'It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.' -- Confucius

Welcome to this edition of the Down Syndrome Support Newsletter!

Summer...the lazy days of basking in the sun and daydreaming...well, for most of us it's vacationing, family bar-b-ques, and trying to keep the kids occupied.

If you can fit a few more events into your schedule, why not go out to the ball game and support the Special Olympics at the same time or the West Suburban Support Group has a great Mom's night out planned (see below). Be sure to mark your calendar for the 1st Annual DS Support Buddy Walk. Registration is now open and I encourage every to attend this fun filled event.

Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Jennifer
aka 'Brandon's Mom'

If you have a story, event or happening, email it to info@dssupport.net and we can include it in the next edition

Calendar

Stay tuned for a mid August informal picnic at Village Green in downtown Plainfield.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois Presents
The 2nd Annual Torch Run Night
Joliet JackHammers vs. St Paul Saints
Saturday, July 26, 2003
7:05 PM
Silver Cross Field
Tickets: $9
The Law Enforcement Torch Run has
secured 300 tickets for this game. $2 of every ticket benefits Special Olympics Illinois!! Come out and have a great time at the ballpark and help a great cause!!!! contact Wendy or Dwayne for more information kdgcop@comcast.net or 815-791-0627.

West Suburban Support Group
Mom’s Night Out
Thursday, July 31, 2003
7:00-9:00pm
Tasting DeVine
127 W. Front Street
Wheaton, IL
752-9463

Take I-355 to Roosevelt Road (Rt. 38) West or take Rt.59 to Roosevelt Road (Rt. 38) East. From Roosevelt Road, take West Street north (the Wheaton Inn is on the northeast corner of West/Roosevelt), go over the railroad tracks and turn right onto Front Street. Tasting DeVine will be on the left, approximately 2-3 blocks down. Park anywhere on the street or follow signs for the parking garage.
COST: $10.00/person payable in advance includes appetizers and tasting of 10 wines.
Make check payable to WSPSG and mail to the following no later than Monday, July 21, 2003:
Lora Bak
607 Summerdale Avenue
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

NADS Fun Fundraiser
August 16, 5pm-1am
23320 South LaGrange Road, Frankfort, IL

JaBaay's Outdoor Creations, Inc.
$45, includes all you can eat delicious food, pop, and water.
Bellamy Brothers Country Band will be performing. See web site for more information.

All of these calendar items and more can be found at www.dssupport.net/local_happenings.html

Know of an event or other news? Email info@dssupport.net for inclusion in the next newsletter.

Best Buddies
Best Buddies provides friends and jobs to people with intellectual disabilities.
 
We accomplish our mission by:
Establishing Best Buddies chapters on middle school, high school and college campuses worldwide
Empowering people with intellectual disabilities to have a presence online through e-Buddies developing and maintaining integrated, high paying jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. Motivating all Best Buddies members to give back to their communities by volunteering.
1-800-89- BUDDY
www.bestbuddies.org
Best Buddies in a non-profit organization

LIVING WITH A SPECIAL CHILD
You know you have a child with special needs when..........

You compare ST's and ER's instead of grocery stores.

You compare your child's oxygen saturations.

You view toys as "therapy.'

You don't take a new day for granted.

You teach your child HOW to pull things out of the cupboard, off the bookcases, and that feeding the dog from the table is fun.

The clothes your infant wore last fall still fit her this fall.

Everything is an educational opportunity instead of just having plain old fun.

You cheer instead of scold when they blow bubbles in their juice while sitting at the dinner table(that's speech therapy), smear ketchup all over their high chair(that's OT), or throw their toys(that's PT).

You also don't mind if your child goes thru the house tooting a tin whistle.

You fired at least 3 pediatricians and can teach your family doctor a thing or two.

You can name at least 3 genes on chromosome 21. (You really know your toast if you can spell the full names correctly)

You have been told you are "in denial" by at least 3 medical or therapy professionals. This makes you laugh!

You have that incredible sinking feeling that you've forgotten SOMETHING on those few days that you don't have some sort of appointment somewhere!

You get irritated when friends with healthy kids complain about ONE sleepless night when they're child is ill!

Your vocabulary consists of all the letters OT, PT, SP, ASD, VSD, IFSP, etc.

You keep your appointment at the specialist even though a tropical storm is raging because you just want to get this one over with...you waited 8 months to get it... and besides, no one else will be there!

Fighting and wrestling with siblings is PT.

Speech therapy occurs in the tub with a sibling.

When potty training is complete, you take out a full-page public notice in the Washington Post.

When the Doctors/Specialist/Hospitals etc. all know you by your name without referring to your chart.

You keep a daily growth chart.

You calculate monthly statistics for the number of times your child vomits, and did this for more then one year.

You phone all your friends when your child sits up for the first time, at age two.

With a big smile on your face you tell a stranger that your four year old just started walking last week.

Her medical file is two inches and growing.

You have a new belief.....that angels live with us on earth

by: Author Unknown

Registration Now Open!!
October 11, 2003 at
Central Park in Oak Brook
Check out www.dssupport.net/buddywalk/ for registration and pledge forms.

We are also looking for Corporate Sponsors. If your company is interested please call 815-439-8693

Member Events

Has your little one made a great accomplishment? If so, let us know. Email your event to info@dssupport.net for inclusion in the next newsletter.

My First Trophy!
written by Colleen, Eliz's Mom

There's something to be said about your first trophy. Elizabeth, age 5 3/4 yrs, started T-ball for the first time this spring season and ended up with her first ever trophy! Mark escorted her and helped coach during practices and games every Saturday morning with the Park District program. I can remember Mark coming home and saying: "how can I get Elizabeth to pay attention and go for the ball? All she wants to do is sit down, look around, and not play ball!". I could tell he was frustrated but he, being a guy and loving the game, just wanted Elizabeth to be excited about softball as much as he is. It was also an opportunity for Mark and Elizabeth to do something together. Each time they went out to the field Elizabeth modeled the other kids behavior...that meant that when the ball was hit to the in or outfield, every kid on the team converged on the ball, leaving base coverage sparce...or they would just stare and watch the ball roll. Typical T-ball, eh? By the end of the season, Elizabeth was hitting the ball and running around the bases and loving being part of the team. A picnic was held at the end where the kids received the trophies. A proud moment for Mark and me and especially Elizabeth!

Jimmy
written by Mary, his mom

Jimmy Craig is your typical 5 1/2 year old little boy who just so happens to have Down Syndrome. Jim is starting kindergarten this coming school year. He will be attending Troy Shorewood.

Jim has one brother, Mike, who is 11 1/2 and one sister, Melissa, who is 9. They have been, without a doubt the best "therapy" that Jim has ever had. We at home encourage family and  friends to treat Jimmy just as you would any other kid, maybe with a little more patience. Jim wrestles, "plays" video games, annoys his siblings, gets in trouble and he even gets timed-out on occasion. Jimmy will yell back and stand up for what he wants and is usually the first to apologize when he sees "that look" on your face. If we cry, he puts his little hand on our shoulder and says, "No cry.  Happy.  its okay." He likes to boss the dog around and loves the Toy Story characters.

We're all convinced that he is going to be a gymnast, weight lifter or track runner for the Special Olympics. Defiantly something with strength and endurance. The determination he displays already is so encouraging to everyone. We feel he is going to go far because he sees it and he wants it and we have, and are instilling in him he CAN!

We miss you Taylor since you've moved to Florida but you're lookin good!
Written by Mike, Taylor's Dad

Taylor (on the left) and his friend, Dale, just after they completed a 25 mile bike ride in June.
(I made it too.) Yep. That's TWENTY-FIVE MILES, folks! The event was a campout with Taylor and Dale's Scout Troop, 178 (Brandon,FL) and the bike ride was on the Withlacoochie Trail, an old railroad right-of way that has been paved and converted to a scenic bike tour route. Taylor and I were a little bit slower than the pack during the last five miles, but we did it. It surprised a lot of people. Converted a few to to Believers. 'Bout time.

Music News
Chris Burke (star of the TV program Life Goes On ), with Joe and John Demasi, has a new album A World of Kindness. This 11-song album, available on both cassette and CD, is the follow up to their award-winning album, Forever Friends. It is inspirational, heart-warming, uplifting and fun.

To order, send a check or money order for $15 for a cassette, or $20 for a CD, plus $3.00 for shipping and handling to:
C.J.J. Enterprises
566 Wantagh Ave.
Levittown, NY 11756
(516-579-7816)