The River Series
A Friend for Life
For the majority of kids in the nation who haven’t started school yet, today is the official start of Back To School. Going back to school can be so complicated for our school aged loved ones with Down syndrome. School systems were created without people with Down syndrome in mind, and as laws have changed to include people with intellectual disabilities within the schools, what that means and how it plays out differs from state to state, county to county, school to school. What doesn’t seem to change is our human need to want to be welcomed as we are and find belonging in a space. When welcome and belonging happens for our loved one with Down syndrome in his/her classroom every person connected to that space is changed forever and for the better. River’s story is one of welcome, a story showing just how sweet it is when everyone belongs.
The River Series 3/11: Denny/Dad⠀
For years I coached my oldest son in baseball and enjoyed watching him excel to be an MVP on every baseball diamond on which he walked. I assumed this particular baseball season was going to be different. No longer was I coaching my oldest son, a gifted athlete. Now I was coaching River. Could he even do it? Would other kids make fun of him? Will this be a discouragement for him, rather than a fun experience?
