Her Co-Workers Don't Know What To Think

Beth's job coach, C called me the other day to tell me that Beth absolutely l-o-v-e-s her new job!

At the old location she would fold approximately 250 boxes per 3 hour shift. She's been at this new location now a little over a month and already she's folding 350 boxes in the same 3 hour shift!

C told me that she saw Beth's co-workers eyes get as big as saucers as they watched her fold boxes. When the store manager agreed to hire Beth, she was the first person with special needs to work there and they had no idea what to expect. They were shocked at how many she was folding! She was going so fast, that they were running out of space to put them all! Finally C asked if she should start folding a different size and they said, "Yes please!" They just stood there, watching her work!

She is blowing them away with her ability to do the job and do it well.

Beth is changing the culture where she works and showing that people with special needs are just like everybody else. Capable, eager to work and deserving.

 

Trying to Navigate Change with Someone Who Thrives on Consistancy

I've been looking at this blank page for a few minutes, knowing I need to write something but honestly, I got nothin'. Let me go back to the beginning of the week and see if anything develops. :)

Beth and I did our usual grocery shopping. I don't know if I've ever told you what she buys. It's usually the same thing each week. Two frozen dinners, (she has certain days of the week that she eats these for lunch) fat free fig newtons, raisins, syrup, one lunchable and a Sprite (for Wednesdays when she's gone all day) the chips... that's new. I really didn't notice them when I took the picture. Hmm. I wonder why she bought those?

 

 

 

 

There is a rhyme and reason for everything in Beth's life. When she was born, they told us that we'd need to be consistent with our teaching and discipline but they never said anything about the rituals and patterns she would create over time. Course, 30 years ago they didn't know nearly the amount they know now about people with Down Syndrome. It amazes me the advances they've made.

 

(Beth just came upstairs so I asked her why she bought the chips. "My sister. They're her favorite." Now, Beth hasn't had these before that I'm aware of and she said she hasn't tried them yet, but that would explain it. Diana must have told her as they walked past them in the store one day. Beth rarely changes her routine. There really is reason for everything.)

 

Her weekly schedule is what it is and should remain that way forever. If Beth has her way, that is. But we all know life doesn't stay the same. Changes come, we adapt, okay sometimes we rebel, but we try to adapt because change is a part of life. Trying to navigate that change with someone who doesn't adapt is very tricky. It takes planning and patience. Have you ever tried to plan for change before it happens? Usually all we can do is reassure her and list the steps of events about to happen.

 

I don't know how many of you watch Dora the Explorer but that program presents a challenge "We must get the baby bird back to it's mother!" then lists the steps to achieve that goal: "We have to go over the bridge, through the forest and across the river! Bridge, forest, river! Bridge, forest, river!" Can I just say, this works brilliantly for my adult daughter who has Down Syndrome! The simple steps, the rhythm of repetition and the glorious goal at the end!  

 

A problem arises when you come out of the other end of the forest and there is a huge mountain between you and the river. A mountain that clearly wasn't on the map! When was this map made anyway? There's no mountain here! And good luck trying to get that thing folded back up again... stupid map.

 

Okay, where was I? Oh yea, the mountain. The rhythm has been thrown off and panic begins to set in. That's when, as a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, you have to gently add a new step, create a new rhythm and make THAT the new normal. Over and over and over.

 

Thankfully the only change that has occurred for her lately is the play she'll be in next week, Grease Lightening. She decided she didn't want to add Special Olympics bowling on top of that so we didn't go to the first practice. Her coach called though and said she they can use her average from last year for the couple of weeks she'll miss, so she decided to be in Grease next week, and then to go Special Olympics bowling after that.

 

So... Grease, bowling, gold medal! Grease, bowling, gold medal!

Just Haven't Thought About It Much

This summer just flew by. We had a great summer with a lot more sunshine and blue skies than we normally get here in Seattle.

There were car shows:

 

 

 

There were fun days at the park:

 

 

Then one day, the weather changed. The sky got dark and the rain began to pour. We even had a small tornado touch down just south of us! It's been dark, cold and wet ever since. I can't believe summer is over and it's October already.

Beth has her Special Olympic tournament this month. I have a big meeting for our upcoming Thanksgiving outreach. A few of us need to update our food handlers cards. Diana is planning a big trip for next month.

For us, the year isn't measured in back to school shopping, parent-teacher conferences or Spring break. The kids are grown and life has changed. We don't see the changes in how fast they grow out of their shoes or if they need a new backpack so soon. 

Except for the changes in weather, life goes on pretty much the same week after week, month after month. I've been reading your 31 For 21 posts and to be honest it caught me by surprise this year. I hadn't even considered posting every day for the month of October. At this point, October is just another month. 

Well, sort of.

See, Beth was born on October 10th. What a week that was! I'm sure most of you can relate. :)

Then, two years later on October 6th, beautiful baby Sharaya was born.

So for us, October is a big birthday month. I've posted before about how we celebrated their birthdays together until Sharaya was about 10. She came and asked us if they could start having separate birthday parties. And that's the way it's been (for the most part) ever since.

So this weekend we'll celebrate Sharaya and next week it will be Beth's turn. There's lots of shopping, wrapping and planning going on.

And with my scatterbrained mind, I'll also try to remember that it's Down Syndrome Awareness Month. :)

Happy October!

31 For 21 - If I Had A Chance To Say One Thing

October 31st. The last day of Down Syndrome Awareness month. I feel like I failed. I don't believe I brought awareness to anyone outside the Ds community. I posted (almost) every day... to other parents who are already aware of Down Syndrome. But if I had an opportunity, say a commercial spot that would be broadcast to the world, or maybe my state, or city, what would I tell them?


Just say Hi. When you walk by, just say hi to her. She's a person. She has hopes, dreams and goals, just like you. She has hobbies, just like you. She laughs, she gets her feelings hurt, she loves, she cries. She wants people to like her, just like you. She likes to hang out with friends, just like you. She's compassionate. She doesn't judge. Give her a chance. Just say Hi. You may find that she's more like you than you know. You may find that you have more in common than you expect. You may find that she's the lifelong friend you've been looking for. Just say Hi.


I've been thinking about this for a few days now but still don't feel like I could say anything that would change the world. Plain words aren't going to do it. People have to want to change. People have to begin to think differently. But what if my words change just one person? What if it did bring awareness to someone, just one, who could then change the world of someone who has Down Syndrome?

A Big Surprise

We walked in the door from our vacation, pulling our luggage behind us. Beth immediately took hers to her room.... and stopped dead in her tracks. Her sister Diana had switched rooms while we were gone!

It is something we have talked about doing for years. When her sisters move out, Beth would move downstairs and get her own 'apartment'. We have a daylight basement with a bedroom and large family room. The family room would become her livingroom and kitchenette. We knew it would be alot of work and have been in the planning stages for a very long time. Well, not any more!

In the 2 1/2 days we were gone, Diana took everything out of the rooms, painted BOTH rooms, drug furniture up and down the stairs and put both rooms back together. Wow! Beth was shocked. She reluctantly took her suitcase down the stairs and just sat on her bed. For a couple of nights she didn't even sleep. I woke up at 3 one morning to find her watching TV. At 5 AM, she was in the kitchen getting something to drink. It has been quite an adjustment for her. Her night light creates unfamiliar shadows on the wall. The furniture is not arranged exactly as it was. Change is difficult for Beth. It's been more than a week and I think she is finally beginning to adjust to her new room. She slept on the couch for a while, but has been in her bed the last few nights. The family room still has some extra furniture and there are boxes yet to be unpacked. We have been cleaning closets and sorting through drawers. Today Beth and I went though her large bin of crayons, markers and colored pencils. We checked every marker and threw away those that no longer worked. We put all the good crayons in a bag and Beth is going to donate them to All Aboard. (An organization that provides activities for adults with special needs.) She then sharpened all the colored pencils! There were a lot!