A topic from the second half of the semester that resonated with me was the lecture from the guest speaker Tom Lambke and his son Bryan. Tom spoke to the class about his son Bryan who was born with Down syndrome, and the challenges Tom had to face because of that. Tom started off explaining to us how never in a million years would it cross his mind that his child would be born with a problem that will challenge is life. Growing up Tom could not tell us one thing about Down syndrome and what it was all about because back then they did not really educate people on conditions like that. When Bryan came into Tom’s life it was the start of something new for Tom. He now was facing a new challenge in his life. Tom told the class that back in his day there was no internet where he can immediately look up what Down syndrome exactly was, in fact the doctors were not even that supportive of down syndrome kids. Some doctors would give the option of couples to give their baby away where they would do studies on them, others were told not to expect a whole lot of their child if they decide to bring them home. Hearing Tom say that shocked me because no professional would ever say that to someone today about a child with Down syndrome. Sadly today’s society with technology so high tech, doctors are able to find out if the child will be born with down syndrome or not so the parents have a choice to abort it or not. This made me sad to hear because really kids with Down syndrome are something really special that always brings a smile to your face.
My mother works with kids that have Down syndrome so I always had the chance of being around them. These kids are so smart it really amazes me the things they can accomplish. When Tom talked about his son getting involved with the Special Olympics it was no surprise at all. In my opinion the Special Olympics is much more challenging than the regular Olympics, so to know that Bryan did the Special Olympics is such a great honor. The special Olympics is a good way of showing the world that disabled people are well off capable of doing any sport or challenge that is done in the regular Olympics, and with that it shows other people without disabilities what they can do. This gives us people without disabilities to really gain respect for them even more. I still believe today in our society people are not well informed about Down syndrome and still give it negative stereotypes just because of the name. I believe in schools conditions like this should be talked about, and not talked down on but more in a positive way. These people are just like any other person just with an extra edition to them.
I have seen improvement around the world for the respect of Down syndrome. Now when I go to the movies I do see people with Down syndrome working there and it really does put a smile on my face. Seeing that they were given an opportunity to work a normal job was a sign of a little improvement with today’s society. Also with the Best Buddies club, this is a wonderful organization that does pair a Down syndrome kid with another kid without a disability to show two different people can connect as friends no matter what the condition is. We need to be able to accept these types of people more and more wherever we are, whether it is at school, in the office at work or even playing on a team with sports. Someone with Down syndrome is capable of growing each and everyday. At the end of class watching Bryan play catch with his father was amazing. Just watching his face you could see how proud he was of what he can accomplish. Tom’s message was so positive to me it made me leave class that day with a feel-good mood. Stories like that will stick with me forever and make me want to do things differently in my life to help share with others a wonderful story like his.
Other great practices of people with down syndrome and to become more aware of it are: http://www.ndss.org/, advocates of the down syndrome society, http://www.buddywalk.org/, celebrating down syndrome awareness month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome, and www.bestbuddies.org, an opportunity for kids with disabilities and kids without to be paired up to connect as friends with differences set aside.
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