As Wil gets older, fewer and fewer opportunities are available to him. The summer can be a very challenging time for our children with Down syndrome; at any age.
Few summer camps or learning opportunities are available. If our kids do qualify for extended school year, it is typically a few hours for a few weeks of the summer (thank you to all the teachers who stay for summer ESY!!!).
For this reason, our Down Syndrome Support Team decided to run a summer therapy program. Our president found 2 amazing speech therapists, 2 amazing occupational therapists, and 2 amazing special education teachers to provide tutoring over the summer. Wil and his friends thrive each summer within this program. Both for the consistency in schedule they provide, and the education with peers with Down syndrome.
But these resources come at a cost. The support of our annual Buddy Walk is what makes this essential learning possible for our kids.
It’s not so simple to sign our kids up for classes like dance, gymnastics, ice skating, taekwondo, etc. as many of our kids need extra support in this area. These venues either are not equipped, or not able, to offer support, so again our kids are lacking the social and physical opportunities they need. It is the parents within our support group that seek out places that will offer this support, or create classes on our own. Our annual Buddy Walk again is a place where we create community and grow resources for our kids.
As Wil gets older, and his needs change, I rely on the support and understanding of fellow parents in this journey as much as I did in the early days; just in a different way. I can not do this on my own. And I don’t want to do this on my own. We all lean on one another, and grow stronger with one another.
You showing up to walk one mile with us at the Buddy Walk means so much to us and our kids. Thank you to all who support us in any way you can! Your love is definitely spread in the best of ways!
To join us this year, you can pre-register online (t-shirts guaranteed to those who register by Aug 23rd), or at the event starting at 1:30PM. Hope to see you Sunday, September 25th!!! See Wil’s link below for more info, or feel free to message me with questions.
https://www.ds-stride.org/dsstbuddywalk/profiles/team/47
Thank you!!! 💙💛💙💛
WILingness 