The life lesson behind Hide and Seek

  Image description.  A young white girl covering her eyes. Three young kids run away.

 

So my two friends tandem blogged about the frustration they have when people  wait to ready as an excuse. They then invited  people to continue blogging.  

  Born Ready: National Catholic Board on Full inclusion, written by  Beth Foraker 

   TheFallacy of Being Ready:  Kids included together by  Torrie Dunlap 

 One of my favorite  old-school childhood games is hidden and seek.   Kids count than say  "Ready or not  here I come."  

Hawaii
Image  Described
  A young  mixed race
girl  with a purple Hercules
T- shirt, and a lei around her
neck.

  When I was four about to turn five. My parents  had their version of  " Ready or not here I come,"  except they were not joking about it because  it was  the most important decision of their lives and would impact me for the rest of my life.     It was time to pick a school for me  to go to for Pre-Kindergarten.  Up to this point, I had been educated with  kids who had speech impairments in a county program the next town over.  But now it was kindergarten, the big leagues.  They decided to have me  apply for  a private school.   This school welcomed me in with  open arms ,but let's say for a minute  that they  said.

 AZ isn't ready to be included because ...

* drools a lot , the other kids will think it's gross"

* has bad balance."

 

*does not know  how to pronounce her own name.

  An  Articulation disorder
 wasn't a barrier for me to
perform in
 the school operetta
Participated all three years on stage with
my classmates.
 Image description
 A young mixed race girl with a Purple leotard
and a  sparkly shirt.
 Standing aginst  a gray and blue wall.
 

 

If you are  reading this thinking that they can't justify  special education for that.  Your  right they can't because it's against the law, but I have heard too many stories from parents of kids with intellectual disabilities of school officials  saying that their kid isn't ready because of their disability.  Because if  these same people  used  this I would have never stepped foot in  a general education class. Because   at 25. I have a real hard time saying my name, I still drool,  I have bad balance, but when they were willing  to make accommodations for me I was able to learn.  

 Instead at the private school, I was able to be myself, and my peers got to learn that disability was not something to be ashamed about.  I was able to drool and not have kids mind because sometimes I  drooled.   My drool and I were invited  to birthday parties and kids from my school went to my birthday parties.

 In kindergarten, my    teacher was determined to  teach me how to jump rope.   When she was on yard duty she made it her personal mission to teach me how to jump rope.  By the end of the year, I was jumping rope.   That kid with  bad balance learned how to jump rope.  The kid with bad balance learned from her best friend how to do the monkey bars. 

 A few weeks ago, After that kid that could not pronounce her name, graduated with their BA. They had a work around. They  have a short name.  There are workarounds for a lot of things.  More on that  tomorrow.

   Adults need  not be ready to include students with significant disabilities . They just need a belief that all kids can learn alongside their peers.  Students with significant disabilities  do not need to be  reading, or potty trained or  speaking in full sentences.    They are  ready and are coming.   Luckily there is a lot  research   that supports resources that supports  full inclusion. So schools that feel "not ready" can get ready because  ready or not here  comes disabled kids.  What you'll find is worth the finding when done right . 

31 for 21 Day 12 Meet the girl that stared in Switched at Birth

 Meet  Sofia  Sanchez.  She is  a first grade student who is  also  making quite a name for  herself as a modal  in the Change the Face  of Beauty and has recently made a guest appearance  on Switched at Birth.

     In the  show   Toby, who is  the older brother  of Bay who was  Switched at Birth  with  Daphene,  breaks the news to his  family that he is expecting a baby with  Down Syndrome.   In an effort to educate themselves about the condition the two of them  go to a school for kids with  developmental disabilities.  There they  meet   Sofia who shows Toby that Down Syndrome is not the  end of the world.  Sofia stole the show and was supper cute.  I have been  Facebook  friends with Sofia mother  Jennifer  for a while  now She was kind enough  to let me interview her.

 AZ:

 I know Sofia was adopted can you tell me anything about where she came from

 Sofia and her  brothers.  Mateo,  Joaquin and Diego

 Jennifer:

She was adopted from an orphanage in Ukraine. She was abandoned at birth.

Her bio parents were married and she was their first child. We believe they were fearful of raising a child with a disability or maybe felt like they were equipped. Culture in Eastern Europe is about 40 years behind us in the U.S. in terms of people with disabilities.

AZ

How long have you been watching switched at birth ?

Jennifer 

 Just Season four ! 

AZ 

Was it hard to catch up on all the drama?

I have been watching since the   first episode  back in 2011

Jennifer 

It was pretty simple to get up to date. I did go back and watch the first few episodes of season 1

I am missing a few key players like Angelo but I do plan on going back and watching from the start.


AZ
How did Sofia wind up on the Show?

 Sofia  high five Lucas Grabeel -  who plays  Toby - for a job well done.
Grabeel also played Ryan in High School Musical     

                                             

Jennifer:

She auditioned for the part and was chosen by SAB

We got the audition from her agent Gail Williamson  at KMR Diversity

AZ
  How was it on set?

Jennifer
The set was impressive. Soooooooo many people behind the scenes to make it all happen. It was amazing to witness

AZ
What has the reaction been to Sofia's stardom?

 Jennifer
Her peers (other 1st graders) LOVED seeing her on TV and are so excited to say hi to her. Her teachers and family are so proud of her. Sofia loved it all. She loved the work, the people, watching herself on TV. She loved it all. 

   AZ: Any future projects?
 Jennifer: She has a modeling job next month for Freckles & Kitty and Zulily and she auditioned recently for a movie role that we are still waiting to hear about!

 Sofia on her first day of  First Grade 

School is her top priority! She's learning to read and write and working on her speech. This way she has a bright future ahead of her! But her love is modeling, acting, performing and making people smile!!!

AZ

 What does Sofia like to do for fun?

 Jennifer 

Sofia likes to dance, sing, read, swim and play barbies.

AZ

If there was one thing you want other people to know about Down Syndrome what would you want people to know?

Jennifer 

 That people with Down syndrome are PEOPLE with their own sets of dreams and hopes and wants.

  Thank you  Jennifer and  Sofia

  Have any other questions for  Jennifer ?    Leave a comment below. 

I do my own laundry

 I do my own Landry at home 

 So  for those of you that do not know  what is happening  read here.   Then come back, then read here.



                                                                           HOW 
                                       IS 

  THIS 

OK?

  HOW  IS OKEY FOR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE   TO BECOME SERVANTS TO THE OTHER?

      ITS NOT 

   WHAT MESSAGE  DOES IT SEND TO THE OTHER  STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL.

  THEY ARE SEPARATE, THEY ARE SPECIAL THEY DO NOT BELONG.

     THIS IS  TOOO IMPORTANT.    WHEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE GIVEN   THE DIRTY  JOBS   AT  11 OR 12 , WHAT MESSAGE  DOES THAT SEND TO THEM.  WHERE IS THE  PRESUMPTION OF COMPETENCE?   its not there.    WHERE ARE  THE BOOKS, MATH BLOCKS,   EGYPTIAN TUMS  WITH MUMMIES,   WHERE ARE THE  SCINCE EXPERIMENTS.    

  THOSE THINGS MATTER.  Reading matters because information is  in these  books. Stories   of our past.  Explores   Dragons    Shakespeare they matter .

  Writing  to be  able to connect  with people over social media  is important.   Sharing our own stories  so that future generations  will know us.

 History   the stories of the past  are a light to  understanding our future.

Science   to discover  how the world works,   It is also fun,  

 So in short  why are you wasting precious learning time  doing laundry in middle school when  most kids don't. 

   There was a  time in American history where one  group  of people  did the dirty  work in America.   They  did the laundry.  They   cleaned up the house, They   worked  the  fields  and picked cotton too,    They were slaves in America.  We now  look down on this  as a  society . Although this isn't slavery. Its  still dehumanizing.

Inclusion matters because __________________

  Hay  guys  so this week is Inclusive Schools Week

  I  asked  people to  fill in the blank with their own words.
                          Inclusion matter because ____________________________.



  Here  is  what   Parents that have children with disabilities    said.

Inclusion matters because my daughter is no less of a person than yours.

 Inclusion matters because disability is a normal part of life.

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  the sentience flow better )

"Inclusion matters because everyone needs to feel like they fit in somewhere."

"Inclusion matters because it works!"

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  sense )

"Inclusion matters because it enriches everyones life."

It matters because it allows everyone to have the chance to become the people they are meant to be. Because each of us are divine and sacred and with inclusion we send that message.

 Inclusion matters because  it means we are all equal 

Inclusion matters because disabilities are part of the human experience. We all have different abilities, strengths, weaknesses. Inclusion matters because we teach all students that we need to embrace and accept all people no matter their differences, and that when we all work together, we all benefit from the experience. Inclusive schools foster the building of an inclusive society.

 Inclusion matters because   everyone wants to be included






Inclusion matters because my daughter is no less of a person than yours.

 Inclusion matters because disability is a normal part of life.

" Inclusion matters because [its the] same age kids just different rates of learning! Enriches everyone's lives!" (added  to make  the sentience flow better )

I asked  people I know  and  this is  what they said 

 A local mom who has a child  with CP said

Inclusion matters because we all have to live in this world together, the earlier everyone learns that the better

 An Author who wrote a book about inclusion said.

 Inclusion matters because we all live together, work together and play together. We don't have special towns, special jobs...so there should be no special education. Only services." The author of Who's the Slow Learner who I met this past March.  

My Uncle , says.

"Inclusion matters because humans are not solitary animals. The need for togetherness is strong in our species."

 

My  second grade   teacher says

"Inclusion matters because all individuals disabled or not,should be entitled to equal opportunity, choice and equal access to education, and community resources."







What I Say

Inclusion matters because separate is not equal. We all only have one life so its important to make the most out of it. Inclusion allows people with disabilities a chance to have memories. As I look back on my school years, my favorite memories happened alongside peers. I enjoyed going on field trips in elementary school. I enjoyed science experiments in high school. I went to prom. I learned about our countries history. I wrote stories. In short I had a childhood similar to those in my town. Inclusion also matters because it means that future generations may not be as ablest as previous generations and it gives me confidence to explore my community on my own because although I may be different , I have been taught that this is much my world as an able bodied person.

Pleas note if your child's photo is up here it is because someone gave me their photo to =use if you want it taken down let me know asap by leaving a comment or emailing me at azchapman1991@gmail.com

Invasion of the Super heroes: A call for pictures for World CP Day to honor Gavin

                       So  remember how I said last year that  the World CP  day   montage will be something  I will do   next year Well

 Its  back and  this year its bigger then ever.  Now self advocates, parents  will be able to join in the fun for World  CP  day which  is  on October 2  this year.  Its  going to be twice as fun because now  people  can submit two photos  and they will both be in the montage. but  before I tell you  the details  its  time for a story,


       Meet  Gavin 

 He was a five and half  little boy who  had CP and a unknown  genetic condition. I  say was because  last April, on his  mother's birthday, Gavin  left the earth.   His family misses him very much.

Gavin's family with their supper G  t shirts on the fire truck that was named after him,
 Proof that Gavin is  a supper hero

 Gavin loved the water and charmed everyone he met.  He was  a supper hero  to his mom  dad and little brother  Brain.

 Gavin was supper happy in water 

 So  a few weeks ago I was thinking about  having a world CP  video that would  honor Gavin   I talked to his mom  Kate  via  Facebook and  she  thought that  having a supper hero photo would be good.   So that is exactly  how  you can  enter  two photos,
  One   can be of anything  like  last year while  another  is a   photo  that has words on it  that say 


 Supper   (       )

 or  

 ( Name) is a  supper  blank.   

  EX :                                    Do not put a copy wright symbol  on your photograph

  You  do not need  a copyright symbol  

      If you have  fb   Pic monkey  is  an easy app for this.   Let me know if you need help with this and I will try to  walk  you through it; however  I  will not have time to  put words on the pictures so you need  to do it 

 Once you have  done this  email me  at azchapman1991@gmail.com  and  check back  October second for the  video montage featueing   Supper amazing  people  with Cerebral Palsy 




     Updated  August first 

   I have only  gotten two pics  so   I am  going to make it easy on you  guys  Here are your instructions

1 Send me  two different pics 


2Tell me what the text should say   and what picture it goes with 
3Make  sure the text is spelled correctly

My Best friends and a fallen hero

 

FOR GAVIN 

 Growing up.  I  never had solid friendships   A  tall  black  feisty  stubbon hard  headed  disabled  girl was the last person kids wanted to befriend .  When  I was  15  I  started reading blogs, and that  summer  I    started  my own blog.   I have been blogging online ever since ,  I also have  found good friendships with  amazing  people  all connected to  one thing, disability. Over the years  I have met numerous  women , and men who have become  my friends. They have read my blog  and  commented and  I have  read   and commented on their blogs.


 One  such person  is  Kate Leong.    She  has had it hard.  Her  oldest son  has CP  Her youngest has had to overcome a speech  impairment and penut allergy.     Her oldest son, Gavin  David Lenog died tonight after having  heart  problems.   I have  watched her Facebook post since  Wednesday, the day he got sick,  hoping that  he would pull through.  Unfortunately he was pronounced brain dead.   He was  Five   and a half.   He is a  little boy who will never live to be six.


  My Aunt came to town this weekend  and   I  was  happy to see them.  On Friday Gavin took a turn for the  worse.  I read about it  as  i  had a meeting   with my  school DSPS program.  I felt like  I was in a fog. I  had hope that  Gavin  would pull through. I  told  my consular about it.  My speech therapist about it my parents  my aunt.  I have    had  the pic above to honor him.

  I feel pain  for a kid I  never "met"  because of the blog spere. I  may not have met  him in person because  he lived  across  the country   I   knew  he loved music . I was happy  when  he started to walk around  Christmass last year . And I was thrilled when  just last week  he used a switch to say I want water  at school.  Then  this   happend. I am soo  mad at God.  Kate has  already  had a still  born.  She had been trying for  more  kids   without fail and  now  her super hero is  gone.   I do not understand why god makes  life so hard for people. I am  soo mad. Please  keep   this  family in your prayers,

 For any of you longtime  readers  please know that you have been my greatest friends.   A  special  shout out  to  Ellen ,  Kate ,  Jan , Nicole,  Michelle,  Debby, Shannon , Tim, Rick and  those who  I forget  thank-you  for reading  and  inviting me into your homes  and   share  your kids with me.  You may be older then  me; however you are my best  friends .    Kate  you  are amazing  thanks for sharing Gavin's  story  with me and countless others.  I   hope you can find  peace on this difficult day.
 Kate  this  picture is  for you.

So many choices

  hay  guys   its me AZ

      For those of you   that   have been  fallowing for the past  year or so  you  will know that    Tuesday  will be my birthday.        Not  just  any   birthday  but  I will be  20 years  old.  No longer a teenager  which  leaves  me to   the  title  of  so many choices.  i know  I  want to continue blogging  but    i do not know  if   i should do the  fallowing.


  A close  this  blog and adress   but leave it up for achieves  or

  B keep the adress  but  change  the  name

 Either  way  i have to change the  name    which is  soo  sad :(

   this  blog / online  community  has been there through    good  times and  bad times.   i know   whatever  i do   i will hopefully continue to  have   readers  so that  part  hopefully will not change  but   I do not know  what  I should do  so  I ask    you  readers  what to do.

  Please comment I need  ideas  for a new  name   no matter what  and  weather  to do  choice  A or B

   Thanks  in advance

The Cornish Family: My first interview

  The  Cornish Family

  

   I  am  very happy to  have   Meredith Cornish  who  blogs  at   Cornish  Adoption Journey  to   share  a l little  about her  family.

 AZ :   How old are your kids?   What are there disabilities?   and how did they  join your  family?

 Aleksa (8)  

Meredith: Our oldest two are both 8 right now. Aleksa was adopted 6 months ago from Ukraine and will be 9 in October. Emma was adopted at 5, also from Ukraine, and will be 9 in February.Both the oldest girls have Down syndrome.Emma also has Autism and Cerebral Palsy. Next is Kristopher, our biological 7 year old. He's "typical" and we call him our "biggest" even tho he's no longer our oldest.Wesley is 6 and has spastic quadriplegic CP. He was adopted 6 months ago. Wesley is also visually impaired and is considered legally blind.Brianna is 5, our biological daughter with Down syndrome.James will be 5 in August and was adopted from foster care. He joined our home in May 2010, a year ago, but his adoption wasn't finalized until September 2010. 

 James (4)

Micah will be 5 in September and was also adopted from Ukraine 3 years ago at 18 months old. He has Down syndrome too.

 Lynae(22 months)

And last is Lynae, our typical biological daughter that will be 2 in September, her birthday is 09.09.09.

AZ:Wow that is cool because I turn 20 September 6th.

Meredith:Oh fun

AZ: Why did you want to adopt?

 Briana (5).

 Meredith: I have two siblings that my parents adopted from foster care when I was a teen and the second when I was off and married, but adoption has always been a part of my life. Both of my grandmothers spent time in children's homes as well, which is what prompted my parents' decision to adopt.My husband and I were married when my parents adopted the second time, and we've always discussed adoption, so it was a natural course of action for us both the first time, and very much "God prompted" the second two times.When we had Brianna, we got God's "yes" that we could "handle" special needs... since we weren't really sure that we would be able to do it until then.

 Wesley (6)

AZ:Cool.  What resources have you found most useful to helping   you learn  about Cerebral Palsy.?

 Meredith:I used to babysit for a family whose 2 yr old  had CP. She is now 12, and we have continued to be friends (her parents and I). We also find Yahoo groups to be VERY useful, and parents have been the best source of information I've found. The second source would be our blog, when we are able to post our specific issues and find out pretty quick answers, which is priceless

AZ:  Are there any support groups are things similar to the Buddy walk in your area for kids with CP

Emma (8)

Meredith:No support groups that I know of, but I have met another mom of a 12 yr old w/ CP as well that's local and we'e gotten together once now.

Kristopher (7)

 AZ: How aware is Kristaphor about his siblings special needs?

 Meredith:Kristopher knows that the kids have disabilities (except Lynae). To him, it's no big deal. Brianna was born when he was not quite 2 years old, and she's his "always" Though the other kids are "more disabled" than Brianna, it isn't a big deal around here

AZ:I am a big advocate for inculsion I am on I am norm that fosters inculsion so my next question is what does inculsion look like for each one of your kids.

Meredith: Let's start with the oldest.. Aleksa is only attending school 2-3 days /week this first semester of school, so we have not pushed for inclusion hours for her. Not yet anyway. I'm hoping to add in several morning hours of inclusion for Aleksa nxt semester.Emma is not in any inclusion classes. She doesn't care about other kids, and she is at a very basic learning part now, so she's in a self contained classroom full time.Wesley same as Aleksa. Both of them don't understand much English yet, so the contained classroom isn't bad. The three of them will all be in the same class.Brianna is next, and she is very social and close to grade-level. We really pushed for full inclusion for her, but we weren't able to have the school agree that it would be appropriate. They felt that she was small, shy, and would be run over in a regular classroom. At the end of a 4 1/2 hour IEP, we eventually agreed to have her in the regular kindergarten class for most of the day, with pull out to the class my older kids are in for Math and Reading time each day. James and Micah are both in PreK still. They are in an 90/10 Prek class, which has about 10 kids in it with 1 or 2 "typical" kids along with the rest that have IEPs.Both of them are "aimed for" the self contained classroom because of their behaviors (which really is what keeps Aleksa there as well), but we'll see how this year goes. Micah is really making gains in the behavior area, so we'll see.

Mich (4)

 AZ: Thank you Meredith  For the  interview. this  is the first interview on    my blog.

Meredith:  you're very welcome Thanks for choosing me, I'm honored!

 To  read more  about  Meredith  and her  family    visit her  blog    

comeing soon

 hay blog readers  so  I have been on break (since  thursday night)    i have had  some fun and plan to use the time to write some post  on here  on the follwing

  CP montage

 Refelctions on independce

 Deedah Review

Holiday posts

   A book review

 stay toon i have a long  break   You can help me out by commenting on what you want me to do first,

Happy Birthday Sarah

Most of you who read this blog also read Sara's blog. Sarah is a young women with Down Syndrome who is 21 as of today go by to her blog and wish her happy birthday


pic is from http://www.lux-limo.co.uk/limo-articles/21st-birthday.jpg

Happy Mothers day

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

we had a fun day today we went to a restaurant worked on gardening and saw Iron Man 2


. One more thing from Ellen and max


1. Because we never thought that “doing it all” would mean doing this much. But we do it all, and then some.
2. Because we’ve discovered patience we never knew we had.
3. Because we are willing to do something 10 times, 100 times, 1,000 times if that’s what it takes for our kids to learn something new.
4. Because we have heard doctors tell us the worst, and we've refused to believe them. TAKE THAT, nay-saying doctors of the world.
5. Because we have bad days and breakdowns and bawl-fests, and then we pick ourselves up and keep right on going.
6. Because we gracefully handle the stares, the comments, the rude remarks. Well, mostly gracefully.
7. Because we manage to get ourselves together and get out the door looking pretty damn good. Heck, we even make sweatpants look good.
8. Because we are strong. Man, are we strong. Who knew we could be this strong?
9. Because we aren’t just moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work. We are moms, wives, cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, women who work, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, researchers, nurses, coaches, and cheerleaders. Whew.
10. Because we work overtime every single day.
11. Because we also worry overtime, but we work it through. Or we eat chocolate or Pirate's Booty or gourmet cheese, which aren't reimbursable by insurance as mental-health necessities but should be.
12. Because we are more selfless than other moms. Our kids need us more.
13. Because we give our kids with special needs endless love, and then we still have so much love left for our other kids, our husbands, our family. And our hairstylist, of course.
14. Because we inspire one another in this crazy blogosphere every single day.
15. Because we understand our kids better than anyone else—even if they can’t talk, even if they can’t gesture, even if they can't look us in the eye. We know. We just know.
16. Because we never stop pushing for our kids.
17. Because we never stop hoping for them, either.
18. Because just when it seems like things are going OK, they're suddenly not OK, but we deal. Somehow, we always deal, even when it seems like our heads or hearts might explode.
19. Because when we look at our kids we just see great kids. Not "kids with cerebral palsy/autism/Down syndrome/developmental delays/whatever label."
20. Because, well, you tell me.

az answer. Because You are always involved in IEP and advocating for us kids