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Woman with Down's Syndrome redefining perception of the disorder
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The Karen Gaffney Foundation
Karen Gaffney; a dedicated student, public speaker and athlete, who has completed a relay swim of the English Channel and various other long distance swims, is also a person with Trisomy 21 or Down's Syndrome.
Through her foundation, The Karen Gaffney Foundation, located in Portland, OR she is pushing the old fashioned perception of Down's Syndrome to the wayside and is blazing an inspiring trail for a bright future for all Down's Syndrome people.
Gaffney is a recognized public speaker and her foundation works to support inclusion and understanding for people with Down's.
One of the programs the foundation has developed is The "Friends First" program which gives students with disabilities and those without, the chance to form a club, establish friendships and work collaboratively on a service project of their choice to benefit their school or community. The "Friends First" club will have on going discussions around diversity and ability issues and will bring in guest speakers to help facilitate these discussions. The students in "Friends First" will also go through diversity awareness and teambuilding training put on by the Karen Gaffney Foundation.
An important component of the club is social. Going to school can be a lonely and isolating experience for students with disabilities who often feel separate from their typically developing peers. "Friends First" provides a way to role model acceptance and inclusion for all students by providing a social structure for students with disabilities and those with out to come together to get to know each other. "Friends First" pairs students without disabilities with a friend who has a disability. Students in the "Friends First" club take on supporting each other and being friends.
The final element of this program is a service-learning component. The students involved in the "Friends First" club select a service project they think will benefit their school or community. The students will work collaboratively on this project as a club. Students with out disabilities will have the opportunity to experience the contributions made by students with disabilities.
The Foundation has produced a very powerful video "Journey of a Lifetime…. Beginning with the End in Mind." This video has important messages for new parents, their families and friends that will help them see the positive and rewarding challenges they have in front of them. This information will instill hope for a full and productive life in the hearts and minds of new parents. The messages will motivate families to new thinking and positive action to begin immediately building up, day by day, the potential of their child.
Resources:
Jenessa's Journey
Love And Learning
National Down Syndrome Society
National Down Syndrome Center
Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation
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