Something really special has been happening in our town and it is pretty amazing to witness. Inclusion! Accepting new friends for who they are. Learning about and embracing their differences while finding ways to build upon their strengths.
We are approaching almost 12 years since I gave birth to my son, Preston Taylor, who happens to have Down syndrome. I have shared many times how one of my biggest fears for him was being accepted. I have heard and even witnessed how being different does not always amount to being included by peers. I struggled with the fact that anyone would ever treat my boy like less. He is amazing, and I wanted the world to see that.
I have always been open about Preston to everyone. Once I got him home at 6 weeks old, I already knew this child was going to change things … he had already changed me.
We have shared his medical struggles, his milestone feats and his academic successes with everyone through his Facebook page, Prayers for Preston. The reason being, his life was just too special and wonderful not to share and even if it changed one person’s perspective on Down syndrome it was worth it to me.
I always strive to find a way to alleviate the fear associated with a Down syndrome diagnosis. I know the tears that I shed over those words, but soon saw it was actually pretty special to be a part of his life. Preston has charisma; we saw that when a TikTok video of his funny reaction to getting his eyebrow waxed gained over 10 million views! He even loves to watch it over and over!
In school he has so many friends. He is always amongst his peers and never hidden away, like children who were different were when I was young. I personally see kids who sometimes struggle socially, blossom around Preston. They show a kinder and more patient side. He teaches them it is OK to slow down or to help when needed. He works hard and they celebrate alongside him when he reaches a goal. I knew that more of this was needed beyond the classroom and that so many other kids also needed a space where they felt included and accepted.
I had the privilege of starting up a youth division for our local McKean County Special Olympics about a year and a half ago. We started with soccer working with the University of Pittsburgh ladies’ soccer team. After that program was so well received, we branched out to swimming. I knew that if I was going to take on the responsibility of keeping kids safe in the water, I was going to need way more help. So we invited students from both Bradford High School and Fretz to come help and swim as buddies with our athletes.
From that experience, parents started seeing the most wonderful and genuine friendships forming. They enjoyed being around each other. Our youth athletes loved learning to swim alongside their peers and being included in a sport. They were part of a team and worked so hard! After the success of soccer and swimming, seeing how much they all looked forward to spending time together I knew we had to build off a youth basketball branch started by the Schmidt family last year. For the last 5 weeks eager buddies and Special Olympics athletes come and learn all the skills they need to scrimmage their teammates.
The typical peers play right alongside their buddies, supporting them and cheering them on the entire time! It is truly a beautiful thing to experience how much the athletes light up when their buddies are helping them. They genuinely care about each other and it makes this mom’s heart soar!
I had always had my daughter and a few other buddies there to help our soccer team, but after the success of swimming I have young people contacting me all the time wanting to be a part of helping with our youth program. Often we have more typical peers than athletes! They are part of something special. They are in their Inclusion Era and I am so excited to see what both our special needs kiddos and their peer buddies accomplish. It is a bright future when you see the world through their eyes.
Today is World Down Syndrome Day celebrating all individuals with Down syndrome. I challenge you to look for the ability not the disability and to find ways to include anyone who may be a little different. You will be surprised by what you may find when you enter your inclusion era.
