More Alike than Different

A child with Down Syndrome is a normal child.

Yes, they may look slightly different or learn at a different pace, but they are still a human being.

A human being with feelings, emotions, likes, dislikes, talents and attitude.

I was reading through the OC Register the other day and I found this quote in the Mini Page:

"Suppose you’re making sugar

cookies. You 

use flour, sugar, 

butter and other 

ingredients to make the cookies. But if you add chocolate chips to the batter, you won’t have sugar cookies anymore. All the cookies will have chocolate chips — you can’t take them out.

When that extra chromosome gets added in, it changes almost every cell of the body, just like the chocolate chips show up in every cookie.

You still have a cookie, but it’s a little bit different."

                      EXACTLY!

Children with DS are the same as children without disabilities, just a little modified. :)

When Phoenix was younger he was very slow to the normal timeline a child follows.  We started him off with American Sign Language extremely young to give him more opportunities to communicate not only with us but with others.  Signing little actions and words while saying them simultaneously helped us communicate with our little guy SO much.  It was incredible to see him progress and have those skills to talk with us even if he couldn't yet form the words.

We chose to put Phoenix in public schooling when he was of age because we wanted him to be treated like the wonderful child he is.  Over the years we have run into the teasing and bullying because his looks are a little different than those of his peers.  At a young age kids don't understand what a disability is or why someone has one---all they can see is that the child is different.  A child with DS wants to be known for their abilities, not their disabilities...wouldn't you like the same?  With the help of some very understanding and amazing teachers, Phoenix and his classmates have grown to know and understand each other.  He is not treated any different than any other child and he has tons of friends!  

He does struggle a bit with learning the curriculum at the pace of his peers, but he really enjoys school.  On the other hand, Phoenix does have trouble staying focused in a classroom setting.  Once he gets past whatever may be distracting him, he excels in his schoolwork.  His reading and comprehension levels are fantastic and some of the teachers even say that they are above grade level!  

The severity of Phoenix's condition is very moderate so we aren't as experienced with obstacles that can come with a DS diagnosis such as heart conditions, seizures, or hearing loss.  We have experienced many of the normal sicknesses that any child can get from school, but a heightened level because his immune system isn't as strong as it should be.  Recently we have been looking into getting him glasses because his vision is starting to diminish.

Phoenix is growing.

Phoenix is learning.  

The things he achieves soar way past what we could ever dream.

He surprises us with how much he knows and what he is passionate for everyday.

I am always so eager to see what Phoenix will do next to amaze us!