Caroline's Cart

Caroline's Cart is a shopping cart designed for children with special needs. You can now vote for it to be added to Walmarts across the country. It is a wonderful idea! Click the link below and vote until September 2, 2013.

Click here to vote!

Photo from www.carolinescart.com

If you would like more information on Caroline's Cart, click here!

ISM Final Presentation Night

          In my Independent Study and Mentorship class, my classmates, teacher, and I have discussed and prepared for the "Final Presentation Night" all year long. During this night, all ISM students at my school (about 35) set up elaborate tables with display boards, table cloths, professional products they have created, and information regarding their topics on their tables. Then, everyone gathers in the auditorium and introduces the program, themselves, and their mentors. Finally, each student gives a 30-35 minute presentation on their topic of study to teachers, friends, and family in individual classrooms. I have a big night ahead of me and am very excited!

          I mention this night because Special Perceptions was created because of my research, work, and support in the ISM program. This is a night of which I am very proud to be a part. I will be handing Special Perceptions business cards to anyone and everyone that I meet tomorrow. I am very excited about the networking opportunity I have before me and am intrigued to see how many new people Special Perceptions can reach. 

The business cards I will be using tomorrow.

          As always, thank you for visiting Special Perceptions. Please take a look at my other posts if you have not already! 

Everywhere

          As well all network and meet new people and families throughout our lives, I am sure most of us would be able to name at least one person or family with a member who has an intellectual developmental disability. These disorders and disabilities can happen to anyone, and I believe that aspect is overlooked often. No one is immune, and once you really take a step back and look around, you realize how often the disorders and disabilities actually occur. As I was talking with my brother today, we came upon the subject of celebrities in relation to special needs. There are many celebrities who have siblings or children with special needs, which makes it clear that developmental disabilities occur more often than we are sometimes aware of. I have included some pictures I found of a few celebrities with with their sibling or child. What sweet relationships. If only everyone could experience the compassion!

Jamie Foxx with his sister,
who has Down syndrome.

Colin Farrell with his son, who
 has Angelman syndrome.

Sarah Palin with her son,
who has Down syndrome.

Eva Longoria with her sister,
who has Down syndrome.

Product Presentation

          As part of the Independent Study and Mentorship curriculum, I worked together with my mentor, Mandy, to create a product relating to speech-language pathology. We decided that I was going to make a brochure discussing the eligibility guidelines and the referral process for speech/language services at her school. After the brochure was made, I was to give each staff member a brochure while I presented and discussed the information at the staff meeting on May 1. With her help, I worked for two months creating the brochure and preparing for the presentation. The information included consisted of a speech-language pathology description, definitions and examples of articulation, voice, language, and fluency, and a thorough step-by-step procedure of the referral process. It was an incredible opportunity and experience. It is a memory I will treasure forever! I have included pictures from the presentation below!

Opened Eyes

          Every year, Macy goes to two overnight camps. She absolutely LOVES going to camp, and my family and I are so thankful for Camp Summit and SEEK Camp. These camps are designed for children and adults with special needs. The counselors are wonderful and make sure everyone has fun while staying safe. Earlier this month, my parents and I dropped Macy off at Camp Summit for a weekend camp session. When we arrived, I had the chance to meet some of the other campers. Getting to meet just a few of the other campers really opened my eyes into more disabilities. I am so grateful that not only Macy gets to enjoy camp, but that these camps can help the family members too!

Click here for more information on Camp Summit.

Click here for more information on SEEK Camp.

Sweet Macy at Camp Summit in early April!
We love Camp Summit!

Virtual Pledge

          If you do not have access to a pledge, you will now be able to sign via the internet! Please comment with your name on either this post OR the post under the "Sign the Pledge" tab at the top of the blog. By commenting your name, you are pledging to take the derogatory use of the word "retarded" out of your vocabulary. On your behalf, I will write your name on a pledge specifically set aside for internet signers. I am excited to see how many signatures and people I will be able to reach through the virtual pledge! Thank you for your support!

The blank pledge set aside for internet signers! I can't wait to
see it fill up with signatures!

Introducing my Mentor

          In the Independent Study and Mentorship program, students ask a professional currently working in the field they are studying to act as their mentor for the second semester. My mentor is Mandy Goodfellow, who is the speech-language pathologist at the elementary school my siblings and I attended. My mentor and I have a really neat connection. She went into the speech-language pathology field because her younger sister has Down syndrome, and she knew she wanted to work with children with intellectual disabilities. This is the same reason I plan on going into speech-language pathology.
          Because Mandy is my mentor, she allows me to shadow her giving therapy and helps me to create my original work and product. She is so wonderful, and I am so glad I get the opportunity to work with her! The sweet video below is of Mandy and her sister, and I recommend you watch it. Enjoy!