It was Rory’s freshmen year and she told us that she wanted to be a cheerleader. She was over the moon about it. But I was a wreck when I dropped her off on the first day of practice before tryouts. Not only did all the girls look so much older than she did, but she was the only girl with a disability. However, I felt so much relief when each day after practice she came home and said how fun it was and how many friends she made! On the last day of practice she came to the car and said “tryouts are tomorrow, I am so excited to be a cheerleader!”

Sending a child to a high school with 4500+ people can make any mother feel nervous. Sending my daughter with Down syndrome to a high school with 4500+ kids was like my nerves were on steroids. But the thing about my daughter Rory is that she is fearless and she will try anything at least once. Rory was set up to attend 50% of her classes in a general education setting and 50% in a special education setting and she would be navigating her campus without the help of an aid. At first, the school told us she wouldn’t be able to do it. So you know what we did?

“The most important thing I do everyday is I take care of my dogs and cats. I keep on my schedule of things to do for school and myself. I watch my calendar on my phone so I do not miss any of my things that I need to do.”