So much for "Transition" from high school to ??? After Graduation she had been placed in the hands of Voc Rehab. They had sent a worker out to evaluate Steph in order to place her in a "job". Well the lady had turned up late in a broken down truck. Let me tell you she had a beautiful cell phone! It must have rang at least 5 times while she was suppose to be doing her job and might I add they were all personal calls. She kept saying she was sorry and that it wasn't her truck that her car broke down and she had to use a friends and they needed to know when she would be returning. She asked Steph a few questions and then decided the interview was over. If she had bothered to read about Steph before hand she would have known that Steph could not answer the questions . So off she went, never to appear again. I had called Voc Rehab and talked to the supervisor about this and she said she would look into it. We never heard back and were dropped from the program. So where did that leave Steph. NOWHERE!! I continued her in the step-up program , which she hates and watched her slowly deteriorate. She would complain when she got home but still wanted to go back in the mornings. She wanted to work, just not there.The county we live in doesn't offer many programs for the special needs, other than Special Olympics and ARC. Both are a joke as far as I am concerned. ARC is run by a group of old adults that have been on the board forever and refuse to change things for the new adluts coming into our county. We had joined for two years in hopes to help change things but as time went on we knew it wasn't going to happen. We attended a Christmas party for the group and the event had as always included the help of some "normal" students, around the ages of 9 and 10. They had joined in some of the games through out the evening and got to share in the prizes. Steph had joined in several games but one in particular was musical chairs. It was down to the last couple of chairs and Steph had been the winner. Throughout the night the kids and "normal" children where given presents for winning but when Steph had won they told her they were out of presents and that was that. No one had mentioned that they would be playing the game and were out of gifts!She broke down and cried her eyes out. They started to pack things up after cake and soda and some adults asked why she was crying but that only made things worse. I have never returned !
As a mother I would rather spare my child tears than to attend another party. I am sure Steph doesn't remember and she certainly didn't need another gift it just was the principal. I have had so many bad things happen to Steph and I am sure she is not aware of what has been going on but I am and so it offends me to see her hurt. Maybe I am wrong but for now I am the one looking out for her.
Hugs
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Long Holiday....
Like I have mentioned before, life is a challenge. It doesn't matter if you add a special needs person to the mix, it still throws punches and expects you to handle them properly. "Excuses be gone" should be given top priority. So that being said I am back to telling my tale of my life that is surrounded by my special angel.
I have never seen Steph happier than when she was in high school. Her teacher, Mrs. Kim was the apple of her eye. She performed for her and I use the word performed because Steph seems to have an actress hidden within her. She gave her best whenever Mrs. K. was around. Leave the room and have her be left with an aide...Not on your life! She became independent around the high school and could be trusted to run errands. Most of the students at the school dealt with Steph and the way she would approach them while in the halls. She thought everyone was her friend and everyone liked her. She attended the football games and went to Homecoming with a classmate.
Graduation brought tears to my eyes as I watched her walk in the procession with the rest of the seniors. You knew she was coming as there was this huge gap in the line! Her partner was very attentive of her and everyone waited behind her. It was very touching. She raised her hand and gave "thumbs up" when she walked past us. I couldn't have been prouder. Little did she know that the end was in store.
I once saw on you tube a Downs Syndrome man trying to go back to his school after he graduated only to find the doors locked and everyone gone. It was so sad to hear in his voice how much he missed it. That is exactly how Steph feels everyday. She would give anything to be back in high school doing what she did best, just hanging out! She stayed until she turned 21 and failed the transition part. My hopes are that someday someone will realize that people with Downs only want to be part of this world not of this world and create for them a better quality of life after high school. Steph landed in what our community calls "Step-Up". It is run by the Adult Education department here and where as it may be acceptable to some it sure doesn't suit Steph. She never really wanted to be with people her type, just the "normal" kids! So I will leave today and continue tomorrow with the never ending battle of trying to see life through Steph's eyes and relate them as I see it.
Somewhere along this route I will be talking about "IEP's because they are and important factor in our school life. The "Transition" factor is another topic for discussion at a later date also, but for now I will continue on the life of Steph to date.
Hugs
I have never seen Steph happier than when she was in high school. Her teacher, Mrs. Kim was the apple of her eye. She performed for her and I use the word performed because Steph seems to have an actress hidden within her. She gave her best whenever Mrs. K. was around. Leave the room and have her be left with an aide...Not on your life! She became independent around the high school and could be trusted to run errands. Most of the students at the school dealt with Steph and the way she would approach them while in the halls. She thought everyone was her friend and everyone liked her. She attended the football games and went to Homecoming with a classmate.
Graduation brought tears to my eyes as I watched her walk in the procession with the rest of the seniors. You knew she was coming as there was this huge gap in the line! Her partner was very attentive of her and everyone waited behind her. It was very touching. She raised her hand and gave "thumbs up" when she walked past us. I couldn't have been prouder. Little did she know that the end was in store.
I once saw on you tube a Downs Syndrome man trying to go back to his school after he graduated only to find the doors locked and everyone gone. It was so sad to hear in his voice how much he missed it. That is exactly how Steph feels everyday. She would give anything to be back in high school doing what she did best, just hanging out! She stayed until she turned 21 and failed the transition part. My hopes are that someday someone will realize that people with Downs only want to be part of this world not of this world and create for them a better quality of life after high school. Steph landed in what our community calls "Step-Up". It is run by the Adult Education department here and where as it may be acceptable to some it sure doesn't suit Steph. She never really wanted to be with people her type, just the "normal" kids! So I will leave today and continue tomorrow with the never ending battle of trying to see life through Steph's eyes and relate them as I see it.
Somewhere along this route I will be talking about "IEP's because they are and important factor in our school life. The "Transition" factor is another topic for discussion at a later date also, but for now I will continue on the life of Steph to date.
Hugs
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