in a child with Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality.
Denise LaBelle, executive director and founder of Special Friends with Down Syndrome Inc., knows all too well the range of emotions that parents endure when learning their child has Down syndrome, as her daughter Meghan does.
LaBelle assures parents, “You don’t have to hide in your house and cry for a month. Meghan is a gift for me and she has brought nothing but joy and happiness to our family.”
LaBelle founded Special Friends because she recognized the void that existed on Long Island for parents raising a child with Down syndrome. “We focus on providing support to parents as well as giving individuals with Down syndrome the chance to be an integrated and productive part of society,” LaBelle explained.
Special Friends with Down syndrome offers a parent support group that meets monthly to inform and educate parents about options, opportunities, and issues about Down syndrome. They also allow parents to share ideas, stories, and questions. At these meetings, guest speakers such as lawyers, doctors, computer specialists and speech therapists speak about specific needs for children with Down syndrome.
“When children reach preschool and school age, parents are hit with a whole new set of issues that can be completely overwhelming,” said LaBelle. As a result, Special Friends’ volunteers will accompany parents to meetings with the Committee on Special Education where a child’s educational plan or individualized education program is determined. This meeting outlines the various special services (i.e. physical therapy, speech therapy, etc.) a child will receive.
“Attending these meetings allows us to better advocate for the child to ensure they are provided with an education plan that is appropriate to meet their needs,” added LaBelle.
Special Friends also works to educate local school districts and teachers working in integrated classroom environments. Three-credit classes are available to train teachers how to handle children with Down syndrome in a classroom environment. As part of the training, they receive hands-on experience by working with children at a Down syndrome camp run by Special Friends. “It is so important that teachers know how to teach kids with Down syndrome,” LaBelle said.
“Even the smallest details can make a classroom more successful.” Which is why LaBelle and members of her staff often conduct classroom evaluations to ensure they suit the needs of a child with Down syndrome.
LaBelle often speaks at schools around the island to promote Down syndrome awareness. “Meghan and I go to these schools and speak to students. Meghan shares her experiences with the children to help give them a better understanding of what it means to have Down syndrome,” she said. This understanding is so important and is one of the reasons why LaBelle invited Craig Ludin, a 28-year-old with Down syndrome, to be a member of Special Friends’ executive board.
“I don’t want to make all the decisions as to what is best for individuals with Down syndrome,” explained LaBelle, who continues to look for ways to expand the opportunities available for individuals with Down syndrome. “I want to ensure that children with Down syndrome are given equal social opportunities,” LaBelle said.
Some of the organizations upcoming plans include more social events such as dances. One program is called the “Welcome Wagon,” which will involve visiting hospitals and speaking to parents who have just given birth or are expecting to give birth to a child with Down syndrome.
“We want to get to parents right from the start and ensure them that things will be OK,” LaBelle said. “Your life is certainly going to change, but I believe in a very positive way.”
Copyright 2003 Dolan Media Newswires
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
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by Joan Guthrie Medlen, Bethesda, MD, Woodbine House, 2002, $19.95.
The Down Syndrome Handbook is one of a series of books addressing Down syndrome topics. The author, Joan Guthrie Medlen, R.D., L.D., holds credibility as both a registered dietitian and a parent of a child with Down syndrome. The book is written as a guide for parents and professionals interfacing with children who have Down syndrome.
The book is organized into four sections: Building Healthy Attitudes, Nutrition-Related Concerns for People with Down Syndrome, Teaching Healthy Choices to Encourage Healthy …
Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.
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