I was pretty excited to go to the Down Syndrome Clinic's Fashion Show today. We had a local radio host, 3 photographers who donated their time, a buffet lunch, and a rockin' fashion show lined up. Kids and adults of all ages were there--grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents, friends, and the rock stars themselves, the kids with that extra copy of the 21st chromosome. There was a toddler with a royal blue ball gown and a tiny silver tiara in her hair. There was a chubby-cheeked infant boy sporting a preppy navy dress shirt and shorts and a summery tan fedora. A 12 year old boy made us ooh and aah with his skills with a hula hoop and a spin ball. He wasn't that good--but his happy spirit and attempts to make the audience laugh made him spectacular. A group of elementary-aged girls in a dance troupe performed for us, and their team member with Down Syndrome, while she didn't keep up exactly, showed that she was fully included and appreciated. ...
While sharing our journey with Down Syndrome, we want to help other parents with our experiences, as well as spread awareness about what it means to have Down Syndrome (spoiler: it means great things!).