Focus on Abilities, Not Diabilities
Jim Faber, President of the National Down Syndrome Congress recently spoke in Hannibal, MO. During his speech he encouraged us to focus on the abilities of people with Down Syndrome rather than the disabilities. He reminded all of us that with support and encouragement, our family members with Down Syndrome can have very fulling lives with accomplishments and achievements that many typically developing people don’t enjoy.
Yes, it is possible for someone with Down Syndrome to drive a car or graduate from college. He gave the example of Karen Gaffney who swam the English Channel, then swam Lake Tahoe, then swam around the main island in Hawaii. What an accomplishment.
Think about boy scouts becoming Eagle Scouts. Only 5% of all Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts, yet people with Down Syndrome achieve that high level of accomplishment when given the encouragement and direction.
There are few limits to what someone with Down Syndrome can achieve when given the right direction and when provided the tools to achieve. Let’s give them all a chance to achieve their wildest dreams – then who knows – they just might achieve them.
Here is a link to the whole article.
http://www.hannibal.net/health/x915102938/-Focus-on-abilities-not-disabilities
